Why Live Gluten Free?

As gluten free products line more and more shelves in the grocery store, consumers are starting to question their consumption of gluten and whether or not gluten is a healthy item to have as part of their daily diet. People who have celiac disease don’t have much of a choice when it comes to eliminating gluten from their diet but other people who can tolerate gluten might want to consider it because of some unexpected benefits. Let’s explore, in this post.

Why Live Gluten Free?

What is Gluten

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and a cross between wheat and barley called triticale. About 1% of the population really needs diets that are totally gluten-free. They have celiac disease and gluten can cause damage to the lining of the small intestines. Another 6% of the population has a milder reaction to the gluten which can cause gastrointestinal distress.  The rest of the population should have no problem digesting gluten products.

RELATED: Signs You Have Gluten Intolerance

The Inability To Digest Wheat

People who have a gluten intolerance understand the importance of why to live gluten free, but there are benefits for others as well. The human body does not have the ability to fully digest wheat whether an immune response is present or not. As the undigested wheat remains in the gut it begins to ferment and will produce gas which can be very uncomfortable.

Inflammation

Wheat creates a lot of inflammation in the body as it is rapidly converted to sugar once it has been consumed. Not only does the body’s insulin levels rise quickly but a quick burst of inflammation occurs to the cells in the body. This can result in a number of other problems.

RELATED: Wheat Free vs Gluten Free – What’s the Difference?

Leaky Gut Syndrome

When something you consume leaks into the bloodstream, this can result in leaky gut syndrome. Wheat can cause this transfer into the bloodstream for not only gluten but other items that are consumed.

RELATED: Heal Your Gut! Diet Tips for Leaky Gut Syndrome

Quality Matters

For people who do eat gluten but consume it in a very processed and refined manner, there really is no nutritional value involved. During the process of manufacturing wheat, many nutrients have to be added back in, artificially, because the process basically removes everything healthy that you would find in a whole grain product.

Common Allergen

As one of the top eight food allergies, gluten is an allergic trigger for many people. Not everyone is immediately diagnosed with celiac disease and may never be for one reason or another, but gluten consumption can result in an increase in allergies overall including seasonal allergies.

For people with celiac disease, eliminating gluten from the diet is imperative. For other people, eliminating gluten can still bring about a lot of benefits that result in feeling better overall. As long as a person’s diet is chosen carefully, all of the essential nutrients needed on a daily basis can be achieved without consuming gluten.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material provided on this Site is provided for information purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, before undertaking any diet, exercise, other health program, or other procedure set out on this Site.