When it comes to food, many villains are present in common sense. Soft drinks, bread, sweets and even some pastas are several options considered negative, as they cause an increase in body fat. To combat these problems, the gluten-free diet is one of the alternatives on some people’s menus.

However, will avoiding gluten intake really have any positive effect on quality of life? There are cases, such as celiac disease, where restriction is necessary, however, these are isolated situations and can be controlled with the appropriate professional support. To better understand this subject and the impacts of following a gluten-free diet, check out the content below!

What is gluten?

Gluten is a vegetable protein found in barley, rye, wheat and spelt grains. When added to water, it forms a dough with a good texture and is soft, thus forming foods such as cookies, crackers, beers, cakes, pasta and so on.

In other words, if it is a protein, it is not considered a carbohydrate . People think that, because it is present in pasta, the two are synonymous, but gluten is a combination of gliadin and glutenin, two groups of proteins found together with starch.

This component can cause allergic reactions in some individuals, known as celiacs. Celiac disease triggers autoimmune reactions, resulting in an inflammatory process and degradation of intestinal cells. In addition to poor nutrient absorption, complications such as irritability, diarrhea, and even skin rashes are common.

What characterizes the gluten-free diet?

Now that you understand a little more about protein, it is interesting to know the characteristics that make up the gluten-free diet. Even though it is a dietary necessity for some people, others use a personalized menu to lose weight. This happens because most food options, when eaten in excess or without balance, increase the fat content in the body .

From drinks to more elaborate meals, the gluten-free diet has a huge restriction on foods. The main ones are:

• Beer.
• Gin.
• Vodka.
• Whiskey.
• Sausages.
• Condiments such as ketchup and mustard.
• Wheat.
• Rye.
• Malt.

There are also precautions to be taken with contaminated foods, as in the case of grains, options such as oats, for example, may contain traces of wheat, so it is best to avoid consuming them. It is possible to include some foods in your daily diet, as long as the label is checked and there is a guarantee that there is no risk of containing gluten!

Still on the topic of celiac disease, be cautious when dining out as utensils may be contaminated with gluten. In other words, speak with your nutritionist and get to know what to do if you have the disease. If your target is weight loss, control your menu differently!

Permitted foods

After all, have a healthy and pleasurable diet, provided with some care about certain options. There are still quite a few foods present on the Brazilian table that you can count on, such as:

• Rice and derivatives.
• Corn.
• Potato.
• Corn starch.
• Cassava.
• Homemade seasonings.
• Natural juices.
• Wine.
• Sugar.
• Between others.

If you are trying a gluten-free diet to lose weight or are experiencing problems when consuming this protein, seek medical help to perform the necessary tests and check the health of your body. If gluten intolerant people do not treat their condition, they may develop tumors, lymphomas or intestinal cancer.

To be aware, if you have frequent gas, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, dermatitis, headaches, heartburn or indigestion, seek a qualified professional as soon as possible so that the problem does not get worse!

Who can adopt this diet?

The main point of the gluten-free diet is to adapt the menu without this protein for people with celiac disease, as they are allergic to this component. In other words, the focus of this adjustment is for those who really need it, as once they have the disease, the diet must be followed strictly.

Now, if the goal is to lose weight, it is important to go through the process of nutritional reeducation and not to keep switching between diets, as there is no miracle result. Gluten control happens in diets because it is present in foods such as bread, cakes and pasta. These options are regulated for the person to lose weight, however, the adaptation needs to be done by a professional!

Want to lose weight? See a nutritionist and do regular physical activity. This way, you can have an active body, a calorie deficit to lose weight and still have a diet that suits your profile. The gluten-free diet is specifically aimed at a group of people, so don’t divert this goal for personal use!

What precautions should be taken when following a gluten-free diet?

The precautions in this topic are aimed at those with celiac disease . There is a risk of contamination due to wheat and soy derivatives, so if this is your case, read all labels on any products you consume!

Even if there are small traces inside the packaging, it is possible to trigger an inflammatory process within the body, so be careful and look for adaptations to your menu. To help you know what else can be avoided at the beginning, below are some other foods:

• Cheeses.
• Frozen foods (potatoes, meat and derivatives).
• Powdered drinks.
• Instant noodles.
• Between others.

It is also essential that the utensils in use for preparation should not come into contact with foods and food products containing gluten for possible contamination. Therefore, if you are going to have a blended juice drink but the blender has already made dough, do not drink the juice from the same bottle.

Benefits to this type of diet

Finally, after all the caveats, the big question remains: are there any benefits to a gluten-free diet? Yes, there will be positive impacts, but only for people who need to regulate their diet to avoid future consequences for their body.

Yet if you want to lose those extra pounds, then consider redistribute the nutrient groups in the diet you have, thus helping you in achieving a weight loss goal. Have no faith in diets and miracle processes as this way will only give you rebound, believe you me!