‘Healthy living’ and ‘living your best life’ are catchphrases you hear regularly these days. And yes, they are worthwhile goals to have. The only problem: there are many opinions on what ‘health’ and ‘best’ actually refer to. Also, each person is unique so you need to accept that what works for a friend may not work for you. Your best approach is to educate yourself so you can make informed decisions for your lifestyle, such as which is the best gluten free beer to consume.
When it comes to health, gluten is a buzzword, or rather ‘gluten free’ is what everyone is talking about. Let’s give you a summary of the facts on this topic. Gluten-free living may just be what helps you enjoy better days than before.
What is a Gluten Free Diet?
You can have a gluten-free diet by avoiding certain types of food; the ones containing gluten.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein, but it is a very unique compound. It’s actually the only protein that your body won’t digest. In most people, it will simply pass through your digestive tract and be expelled.
Gluten plays the role of a binding agent and its presence gives elasticity to food like pizza or bread dough.
What Should You Avoid During a Gluten-Free Diet?
If you cut out the following ingredients, you’ll avoid most of the gluten in your current diet:
- Wheat
- Rye
- Spelt
- Barley
- Certain oats
This means you need to avoid food items such as cereals, bread, cake, pretzels and pasta, unless they’re specifically marked as gluten-free.
Who Should Follow a Gluten-Free Diet?
Since most people’s digestive systems can handle gluten without side effects, you may not need to follow a strict gluten-free diet for medical reasons. Still, some experts argue that there are benefits for all who cut out gluten from their meal plans.
For certain groups of people, cutting out gluten becomes a non-negotiable part of life. Gluten can have dire outcomes if you suffer from one of the following conditions:
- Celiac disease: Your body will view gluten as threatening and attack those proteins. In the process the lining of the gut can also get damaged, which has other consequences such as inefficient nutrients in your system. This is an auto-immune disease.
- IBS: With this chronic condition you’ll experience symptoms like cramping and constipation if you eat the wrong ingredients. Gluten-containing wheat products could be one of the culprits.
- Gluten sensitivity: This condition still leads to discomfort even though you’re not diagnosed as having celiac disease.
- Allergic to wheat: Someone with a wheat allergy often benefits from following a gluten-free diet.
- Gluten ataxia: Another autoimmune disease that can even impact muscle functioning.
Benefits of a Gluten-Free Diet
Experts believe, cutting out gluten can help attain the following goals, even for people without underlying conditions such as IBS:
- Fewer digestive problems
- Less inflammation in the gut
- Having more energy
- Easier weight loss
A Gluten-Free Diet Plan in Practice
Does that seem a bit gloomy? Did your list of ingredients for meal plans shrink substantially?
Perhaps one of the biggest obstacles these days is that people aren’t aware of the many options they have to compile meals. You may tend to stick to what you know, meanwhile missing out on very tasty alternatives.
What Can You Eat?
To compile a gluten free diet plan, you can have fun including the following:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Unprocessed beans and other legumes
- Lean meat, preferably unprocessed
- Dairy, as long as it’s low-fat
- Certain grains, including:
- Soy
- Tapioca
- Buckwheat
- Rice
- Quinoa
- Sorghum
- Corn, if it’s labelled gluten free
So, there’s no reason for boring mealtimes!
Good News for Anyone on a Gluten Diet
Here comes even better news for anyone planning to follow this diet. Thanks to the increasing popularity of gluten-free diets, you’ll find many more appropriate options on today’s food shelves compared to a few years ago.
Entrepreneurs and major food manufacturers cater for people with allergies or conditions. They provide gluten-free options of all your favourite ingredients, including flour, so you can keep on baking those cakes you love. Or perhaps it’s gluten-free beer that will make you smile when you notice it in the store?
No reason to give up on your favourite treats any time soon!
In Summary
The good news is that these days no diet or new lifestyle needs to be boring. Simply opt for a gluten-free beer or a keto smoothie and your days will still be filled with all the flavours you love.
Do you have any more questions on this topic or another diet? Or perhaps you have advice for others wanting to live their best lives? Please share and let’s talk.
