Reasons You Might Want to Consider a Gluten-free Diet

We all know someone who has gone completely gluten-free. You may have heard of a gluten allergy, but there’s also such a thing as gluten intolerance, and it’s different from an actual allergy.

It’s estimated that a large percentage of the population may be gluten intolerant. If you’ve been dealing with unexplained aches and pains, or you have chronic digestive problems, you might want to consider some of these red flags—they just might be gluten triggers.

You have chronic pain

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, and if you have an intolerance, it can cause chronic inflammation that causes widespread pain throughout your body, especially in your muscles and joints. So, if you’re feeling sore and stiff every morning with no explanation, your late-night toast might be the culprit. Consider gluten-free breads or fruits and vegetables as a bedtime snack.

You’re tired all the time

There’s tired. And then there’s tired. If you are constantly fatigued, especially after eating, and you seem to be getting a decent amount of sleep every night, gluten might be the cause. Gluten intolerance can also cause iron deficiency in some cases, which results in its own brand of tiredness.

Your brain is foggy

Do you ever walk around in the middle of the day, and it seems like there’s a mist in your mind and your concentration ability has flown out the window? You could be dealing with brain fog, which can be caused by gluten sensitivity.

Your stomach isn’t happy

You can fail an allergy test for gluten and still suffer from the effects that it can have on your digestive system. If you often experience nausea, diarrhea, bloating, or abdominal pain and you can’t seem to figure out what triggers these things, try reducing your gluten intake or eating gluten free for a while and see if it makes a difference in how you feel.

You’re depressed and anxious

Gluten intolerance can often cause digestive issues as mentioned above and feeling chronically sick can take a toll on your mental health. According to studies, people with gluten sensitivity seem to be more prone to anxiety and panic disorders than others.

You have a chronic illness

Because of gluten’s inflammatory properties, if you suffer from a chronic illness like endometriosis, diabetes, lupus, arthritis, or Chron’s disease, this little protein can aggravate your symptoms. Many people with chronic illnesses are often told to remove gluten from their diet because it may improve their overall well-being.

Luckily, there are plenty of gluten-free products and gluten-free foods on the market that don’t contain wheat flour, rye, or barley—and many products are labeled gluten-free right on the packaging.

Although you may have some of these symptoms, gluten may not be the root cause. But if you haven’t tried removing it from your diet, perhaps it’s something you should consider. And if you’re feeling better after eating gluten free, it might be worth pursuing. Keep in mind, that as with any pursuit of health, you should always be patient and give your lifestyle changes time to really notice the benefits.

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