If you are a health fanatic, you might have heard about Gluten-free diets or Gluten-free 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 we get to the main point, we must understand what does gluten mean? 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 the intake of proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients that are essential for your body. For that reason, you need to understand gluten-free diets and their effects on your body.
What Does Gluten-Free Mean?
The presence of 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 label foods gluten-free so that consumers can check the type of food before they buy.
Gluten-free foods are foods that 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 you are asked to follow a gluten-free diet by your physician.
Foods that are not derived from these grains are gluten-free such as vegetables, fruits, eggs, etc. Gluten-free foods are labeled with gluten-free on them whenever you go to buy them at the grocery store or market.
Some other words for a gluten-free diet is free from gluten, no gluten, without gluten- these are the labels of the gluten-free foods which you can see on the foods that don’t have gluten in them.
If foods are not labeled with gluten-free or any other tagline, you can contact the manufacturer and ask them to show you the data and records of the food.
You can even check the manufacturer’s website to know about the food, its ingredients, its nutrients, and whether the food is gluten-free or not.
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 you should know about why people should avoid consuming gluten.
You might be advised to follow a gluten-free diet if your body starts showing certain symptoms. The list of reasons listed below will help you treat such conditions easily by simply 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 up basic 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 a variety of foods made from wheat. If we talk about the components of wheat, it contains starches, fat, carbs, proteins, etc.
Wheat Allergy and Gluten Allergy are two different things. We eat wheat to provide carbs and other components to our body and 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, you will be advised to follow a gluten-free diet by your doctor.
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, in this condition, the risk of damaging the small intestine is rare. 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 helps your metabolism function normally. It also changes your mood and encourages you to be positive.
If you ask us what should I eat if I have to go gluten-free? Then we would recommend you eat the foods listed below. The foods listed below are healthy and delicious and are easily available. Explore the list, and pick the one which you like the most!
Carbs
Wheat and other grains that contain gluten are full 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 only, then you should 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 all types of people as it keeps your body healthy. When you limit the intake of gluten in your diet, you will start feeling energetic
. A gluten-free diet improves your metabolism system and encourages the small intestine to consume nutrients faster from the food you eat.
Thankfully, you can prepare a variety of recipes from other food items listed above. Each item from all three groups is easily available so there will be no issues following a gluten-free diet.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you should limit the intake of gluten in your body and you will see changes in yourself.
Reference links:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/
https://www.oola.com/everyday-life/
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/
https://www.foodsandnutrition.in/gluten-free
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-meaning-of-gluten-free
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