In the spirit of Coeliac Awareness Week, we wanted to give our Bio-lovers a comprehensive guide to how going gluten-free can change your body and mind for good. DISCLAIMER: Any extreme changes in diet should always be discussed with your doctor before undertaking – the advice in this article may not be suitable for you.
As explained in our article All About Coeliac Disease, the symptoms of Coeliac Disease are similar to symptoms of other illnesses including Irritable Bowel Syndrome and specific food intolerances. Your doctor will be your best resource for planning a gluten-free lifestyle, especially if your symptoms qualify for Coeliac Disease after medical testing. Regardless of whether you are diagnosed with Coeliac Disease, many Australians find swapping elements of their diet for a more gluten-free lifestyle benefits their health overall by alleviating traditionally gluten-intolerant symptoms.
Read on for our top 5 reasons going gluten-free could work for you:
1) Your energy levels may improve
As fatigue is a common symptom of Coeliac Disease, many people find that their energy levels increase after eliminating gluten from their diet. Energy levels are affected by gluten intolerance due to the damage to the bowel, which in turn, impairs the absorption of vitamins and nutrients including iron. Over time, the bowel heals, absorption improves and energy levels increase.
2) Your gastrointestinal health may improve
Diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, pain, discomfort, and bloating are all symptoms of Coeliac Disease. The difficult thing to decipher is whether these symptoms are attributed to Coeliac Disease or any number of other gastrointestinal conditions. When you adopt a gluten-free diet, symptoms such as bloating often see immediate relief (i.e, your stomach will be flatter and pain free to touch), whereas more severe symptoms take longer to alleviate as the gut health improves.
3) Joint pain and inflammation may reduce
Joint pain and inflammation is caused by Coeliac Disease going untreated for too long. The same inflammation that takes place in the gut can manifest in different areas of the body. Adopting a gluten-free diet can alleviate this joint pain, however, any pain should be treated by a doctor in addition to eliminating gluten from the diet.
4) Skin conditions may clear
Many people who suffer from symptoms of Coeliac Disease develop itchy and uncomfortable skin irritations, mostly unexplained rashes and other conditions including eczema and psoriasis. As skin conditions can be caused by a myriad of reasons, their connection to gluten intolerance often goes unnoticed. If gluten is the cause, irritations should lessen, and eventually clear up with the help of doctor prescribed topical applications or more natural treatments. For any unfamiliar or persistent skin condition, please seek medical advice from your doctor.
5) Your mood may improve
In the past few years, an emphasis has been placed on gut health and its importance for our overall wellbeing. Conditions such as food intolerances or Coeliac Disease negatively contribute to our gut health. Removing gluten from the diet may help reduce symptoms of a negative mood in conjunction with the positive results listed above. However, we must stress the importance of seeking medical advice for any psychological concerns including significant changes in mood.
Resources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/going-gluten-free
https://www.glutenfreeliving.com
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/coeliac-disease
https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/fact-sheets/coeliac-disease
https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/coeliac-disease