Why Gluten Free Does Not Always Mean "Healthy"

Everywhere you turn these days there is a label that says Gluten Free. In restaurants, on packaged foods, on t.v advertisements…you just can't get away from this latest buzz word! It's so trendy that I wouldn't be surprised if people started tattooing "gluten -free" on their bodies... 

In the midst of this gluten-free craze that has become ever so popular these last few years you might have asked yourself these questions: What's all the hype about gluten? Should I go gluten free? And what the heck is gluten in the first place?! 

I want to tell you very simply everything you need to know about gluten and why gluten free does not always mean "healthy"(mhmmmm!).

First off, let's chat real quick about what gluten is exactly and why it has become America's latest enemy. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and is what makes bread nice and fluffy! A hundred years ago, wheat contained a normal amount of gluten that the body could digest. Now however, the way foods are processed, wheat contains 9 times the amount of gluten as it used to! Bread, cookies, pasta, cereal, pastries, muffins, gravy, fried foods, hot dogs and lunch meats are just a few of the items that contain gluten: all foods we should be staying clear of in the first place! 

Basically, our bodies are on gluten overload. Studies have tied gluten to basically every health problem you can imagine; inflammation, stomach issues, IBS symptoms, fatigue, skin rashes, ADHD, joint pain- you name it. Even if you don't have celiac disease (an auto-immune disease where you cannot tolerate gluten at all) I believe almost everyone can benefit from eliminating gluten from their diet. It's not something to get obsessed over…just when you can, you are better off without it and probably will see improvements in your health!

But do not think that "gluten free" is synonymous to healthy! Just because something says gluten free on it does not mean it should be the staple of your diet. Why? Because processed gluten free products can be just as bad as foods with gluten…if not worse! Gluten free packaged foods are nutrient poor, high in sugar, contain preservatives, and are made with refined oils to make up for the absence of gluten. So next time you see a bag of candy that says gluten free on it, don't be fooled into thinking its equivalent to eating a handful of fruit!

So what should we eat? Welllllll go back to the basics of course! And what you've known is good for you all along. Eat foods that are naturally gluten free like quinoa, brown rice, vegetables, fruits,beans, fish, eggs ect. and save the gluten free aisle for snacks and desserts! 

All in all, do whats right for YOUR body. If you try going gluten-free for a week and realize you feel less tired, or have less stomach aches or joint problems then continue on a gluten- free diet! It's all about you and feeling the best you can. No body can tell you what diet you should be on. No body knows your body better than you. Feed your body natural, real, whole foods that will make you feel alive, energized, and ready to take on any challenges that come on your way!

Have a healthy & happy wednesday!

Lauren