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A gluten free diet is great for those who have celiac or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. But these days, several people are choosing a gluten-free lifestyle not out of necessity, but because they think it is healthier way to eat. People who chose to go gluten free (like myself) do so because they consider it to be a healthier, more natural way of eating. Their reasons for avoiding gluten-free lifestyle range from reducing inflammation to losing weight.
Following a gluten-free diet in a healthy way, it is an excellent way to reduce inflammation and lose weight. Although, gluten free doesn’t always equal healthy. Eating a gluten-free diet does not mean a person has to give up fast food. Top gluten-free products people were purchasing included crackers, pasta, bread, cereal, cookies, and pizza. If something is gluten free doesn’t mean that it’s a health food, nor is it a free pass to eat as much of it as you want.
So the million dollar question is…how do you do gluten free to improve your health?
- Eat Whole Foods That Are Naturally Gluten Free – A healthy gluten- free diet is really not hard to follow. Eat a lot of vegetables and a little fruit, naturally-raised meats, pasture-raised eggs and dairy. Also, healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds.
- Limit Processed Gluten-Free Foods – A survey on 1,000 people, 63 percent or respondents thought that following a gluten-free diet would improve physical or mental health. However, they were substituting the gluten-containing versions of pasta, bread, cookies, and pizza with gluten free and viewing “gluten-free” as a free pass to eat as many of these foods as you’d like , you are not going to reap the health benefits of a natural foods gluten-free diet. These processed foods are not necessarily healthier than their gluten-filled counterparts.
Lastly, if you are avoiding gluten because of celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. These foods do not promote healing in the gut. The majority of corn and soy grown in this country is also genetically modified. Genetically modified foods can worsen intestinal damage.
Personally, I have to follow a gluten free diet to manage my IBS symptoms. When I don’t feel like cooking I will order my gluten -free meals from Sun basket. This company has several meal plans to meet different health conditions. I also follow a low carb diet to prevent diabetes.
