A Gluten Free Diet

There Are Many Benefits To Eliminating Gluten

Mar 30, 2009
Cheryl Heppard

Gluten free living - Cheryl Heppard

Gluten free diets have become very popular for many reasons. Some people must eliminate it from their diets, while many people should avoid gluten for other reasons.

Gluten is the protein part of wheat, spelt, rye, barley, most oats, and other related grains. Gluten intolerance is the inability to digest or break down gluten. This condition can range from a mild sensitivity to full blown celiac disease. The skin disorder called dermatitis herpetiformis, which causes a chronic itchy rash of bumps and blisters, is also linked to gluten allergies. The gluten-free diet must be strictly followed by sufferers of celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis.

Some People Have to Adapt To Diets Without Gluten

Around ½% of the world's population is Celiac. This means 1 in 200 people. Some people are not celiac, but have intolerance to gluten. Some studies show gluten intolerance to be around 30 times more prevalent than celiac disease. Up to 15% of people or 1 in 7 are gluten sensitive and suffer the same symptoms. These are people who test negative or inconclusive for celiac disease. They are known as Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive (NCGS). Symptoms include gastro-intestinal issues, headaches, mouth ulcers, weight gain or weight loss, poor immunity to disease, and skin problems like dermatitis and eczema.

Who Should Avoid Gluten?

According to some celiac specialist researchers, everyone has some reaction to gluten, but non-celiacs recover quickly. Many people report feeling better on a gluten free diet. Studies have found that a gluten free diet significantly decreases allergy symptoms among children. Some medical practitioners believe that gluten-free diets benefit other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, ADD/ADHD, autism, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, thyroid disease and other autoimmune disorders. Many people also find that weight loss programs are much more effective one gluten is eliminated from the diet. It is interesting to note that many people who live in gluten free households due to a family members allergy, find that they have improvements in their own health conditions once their own diets transition to being gluten free as well.

Changing Your Diet

Sticking to a gluten-free diet is not easy. Grains are used in many foods, especially processed foods, which everyone should avoid despite gluten intolerances. It is often difficult to determine by an ingredient’s name what may be in it, so it is easy to eat gluten despite the best of intentions. Gluten is used in unexpected ways, for example as a stabilizing agent or thickener in foods, in over-the-counter or prescription medications and vitamins. Also, cosmetics such as lipstick, lip balm, and chapsticks may contain gluten.

A diagnosis of celiac disease, or even gluten intolerance, requires careful changes in your routine, but you can still live your life. Many of the diet guidelines are ones that everyone should adhere to for a healthy lifestyle. Sticking to a diet of whole, fresh, unprocessed foods eliminates any worry about confusing and hidden ingredients and offers a healthy way of life.

Cheryl Heppard of Michigan Health Coach, Cheryl Heppard

Cheryl Heppard - Cheryl Heppard lives Michigan where she is a board certified holistic health counselor and also a business and marketing coach for health ...

Comments

Apr 12, 2010 9:04 AM

Guest :

I agree with everything except the "sticking with a gluten free diet is not easy" statement. It is VERY simple and easy if you do it right. You just need to be MINDFUL. I do agree that it's hard to avoid in conventional processed food, but there is even processed gluten free food out there now, which is become more available in conventional grocery stores.

May 5, 2010 5:55 AM

Guest :

i'm going to try going gluten free for a week. i want to see if my digestion improves and my hands stop aching. also i'd like to drop a little weight so we'll see if this helps. sounds like gluten is basically bad for your body just like nitrates.

May 19, 2010 4:11 AM

Guest :

I'm 86. If I find I have celiac disease at my age, is it helpful to eliminate gluten.

Jun 12, 2010 4:53 PM

Guest :

I think it is true that most people have some sort of gluten intolerance. My fiance and I have both felt better since switching to a gluten-free, sugar-free diet (aka anti-inflammatory diet). I think following this kind of diet helps people to consider what they are putting in their bodies more than anything. It sure does help to eat less fast food and foods full of preservatives. It helps to incorporate fresh and raw veggies and fruits as well as more natural/ organic foods. I think the gluten-free diet is easier to follow now than it was in the past. I was surprised to find how many gluten-free food products are out there once I started looking. Some items I have to get from a whole foods or natural foods store but most is found at the regular grocery store. :)

Sep 7, 2010 10:54 PM

Guest :

I have also heard gluten may add significantly to cancer rates, but thus far I haven't seen any official research done. I do know a Marine friend who lived off of nothing but cup of noodles for 3 months and his gums rotted! I suppose eating only 1 type of food, no matter how healthy, may do that.

I have been gluten free for 2-3 weeks now, and eat much more balanced, healthy meals than before. I did this 1 week I started the Insanity workout routine, and I feel that my recovery from workouts is faster, and I feel more energetic. I would recommend to our other guest that you try the diet for more than 1 week if you want to see real results. It may take 1 year to really flush your body of most your gluten, and that's only if you burn off all your fat through rigorous exercise, which may be difficult seeing how your hands are aching. I wish you good luck with gluten free diets.

Dec 17, 2010 4:54 PM

Guest :

I often wish that someone would put together a fast food restaurant that didn't have any HFCS, gluten, simple carbs, Red #40, or anything that's bad for you. I'd gladly pay more for a spicy chicken combo that didn't lead to an $89,000 double bypass operation later on.

Jan 8, 2011 7:14 PM

Guest :

I have been gluten free for nearly a month and am amazed at the changes. Two days into this I quit having headaches (they were daily prior to going GF), I have dropped weight, not sure how much but definitely losing inches, I don't have the usual mid-afternoon energy slump, my focus while working is blowing me away, and I have lots of great and consistent energy.

7 Comments