Few years ago, the gluten free diet has been recognized as the only treatment for celiac disease, but these days, more and more people are adopting this specific diet with the hopes of alleviating abdominal pain, chronic fatigue and weight loss. More and more people free of gluten sensitivity or celiac disease are cutting gluten in their diet and swear by the benefits it has to offer. But is gluten-free diet truly a help or just a hype?
What is Gluten-Free Diet?
Gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes food containing the protein gluten. Gluten is a protein found in grains such as barley, rye and wheat. In celiac disease, gluten causes inflammation in the small intestine, so a gluten-free diet will manage this disease and prevent further complications.
Why Choose Gluten Free Diet?
Gluten free is more than just a craze. This health trend became popular among non-gluten sensitive people for many reasons.
On the extreme side, there’s Celiac disease, a disorder where there is severe negative reaction to gluten. But, this is only one of the many food intolerances often experienced nowadays. Lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance and other common food allergies are usually the signs of a compromised digestive health. Our digestive system is exposed every day to a plethora of substances that can stress out our system, which is designed to digest and enjoy whole, natural, unprocessed foods.
If you are suffering from a weakened digestive system, consuming gluten may cause many problems. The most common source of gluten is wheat, but it is also found in barley and rye. Grains containing gluten take a huge part in most of our diets, from bread, cookies and cakes to cereals and pastas – the list goes on and on.
If you are experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, gas and bloating after eating, poor concentration, fuzzy brain and aching joints, you may be intolerant to gluten. Gluten intolerance can be confirmed through blood tests or by doing gluten free diet for at least one week to find out if you feel any relief from these symptoms.
What are the Benefits of Gluten-Free?
With the rising prevalence of gluten sensitivity and celiac disease, the thought of a gluten free diet has incited many physicians and health experts to do research on the benefits of gluten-free.
A gluten-free diet offers several health benefits such as promoting digestive health, improving blood cholesterol levels and increasing energy levels. If you decided to follow a gluten-free diet, you are actually taking out a group of foods that may not necessarily be healthy. Fried foods will be eliminated due to the breading. Desserts that are high in fat and sugar would also be eliminated completely.
With a gluten-free diet, you would likely put more emphasis on fruits and vegetables since they are some of the food sources that are nearly completely gluten-free.
By following a gluten free diet, you are also removing unhealthy fats from your diet, including unhealthy carbohydrates found in breads and pastry products. Eliminating gluten will lower the risk of heart disease, chronic diseases such as diabetes and certain cancers. Gluten-free foods will also support the immune system because they contain high amounts of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Also, many of the gluten-free foods help promote weight loss, but only with the right proportions and combinations.
Read the labels and be cautious. There are plenty of confusions regarding gluten-free. Some products claim to be gluten-free where in fact, they’re not. Beware of replacements and always pay attention to the labels.
