Here are 4 great ways to eliminate gluten from your diet
Removing gluten from your diet does not compromise taste or nutritional quality. Here are tips on how to completely eliminate gluten from your diet.
There are many diets that are popular today, but people know that they are not good for their health. Avoiding gluten used to be a good practice, but soon people realized that this restriction only applied to people who were allergic to it or had allergies.
For those who are not familiar with the subject, gluten is a family of proteins that are stored in some of the most common grains, such as wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten gives this grain its “glue-like” consistency.
But some people can’t tolerate gluten in their diet. In fact, gluten intolerance can present with a variety of symptoms, including diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue, headaches, and weight loss problems. If you think gluten is not for you, you can talk to your doctor and even get a blood test to be sure. But the real challenge is to eat gluten-free foods that provide you with all the nutrients.
Here are 4 great and healthy ways to reduce gluten in your diet:
1. Include many fruits
All types of fruit are gluten-free. This means that by adding more fruit to your diet, you can eliminate gluten and improve the nutrients your diet lacks. Fruits such as blueberries, bananas, and oranges are especially recommended because they are fructose-free, easy to digest, and contain inulin, a substance that promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut.
2. Increase your vegetable portion
Vegetables are naturally gluten-free, so increasing vegetables in your diet will help you reduce gluten and boost your health in the long run.
For example, consider adding broccoli and spinach to your diet because they contain nutrients like antioxidants, fiber, protein, iron, potassium, calcium, selenium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B, C, E, and K.
3. Add lentils to your diet
Adding lentils to your meals is a great way to round out your diet because they are gluten-free and high in protein. Lentils are rich in iron, fiber, vitamins and minerals and help add texture to meals.
4. Always check the ingredients of food packaging before purchasing.
It is common practice for food manufacturers to add gluten to processed foods to improve texture, taste and shelf life. While it’s recommended that you only consume whole foods like fruits and vegetables, if you find yourself buying food, be sure to check the back of the package for nutritional information. Read food labels and try to choose foods and beverages that are low in sodium, unsaturated fat, and gluten-free.
So, while eliminating all gluten from your diet may not be possible for many people, there are many ways to reduce your gluten intake and increase your intake of nutritious, wholesome foods.