Benefits of Having a Gluten Free Diet
by Michelle Ching
A gluten free diet is definitely a must for those people who are suffering from Celiac disease. Celiac disease is a chronic digestive disease in which the lining of the small intesting leads to the malabsorption of vital nutrients and minerals. If they don't remove gluten from their diet, their intestine will destroy itself and can even lead to premature death. A gluten free diet has to be free of wheat, barley, rye and any derivatives of such grains. Maintaining a gluten free diet can actually provide many health benefits, even for those of us without celiac disease or wheat allergies. Let me share to you the benefits of having a gluten free diet.
1. You get to reduce your intake of overly processed foods. Gluten is found in almost all processed foods. It's often masked by names such as shortening, stabilizer agent or thickener. So by reducing your intake of these foods, you may find yourself consuming more fresh and organic foods which are more beneficial to your overall health.
2. It helps eliminate digestive conditions such as diarrhea, cramping and constipation.
3. It helps eliminate bloating and excessive gas. Carbohydrates have the reputation of being the meanest gas producing food group. Cutting it down from your daily diet can significantly reduce digestive conditions associated with increased amounts of gas such as heartburn, hyperacidity, GERD and ulcer.
4. It helps you lose weight. A gluten free diet is low in carbohydrates which makes it very effective for those people who want to lose unwanted pounds.
5. It helps you cut down your sugar intake. This is very beneficial especially to those people who have diabetes.
6. It may help alleviate the symptoms of autism. Recent studies have shown that children with autism have difficulty digesting gluten. When they eat gluten rich foods, their gluteomorphine level, a protein byproduct in their blood, gets abnormally high causing the symptoms associated with autism to worsen.
7. Doctors believe that cutting off gluten in the diet can be beneficial in many medical conditions. People suffering from multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Down's syndrome and Neuromyelitis can alleviate symptoms associated with their disease.
One of the best ways to maintain a no gluten diet is to prepare your own meals from scratch. Most organic stores offer various gluten free products such as gluten free flour and other non gluten baking products so you can still enjoy the desserts that you've been used to. If you're not a kitchen person, there are also ready made gluten free products sold in such stores.
