Want to Be Gluten Free?

It seems like every month, there is a new Hollywood diet that every star swears by. And all we “regular people” rush to imitate. We look to these people with adoration, never questioning much of what they say or promote. But the problem with our society is that a healthy diet and exercise is not appealing to us; we would rather have a quick fix to our weight problems. Nevertheless, a new diet has hit the main stream: the Gluten Free Diet. Many celebrities, like Gwenyth Paltrow, Miley Cyrus and Victoria Beckham, have adopted this new lifestyle. And they have the slim bodies to prove it.

Gluten is a “protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and related grain species, including barley and rye. It gives elasticity to dough, helping it to rise and to keep its shape, and often gives the final product a chewy texture. Gluten may also be found in some cosmetics or dermatological preparations.”* Before it was a fad, most people only lived a gluten free lifestyle if they had gluten intolerances or Celiac Disease, which causes inflammation in the small intestines.

When following a gluten free diet, one must give up a laundry list of foods such as breads, cakes, sauces, fries, soups, etc. You can find a complete list at MayoClinic.com. Foods that are a big part of your usual diet become “the enemy;” but don’t worry, many of your favorite foods offer a gluten free alternative and are clearly labeled.

However, the problem with this diet is that, like so many others, people tend to neglect exercise. When you start the gluten free diet, there will be an initial change in the body. Once your body acclimates, it may go back to the shape you were once unhappy with. So when adopting this lifestyle, it is vital to change your physical activities as well. If not, the diet will feel like a waste.

Despite what the media tries to portray, being gluten free is a lifestyle change, not a diet. You have to change your eating habits drastically and be very cautious of what you consume. But if you definitely want to change your life and live gluten free, you can find many websites that help make this transition a smooth one. Give Gluten.net or Glutenista a try.

At the end of the day, you have to live with yourself. Don’t change your body just to fit an artificial mold. But if something truly makes you unhappy, then by all means change it. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it will benefit you in a positive way.

Featured Image taken from Erin Smith 78

*Definition taken from Wikipedia.