To some, gluten-free food seems to be a fad. Are you curious as to how helpful it is to eat a gluten-free diet? Are you new to the concept of gluten-free foods and want to know about some of the top gluten-free foods? Then we are here to help you.
Everywhere you look, whether on television, social media, or ad posters, you can see people strongly advocating foods that are free of gluten.
But why do they do this, and what is so great about gluten-free food? There are many gluten-free foods. But before sharing the top gluten-free foods, let us understand the many benefits of going gluten-free.
Benefits Of Gluten-Free Food
There are numerous benefits of eating a diet free of gluten. These benefits are especially highly useful if you suffer from gluten intolerance or celiac disease. But even for those without the sensitivity or celiac, going gluten-free can prove to be beneficial.
Improved Energy Levels
If you have gluten sensitivity and have consumed gluten accidentally, you probably have experienced how tired and worn out you feel.
When you go on a Gluten-free diet, you eliminate all possibilities of it entering your body and thus have a persistent level of improved energy. You will feel fresh and not exhausted.
You won't be bloated
Bloating is one of the most typical symptoms of gluten affecting your body. If you have noticed that you feel super bloated after an episode of eating junk, you have gluten to blame.
Foods like pizzas, pasta, bread, etc. are made of wheat, refined flour, barley, rye, and heavy gluten carriers. If you consume these in massive amounts, then gluten is likely to affect your body severely.
Avoiding food that contains gluten will show an instant and tremendous change in your body. You will no longer be bloated and can say good riddance from all the discomfort.
Improves Headaches
You may relate your frequent headaches to stress or a change of lifestyle. But what about when there is no apparent reason for those headaches? Most people who are sensitive to gluten also complain of persistent nagging headaches without any evident cause.
People with gluten sensitivities are not new to the concept of frequently recurring headaches. When one consumes gluten, it affects their whole body, and headaches often are one of the earliest signs.
Going gluten-free will improve this situation and rid you of all the frustrating and uncomfortable headaches.
Reduced Hair Loss
Having gluten sensitivity or celiac disease means you miss out on many nutrients and proteins, and vital components.
You may notice that it can lead to the loss of hair in large amounts. If you switch to a Gluten-free diet and consume food adept in all the nutrients and proteins, it may solve your hair loss problem.
Losing hair is something natural that happens to everyone. But the problem arises when the hair does not grow back again. With a wholesome diet free of gluten, you must make sure to administer the best of proteins and nutrients to your body, and your hair will grow back well.
Improved Skin Conditions
Consuming gluten when one has gluten sensitivity or celiac disease produces many disastrous reactions, including lousy skin health. Many patients complain of psoriasis or eczema due to gluten triggering such reactions in their bodies.
If you go gluten-free and take every measure not to let gluten enter your system, you will more than likely see an immediate improvement in your skin health. Having healthy skin plays a significant role in boosting your confidence and helping you feel confident. So why wouldn't you ditch gluten and see how your life becomes better?
These are just a few benefits of gluten-free, especially if you are sensitive to gluten. If you choose to switch to a Gluten-free diet and do not know what food to start with, here are 12 of the top gluten-free foods to help you get started.
12 Top Gluten-free Foods
Gluten-free Whole Grains
Grains like wheat, barley, and rye are a massive no-no as they contain gluten in heavy amounts. Instead of these, you can resort to other whole grains that are entirely gluten-free and healthy. You can try grains like rice, millets, quinoa, sorghum, corn, buckwheat, teff, amaranth, and the likes.
You can use oats too but make sure that you check the label of the oats thoroughly. Most oats are in the same facility where wheat and barley are processed, and contamination can happen. Check to see if the label says that it is gluten-free and only then consider having it.
Vegetables And Fruits
Eating organic vegetables and fruits is your best option. You can never go wrong with a diet full of healthy and nutritious veggies and fruits.
All vegetables and fruits in their natural form are free of gluten. But when you buy these fruits and veggies, you need to buy them whole and in their natural state. If you go for packed or canned ones, they are likely to be contaminated with gluten.
The best kinds of veggies and fruits are the uncut ones, and should always choose to buy them over any other.
Gluten-free Proteins
Gluten being a rich source of protein in itself, if you choose to go gluten-free, you may miss out on a lot of protein.
To replace this loss, you may feel you need to ingest many animal or vegetable-based protein. Animal or vegetable-based proteins are naturally gluten-free. So, you can eat these without worries. But the problem may creep in when you use sauces with them, which are likely to be contaminated by gluten.
You can consume some animal proteins if you prefer non-vegetarian food – beef, pork, lamb, duck, chicken, turkey, fish, lobster, clams, etc.
If you prefer vegetable-based or vegan proteins, you can try eating – tofu, soy, beans, nuts, and seeds.
The urge to munch on snacks can come at any time, whether day or night. It would help if you kept some of them handy. Maintaining a good stock of healthy and gluten-free snacks will prevent you from hogging on Gluten-containing ones and damaging your health.
Numerous Gluten-free brands have a plethora of healthy snacks. You can use these as snacks whenever you crave something tasty and quick.
Ancient Grains Vanilla Almond Bar
This delicious snack from Pure Organic is a treat to the tummy as well as the taste buds. It comes with good and proteins and nutrients.
This snack is a perfect blend. A range of nuts, quinoa, amaranth, flax, and hemp seeds are all blended to perfection in this bar. With just the right amount of healthy fats and proteins, this snack will keep hunger at bay.
Coconut Cream Pie
Who can resist the creamy goodness of coconut, especially when it is so nutritious!
The coconut cream pie bar from LARABAR is a real treat after your workout. If you do intense training and need something to rejuvenate and feel good, this coconut cream pie is your go-to.
This snack is a blend of only five ingredients: coconut, almonds, dates, coconut, and cashews. They contain healthy fats and nutrients, and the proteins make this gluten-free snack a win-win.
Apple Almond Honey Granola
Eating granola is one of the healthiest foods you can have. And when it bines with the delicious flavor and rich nutrients, you hardly can say no to it.
This apple almond honey granola from Glutenfreeda is a great way to start your day with a filling breakfast. The best part is it is entirely gluten-free and is not costly. Pair it with some Greek yogurt and enjoy a bowl that is not only healthy but also delicious.
Quinoa – Corn White Cheddar Mac And Cheese
Craving some delectable cheesy food is only natural. But if you want to eat gluten-free, then gorging on stuff like pizzas or bread is harmful.
With this super-healthy quinoa and corn snack flavored with white cheddar mac and cheese from Ancient Harvest, you can fulfill all your cravings. You do not have to worry about gorging on unhealthy food when you have this. It can be a fantastic and delicious snack or meal.
Three Cheese Pizza
Pizzas as a snack? If pizza is one of your favorites, but if you are sensitive to gluten or have celiac disease, it can be a little tough to find gluten-free options.
With Udi's Gluten-free three-cheese pizza, all your cravings for this delicious snack are sure to be fulfilled.
The significant part about this pizza is the super healthy ingredients used in it. The base is brown rice flour, and toppings are mozzarella, fontina, and romano cheese. It truly is a delicious snack and gluten-free!
Apple Cinnamon Oats With Flax
Hardly any other food can beat oatmeal in terms of being super healthy and nutritious. And when you blend this oatmeal, you will have a flavor blast of apples and cinnamon. Your tummy will not only thank you but so will your taste buds.
The best part about these apple cinnamon oats from Glutenfreeda is how they also have flax seeds, making it rich in fiber and protein. Have this for your morning breakfast or as a mid-day snack, and soon you will say goodbye to all your health problems. Gluten-free and deliciousness both packed into one snack!
Breaded Chicken Tenders
The juicy deliciousness of chicken tenders is irresistible. If you love non-vegetarian food and especially chicken tenders, you will enjoy eating gluten-free tenders.
Don't be misguided by the term breaded, as there is no real gluten-containing wheat bread used in these tenders. This snack comes from delicious chicken breasts rolled in almond flour and seasonings. It is a snack full of proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fat.
Pancake Mix
At home on the weekend and want hot and delicious pancakes on a Sunday morning? Or are you craving a late-night snack?
Many people who are gluten sensitive are not able to enjoy this sweet delicacy due to the Gluten-containing flours added to them. But with Bisquick's Gluten-free pancake mix, you don't need to worry.
The ingredient's list on the package is entirely free of gluten and also healthy. So, you can enjoy this super delicious food paired with fruit as a topping of your choice for breakfast or any time of the day.
Gluten-free Desserts
If you have a sweet tooth, you know the pain of not eating desserts due to their high gluten content. We have fantastic news that many ingredients are exclusively gluten-free, which you can use to whip up a nice dessert for yourself and your family.
Chocolates are mostly gluten-free, but you need to check the labels to ensure no gluten contamination thoroughly. Use chocolate as an add-in to your desserts for an extra kick of flavor.
Ice creams or frozen yogurt – if you are tolerant of dairy, you can enjoy ice cream and frozen yogurts of your choice. It's best if you made sure that the flavors or add-ins in them, like cookie dough, pretzels, and the likes, are not ones that contain gluten. Treats without add-ins are perfect and gluten-free.
Candies and gummies – if you crave something sweet immediately, you can enjoy most candy or gummies. As always, you need to be careful about any brand which uses wheat in them as an ingredient. Check their ingredients to ensure they don't contain gluten or cross-contaminated.
Conclusion
These were 12 of the top gluten-free foods you can enjoy if you are sensitive to gluten or have celiac disease. Eating Gluten-free does not mean eating bland food. You can eat yummy and delicious food.
Enjoy these Gluten-free foods and satisfy all your cravings!
NOTE – Consult with your doctor to ensure that you take supplementary nutrition you might miss out on by going gluten-free.
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The key to figuring out why you feel the way you feel is to take a more significant look at what is going on inside you & even around you, and then ask questions!
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