These days, you’ve probably heard the term “gluten free” being thrown around quite a bit. You might have a relative who’s eating gluten free or you might see “gluten free” on the label of a food you’re eating. But what exactly is eating gluten free all about and why are people choosing to do it?
The fact of the matter is, not everyone who’s eating gluten free is choosing to do so—many people who have a gluten allergy or celiac disease are actually forced to adopt this diet, or else deal with the ramifications of ingesting gluten. The gluten free diet is one that comes with many restrictions, many of which come in the form of abstaining from pasta, breads, beer and just about anything with flour in it—but if you delve deeper into the gluten free lifestyle, you’ll find that there’s actually a lot of foods (especially processed foods) that contain wheat gluten as an additive.
So, back to the question at hand: who’s eating gluten free and why are they choosing to (or being forced to)?
- Gluten allergy sufferers: You can have a gluten allergy without having celiac disease, which simply means that your body has adverse reactions to gluten, but still might be able to process it properly. Some allergies include skin rash or inflammation of the joins—both of which tend to subside on a gluten free diet. So, for allergy sufferers, gluten free foods in Poplar Bluff, MO mean a relief from chronic discomfort!
- Celiac disease sufferers: When you have celiac disease, each time you try to ingest gluten, you’re actually damaging the villi in your intestines—sometimes to the point of destroying them entirely. For celiac sufferers, abstaining from gluten is paramount, to ensure good intestinal health and to help them lead a more normal life, free of any reactions their disease might incur, such as intense cramps or extreme lethargy.
- Natural food lovers: As mentioned above, many processed foods contain gluten in them in some way, shape or form. When you start looking at labels, you might wonder why! Why does something like pizza sauce have gluten in it—shouldn’t it just be tomatoes and seasoning? Many people follow this same train of thought, which leads them to eating naturally and when they do, they tend to leave behind processed grains and wheat entirely!
- Paleo dieters: If you’re on the paleo diet, you’re eating the basics: fruits, veggies and meat. This diet is all about eating the “raw materials” which means grains and wheat aren’t part of the equation! Low carb dieters are on this same train, since gluten free foods in Poplar Bluff, MO tend to be low in carbs and high in other things, like protein.
If you’re curious about gluten free foods and what it means to live gluten free, stop on by Bee Hive Natural Foods to learn more about gluten free foods in Poplar Bluff, MO! We’re happy to help you discover a whole new way to eat healthfully.