Gluten-Free Diet Benefits

One popular trend these days is the gluten-free diet. Where they used to be hard to find, more and more store shelves are filled with gluten-free products. Some people feel they should go gluten-free just because they've heard it's healthier, but haven't got a clue what it really means or why it is healthy.

Gluten is one type of protein that is found in many foods we eat every day. These foods include wheat, some grains, and cereals. Gluten is used to keep elasticity in foods during production. It is what helps to keep your bread chewy or helps other foods keep the texture we expect the foods to have.

All of the sudden the popularity of a gluten-free diet seems to have exploded. There also has been an increase in people who have been diagnosed with sensitivity to gluten and celiac disease. This has caused research from all types of physicians including nutritionists, weight-loss specialists, dietitians, and bariatric doctors.

A gluten-free diet does have several health benefits. These may include:

Improving your cholesterol levels

Improving digestive health

Boosting energy levels for those with an intolerance

Eliminating many foods from your diet that are unhealthy. There will be no breading so no fried foods are on a gluten-free diet. Desserts are also not allowed because of fat and sugar content.

Gluten-free diets also largely avoid most processed foods. These are known to be bad for you in many situations. There are many reasons you should avoid these foods, two of which are:

They are loaded with gluten and can be bad for you, especially in excess.

They contain many artificial flavors and chemicals that can be toxic and build up in your body over time.

Do you have to be gluten-free to be healthy? No. You do, however, have to be careful. The majority of the food you eat when you are on a gluten-free diet, are good for you and help with weight loss that is healthy. This is especially true if you diet is well balanced and has the essentials you should have - fat, carbs, and protein. Like any other foods, it's all about eating the right portion sizes and eating them in the right combinations. When eating starches, you want to make sure your gluten-free choices include quinoa, sweet potatoes, and rice (brown, not white).

Caution does need to be observed when it comes to the labels on the packaging for gluten-free foods. Sometimes the food that is labeled to be gluten free really isn't. You need to find brands you trust that make gluten-free versions and stick with it. You also want to know what replacements may be used and check the labels for them since the replacements may not necessarily be a healthy alternative.

Whether or not you choose a gluten-free diet or not is up to you. Remember, it's relatively new to your local supermarket and to you, so check labels carefully and research any ingredients you aren't sure of.