3 Ways Going Gluten-Free Can Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways
Ahhh gluten… Just the mention of this little protein is sure to cause a stir! With so many people eating gluten-free nowadays, along with differing opinions on its health impact, the mere mention of it can bring up strong emotions. So rather than getting gluten-political, I’ve come up with a list of ways that going gluten free can benefit your health in unexpected ways. No matter what your circumstances are, eating a healthy gluten free diet can be a great opportunity to improve overall health. To be clear, I’m talking about a healthy gluten free diet. Substituting oreo cookies with gluten-free oreos is not what I’m saying. Substituting the cookie with an apple is more like it. I’ve been gluten free for several years myself, and here are some of the less-touted health benefits I’ve noticed:
1. Fast food restaurants & junk food become off-limits.
I used to eat at Tim Horton’s all the time. We’re talking sandwich or bagel at least twice a week. Of course, the meal deal always came with a doughnut, so I’d get that too… On other days, it wouldn’t be unheard of to grab a burger and fries from a drive-through. But since going gluten free, I’ve learned that there really are no satisfying gluten-free food options for me at these places. Sorry Timmies, but macaroons don’t qualify as a meal. So I have simply stopped going. In their place, I now eat leftover meat and vegetables, or a homemade salad. Yes, it requires a bit more planning, but after a while, making extra dinner for lunch the next day has just become habit.
2. Mindfulness around food is increased.
When you eat gluten-free, more thought must go into the purchasing, planning and preparation of food. Since gluten is a hidden ingredient in many processed foods, you actually have to read the labels, and this can be quite an eye-opening experience. While searching for gluten on the label, many other unhealthy ingredients might catch your eye, such as sugar, sodium and inflammatory oils. Suddenly, whole foods like vegetables and meat look a lot more appealing! Planning and cooking meals also requires a bit more thought and effort, which can lead to a higher appreciation of the food you’re eating.
3. Eating gluten-free forces you to try new things.
When fast food joints are out of the question and grocery carts are filled with unprocessed foods, I’ve noticed that creativity increases! Before I went gluten-free, I would often serve bread or noodles as a side dish for dinner. Now, I look for seasonal vegetables, and try to mix it up every day with a different flavor theme. I don’t think I would have discovered the wonderfully rich flavor of coconut cauliflower rice if I hadn’t gone gluten-free!
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