Did you know that gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, barley, rye and products that contain them? This protein triggers an immune response in the digestive tract of people that suffer from celiac disease. When the immune response is triggered it causes the body to send immune cells to target and destroy the villi in the small intestine.
The villi help the body to digest nutrients, vitamins, fats and minerals. In order for the body to function well you have to be able to digest the different minerals and nutrients in your small intestines. Failure to properly absorb nutrients can lead to nutritional deficiencies, delayed growth, anemia, osteoporosis and many other conditions. People with celiac disease suffer from diarrhea, stomach pain, unwanted weight loss and bloating after eating foods that contain gluten.
There are people who have celiac sensitivities, but a celiac sensitivity is not as severe as celiac disease. These people will have milder symptoms after eating any food that contains gluten and gluten is in everything from baked goods to pasta and even soy sauce.
The gluten free diet was created for individuals that suffer from celiac disease or sensitivities; it allows them to be able to eat a wider variety of foods without triggering a response to gluten.
Pros of Gluten Free Diet
The gluten free diet provides anyone who suffers with gluten sensitivity with options. It allows the celiac/celiac sensitive person’s body to heal from any prior damage.
Misconceptions
The problem is that people look at gluten free diets as a way to lose weight; although it may help in the short term this is not a long term solution.
Many people jump on the gluten free bandwagon as a way to lose weight because of advertising and media promotion. There is nothing wrong with the diet and it can be modified to fit anyone’s lifestyle. Just because a cookie is gluten free does not mean that it has fewer calories or is healthy, a cookie is still a cookie. The problem is this focus on the gluten free diet as a quick way to lose weight. When you want to lose weight the best approach is to reduce sugars, cut out refined processed food and foods with trans fats. Instead eat unprocessed, nutrient dense foods (fruits and vegetables and legumes), manage your stress, exercise and get enough sleep.
In addition to eating a diet of unprocessed foods there are 3 main areas of your life that need to be in balance for weight loss without deprivation.
Manage Your Stress
In our on the go society, everything and anything can trigger stress and the release of cortisol. Too much cortisol over a long period of time can kill brain cells in the hippocampus that are responsible for controlling short term memory. Too much cortisol can increase cravings for sweets and junk food in general. Cortisol effects the actions of ghrelin and leptin, two food hormones that affect when you feel full and how much you eat.
Sleep
Exercise
Overall, gluten free diets are a lifesaver for people that struggle with celiac disease or celiac sensitivities and people without these conditions can enjoy gluten free foods too. Just remember that it is a way of eating and it has the same pitfalls of any diet. All gluten free foods are not healthy and it is not a quick fix for weight loss. Eating foods that are rich in nutrients, exercising, managing stress and getting enough sleep are the best ways to lose weight and improve your energy and health.
Blessing
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