Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, barley, and rye.
For some people, gluten can be extremely harmful and cause health problems like Celiac disease. Others may not have any health issues with gluten, but still choose to avoid it because they feel better when they do. If you are thinking about cutting gluten out of your diet, here are some reasons why you should consider it too.
Gluten and digestive problems
If you have Celiac disease, gluten will damage the lining of your small intestine and prevent it from absorbing nutrients properly. This can lead to a host of other health problems, including malnutrition, anemia, osteoporosis, and even cancer.
Have you ever noticed that you feel tired and bloated after eating a lot of bread or pasta? That’s because gluten is actually causing inflammation in your body
Although serious, Celiac disease is relatively rare, however even if you don’t have Celiac disease, gluten can still cause digestive problems like bloating, gas, inflammation, and diarrhea, and make conditions such as leaky gut even worse. Have you ever noticed that you feel tired and bloated after eating a lot of bread or pasta? That’s because gluten is actually causing inflammation in your body. This can lead to fatigue and brain fog.
Gluten and disease
Autoimmune diseases are conditions where your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. Some research suggests that gluten may play a role in triggering or worsening autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and lupus. If you have an autoimmune disease, cutting out gluten should be high on your list to help manage these conditions.
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests there is a link between gluten and mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. This may be due to the fact that gluten can cause inflammation in the brain which could make symptoms worse. Mental health problems are complex by nature, however improving overall nutrition and reducing gluten can be an important part of recovery.
Even though gluten is hard to avoid, fortunately there are so many gluten free food options now, that cutting out gluten is easier than ever. And, with all of the health benefits, it’s definitely worth it!