Gluten-free food is often seen—by those who don’t understand it—as a passing fad that’s the preserve of those who are fanatical about their health. In fact, this could not be further from the truth. For many, eating gluten-free foodstuffs is a necessity, without which they could become seriously ill.
So, what’s the truth about gluten-free food exactly? This guide will take you through everything you need to know, from why it’s necessary to some of its benefits. Read on to find out more.
What Is Gluten and Why Is It Bad?
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Gluten refers to proteins that are found in the grains wheat, rye, barley. Gluten is found in a range of foods and drinks. Beer, oatmeal, bread, pizza, pasta, and cereals are only some of the foods that usually contain this protein.
Despite the fact that it doesn’t provide any nutrients to the human body, on its surface, gluten isn’t inherently bad, per se. The problem with gluten lies in the fact that a sizable chunk of the world’s population is either intolerant or allergic to it. Gluten intolerance affects around 0.5% of the world’s population, but that number is currently on the rise.
Those who are gluten-intolerant may experience symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation, bloating, headaches, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, and more. It’s in recognition of this portion of the population that gluten-free foods have become more and more popular over the past several years.
What Are Some Gluten-Free Food Advantages?
Eating gluten-free food offers a lot of advantages. Obviously, for those who have a diagnosed allergy or intolerance to gluten, they are absolutely essential to maintain even a normal quality of life.
However, there are many more individuals that may have an undiagnosed gluten allergy, or who may only have a mild intolerance. For these people, it is also best to avoid gluten altogether, to avoid developing the aforementioned symptoms.
As well as this, gluten-free foods are often by nature healthier than other types of foods, as items that are gluten-free are also often vegan or organic, as well.
If you suspect you may suffer from a gluten intolerance or allergy, but you’re unable to have it tested, you should try to avoid foods with gluten if possible.
A Gluten-Free Food Guide
Avoiding gluten used to be a lot tougher. But thankfully, with all of the amazing gluten-free products available, it’s not so difficult any longer.
It’s now possible to buy gluten-free bread, pizzas, pasta, cereals, pastries—there’s even gluten free protein powder. Many supermarkets have entire gluten-free sections, and restaurants have special gluten-free menus. If you think you need to avoid gluten, these days, you should find it to be pretty easy, actually.
Gluten Free-Food Tips
We hope you’ve found these gluten-free food tips useful. We also have one more: be careful, gluten is often lurking where you least expect it, so read labels with care! If you’re looking for more food-related tips or tricks, check out the rest of our content now.
