Study: Gluten-free diets aren't necessarily healthier

Put down that overpriced, gluten-free brownie. It's not any healthier.

While the switch to gluten-free foods among people without celiac disease has become a huge trend, a recent study from the George Institute for Global Health reveals that the diet doesn't actually do much for one's health. Rather, the biggest nutritional difference between a gluten-free and a non-gluten-free diet is that the diet that includes gluten includes more dietary protein. Scientists found levels of sugar, sodium, and other nutrients to be more or less the same in both diets.

"There has been a tidal wave of gluten-free products coming onto the market in recent years and many people have been caught in the wash as they search for a healthier diet,” Jason Wu, a doctor from The George Institute for Global Health said. “The foods can be significantly more expensive and are very trendy to eat, but we discovered a negligible difference when looking at their overall nutrition."

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So while avoiding gluten is key for a small percentage of the population with an actual gluten intolerance, people simply seeking health benefits aren't likely to find them in a gluten-free diet. The biggest difference won't be in your health — it will only be in your wallet.