When wandering the aisles of your local grocery store or browsing the menu of your favorite restaurant, gluten-free foods may seem very foreign or plain if you are not knowledgeable about them. It has long been debated whether these foods have any lasting health benefits or helpful factors for the body, but eating gluten free is so much more than a fad diet. In fact, it is extremely easy for anyone to incorporate these foods into their everyday diets because no matter how many gluten-free foods you add, you will always benefit yourself in some way! Here are just a few advantages of eating gluten-free throughout your life:
Reduces Joint Pain
Since many members of the gluten-free community are individuals with celiac disease, which commonly creates a high risk of inflammation, gluten-free foods are designed to reduce inflammation and pain within your joints. For everyone, consuming large amounts of gluten causes more inflammation throughout the entire body, so implementing alternatives to gluten will benefit you both in the present and future.
Reduces Headache Frequency
After much research, scientists and nutritionists alike have discovered a clear connection between the gut and brain. Therefore, in order to reduce headache and migraine pain, as well as their frequency, eating less gluten will greatly benefit both your gut health and the rest of your body.
Improves Bone Strength
Due to the malabsorption of nutrients, many individuals diagnosed with celiac disease often suffer from calcium deficiencies. However, researchers have found that individuals who followed a gluten-free diet, whether with celiac or not, demonstrated significantly heightened bone density and strength.
Reduces Depressive Symptoms
While eating gluten can cause joint inflammation and pain, it can also cause inflammation within many other organs and tissues. Your body’s response to this inflammation can impact your mood greatly, creating depression and anxiety symptoms. When eating gluten-free, your body will stay in balance, therefore improving your overall mental and emotional states.
Reduces Lactose Intolerance Symptoms
When eating a large amount of gluten, the lining of your gut which breaks down lactose from dairy products is harmed and not able to function to its full potential. A gluten-free diet will greatly promote the health of your gut and can even eliminate symptoms of lactose intolerance entirely.
Improves Skin Health
Although gluten can not be absorbed through the skin when using creams and serums containing gluten, gluten is very harmful to the skin and can cause rashes and breakouts when digested. While also eating gluten-free, it can be helpful to find gluten-free mouthwashes and toothpastes as well in order to benefit your skin and overall health as much as you can.
Improves Energy Levels
When consuming large amounts of gluten products, your intestines are partially damaged, which then impairs your body’s absorption of nutrients, including iron. This deficiency in iron can cause fatigue and an overall loss in energy, but a gluten-free diet will give your intestines time to heal and the best amount of nutrients in order to improve your energy levels.
