Is going gluten free right for you?

10 Great Reasons to Go Gluten Free

  1. Gluten Allergies and Intolerances – Many of us have Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance and are unaware; in fact, one in 100 people have Celiac disease and most do not know! Wheat is a top-eight allergen, one of eight major allergens that make up 90% of food allergies, and though no one knows for sure what percentage of the population is intolerant to gluten, it is estimated to be up to 50-70%.
  2. Health Benefits – General health benefits that have been reported for a gluten free diet are improved thyroid function, reduce autoimmune disease risk, improved fertility, lower obesity risk, greater immune power, and reduction of risk for leaky gut syndrome, among many others!  
  3. ADHD and Gluten – Children and adults with undiagnosed celiac are more likely to develop ADHD. In a study of 67 patients with ADHD, 15% of them tested positive for Celiac, way higher than 1% of the general population. 
  4. Promotes Greater Food Source Diversity – The future of our food is looking bleak due to the prevalence of monoculture agriculture. A monoculture is a single crop grown repeatedly on the same land (wheat, corn, rice); possible complications of monoculture agriculture include soil erosion, pollution, eliminates biological controls, more synthetic materials needed, organism resistance change, and an increase in fossil fuels. 
  5. Digestion Problems – Wheat is a pro-inflammatory agent; food that is rapidly converted to sugar, causing insulin levels to rise which results in a burst of inflammation at the cellular level. This inflammation causes bloating that affects even those without a gluten intolerance. Additionally, humans cannot fully digest wheat and the undigested portions ferment and cause gas.
  6. Nutritional Value – Refined wheat has little to no nutritional value, it actually has to be enriched by the manufacturers to have any nutrients in it!
  7. Decrease Pesticide Exposure – Wheat is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. In fact, common wheat harvest protocol in the United States is to drench the wheat fields with the herbicide Roundup several days before the harvest. This pre-harvest application of an herbicide-often containing the deadly active ingredient glyphosate-as a drying agent, has been the norm for the last fifteen years within the conventional farming community.                                                                                  
  8. Reduce Your Depression Risk – Though it is hotly contested between health professionals whether cutting out gluten can have an effect on lessening depression, an oft commented side effect of a gluten free diet is heightened moods and positive changes in behavior.
  9. Fatigue – Many who suffer from gluten sensitivity are unable to properly absorb nutrients in foods eaten with gluten, leading to a major decrease in energy level. 
  10. Undiagnosed Gluten Intolerance Can Cause Other Health Issues – Aside from the obvious damage to your intestines, it can cause malnutrition, anemia, bone loss, migraines, epileptic seizures, peripheral neuropathy, brain fog and ataxia.