Facts about gluten

Today I found myself training 4 clients in the morning, before lunch and then my workout, and then back to training clients.

In the process I realize all of these 4 clients had at least one thing in common: they are gluten intolerant.

One suffers from Celiac disease, one has Chrome disease and the other two, though not in chronic state, their bodies respond better to a gluten free diet; from weight loss to just feeling overall better.

Is gluten the root of all evil? Not quite. I personally eat foods that contain gluten and don't seem to be affected by them. Of course I do not abuse of these foods and I live a very active and healthy lifestyle. 

Yet with more and more people starting to look after their health and fitness, one thing that they’re starting to do is take note of what their eating each day and how the various foods that they consume influence how their body feels and functions.

It’s incredibly important that you do pay attention to the foods that you put into your diet because not only will these influence your body weight, but your health as well. One of those issues that is starting to be discussed more and more as people notice the symptoms associated with it is gluten intolerance.

While there are those who cannot tolerate gluten at all and are known as celiac’s (just like my clients from today), other people simply just don’t feel best when eating gluten rich foods.

So then, what is gluten intolerance?

Gluten is a particular type of protein that’s found in wheat and all wheat related foods that certain people struggle to digest properly.

When it’s not fully broken down by the body, that’s when it’ll start to cause symptoms to take place in your body. Some of those symptoms include:

Abdominal distention - Abdominal pain and cramping -·Constipation - Bloating - Depression, irritability, and anxiety- Fatigue - Joint pain - Among a few others

It’s important to note that everyone is different and we react differently to foods; the signs and symptoms do tend to vary from individual to individual so you don’t necessarily have to have them all present in order for a problem to be at play.  Also a few symptoms alone could mean something else is taking place in your body. Listen if you notice a few of these symptoms, get yourself checked out by your doctor. You may be gluten intolerant or you could also be struggling with other conditions.

If you find you suffer from stomach problems, gas or bloating you may want to consider your options and in case you are indeed gluten intolerant. If you want to self test (it's not rocket science) you could do so on your own. Start by cutting out all gluten rich foods from your diet.  This includes all wheat and related products such as flour, pastas, breads, cereals, and many snack foods. Read the labels of of other food sources as they may contain wheat. Do this for 14 to 21 days straight and see how you feel.

Focus on eating gluten free foods (now a days there are plenty to choose from). Your carbohydrate intake should be focused on the following foods: fruits and vegetables, brown rice, quinoa, and barley. 

I have clients who consume gluten rich foods and have no problems digesting these foods, others do. The one's that have made the switch tell me they sleep better, feel better, less bloated, have more energy and recover better from their workouts. 

Popular diets like Paleo, Zone and others are based around this concept. Again we are all different and will respond differently to food.

In the end you can't go wrong with this: eat more meat, chicken and fish. Add plenty of fruits and green vegetables. Drink plenty of water.