Miley Cyrus: 'everyone should try no gluten.' Experts disagree. - Los Angeles Times

Miley Cyrus said Sunday that she wasn't anorexic, but hinted that she was following a gluten-free diet. Medical experts caution that the diet isn't healthy for everyone. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images for CFN / April 10, 2012)

By Eryn Brown, Los Angeles Times / For the Booster Shots blog

April 10, 2012, 5:39 p.m.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and other grains.  Gluten-free diets have soared in popularity in recent years.  Market research firm Packaged Facts projected in 2011 that sales of gluten-free foods and beverages in the U.S. would exceed $5 billion by 2015.

For people with the celiac disease, cutting gluten out of the diet is crucial.  From the National Institute’s of Health’s PubMed website:

“Celiac disease cannot be cured. However, your symptoms will go away and the villi in the lining of the intestines will heal if you follow a lifelong gluten-free diet. Do not eat foods, beverages, and medications that contain wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats.

You must read food and medication labels carefully to look for hidden sources of these grains and ingredients related to them. Because wheat and barley grains are common in the American diet, sticking with this diet is challenging. With education and planning, you will heal.”

“Opting for a gluten-free diet isn't necessarily any healthier than a diet with gluten, and products are sometimes costly. If gluten intolerance is not truly an issue, there may be no advantages to cutting out wheat and other foods, because some substitute grains contain little fiber,” she reported.

Your best bet?  If you’re experiencing celiac disease symptoms, get evaluated for the condition.  If you don’t have the illness, adhere to the standard advice: Stick to a sensible and healthful diet, and exercise.