The diet Shamita Shetty made popular in Bigg Boss! Do you need to follow it?

Shilpa Shetty's sister and Bollywood actress Shamita Shetty was recently seen in the controversial show Bigg Boss OTT, where she became one of the finalists and is now a part of BB 15.

Read more: Shilpa Shetty drinks the CCF tea every afternoon and after dinner. Here is what it is and why it is super healthy

The reality television show, which is usually known for its celebrity-related buzz and controversies, has ignited some serious health conversations in recent times. While contestant Afsana Khan's mental breakdown in the Bigg Boss 15 house stirred up some important dialogue around mental health and self-care, Shamita Shetty's constant bickering over 'her' food and the need to follow a specific diet has compelled netizens to wonder why.

(Picture credit: Instagram)

In one of the episodes of Bigg Boss OTT, a verbal fight took place between Shamita and a co-contestant, Bhojpuri actress Akshara Singh, over gluten-free granules, which according to Shamita were specially sent for Shamita and Neha Bhasin.

Later, what seemed like an unnecessary brawl, forced Shamita to lose her calm, wherein the actress opened up about her medical condition, something she had been battling for years and which is why she couldn't 'eat normal food'.

The condition is called colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and sores in one's digestive tract and can irritate the inner lining of the colon or the large intestine. Symptoms may include cramping, abdominal pain, fever, chills, diarrhea with blood and more.

Reportedly, due to her condition, Shamita Shetty resorts to a gluten-free diet. Experts believe that gluten sensitivity is a growing issue among people with ulcerative colitis. More people have been reporting digestive complications and gluten intolerance in recent years, even without any sign of a celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that's triggered when you eat gluten.

According to a study published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 65 percent of the patients suffering from IBD experienced some relief from gastrointestinal symptoms when they tried a gluten-free diet.

"Gluten is a protein found in the grains such as wheat, barley and rye. It is present in different types of breads, phulka/chapathi, pasta,cakes, biscuits, rye, barley, soup base, beer, candy, etc.," explains Ms. Edwina Raj, Senior Dietician, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru. According to her, many individuals omit gluten completely without understanding the right substitute for wheat from a Nutritionist depending on their present condition and end up aggravating their health concerns.

However, she recommends a thorough screening from a gastroenterologist to check for gluten sensitivity, celiac disease, severe flatulence or by seeking dermatologist’s advice will enable a Nutritionist to understand the need for gluten free diet.

Elaborating further, Dr Shalini Garwin Bliss, HOD- Dietitian, Manipal Hospital, Gurugram says that a gluten-free diet is usually followed by those who are gluten-intolerant or people diagnosed with celiac disease mainly to manage its symptoms.

As per the doctor, a gluten free diet is designed for celiac disease only because, in celiac disease the patient is allergic to the gluten products. However, even in the case of patients with ulcerative colitis, if symptoms do not ease, then it is advised to prevent the gluten product to manage the condition, but it is only for a short duration, she advises further.

Dr Garwin Bliss suggests that it is safe to go for a gluten free diet in order to manage the signs and symptoms of celiac disease.

However, since it is a restrictive diet and avoids foods like wheat and wheat products, one may be deficient in multiple vitamins and minerals. Gluten-free diet, therefore may also lack in fibre, which is also an important nutrient for maintaining digestive health.

"Not all patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease require gluten free diet until and unless they are screened for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity," says Ms. Edwina Raj, Senior Dietician.

According to her, it is important to understand disease severity. "Therefore there is no blanket recommendation of diet adviced in IBD rather seek medical and nutrition experts for a better individualized advice but for someone with celiac disease or gluten intolerance one should avoid gluten, as gluten further damages and causes inflammation in the small intestine and an immune response which induces diarrhoea, bloating, constipation, nausea, and vomiting, as well as fatigue associated with weight loss," she says.