Thoughts on Gluten

As some of you may know, for the most part, I have cut gluten out of my diet. I made this decision a few years ago when I realized the serious effects it had on me. After I decided to be gluten-free, I no longer experienced the chronic headaches I would get everyday. Additionally, I stopped having unbearable stomach aches like I used to. For these reasons and many more, my current diet hasn’t had gluten in it for the past few years. As a result of my somewhat, unusual diet, I decided to do my research paper on a topic that meant a lot to me. Going into this paper, I thought it would be easy because I already knew so much on the topic. However, as I was reading, I learned so much more and now have a clearer understanding and more of a reason to stay gluten-free. I learned that although the effects of gluten on the body are harmful and can be avoided by cutting it out of the diet, I also learned that it’s equally important to replace the gluten-free products with whole foods that have plenty of nutrients, like fruits, vegetables, and meats. I also now have a clearer understanding of why gluten is harmful and the many other effects it can have on the body, like causing early signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia, causing mood disorders and anxiety, and inducing leaky gut and other digestive issues. All in all, I’m glad I did my project on gluten, because I realized there was a lot I didn’t actually know and I now have more of a reason to continue being gluten free and can better explain to others the role of gluten in the American diet when I get asked why I have chosen to be gluten-free.