Gluten Free for Health and Weight Loss

Many people have recently decided to eat a diet that is free of gluten. While some people cannot tolerate it due to a condition called celiac disease, others seem to lose weight and feel healthier by choosing not to eat foods containing gluten.

Gluten is a protein that naturally occurs in grains such as wheat, barley, rye, kamut, spelt, and triticale. The good news is that there are many reputable, health food companies that provide delicious, gluten-free foods of all sorts.

As you cut gluten out of your diet, you’ll find that most processed convenience foods, sometimes called “junk” foods, contain wheat gluten of some kind. Most fast food restaurants contain gluten or are cross-contaminated with gluten in the cooking agents. So, just by avoiding convenience foods and fast food restaurants you will no longer be consuming any excess calories, fats, and carbohydrates in your diet. You’ll be substituting any previously fattening foods with wholesome, delicious and satisfying foods.

Just as a quick reference, some of the most common foods that contain gluten include the numerous products made with wheat, barley, and rye. More specifically, this will include many cereals, breads, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, tortillas, beer, chips, many sauces, ketchup, hot dogs, many sausages, muffins, numerous snack foods, and ice cream. Before you start thinking you’ll “never be able to enjoy any of these foods again!”…let me inform you that there are so many delicious, gluten-free cereals, breads, snacks, condiments and treats available in your local health food market and online.

Happily, fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten free, as well as unprocessed (organic is best) meats and flours made from potatoes, nuts, beans, rice, and buckwheat which can be used in baked goods, including bread. Therefore, a person can still enjoy some tasty bakery item treats.

As you can see, a gluten-free diet can include a satisfying variety of foods and does not have to be a bland or boring! There are many cookbooks and resources on the Internet to help guide a person who has chosen to cook and eat gluten-free meals. It’s a good, healthy choice, and many people have enjoyed the decision to eat in this fashion.