Gluten free products are a new craze that has hit many grocery store shelves, because of the perceived health benefits of these products. Products that contain gluten like wheat, barley and rye have been avoided by many because of their link to digestive problems.
There are people out there who either have celiac disease or food allergies who should avoid gluten altogether, but they consist of only a small portion of the population. More people suffer from eating products that contain gluten because of the way that they are processed, and the additives that they have.
If you have digestive problems by eating these products, you should switch to whole grains which can not only help you with your digestion, but can also lower your risk of type two diabetes, heart disease, cancers, inflammation, weight control and appetite control.
These whole grains are fully of healthy vitamins and minerals as well like calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, antioxidants and healthy fats. The problem is that in most of our diets when we eat these grains they are not whole grains, cause digestive issues and are nutrient deficient except when it comes to carbohydrates.
Why Should You Switch to a Gluten Free Diet?
There is still not enough known about our gut health and how exactly it effects our health but we do know that the two are related. Many people who eat foods with gluten in them experience indigestion, bloating and discomfort afterwards.
Most people do not have celiac disease but enough people have problems with indigestion to where they should avoid products with gluten. Many people think that they don’t have many options when it comes to gluten free grains, but there are more grains without gluten than have gluten.
Another problem with not being able to properly digest this food is that you become tired from not being able to properly absorb all of those nutrients from your diet before they are flushed out of your system. Your brain requires a tremendous amount of energy to run in comparison to its size, so your cognitive ability slows down as well.
Again most people don’t have specific gluten allergies or celiac disease, but many people experience things like bloating and indigestion after eating foods with gluten, which is enough to make you want to turn away from these foods.
Here are 5 Gluten Free Grains which Can Improve Your Health
1-Quinoa
Quinoa tops the list because it is one of the only grains we know of that has a full amino acid profile. On top of that it is a good source of protein, is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals as well.
Quinoa is a grain you should be eating anyway even if you don’t suffer from a gluten intolerance because it is nutritionally superior than wheat, barley, or rye. Quinoa is most often used similarly to rice as a steamed side dish but can be added to salads as well.
2-Oats
Oats sometimes get confused as a food with gluten because it is often grown in the same fields of wheat, barley or rye which can lead to contamination and potentially cause sensitivity in some people.
If you are sensitive to gluten, there are products out there that contain oats which are marked as gluten free, so stick to those.
3-Amaranth
This is probably something you haven’t heard of before, but is becoming more and more popular as of late. Amaranth is commonly referred to as an “ancient grain” as it was domesticated at least 6,000 years ago.
Amaranth is a great source of protein at 9 grams per serving, and is great for bone health in that it has manganese and magnesium.
4-Teff
Teff is another grain you’ve probably never heard of, as it is native to Ethiopia. It has 10 grams of protein per serving, and helps to maintain and regulate hormonal control.
Teff is also rich in calcium and potassium which not only help maintain bones, but regulate the heart and circulatory system as well.
5-Buckwheat
Buckwheat makes this list because it is a great source of antioxidants which help to fight virtually every disease that we come in contact with. Antioxidants help to fight against inflammation as well as to help protect DNA from damage from oxidative stress.
Buckwheat also contains plenty of fiber to help with digestion.
