Someone asked me this question a few days ago.
What are the benefits of a gluten free diet?
First I think we should look at the symptoms of gluten sensitivity.
- Abdominal pain and distension
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Greasy, Foul smelling, floating stools
- Vomiting
- Acid reflux
- Constipation
- Gas and flatulence
- Nausea
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue and weakness
- Headaches and migraines
- Depression, irritability and mood disorders
- Fuzzy brain or inability to concentrate
- Dental enamel deficiencies and irregularities
- Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)
- Respiratory problems
- Lactose intolerance
- Rosacea
- Hashimoto's disease
- Hair loss
- Bruising easily
- Muscle cramping and muscle weakness
- Swelling and inflammation
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Joint and bone pain
- Infertility
- Abnormal menstrual cycles
- Seizures
- Ataxia (bad balance)
- Canker sores
- Eczema and psoriasis
- Acne
- Early onset osteoporosis
- Night blindness
- Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar
- Nosebleeds
- Elevated liver function tests (AST, ALT)
- Lack of motivation
- Hashimoto's disease, Sjogren's syndrome, Lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune disorders
- Irritable bowel syndrome or spastic colon
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia
- Lupus (an autoimmune disease)
- Unexplained anemia
- Pyschological issues (hypochondria, depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, neurosis and mood disorders)
- Food allergies
- Parasites or other infection
- Gallbladder disease
- Thyroid disease
- Cystic fibrosis (respiratory disorder)
- Diverticulosis
- Diabetes
- Thyroid Disease
- Dermatitis Herpetiformis (skin rash related to celiac disease)
- Peripheral Neuropathy (tingling or numbness in arms and legs)
- and many more conditions
Symptoms in children
- Inability to concentrate
- Irritability
- ADD/ADHD or Autism and Down Syndrome
- Failure to thrive (infants and toddlers)
- Short stature or delayed growth
- Delayed onset of puberty
- Weak bones or bone pain
- Abdominal pain and distension
- Nosebleeds
If these symptoms are not put under control like being on a gluten free diet, they can turn into more serious conditions. Like Heart Disease, Lung Disease, Addison's Disease, the list goes on and on.
Gluten Intolerance or Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder.
The best way to tell if you have gluten intolerance or celiac disease is to have your doctor test you for celiac disease (note: You need to keep eating your gluten filled diet, in order for the doctor to determine weather or not you have celiac disease). Even if your celiac test shows up normal, you could still could have gluten intolerance. And I would suggest having a food sensitivity test done by a nature path.
The cure: stay away from gluten and any other foods that you are sensitive to.
Many people have reported feeling so much better after staying off gluten. And many people have lost weight eating a gluten free diet.But there have been people who have gained weight,you just have to be careful not to eat too much of a good thing.
So what are the benefits from being on a gluten free diet?
Well for one, you feel so much better, you have more energy and your stomach doesn't hurt anymore. You don't feel swollen. You don't feel sluggish anymore, You actually feel like you can function again. And best of all you have improved digestion, which means you are absorbing the nutrients in your food again. And your health improves.
Here are some of my related posts:
Here is a couple of great resources from Wikipedia.
I hope this has helped to explain the benefits of a gluten-free diet.
Have a wonderful week.
Lisa
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