Why Going Gluten-Free Can Improve Your Health
A gluten free diet is characterized by the absence of all wheat products and any gluten laden foods. What exactly are the foods that contain gluten? Why would you want to remove them from your diet? And what does a gluten free foods list look like? Let’s explore the reasons to utilize a gluten free diet and how to go about this undertaking.
You’re probably at least aware of gluten free diets and perhaps even know someone who is on such a regimen. There has become a wider spread understanding of the role that wheat products and other foods which contain gluten have on the gastrointestinal health of many people around the world.
The medical community is now beginning to recognize the existence of gluten sensitivities in many people, as well as the original reason to remove gluten products from your diet, that being celiac disease. Gluten sensitivities are often characterized by intestinal discomforts that range from bloating, gas, diarrhea, irritability and tiredness or fatigue.
What is gluten anyway?
Gluten, first off, is the protein part of wheat, rye, and barley; and can also easily be found in many other foods such as: prepackaged rice mixes, potato chips, hard candies, sauces, puddings, prepared cold meats and sausages, flavored tortilla chips, et cetera. The list of foods potentially utilizing gluten or gluten contaminated products is extensive. You will want to obtain a gluten free foods list to have handy at all times.
People with celiac disease, gluten sensitivities, and even children with ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorders are finding that adhering to a gluten free diet has brought about an incredible change in their lives.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease affecting 1 in 133 Americans. It is a disease which damages the small intestine’s lining where the majority of nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream, which in turn decreases the viable nutrients being utilized by the entire body.
The specific causes of celiac disease are currently unknown but it is agreed upon that heredity does play a big part in whether you may be affected by this disease. Celiac disease can be triggered by pregnancy, illness, or extreme stress.
Gluten sensitivity in people is often determined by similar symptoms as those noted for celiac disease, but there has been a negative result from blood tests for celiac disease. People with gluten sensitivity will generally have consulted with their physician who will have done a complete workup, medical history, and run allergy testing. A person still may not show actual allergic sensitivities or reactions to wheat on a standard allergen test.
Providing a gluten free diet to children with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders is receiving a wider acceptance and understanding by the general communities involved in the welfare, health, and treatment of these children. The studies have not been conclusive at this time, but the evidence of the actual results with many children is well worth exploring deeper.
There is currently an understanding that some children with autism and other diagnoses such as ADHD have difficulty in digesting gluten. The proteins contained in gluten products, when not digested properly or fully, can form by-products which act like a drug or opiate in the body. This change in the proper usage of the protein by the body can cause an alteration in the child’s behavior, perceptions, and responses to normal environmental stimuli.
Parents of children with autism who have tried a gluten free diet for their child have reported mild to significant improvements in behavior, speech, and other characterizations of autism in their child. When you have an understanding of how the proteins in gluten work, how the lack of absorption or malabsorption can dramatically affect a person’s basic functioning, this approach to remove gluten from a diet is an option.
When the doctor says, “It’s time to go gluten free.”
If removing gluten from your diet becomes an option you and your physician feel is a necessity for your health, you must avoid all foods which contain gluten. Now, this starts off as meaning all foods containing wheat, barley, or rye. There are a lot of grains that contain these three ingredients of which pastas, cereals and prepackaged foods are only the tip of the iceberg here.
Fortunately, there are more products becoming available in the marketplace which cater to people needing to respect a gluten free diet. You will find that there are many different types of breads, pastas, cereals, crackers, and other staple foods that are made with gluten free grains and can be found in your local grocery store. With a little research (and help from us!), you’ll see how uncovering gluten free snacks gets real easy with a little practice.
Eating a gluten free diet is a major lifestyle change and once you find out whether you will benefit from such a regimen, it will clearly be a lifelong practice for your health. If you suffer from celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or intolerance, or have a child with autism spectrum disorder, following a gluten free diet can stop the symptoms in a very short span of time, instigate the healing process for current intestinal damage, and prevent further damage from occurring.
Once you’ve talked with your physician and/or dietician to discuss the potential dietary changes, you will want to obtain a gluten free foods list and a thorough understanding of what to watch out for and how to best utilize the information available to you.
