THE PERFECT TIME TO JOIN
50% OFF MEMBERSHIP

We use cookies to provide and improve our services. By using our site, you consent to cookies.

Cookie Image

What Are the REAL Benefits of a Gluten-Free Diet? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

The growing gluten-free trend has received a bad rap, seen as bourgeois . . . not to mention a complete nuisance to pastry chefs worldwide. So, what is gluten anyway? And why are so many people banishing gluten from their diets and beauty cabinets?
 

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a type of protein that is found in many foods, including wheat, barley, rye, and some oats. Gluten is added to foods to maintain their elasticity during the fermentation phase of food production. Without gluten, foods like bread wouldn’t be “chewy” and would have a sticky, crumbly texture instead.
 

Gluten Allergies: An Overview

According to Livescience, researchers revealed that between 2009-2014, the rate of celiac disease diagnoses remained steady. Yet, researchers noted that the number of Americans without celiac disease who adopted gluten-free diets steadily grew.
 
Not sure if gluten impacts your health? Gain insight into your health – and your gut – with this Simple, Holistic, and Practical Guide to Healthy Digestion.
 
Whether gluten intolerance, or distaste for processed food, is responsible for this trend, it is clear that the gluten-free fad is here to stay. Here are the two main types of gluten allergies:
 

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes people to not be able to digest gluten normally. If someone with celiac disease eats gluten, it will attach to the small intestine and cause digestive issues, including bloating, weight loss, and diarrhea.
 

Gluten Intolerant

Some people don’t have a full-blown allergy to gluten, but they may be intolerant. Once gluten is removed from their diets – or even their beauty regimes – they see a reduction in inflammation, an increase in energy and vitality, and healthier skin.
 

3 Health Benefits of a Gluten-Free Lifestyle

Although research on the impacts of gluten is still underway, a gluten-free diet and lifestyle may lead to the following health benefits for some people:
 

Improved Digestion

If you suffer from digestive issues, you may notice a significant difference in your tummy troubles by eliminating gluten. If you have celiac disease, gluten causes inflammation in the small intestine. If you don’t have celiac, but you have gluten intolerance, gluten can cause abdominal cramping, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and other issues.
 

Reduced Inflammation

Small proteins called cytokines, released during an inflammation response, can cause inflammation in other body tissues, aside from the digestive system. Some individuals who have gluten intolerance can experience numb legs, muscle cramping, and joint pain by consuming gluten. By following a gluten-free diet, these issues could be reduced.
 
Continuing to consume gluten may cause chronic inflammation, which may lead to further pain and even cancer. Inflammation can also appear on the skin: following a gluten-free diet can improve skin conditions, including eczema.
 

Improved Mental Clarity

Have you ever felt brain fog? If you have, you may have been unable to focus, think, or get your thoughts out verbally. Following a gluten-free lifestyle may help you think and focus more easily. The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness states that people who have gluten sensitivity experience depression, brain fog, and headaches – all due to inflammation in the brain.
 

How to Replace Gluten in Your Diet (and Still Eat Your Favorite Foods)

Whether you are diagnosed with an allergy or just want to give it a try, giving up gluten can seem overwhelming at first. The best thing to do is focus on what you can eat, rather than what you can’t eat.
 
Concerned about how eating gluten free will impact your wallet? Read How to Be Gluten-Free on a Budget.
 

Gluten-Free Grain Alternatives to Try

Going gluten-free doesn’t mean that you don’t have options in the kitchen! There are many delicious, healthy grain alternatives. Here are 6 grain alternatives to try:

  1. Amaranth
  2. Buckwheat
  3. Millet
  4. Quinoa
  5. Sorghum
  6. Teff

 
The grains above are awesome alternatives to gluten-based grains. These ancient grains also pack powerful nutritional punches, including magnesium, protein, zinc, fiber, vitamin E, B vitamins, and more. Check out this helpful chart to learn more!
 

Gluten-Free-Table

Gluten Free Living

 
Keep in mind that just about anything that has gluten can be made gluten free. You don’t have to give up your wraps, bread, or even pasta. And yes, you can eat snickerdoodles and brownies! Get creative with the grains above to stay gluten free and eat your favorite food.
 

This article has been read 946 times. Share it and spread the love!

Comments

wonderful comments!

4 Facts You Didn't Know About Maintaining Healthy Digestion
This is one easy way to start on your journey to better digestive health. Upgrade your digestion the Ayurvedic way, and gain control of your health...
Read »

Heather Burdo

Heather is a freelance writer in New York. She has a passion for health and wellness, and has written for the Gluten-Free Living magazine and several doctors. Her second favorite niche is parenting, and she writes for Ecocentric Mom, Project Eve Moms, and others.

clippings.me

This Month's Letter
From the Editor

Monthly motivation and food for
thought from our founder.

READ THE LETTER
Mind, body & life wellness in your inbox.
iPhone

Get the
YA Classes App

No WiFi? No Problem! Download
classes and take them without an
internet connection.

2k+
Download YA Classes app on the Apple App Store
Download YA Classes app on the Google Play Store

Also available in Apple TV , Mac and Amazon apps.

Send this to a friend
Follow us on Close

Create Your FREE Account

Woohoo! You’re about to unlock unlimited articles, exclusive
community content, and select on-demand yoga and fitness classes.

OR USE THE FORM BELOW

Lost password?