Gluten-Free Products: Weight Loss Enemy You Thought Was Healthy

Gluten-free items

These wheat-free products may be hot, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better for you, says registered dietitian nutritionist Karen Ansel M.S., coauthor of The Calendar Diet: A Month by Month Guide to Losing Weight While Living Your Life. Since gluten adds texture and taste to many foods, manufacturers often have to replace it with sugar, fat, and starch, which can pack more calories than the original gluten version would. If you want to limit your intake, you’re better off choosing naturally gluten-free whole foods like buckwheat, veggies, and sweet potatoes, says nutrition therapist and registered dietitian Limor Baum