Gluten Support

Food allergies affect just over 10% of the adult population in the United States. Some more severe than others, gluten is one of the most common things people are allergic to.

What Is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein that naturally occurs in many foods. Wheat is the leading food group containing gluten, but you will find many grains also have gluten.

The most common foods you will find gluten in include bread, pasta, cereals, and baked goods like cakes and cookies. Grains such as couscous and bulgar wheat also contain gluten. However, many processed store-bought foods also contain gluten.

Some foods you wouldn't expect to have gluten, such as ice cream and soy sauce also contain gluten. If you are sensitive to gluten, always check the labels of the food items you buy.

Do I Have a Gluten Allergy?

If you have a gluten allergy, your body will let you know about it! You may suffer from one or many of the following symptoms:

• Bloating
• Abdominal pain
• Loose stools
• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Gassiness
• Anxiety

If any of these symptoms occur after you've eaten something with gluten, you may have a gluten allergy.

The extreme form of gluten allergy is called celiac disease and can cause a severe reaction in the body. Celiac disease is a genetic disease you are born with. Your doctor can carry out tests to find out if you have celiac disease.

A milder form of gluten intolerance is non-celiac gluten sensitivity. The symptoms are similar, just less severe.

If you aren't sure if it's gluten causing your symptoms, you can always try a rotation diet to find out what is causing you problems.

What Is Gluten Intolerance?

Gluten intolerance is slightly less severe than a gluten allergy. When you have an intolerance, you may be able to eat a small amount of food containing gluten before your body shows a reaction.

Allergies tend to cause much stronger reactions and can even cause anaphylactic shock in extreme cases.

How Can You Solve a Gluten Allergy or Intolerance?

If you have are allergic to gluten, or have a gluten intolerance, you won't be able to cure it magically. The best option is to eat a gluten-free diet.

Don't worry; there are plenty of delicious alternatives to products that are heavy in gluten. Try replacing pasta and bread with Zucchini Noodles or Ezekiel Bread. Eat grains such as quinoa for a delicious, filling gluten-free meal. Also consider adding more plant-based proteins such as nuts, beans and lentils.

Choose gluten-free options at the grocery store; there are plenty available! Adopting a gluten-free diet could also help improve your overall health as too much gluten causes inflammation in the body.

Eating less food that contains gluten will also mean you eat fewer processed foods, which is a great choice for your health.

Enjoy a Balanced Diet

A healthy, balanced diet is all about variety. If you have a gluten allergy or intolerance make sure you still eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, and whole foods, and don't replace gluten with processed alternatives!

Get some healthy diet inspiration here.