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As of the last couple of years, there have been several diets that have become trendy. We can blame the internet for this, but no one actually wants to. Most people only follow these diets because they want to lose weight, or because they want to be seen as quirky. They do not take into consideration the people who actually need these diets.
Being gluten-free is not a choice. It is, in fact, a lifestyle. For instance, my best friend is gluten-free; they cannot consume any amount of gluten, as it will cause them immense pain and discomfort. Imagine having to live that life – your favorite foods are hard to find, the food is too expensive to buy, and there are still plenty of restaurants that lack gluten-free options. But, still, the internet influences people to “try” this diet – because “it can help you to lose weight!”
If you want to lose weight, there are other options available. One of them is to go to the gym and work out. Buying foods that you do not need is a concept that many people do not understand. If you do not need to eat gluten-free foods, then you should not be buying them. Due to inflation, the price for these foods has skyrocketed. The price for one month’s worth of gluten-free food is almost triple the amount if you do not have to buy those foods.
Furthermore, if you eat gluten-free foods while not being gluten-free, it can mess up your body in the long run. There is a lack of fiber in the gluten-free diet, as there is no wheat to supplement it. Your body needs fiber to function properly. So, if you are deliberately eating foods with little to no fiber, then your body will start to react in strange ways: your cholesterol levels can rise, constipation/irregular bowel movements, and your blood sugar could begin to fluctuate. Why would you want to do this to yourself? The more it goes on, the more harm you do to your body.
This also plays along with being dairy-free. I am severely lactose intolerant, and cannot stomach any amount of dairy. This, too, is not a choice. It is a lifestyle that I have to follow strictly, or else I will become ill. But, again, the internet will tell people that “It’s okay to be dairy-free! There’s so many milk alternatives!”
In 2019, when oat milk was being sold at stores where I lived, I refused to buy it. Not because I did not want to be dairy-free, but because of the price. Now, in 2022, oat milk is still expensive. This is not only due to inflation, but also because of it being “trendy” on social media. Besides oat milk, there are dairy-free ice creams, yogurts, pasta sauce, you name it. If you do not have to be dairy-free, then you should not be buying these dairy-free products; it makes it harder for people who actually need these foods to find and buy them. Having either a lack of or too much of calcium in your diet can also lead to your body being out of shape.
Trying out diets can be fun, but you need to take into consideration who you are hurting. If you do not need those products, either gluten-free or dairy-free, then you should not splurge on them when you go shopping. Save them for the people who actually need them to live. They do not get a choice in what they can and cannot eat – it is not like they chose to live like this. So, the next time you wish to be “quirky” with your diets, make sure it pertains to you and your health needs.
Kayla Redfern is a third-year English major with a minor in Womens and Gender Studies. KR983550wcupa.edu