Are you considering cutting back on gluten, be it for health or weight reasons? First, keep in mind that a decision to majorly change your daily food intake like this should be discussed with your doctor or a health practitioner to make sure you are doing your plan healthily. Gluten-free diets are not for everyone, and they should not be embarked upon lightly without proper knowledge and the tools to take the right steps. Whole grains are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, so omitting all of that comes with the need to find those nutrients elsewhere. Keeping caution in mind, here are five reasons to consider a healthy gluten-free diet:

1. You Could Be Gluten Sensitive Without Having Celiac Disease

For people with celiac disease, there is no choice when it comes to a gluten-free diet; it’s a life-and-death matter, so gluten is a no-no. Then, there are people who may be sensitive to gluten without having celiac disease, and they could benefit from attempting to cut some grains out of their diet. If you feel you may have a gluten issue, see your physician before changing your diet.

2. Gluten-Free Products are Easy to Find

These days, finding gluten-free products at the supermarket is pretty easy; most of them have a section entirely devoted to gluten-free products. Go explore the gluten-free section of your local market and relish in the aisle of gluten-free snacks, bread, and goodies. There are several gluten-free flours available, including flour made from teff, amaranth, garbanzo beans, almonds, and others. In addition, gluten-free baking mixes along with ready-made products like breads, pasta, crackers, and cereals are readily available in most markets.

3. You Will Eat Less Processed Junk Food

By giving up gluten, you’re inadvertently giving up much processed junk food. Packaged food products like cookies, crackers, and other crunchy snacks often contain wheat, so going gluten-free means you’ll skip a few isles at the grocery store completely. This could have a great effect on your waistline when you value veggies, fruit, beans, nuts, and rice over gluten-packed products.

4. You Can Make Your Own Gluten-Free Bread

If you are considering giving up gluten for a health interest but are worried about missing the taste of bread, do not fear! For those without gluten sensitivity but who want to minimize their gluten intake, try sprouted wheat bread. Sprouting grains before baking them lowers the gluten level a bit but not significantly. For a full gluten-free bread option, try Ooh La La Gluten-Free French Bread and Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread.

5. You Will Focus on Eating Real, Whole Food

Perhaps the best reason to give up gluten is that it will force you to re-think what meals mean. Do you love a heaping bowl of pasta for dinner? Make zucchini pasta instead, which is much healthier and lighter than wheat pasta. Are your go-to meals sandwiches, pizza, and pasta? Going gluten-free means finding other sources of sustaining energy, which will have you eating more fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds instead.

Do you have tips for embarking on a gluten-free lifestyle or can share more reasons why people should consider going gluten-free? Tell us in the comments below!

Image source: Gluten-Free Carbonara Spaghetti With Zucchini Noodles