Gluten-free is all the rage these days, but what are the benefits for people who aren’t gluten intolerant? There is some evidence that a gluten-free diet can help improve the symptoms of autism and the necessity of going gluten-free is well documented for people suffering from celiac disease.
As for the rest of us, gluten sensitivity is on the rise and we’re learning that wheat isn’t the health food we thought it to be. This is a great reason to try gluten-free grains. There are a number of options to choose from, so variety won’t be a problem.
Of course, anything can be taken too far. Just because something is gluten-free doesn’t mean it’s healthy. If you find yourself replacing gluten with large quantities of starch or other unhealthy substitutes, think again. It is infinitely better to choose foods that are naturally gluten-free than those that try to substitute alternatives. Choosing to limit the amount of gluten in your diet is just one piece of the puzzle, but we all have to start somewhere!
— Erin Wildermuth
