Thursday, February 27, 2014

Gluten-free foods rake in money despite no proof of being healthier

Going "gluten-free" has been the most popular, long-lasting fad diet in recent years.

Grocery shoppers are picking up gluten-free labeled products more frequently as the term sticks, hoping to lose weight, or at least lead a healthier lifestyle.

Yet, no evidence backs gluten-free products as a tool to accomplish either of these goals.

Gluten-free manufacturing companies continue to flourish as consumers follow a diet that actually serves a small population with a serious medical condition.

0.7 percent of Americans have celiac disease, avoid gluten out of necessity

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestine if gluten is ingested.

The disease is a serious condition that often goes untreated.

Jane Jakubczak, registered dietitian, coordinator of nutrition services at the University of Maryland and nutrition specialist for the Washington Redskins, said that celiac disease can cause major problems for a person's digestive system.



Less than 1 percent of Americans have celiac disease, and more than 80 percent of those people don't know they have it, according to a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Though the disease is rare, it can have harsh effects.

Celiac.org says 2.5 million Americans go undiagnosed and risk long-term health conditions such as:
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Early onset osteoporosis or osteopenia
  • Infertility and miscarriage
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  • Central and peripheral nervous system disorders
  • Pancreatic insufficiency
  • Intestinal lymphomas and other GI cancers (malignancies)
  • Gall bladder malfunction
  • Neurological manifestations, including ataxia, epileptic seizures, dementia, migraine, neuropathy, myopathy and multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Trending fad diet creates wider variety of products, but makes celiac disease seem less critical

Gluten is found in wheat, rye and barley.

Because of how prevalent wheat is in the American diet, it used to be hard to find products that adhered to the strict gluten-free diet those with celiac disease need to maintain.

Common foods that contain wheat, according to diabetes.org, include:
  • Pasta
  • Couscous
  • Bread
  • Flour tortillas
  • Cookies
  • Cakes
  • Muffins
  • Pastries
  • Cereal
  • Crackers
  • Beer
  • Oats
  • Gravy
  • Dressings
  • Sauces

Now that 1.6 million Americans are on a gluten-free diet without having been diagnosed with celiac disease, grocery shopping has become much easier for those who actually have the condition.

Of gluten-free consumers that don't have celiac disease or sensitivity to gluten, 75 percent choose gluten-free foods because they believe they are healthier, despite lack of research to support this idea, Mintel, a market research company, reported.


With the money gluten-free products are making -- $10.5 billion last year, according to Mintel -- the list of gluten-free offering companies, national and local, continues to grow.

Glutenista, a blog dedicated to the gluten-free diet, has compiled a list of gluten-free food manufacturers, with more than 80 entries.

The downside to the gluten-free diet trending is that many people see it as a more "hip" way to eat low-carb, when it's actually a necessary diet for those with a serious condition, Jakubczak said.

A healthier option for those trying to lose weight is to learn how to incorporate carbs into a balanced diet rather than avoiding carbs altogether, Jakubczak said.

Mintel predicts gluten-free trend will gain popularity with time, Jakubczak disagrees

Despite Mintel's prediction of gluten-free products bringing in more than $15 billion in 2016, Jakubczak believes the fad diet won't last very long.


She believes the gluten-free diet has held onto its popularity because it's relatively easy to follow, comparing it to the more complicated Paleo, South Beach and Atkins Diets.

"We, as Americans, find it easier to just cut out certain things, and with the gluten-free diet, basically you're just cutting out gluten," Jakubczak said.

"There's a misconception that it's very, very healthy and you're automatically going to lose weight on it," Melinda Dennis, co-author of Real Life with Celiac Disease and nutrition coordinator of the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, told WebMD.

"Not true. It's not necessarily healthy. It has to be done properly," Dennis told WebMD.

With the market suggesting success for the future of gluten-free, and nutritionists suggesting that the fad will drop off, those diagnosed with celiac disease cross their fingers.

Photo source: commons.wikipedia.org

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Gluten-free label rakes in money despite no proof of weight loss

—————- content below represents the earlier story outline ———

0.5 percent of Americans have celiac disease, avoid gluten out of necessity

DEFINE CELIAC DISEASE
"Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide. 2.5 million Americans are undiagnosed and are at risk for long-term health complications." --celiac.org

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE CELIAC DISEASE
"A Mayo Clinic survey in 2012 concluded that only 1.8 million Americans have celiac disease." --NYT article (I plan on linking to this study.)

Trending fad diet makes celiac disease seem like less serious serious condition, yet creates wider variety of products

PROS AND CONS OF FAD DIET
Perhaps incorporate a bulleted list of foods that contain gluten? Or bulleted list of gluten-free companies? This will show the limitations of the diet prior to the fad. My video interview highlighting the cons will complement nicely.

Mintel predicts sales of gluten-free products will produce more than $15 billion in 2016, despite possible evidence of weight gain

THE FUTURE OF THE GLUTEN-FREE DIET
"In dollars and cents, sales of gluten-free products were expected to total $10.5 billion last year, according to Mintel, a market research company, which estimates the category will produce more than $15 billion in annual sales in 2016." --NYT article (I also plan on linking to this study.)

"But, gluten-free diets may not lead to weight loss. In fact, for celiac patients weight gain for those on the gluten-free diets is the goal because it suggests they're absorbing the necessary foods and nutrients they had been lacking." --CBS article


[I don't plan on using any of these quotes, just using them here to layout my story and organize my research.]

Two focused questions I asked my expert:
1. Only 1.8 million Americans have celiac disease, yet sales of gluten-free labeled products are booming. What is the value of marketing gluten-free products?

2. Why do you think the gluten-free diet has remained popular in America compared to other trend diets, like paleo?

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Major Snow Prediction Will Affect Job Seekers on Maryland Campus


University of Maryland's events for tonight and tomorrow are already being canceled before the first flake of snow falls. Weather.com predicts 5 to 8 inches for College Park, Md. tonight, an amount that could affect tomorrow's career fair.



The university's career center will make a decision about whether the last day of the spring career fair will be canceled by 4 p.m. today.

Ritchie Coliseum arena will close at 3 p.m. today, and Ritchie Coliseum's fitness center and multipurpose room will close at 7 p.m., according to the campus recreation services website.

Tonight's group fitness classes, Zumba at 6 p.m. and BodyPump 7:05 p.m., are canceled.

19 percent of people have used their phone in last 30 days to prepare themselves with emergency situation, according to the Pew Research Center.

Students can check to see if the university is open tomorrow by checking the university's website or President Wallace Loh's twitter.

Photo source: National Weather Service

Friday, February 7, 2014

What does Abby Goron think of UMD's dining hall?





Why did Cindy Liu choose Maryland?





Monday, February 3, 2014

Potential Story Ideas for a Mobile Device

For my first mobile story telling project, I'd like to explore a specific aspect of nutrition. I found two experts at the University of Maryland who are knowledgable on topics that I find intriguing and would like to know more about.

1. Robert T. Jackson
Expert in: international nutrition

If I interviewed Professor Jackson, I would like to create an infographic that compares and contrasts diets in different parts of the world. One option is using google maps and placing pins with informative captions in different locations. Another option is going into photoshop and overlaying a map with clipart that conveys my information. I'm curious about how America's food pyramid differs with the rest of the world, and how diets affect health and life expectancy in each continent. It's hard to predict what other tools I should use for the project without having the information at hand. I feel that once I interview Professor Jackson, I will have a better concept of which media I should use to best convey his information.

2. Nadine R. Sahyoun
Expert in: nutrition and aging

Source: emergentmath.files.wordpress.com
If I interviewed Professor Sahyoun, I would also like to create an infographic, but one that compares how our diets should change as we age. It never occurred to me that someone who's 50 might need more or less of a certain food group than someone in her 20s. The food pyramid (on the right) is standard for people of all ages. I've never seen a food pyramid specifically targeted by age. I'm very curious about diets, as I'm not very informed about them. I think what we eat is extremely important and relevant to people of all age groups. Nutrition is a topic that affects us every day, yet most people don't pay much attention to their food or care how it impacts us physically. As I said above, once I interview Professor Sahyoun, it will be easier to determine what other forms of media I can use to best present the data. I think my final product could be widely shared and benefit a lot of people.