Should You Avoid Gluten
Should You Avoid Gluten??
Well for starters if you are a Coeliac then the answer is a resounding YES! But if not then is gluten something I should avoid?
Most people will avoid gluten for a couple of reasons:
They think it is a healthy option.
They believe it is causing them digestive issues.
They may have an autoimmune condition and have been advised to.
They are eliminating carbs such as a paleo or keto style diet plan
Is going gluten free healthy?
This is the million dollar question, right? Well unfortunately there is not a straight answer. Because both yes and no apply to this.
If you are wanting to go gluten free to improve your health then you don’t necessarily need to give it up. You just need to change the quality of carbohydrates you are consuming. That is eating whole grains, or some alternative grains like spelt, kammut, oat or rye. And it maybe about how much you are consuming as well.
Often I see clients go gluten free and head to the supermarket for their substitutes. This is not a healthy option. Most gluten free bread is pretty horrible when you are consuming it from a supermarket. The same can be said about gluten free cereals, some pastas, biscuits and treats. There has been a big increase in the gluten free marketplace but it doesn’t mean all the products are healthy. You really have to know your ingredients to ensure you are getting quality products.
Therefore this idea of going gluten free in not a healthy option, because you are just replacing one set of highly processed ingredients with another set of the same (albeit gluten free).
Gluten causes digestive issues.
This is a good possibility. If you are having digestive issues when you eat gluten and you are not a Coeliac or have an autoimmune illness then it is likely that you have gut issues. Often these people can be referred to as Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity (auto immuners can also be called this).
It is true you are having a reaction to gluten, but not because you are gluten intolerant, but because your gut functionality has been compromised. What happens here is often referred to as a “leaky gut”. Your body will not process gluten (and often dairy) the same way a good functioning gut will and it will cause your body to react. Symptoms like bloating, nausea, headaches, brain fog and fatigue are quite common.
But the goal here is not to avoid gluten forever, it is to get your gut function back to normal, and then gluten will most likely be ok for you.
Autoimmune Conditions
When you have, an autoimmune condition then it is recommended you avoid gluten. This is because gluten is often a trigger for autoimmune conditions and when you have one autoimmune condition you are at a higher risk of getting another one.
Coeliac itself is an autoimmune condition, and I often see it go hand in hand with Hashimotos disease (thyroid), but there are many other conditions as well. So if you have any kind of autoimmune going gluten free is a bit like a preventative.
Keto and Paleo Diets
You might say this is a new diet phase or fad! I am not a fan of keto as it is very restrictive and doesn’t always make the person healthier. Eating lots of meat or protein can be just as unhealthy. Paleo is a better option as it encourages a more balanced approach. But I am not here to preach about diets!
When should you avoid gluten?
Gluten and dairy free diets are sometimes used on kids for health reasons. When they are experiencing behavioral issues such as ADHD or autism. This is not always a bad option because often in these cases the gut is in need of repair. And avoiding gluten while you fix it can make a bit difference to your child’s behavior. But this is not something I recommend you do without some kind of Naturopathic/Nutritional support.
If you have an autoimmune condition then avoiding gluten is also highly recommended. But for all others (excluding Coeliac) then removing gluten is not necessary.
But on the other hand it is more about the quality of the product you are replacing and replacing with which is the issue. Which is why back at the beginning I said there was a yes and no answer.
If you do avoid gluten, then also avoid the supermarket for your replacement products. Although you can find some reasonable pastas there, but please ensure they are not full of corn. Corn is not bad if it is organic or GMO free but most of the products in the supermarket are not.
There has been an explosion of products in the gluten free market, which is great for Coeliacs and those avoiding gluten, but you need to be careful. You can pretty much shop anything gluten free at the supermarket these days. They have even come on board with their home brand product range. Again while this makes life a lot easier for eating gluten free, you need to look at the ingredients, they are often full of maize and corn and many other synthetic preservatives which are best avoided.
So the take home here is don’t avoid gluten if you don’t need to. Maybe look at changing the quality of your carbohydrates first. Use whole grains and alternative grains instead which will contain far more nutrients than a processed gluten free product.
Health food shops are a good place to start. You can find products and brands you like and then source online. There are so many great options online to shop healthy food. Find a bigger store like a wholefood merchants and try some different options. They will have a bigger range of product at all different prices. Also look at local farms and food outlets as they often have gluten free options. I have a IGA in my town and they stock a whole range of locally made products, not all gluten free but a pretty extensive range for a supermarket. And of much better quality.
If you experience gut issues when eating gluten then maybe you need to book in an appointment with me so we can work on your gut. And therefore, heal the reason you are experiencing this.
If you are thinking of taking gluten out of your child’s diet due to skin or behavioral issues then I recommend you work with someone. I would be happy to help.
If you have an autoimmune condition then it would be recommended to remove gluten, but the warning about the quality of replacement food applies.
And of course if you are coeliac you will already know all this and will have removed it from your diet completely.