While going gluten-free may not be something you have thought of for yourself, there can be many benefits to look into. Overall, gluten has no essential nutrients that are needed in our bodies and can be difficult to digest, which can cause inflammation. This is why many people, even without Celiac Disease or a gluten sensitivity, choose to try out a gluten-free diet. Here are 7 benefits of going gluten-free.

1. Up your energy.

Consuming gluten can lead to inflammation of the intestine which in turn, can lead to a lack in absorption of essential nutrients. These nutrients include things like iron, and a deficiency in iron can result in fatigue and a lessened level of exertion. Cutting out gluten can help your body to restore it’s ability to absorb energy-supplying nutrients like iron.

2. Clear up your skin.

A major factor in having good skin health is having good gut health. You could think of it as healing yourself from the inside out. This is because good gut health includes the healthy bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract, and ensuring the healthy bacteria have a good place to live can lead to better overall health, ridding your body of many toxins, and promoting better skin health. (Check out our blog “5 Ways to Protect Your Gut” here!)

‍3. Decrease bloating.

Since gluten is not easy for the body to digest, it can cause some distress to your gut which often results in bloating. This can be extremely painful or just slightly uncomfortable, but overall, is very unpleasant. When you cut out gluten, you are aiding in your body’s process of healing your gut which will help to eliminate distress.

‍4. Reduce nutritional deficiencies.

As mentioned before, eating gluten can inhibit your body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients. In Celiac Disease, your body attacks the lining of your intestines, which is the part of the body responsible for absorbing nutrients from your food. Iron (energy), vitamin D (bone density), zinc (cell growth and immune support), and folate (red blood cells and fetal development) are among the most commonly malabsorbed nutrients seen in people with Celiac or gluten sensitivity.

‍5. Reduce headaches and brain fog.

Things like headaches and brain fog are commonly associated with Celiac and gluten sensitivity, though that does not mean that eliminating gluten can’t help these symptoms in everyone. If you are noticing that headaches and/or brain fog are something you deal with often, removing gluten from your diet might be something you could try.

‍6. Eat cleaner.

You may see an overall improvement in what you choose to put into your body for each meal because of the fact that you are already more conscious about avoiding gluten. There are many ingredients that you may have never known are in different foods that may not be the best for you, so being more attentive to things like this can help you be more aware of everything you are choosing for your daily plate.

‍7. Feel better in your body.

All of these things and more can contribute to a happier, healthier body, and therefore, a happier, healthier you! When going gluten-free you may notice much less GI discomfort, improvement of your skin, hair, and nails, a boost in your energy levels, and overall improvement in your health. All of these things together will help you to feel better in your body. 

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These are all things that I have personally experienced since deciding to follow a gluten-free lifestyle, even before I found out I had Celiac Disease. Of course, each experience may be different for everyone, especially depending on how sensitive you were to gluten to begin with. I truly believe in the ability to improve many aspects of your gut’s health by following a gluten free diet. It is really worth giving a try and can be a really positive experience for many!

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