All About How A Gluten-Free Diet Can Benefit Your Health
Going on a gluten-free diet is far from unheard of. You might recall a few years back when gluten became widely shunned by the public. Until now, people are still interested in doing away with this protein over personal health reasons. And if you’re one of them, then you’ve come to the right place. Read on to know more about the science behind why your body might be better off without gluten.
1. Gluten is Linked to Autoimmune Diseases
Existing studies linked gluten intake with the development and worsening of several autoimmune conditions. (1)
To understand why we need to take a look at the celiac disease. It’s an autoimmune condition that damages the small intestine’s lining in those who have it. Consuming gluten triggers its symptoms. Other autoimmune diseases share common genes as celiac. (2) So it makes sense that those with non-celiac autoimmune conditions benefit greatly from going completely gluten-free. (3)
2. Going Gluten-Free is Good for Those with Non-Celiac Diseases
People with certain diseases that aren’t related to celiac can also benefit from a gluten-free diet. (4) This includes those who suffer from the following conditions:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Endometriosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Schizophrenia
In those who have IBD and IBS in particular, gluten wreaks havoc on the large intestine by disrupting healthy gut bacteria. (5) Take our word for it. Gluten is literally gut-wrenching!
3. Your Body Might Not Tolerate Gluten at All
Some people suffer from varying degrees of gluten intolerance. This includes:
- Celiac Disease (previously mentioned)
- Wheat Allergy
More common in children than in adults, this allergy causes an irregular immune response to proteins found in wheat. (6) Symptoms can range from mild to severe and are triggered by consuming wheat or inhaling particles of wheat flour. - Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS)
NCGS is a condition where you can experience symptoms of gluten intolerance that are unrelated to celiac disease — including intestinal symptoms, headaches, joint pain, and fatigue. (7)
A gluten-free diet relieves symptoms of gluten intolerance.
4. A Gluten-Free Diet Helps You Cut Back on Processed Food
Most foods that contain gluten are highly processed with little to no nutritional value. Not only that, but these are also high in sodium, carbs, refined sugar, and refined grains. This includes candies, breakfast cereals, cookies, crisps, canned meats, and others. Regular processed food consumption wreaks havoc on your health.
5. Avoiding Gluten Promotes a Nutritious Diet
If you’re going gluten-free, you’ll have to avoid grains and gluten food products. But you won’t have trouble missing out on the nutrients that these contain, including zinc, fiber, iron, B vitamins, and potassium. A diet consisting of nutrient-dense food like fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats can easily make up for it.
Lower Your Risk of Developing Autoimmune Diseases with a Balanced Diet
Protect yourself from autoimmune diseases by adopting healthy eating habits. Consider opting for healthy gluten-free alternatives for better health. Find out more about keeping your immune system in check at BoostYourImmuneSystem.org.
