Gluten-free products have been around for a while, but the popularity has astronomically exploded in the last few years. Companies like Lola, Glyde, and other personal beauty care products company are making strong claims to producing gluten-free products, which has made their products high in demand. In a new statistics, gluten-free products are now a billion-dollar and a vast majority of products are now purchased by these people daily who are seeking for gluten-free products. Products like shampoos, lotions, water, and even soaps are now gluten-free and there is even a further research that more gluten-free products will soon flood the market.
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Condom is the latest product to join the network of gluten-free products. Just like other gluten-free products, gluten-free condoms have become rampant and popular with consumers. Many manufacturers have laid claims that they make condoms that are not only gluten-free, but free from casein, fragrance, and paraben. Why gluten-free condoms then? Why the sudden shoot? Why are people craving for gluten-free products, especially gluten-free condoms now more than ever? Do condoms even have gluten in the first instance? What is gluten? Here are a few answers to the questions.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a major protein that is found in wheat, barley, some breads, pastas and cookies. While there are people out there that are not sensitive to it, others are and can be affected by the inclusion of gluten in their products of usage, but not adversely.
First of all, it may interest you to know that most condoms have always been gluten-free. The idea of labelling a condom gluten-free, is just a strategy by the company or manufacturer to get more sales. Now, more people are interested in getting a gluten-free condom from them and neglecting companies that they think their products are not gluten-free because they are not advertising them. In the case of gluten-free condoms, it’s just another marketing ploy to confuse people into believing the wrong thing.
Because the FDA classified condoms as medical devices, disclosing the ingredients in condoms are unnecessary. Because of these manufacturers are not required do this disclosure, consumers have no way of knowing whether their popular condom brand contains gluten or not. They simply believe what these brands say in the advertising billboards, newspapers, or TV.
Secondly, people do miss the idea behind a gluten-free condom. It’s not just about whether it’s gluten-free or not according to Co-founders of Lola, Alex Friedman and Jordan Kier, it’s about whether other lubricants are gluten-free. Gluten is used as an emulsifier and filler in some beauty care products and can be present in these lubricants in small quantities. If lotions, shampoos, and other beauty care products are really gluten-free, then it should be really devoid of all gluten because when it gets in contact with the skin, irritation and rashes is the order of the day.
Marketing ploy aside, gluten-free condoms are extremely helpful to people who are suffering from gluten allergy. For instance, less than 1% of the population has celiac disease according to Celiac Disease Center. Celiac disease is a autoimmune disease of the abdomen and coming in contact with a condom that has gluten will affect your health and sex life. Celiac disease makes the abdomen/small intestine hypersensitive to gluten. So exposing yourself to more gluten by using non-free gluten products will result in vomiting, abdominal pain, and possibly diarrhea. Other symptoms like itching and rashes around the penile region and mouth are common manifestations if you come in contact with gluten or lubricants that has gluten. For example, a condom.
While the number of people diagnosed with celiac disease remained consistent from five years from 2009-2014, there has been an increase in the number of gluten-free products around the globe. For example, in America alone, the number of users of gluten-free products rose to nearly 60% in 2015. As for gluten-free condoms, the demand has risen significantly in the last few years. That accounts for the rise in price of these condoms. For example, a 12 pack of Lola’s gluten-free condoms retail at a premium price of $11, which makes them more expensive than other non-advertised organic condoms.
Besides, candida which is a disease that is present most times in people with celiac disease, has a characteristic symptom of red rash around the abdomen and penile region. Since there is a chance of taking that thing up in your mouth or eating her up, you need to take gluten-free condoms seriously to avoid mouth disease and infections.
What’s next for gluten-free condoms?
So the main point here is, there has never been any gluten in condoms. It’s just a marketing strategy to lure consumers into buying more gluten-free condoms. The question to ask is whether the lubricants used are gluten-free or not? Like earlier explained, using a lubricant with gluten will increase the chances of having itches and rash. If it happens that you put condoms in your mouth, you are likely to develop candida. So whether you are gluten sensitive or not, using any condom is safe as far as you use it before the expiration date and store them the right way. Deepak Kapoor, MD and President of Advanced Urology Centers of New York stated that it’s more important for people to ensure that they store condoms properly and use them before their expiration date. As regards to the storage, he said that condoms shouldn’t be carried around in the wallet or pocket, because they can undergo degradation over time.
It’s important to note that there are no further benefits of being placed in a gluten-free diet or using a gluten-free products. A number of studies suggests that weight loss is one of those benefits of using a gluten-free product, but it’s unproven and totally fabricated. Gluten-free products are just as normal as any other product you see in the market, aside from the fact that they are unnecessarily more expensive.
Finally, whether you are gluten sensitive or not, using a viable condom product is just the subject of focus. As far as you want to have safe sex and prevent pregnancy, ensure you use a condom that has been taken care of.
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