One of the most common reasons why people eat a gluten-free diet is because of celiac disease. This is a medical condition that makes it difficult to digest gluten. However, even if you do not have celiac disease, there are other health reasons why you might want to consider this type of eating lifestyle.
This quick guide will help answer the questions, “Why do people eat gluten free products?”
What Is Gluten?
In order to know what is gluten free, let’s firstly discuss what is gluten.
Gluten is a term used to describe a group of proteins. These proteins are often found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye, which are often used to make bread and pasta. Some people react badly to gluten and need to be on a gluten-free diet.
5 Reasons to Follow a Gluten-Free Diet Today
Here are some reasons why you might want to consider gluten-free eating.
Wheat Allergy
If you have a wheat allergy, cutting out all gluten can help you from having an accidental allergic reaction. Wheat is also one of the top allergens in the world.
Inflammation
If you deal with a lot of inflammation, cutting out gluten can help. Gluten and many grains will aggravate inflammation, making it worse over time.
Common types of inflammation include arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other conditions. Eliminating gluten can help reduce daily inflammation and the pain that’s associated with inflammation.
Thyroid Problems
Recent studies have found a link between gluten and thyroid issues. Moving to a gluten-free diet can help to reduce common symptoms associated with thyroid disease.
Healthier Eating
Cutting out gluten can also simply help you to eat healthier. Many of the types of food that contain gluten are also not nutrient dense.
These types of foods can fill you up without actually feeding you. The result is that you will find yourself feeling hungry again very quickly. Gluten-containing foods are burned up very quickly in the body, which leaves you wanting more.
Not including gluten in your lifestyle will encourage you to eat more foods that are nutrient dense.
Gluten Sensitivity
Many people are sensitive to gluten, and they do not have celiac disease. This means that gluten makes you feel bad or ill, but it does not necessarily make you sick like it would for someone with celiac disease.
If you think you have gluten sensitivity, you can easily test yourself by cutting out gluten containing foods for a few days and seeing how you feel.
Gluten-Free Eating
Eating a gluten-free diet is easier today because more and more manufacturers are making gluten-free food available. This helps those who wish to be gluten-free to choose from a bigger variety of foods.
You should be aware that there are plenty of foods that are naturally gluten-free. It is best to choose these types of unprocessed gluten-free foods, rather than foods that have had gluten removed through processing because of the risk of cross-contamination.