Whether or not you have celiac disease or an intolerance to gluten, eating a diet low in grains and higher in vegetable matter can actually help build muscle and increase immune function. There’s been a lot in the news lately about going gluten-free, as part of the nation-wide fad diet. Although there are many health benefits to eating this way, it’s important to know all the facts before blindly jumping into the trend.
Until recently, gluten free products were hard to come by. By this, I mean packaged gluten-free bread, pasta, cereal, and crackers. But there has always been a wide range of naturally gluten-free food on the market, that for some reason, individuals on “gluten-free” diets sometimes overlook. Whether or not you want to be completely gluten-free, I’m still a strong advocate for a whole-foods diet, consisting of foods that you can clearly identify, like fruits, vegetables, grain, legumes, and in small amounts, meat, and dairy. The key, if you can tolerate any or all of these, is to eat as many different types of food as possible (yes, even a cheeseburger) in moderation. It’s all about Balance with a capital B. Your body needs a little bit of everything for optimal functioning, so the idea is to give it as many high-quality nutrients to work with as possible. And high-quality nutrients come from things that grow in the ground, rather than heavily processed convenience foods.
In the modern grocery world, there are more bad gluten free products than good. I don’t mean “bad” as in tasting bad, or tasting like cardboard, like many of the original alternatives on the market. With an increase in available gluten free products comes a true dilemma. Consumers today purchase products with the “Gluten-free” label, mistaking the words “Gluten-free” for “Healthy and Nutritious”. But read carefully, because these do NOT mean the same thing. Companies everywhere are jumping at the opportunity to give consumers what they want – which right now, is anything and everything gluten free. But instead of using wholesome ingredients, companies may use fillers like sugars and oil, as long as they don’t contain gluten. Today there are numerous products which mislead consumers into believing they’re healthier, simply because they sport the nationally certified GF label, yet in actuality, contain ingredients with little nutritional value.
As a conscious consumer, it’s important to recognize the “tricks” marketers use to manipulate consumers into buying their product. And lately, that trick has been playing off of the popularity of the gluten free lifestyle, with the promising weight-loss side effects. The truth is, the healthiest “gluten-free” diet consists mostly of items that are naturally grown, not processed. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious sources like nuts, beans, and lentils, balanced with small amounts of gluten free grains are all NUTRITIONAL options that will provide your body with the life-essential nutrients it needs to function. The key in following a truly HEALTHY gluten free diet is to replace items not with highly processed gluten free bread or pasta, but with fresh, wholesome foods.
This article first appeared on The Impossible Eater.
Images via Zeehd