10 Surprising Benefits of a Gluten-Free Diet

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Removing Gluten Can Be Life Changing

You don’t have to be diagnosed with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity to reap the benefits of a gluten-free diet. In fact, everyone should try it. The benefits really are that good.

The top recommendation I received from my Naturopathic Doctor was to experiment with a gluten-free diet to decrease my intense seasonal allergies.

I ignored him at the time because I thought gluten-free was a fad diet or a fancy excuse to eat more meat.

My cousin has a gluten allergy, was miserably nauseous for years, and didn’t know why. Since her diagnosis her health has improved greatly and she has become an expert at spotting gluten from a mile away.

What I didn’t realize was that my doctor and my cousin knew something I did not: going gluten-free has more perks than I would have ever imagined.

What is Gluten?

In simple terms, gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. You see it most often in cereals, breads, and grains.

Gluten is great for keeping the elasticity in food intact while it is fermenting. Some companies also use gluten because it allows food products top stick together and become more chewy. (1)

Here are some surprising benefits to removing gluten from your diet.

10 Benefits of Going Gluten-Free

1. Improves cholesterol levels
2. Promotes digestive health
3. Increases energy levels
4. Eliminates unhealthy and processed foods from your diet (oils, fried food, breads, and desserts to name a few) (2)
5. More likely to eat fruits and vegetables because they are all gluten-free
6. Reduces your risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes
7. Helps ward off viruses and germs as many foods you will now eat will contain more antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals (3)
8. Promotes healthy weight-loss
9. Improves health of people with irritable bowl syndrome and arthritis
10. Distinctly improved awareness of foods that can have an adverse effect on your health

My Experiences Without Gluten

I have only recently begun my journey as an intentionally gluten-free man. I normally don’t consume many foods with gluten, but I have made a deliberate choice to substitute gluten-free foods into my diet where they did not exist before.

For example, I am now eating rice-based pasta, gluten-free sauces and spices, and avoiding all bread products whenever possible.

My diet typically consists of whole fruits and veggies, but the winter months pose quite the financial challenge for raw vegans, which has cornered me into making choices I normally would avoid.

Because of this reality, I desperately need to stay gluten-free while fresh fruits and veggies from the summer months are still so far away.

It’s a little early to tell if going gluten-free has reduced my allergy symptoms. I will follow-up with further details on my gluten-free experience in a few months.

What About You?

Have you experienced any surprising health benefits from going gluten-free?