Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel recently sent a camera crew out to a popular workout spot to ask people one simple question: What is gluten? The shocking response from the segment inspired a gluten-free journey for Drew Manning.
You might recognize him from his Fit2Fat2Fit experience that inspired thousands worldwide to get in shape. This time Manning set out to prove that eating gluten-free doesn't necessarily mean you're eating healthy.
Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye — a protein people with celiac disease can’t digest. According to health.com, celiac disease affects about 1 percent of the U.S. population.
Manning set out to show that there's a healthy way and an unhealthy way to be gluten-free.
“So many people buy into the marketing and see a label and see 'gluten-free' and automatically think it’s healthy for them," he said.
A recent Consumer Reports study showed that potato chip sales have risen more than 400 percent after companies put a gluten-free label on the bag, making it a more than $11 billion industry.
“People are buying a lot more (potato chips) because they see that label on it,” Manning said.
He detailed the first phase of his latest experiment: “For two months I’m going 100 percent gluten-free, but all the unhealthy gluten-free products that are out there.” Without changing his caloric intake and still exercising three days a week, the only adjustment Manning made was to the types of foods he consumed. “As long as it said 'gluten-free,' it was free game.”
What Manning was shocked to discover throughout the first phase of the experiment were the changes happening inside his body.
“My vitamin D levels, my triglycerides levels, my HDL levels all went into the red in just two months’ time,” he said.
Manning also gained 20 pounds and doubled his body fat percentage.
For the second phase of the experiment, Manning will eat a healthy gluten-free diet for two months. Now just three weeks in, he’s already noticed remarkable changes.
“Three weeks into it is definitely a noticeable change," he said. "My sleep is a lot better, my energy levels throughout the day are a lot better.”
On the journey back to health, Manning has some words of advice: “Do some research, look at the ingredients, the nutrition facts and find out if it’s really good for you or not.”
Manning says when it comes down to it, eating a specific diet requires a lifestyle change.
“If you’re going to go gluten-free, if you’re going to go paleo, if you’re going to go vegan, you have to know how to embrace it as a lifestyle change instead of a 90-day fad diet to lose a bunch of weight," he s aid. "The key to making it a lifestyle change is understanding what your mental and emotional challenges. A gluten-free cupcake is still a cupcake.”
