What Does Gluten Free Mean?

If you are a health fanatic, you might have heard about Gluten-free diets or foods. Have you ever wondered about the actual meaning of Gluten-free? What does gluten-free mean?

Which foods contain gluten? and many other questions are answered in this blog. Let’s find out the answers!

What do You Mean by Gluten?

What Does Gluten-Free Mean – What do You Mean by Gluten

Before getting to the main point, we must understand gluten. Gluten is a structural protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, etc.

Gluten is not ideal for people with celiac disease and for that reason, doctors advise them to follow a gluten-free diet only.

The gluten-free diet is not recommended only for those with celiac disease but for those with certain medical conditions due to this type of protein. Gluten-free diets have many benefits that we will discuss in this post.

A gluten-free diet can affect your body’s intake of proteins, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. Therefore, you must understand gluten-free diets and their effects on your body.

What Does Gluten-Free Mean?

Gluten in our body is good but in a limited amount. If it is over limits, it starts showing its symptoms.

The Food and Drug Administration Department now labels gluten-free foods so consumers can check the type of food before buying.

Gluten-free foods don’t have barley, wheat, rye, or crossbreeds of these three grains.

Some foods are derived from these grains without removing the gluten from them. Such foods are also avoidable if your physician prescribes a gluten-free diet.

Foods not derived from these grains are gluten-free, such as vegetables, fruits, eggs, etc. Gluten-free foods are labeled gluten-free whenever you buy them at the grocery store or market.

In other words, a gluten-free diet is free from gluten, no gluten, and without gluten. These are the labels of gluten-free foods, which you can see on the foods that don’t have gluten in them.

If foods are not labeled gluten-free or with any other tagline, you can contact the manufacturer and ask them to show you the data and records for the food.

You can even check the manufacturer’s website to learn about the food, its ingredients, its nutrients, and whether it is gluten-free.

Why Should People Avoid the Consumption of Gluten?

What Does Gluten-Free Mean – Why should people avoid the consumption of gluten?

There are many reasons why your doctor advised you to go gluten-free and consume foods free from gluten. Here are the details about why people should avoid consuming gluten.

If your body shows specific symptoms, you might be advised to follow a gluten-free diet. The reasons listed below will help you quickly treat such conditions by adopting a gluten-free diet.

Reason 1: Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease is a life-threatening disease as it directly affects your immune system. Celiac diseases show primary symptoms such as bloating, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, tiredness, etc.

If you are suffering from celiac disease and consume gluten, your body starts showing you the above-listed symptoms. When you stop eating gluten, your gut starts healing itself and you will feel much better.

Celiac diseases can only be treated with this method. There are no medications present on the market that can heal your gut while consuming gluten. You have to go gluten-free to treat celiac disease.

Reason 2: Wheat Allergy

Wheat is the king of grains, and we all consume various foods made from it. Its components include starches, fat, carbohydrates, proteins, and more.

Wheat Allergy and Gluten Allergy are different. We eat wheat to provide our bodies with carbohydrates and other components, not only gluten.

People with wheat allergy experience stomach pain, rashes, etc., upon consuming wheat or other foods made from wheat. Since wheat contains gluten, your doctor will advise you to follow a gluten-free diet.

Reason 3: Gluten Intolerance

Some people are sensitive to gluten. Gluten-intolerant people are also advised not to consume gluten or any other food items that are not labeled gluten-free or without gluten.

Gluten Intolerance people experience the same symptoms as people who are suffering from celiac disease.

However, the risk of damaging the small intestine is rare in this condition. It’s a general health condition that doesn’t damage your intestine.

What Should I Eat? – Gluten-Free Foods

What Does Gluten-Free Mean – What Should I Eat – Gluten-Free Foods

Gluten-free foods can help you in many ways. It energizes your body and usually helps your metabolism function. It also changes your mood and encourages you to be positive.

We recommend the following foods if you ask us what I should eat to go gluten-free. They are healthy, delicious, and readily available. Explore the list and pick the one that you like the most!

Carbs

Wheat and other grains that contain gluten are whole of carbs. However, you can get natural carbs from many foods listed below.

Vegetables
Fruits
Potatoes
Fish
Raisins
Rice
Millet
Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Beans
Dried Dates
Quinoa

Protein

Foods full of proteins and are gluten-free are listed below:

Poultry
Fish
Meat
Egg
Low-fat Milk

Fats

Fats can help heal you from excessive gluten intake in the past. If you start consuming the fats listed below, you can recover from celiac disease faster.

Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
Coconut Milk
Avocado
Cheese
Seeds
Nuts
Butter
Cream
Olives
Yogurt

Foods to Avoid while Following Guten-free Diet

If you are advised to follow a gluten-free diet, avoid the foods listed below.

Wheat and other products made from wheat flour, such as baker items, cakes, bread, etc.
Rye
Barley
Granola

The Bottom Line:

A gluten-free diet is good for everyone, as it keeps the body healthy. Limiting gluten intake can also help you feel energetic.

A gluten-free diet improves your metabolism and encourages the small intestine to consume nutrients faster from your food.

You can prepare various recipes using the other food items listed above. Each item in all three groups is readily available, so following a gluten-free diet will be no issue.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you should limit your gluten intake, and you will see changes in yourself.