A gluten-free diet strictly excludes gluten which is a common food protein found naturally in a variety of grains.
Gluten is also found in a wide range of processed foods along with beer and malt drinks as they are made using gluten-containing grains.
Gluten Exposure Can Damage The Gut
The biggest problem with gluten is that it easily damages the gut. Once this happens the body reacts to gluten as something foreign and launches a rapid immune response which spreads like wildfire throughout the WHOLE body.
It’s the reason why gluten sensitivity is linked to systemic inflammation.
Concerned gluten could be causing problems? You can learn more here: Problem With Gluten? Here’s A Quick Gluten Intolerance Checklist
Could Ditching Gluten Help Heal Your Gut AND Thyroid?
YES! Ditching gluten can make a tremendous difference in overall health and wellbeing. In fact, all sorts of things can happen when you stop eating gluten.
Eliminating gluten may help you finally lose weight, feel more energetic and mentally sharp, and may even finally put an end to belly bloating.
Furthermore, studies show a strong link between gluten exposure and autoimmunity so going gluten-free is definitely something to seriously consider if you have a diagnosed autoimmune thyroid disorder.
What Foods Don’t Contain Gluten?
Sure, a gluten free diet is not always easy to follow but fortunately there are now many gluten-free alternatives available.
The best news?
A nutritious, REAL food diet is low in gluten. That’s because vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, meat and selected grains do not contain gluten.
References
Coeliac Australia. Link
Fan MS, Zhao FJ, Fairweather-Tait SJ, et al. Evidence of decreasing mineral density in wheat grain over the last 160 years. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2008;22(4):315-24.
Kasarda, DD. Can an Increase in Celiac Disease Be Attributed to an Increase in the Gluten Content of Wheat as a Consequence of Wheat Breeding? J Agric Food Chem. 2013 February 13; 61(6): 1155–1159.
Krysiak R, Szkrobka W, Okopien B. The Effect of Gluten-Free Diet on Thyroid Autoimmunity in Drug-Naive Women with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: A Pilot Study. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2019 Jul;127(7):417-422.
Liontiris MI, Mazokopakis EE. A concise review of Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) and the importance of iodine, selenium, vitamin D and gluten on the autoimmunity and dietary management of HT patients. Points that need more investigation. Hell J Nucl Med. 2017 Jan-Apr;20(1):51-56.
Mumolo MG, Rettura F, Melissari S, et al. Is Gluten the Only Culprit for Non-Celiac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity? Nutrients. 2020;12(12):3785. Published 2020 Dec 10.
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