Going the gluten-free way means giving up more than traditional bread, beer, pizza, pasta, and cereals. Gluten is also found in many other products such as foods that contain “natural flavorings”, soy sauce, frozen vegetables found in sauces, some medications, toothpaste, and mineral and vitamin supplements. This makes taking the gluten-free path all the more challenging. Many people are not ready to give up their gluten consumption habits. However, for gluten-intolerant people, this is not an option–it is a necessity.
If you are determined to adopt a lifestyle that is gluten-free, it’s essential to know that this change may imply some nutritional deficiencies. In America, Cereals and fortified bread have become a significant source of vitamin B. Although bread is made using tapioca, white rice, and other floors free of gluten are becoming more popular, they are usually not fortified with vitamins. This raises significant concern for people who choose to go the gluten-free way, more so, for women in the course of their pregnancy or trying to get pregnant. Vitamin B9, also known as folic acid or folate, is crucial during pregnancies as it prevents congenital disabilities. For anybody trying to avoid gluten consumption, it is always a great idea to take gluten-free multivitamin multi-mineral supplements.
One of the significant sources of dietary fiber that bowels need to function efficiently is whole wheat. The average American’s diet has a fiber deficiency. When you eliminate whole wheat from their diet, the challenge gets compounded. Although it is still possible to obtain the dietary fiber you require from other grains such as quinoa or brown rice or beans, fruits, and vegetables, it requires significantly more effort.
If you suspect that you have a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, it may be a good idea to visit the doctor before deciding to go the gluten-free way. Once you start adopting a gluten-free lifestyle, it becomes difficult to establish if you have gluten sensitivity, celiac disease, or neither.
One of the things you might want to consider when adopting a gluten-free lifestyle is keeping your dietary option to yourself. Over 300,000 people in America with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease need to follow a gluten-free diet since even the smallest taste of gluten causes debilitating gastrointestinal discomfort. It is restrictive, time-consuming, and expensive. It is a significant burden for people who need to follow it. When people have to give up gluten, they are usually frustrated about hearing how great a gluten-free diet is, especially since it requires a lot of commitment on their part. However, it is a worthwhile and necessary commitment, more so for people with gluten allergy.