Benefits of gluten free>?

Less bloating, living longer and many more. I suggest googling paleo lifestyle.

Im gluten, dairy and mostly sugar free ( i splurg every now and than on chocolate thats it) i cant remember the last time i ate something processed.

Nothing at all

i do gluten free because i live low carb. i'm not allergic or anything. doing it purely to lose weight, prevent diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and just general health.

i think being in ketosis helps more than just giving up gluten, but its a great start =]

Other than breaking your Caps-Lock, none if you aren't gluten sensitive/intolerant/Celiac...:laugh:

i do gluten free because i live low carb. i'm not allergic or anything. doing it purely to lose weight, prevent diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and just general health.

i think being in ketosis helps more than just giving up gluten, but its a great start =]

And people like you are the reason that people like me who *can't* eat gluten get **** from other people for jumping on the gluten free bandwagon. It's just a fad now and a lot of people automatically assume that if you are avoiding gluten, it's because you are trying to lose weight and don't take it seriously.

I eat pretty much eat gluten free because most gluten product are processed and processed food is nearly always higher in calories and has way to much salt in it, as high blood pressure runs in the family, and I am obese I figure avoiding too much salt should be part of my bid to get healthier.

There are arguments that it does this that and other to your body, intolerant or not, and then these arguments will be countered with no it doesn't along with a whole lot of links to sites to back each point of view up..til all becomes blah de blah....

Its your body...see how you go and see if you get any positive benefits from it, on the whole it seems most people agree that the less processed food you eat the better off you will be. I would rather eat a huge plateful of salad for half the calories than a tiny portion of bread or pasta thats my favourite benefit!

The biggest benefit is that you'll have jumped on the bandwagon and can brag to friends that you're gluten free.

Unless you have celiac disease or a sensitivity / allergy there's no point (except you pay more for gluten free foods)

This

The biggest benefit is that you'll have jumped on the bandwagon and can brag to friends that you're gluten free.

Unless you have celiac disease or a sensitivity / allergy there's no point (except you pay more for gluten free foods)

^ THIS.

Many gluten free foods are loaded with sugars, chemicals, etc. and have more calories than the products with gluten. Plus if you quit eating foods with gluten you are missing out on nutrients and can become deficient.

Actually, you might be surprised at the gluten free selections that are out there. Yes, there are some that have sugars but you can get around that by reading the labels. There are some better selections now. As for chemicals, I've looked at the ingredients on quite a few gluten free products and you don't see tons and tons of chemicals. It's pretty similar to what you see in everyday products that aren't gluten free. I've seen more chemicals in non-gluten free products. I buy freeze dried fruits for packed lunches - they are pure fruit and no chemicals. I do eat nut and fruit bars but I would have added those in even if I weren't gluten free due to my work schedule. It's a matter of what you choose to eat.

I also think there are a lot of people who forget that there are other sources for iron, zinc and other vitamins such as legumes, meats, cheeses/dairy, fish, chicken, vegetables, nuts and fruits. It's critical if you go gluten free that you learn about eating right and you'll see that increasing these areas will make you feel less like you're losing something. You'll come to love rice. Basically, if you go gluten free - don't rely on buying products. You'll be cooking more with real foods. That's not a bad thing.

Technically, most people who do eat wheat don't even eat the right stuff so they may as well be eating junk food. Here's a mini-article about it. If you aren't eating Whole Wheat you may as well not bother. Enriched grains are the equivalent of taking vitamins - you may as well eat a gluten free enriched bread at that point. Heck, most processed breads have horrible levels of fiber, yet the majority of breads in markets are the low fiber type. Technically, I think most people are probably suffering from nutritional deficiencies because of what they are choosing to eat. It's not a lack of wheat. Wheat is everywhere - the wrong type and they are just full of vitamins because they're pumped with vitamins - not because they are eating the wheat that has the vitamins.

http://intelliwiser.com/2012/05/21/healthy-benefits-of-whole-wheat-flour-versus-enriched-flour/

Now, if you are going gluten free because you think it's suddenly going to make you lose weight, I wouldn't bother. She is right about the cost being really high. It's not cheap. I would recommend switching to whole grains instead of your typical breads. The only way to make it cheap would be if you use rice, potatoes, and maybe corn as your carbs for one month. Basically, cook for the month and make sure you eat tons of veggies, fruits, nuts and protein sources like legumes, meats, chicken...etc... If this is a test to see if something like an allergy vanishes, go that route to check it out and see. A balanced diet is really important.

Man. I have been GF for almost 10 years and I have adapted and it's second nature now, but I continue to be baffled by people who, for no discernible reason, want to "give gluten free a whirl". What are they thinking! Maybe I will randomly try medical treatments for diseases I don't have, just to see what happens. Should I start with dialysis, chemo, or just start randomly shooting myself up with insulin? Surely all would have *some* effect on my weight... I'm so curious!

I'm not sure I agree that people who "jump on the gluten free bandwagon" are helpful to Celiacs. What I have noticed since that started is a preponderance of "gluten free" foods that are not GF *enough* for a Celiac. Like, pizzas at pizza places that use loose wheat flour in the same kitchen where the GF pizzas are prepared, etc. Most stuff at Trader Joe's, which has totally erratic manufacturing practices. Amy's frozen dinners (are they better now? I got glutened by them maybe five times consecutively before I quit, I freaking loved them). I think a lot of newly diagnosed Celiacs eat this stuff without realizing it's bad news, but I dunno.

I'm Celiac and I need to be gluten free but long for the day's when I can eat normal. GF products are more expensive and caloric. Unless you need to be gluten free, I don't know if it's a good idea.

I don't avoid gluten, but I think there's something to be said for varying your grains. Yesterday, there was breaking news on arsenic (a grade 1 carcinogen) in rice. This is a reminder to me that overdoing any one food isn't a good thing.

gee golly, I didn't realize we had so many experts on MFP!........... :laugh:

Going gluten free when you don't really have an allergy or intolerance can be unhealthy. Many gluten free foods are loaded with sugars, chemicals, etc. and have more calories than the products with gluten. Plus if you quit eating foods with gluten you are missing out on nutrients and can become deficient.

What's with so many people equating "gluten free" with eating processed "gluten free foods"? Sounds to me like you're doing it wrong.

I generally don't eat gluten, for various reasons, but have yet to eat any packaged "gluten free" foods.

And I am reasonably sure I am not in danger of any nutrient deficiency caused by my lack of wheat consumption.

*shrug*

The only packaged gluten-free food I eat is Rice Krispies (gluten free version) and Donuts. *blush*

But I suspect those who don't eat packaged foods are NOT the norm.

Why are you going gluten free if you are unaware of any benifits