Nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. How we eat is 80% of the equation for living a healthy and active lifestyle. We can not out train a bad diet. This is especially true if you find that you are gluten intolerant. Many people are finding a gluten free lifestyle (whether celiac of not) helps them feel better.
Many people are finding that they feel better on a gluten free diet, and not just the people who have Celiac Disease or a Gluten Sensitivity. People report increased energy levels, as well as a better ability to focus. That tired slump after eating lunch? Going gluten free might help that, too. Many people report that “over-full” bloated feeling disappears after going gluten free.
I have shared that I am focusing on dialing in my nutrition. By paying attention to what I eat and how I feel I am hopeful that whole foods and possibly gluten free foods will improve my physical fitness. Learning more about gluten free living, available (okay) foods, and more is something I have been doing lately… for myself, but also for my children.
What is gluten?
Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley, rye and related wheat species such as spelt and kamut. It helps baked goods keep their form and chewy texture and is also added to other food items more and more, both for consistency and taste purposes.
You can learn more about going gluten free, delicious products for you and your family, recipes, and more at Udi’s Gluten Free Online Community.
Why go gluten free?
There are as many theories on that as there are fish in the sea. The most common one is that gluten is hard for your body to digest, which causes that feeling of tiredness. So when you avoid gluten, that excess energy can be diverted elsewhere, rather than your digestive system.
The biggest reason to go gluten free when not medically required to is simply because there is no downside to doing a gluten free trial, provided proper nutrition is maintained. Plus you might feel better than you would have thought possible.
What is Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity?
Those with a non-celiac gluten sensitivity do not experience any damage to the lining of the small intestine, unlike those with Celiac Disease, but rather can experience a broader range of reactions to gluten.
What are the symptoms of gluten sensitivities?
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Bloating
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Abdominal discomfort or pain
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Diarrhea
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Constipation
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Headaches
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Migraines
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Skin problems
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Depression
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Lethargy and tiredness
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Attention-deficit disorder and hyperactivity,
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Muscle and joint pain. (6)
For more information, click here: http://glutenfreenetwork.com/faqs/symptoms-treatments
Can eating gluten free help athletes perform better?
Many athletes find that they have fewer digestive issues during training and competition if they avoid gluten. Why is that? After a hard workout, people tend to experience some gastrointestinal distress. Athletes who have gone gluten free say that this distress is significantly lessened for them when on a gluten free diet, and disappears altogether when sugary drink intake is limited as well. Gluten is also a large cause of inflammation in the body, and so eliminating it will help reduce inflammation. This can help both digestion and athletic performance.
My gluten free journey:
As a mom and athlete, I am always researching ways to make sure my family is healthy and happy. When I read all the non-celiac gluten sensitivity symptoms… red flags popped up all over the place! My boys, my husband and even myself have a lot of the symptoms that could be gluten related.
I was sent a box of Udi’s Gluten Free products to use, share, and enjoy! I am a terrible food blogger because when I remembered to take a photo of my meal… my plate was licked clean. Yum.
Although I am not gluten intolerant, I do find that I do have some gluten sensitivity. I am hopeful that being mindful of the food I eat, doing a gluten free trial (for myself and my family), and living an active lifestyle… I will find fitness gains… and my children will find relief from some gluten intolerant symptoms.
Have you tried Udi’s Gluten Free products? Are you (or someone you know) living a gluten free lifestyle?
Learn more about living gluten free! Visit http://udisglutenfree.com/community
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Udi’s Gluten Free. The opinions and text are all mine.
Yesterday I was at Target and saw a whole freezer case full of Udi’s products! I’m not gluten free–it doesn’t seem to bother me, but I know a lot of people who’ve had success with this diet.
I’m allergic to wheat, so I eat a lot of gluten-free stuff. Udi’s is a great brand!
I’m so glad you are finding things that you love within your nutrition framework. We are not GF, but I have friends with Celiac or who choose to be GF for their own personal reasons. It’s nice that there are so many yummy and easy-to-obtain options for GF eating.
I don’t need to be gluten free but I certainly feel better when I try to limit the wheat products. I use Ezekiel bread often but have not tried these yet. I will give them a look next time. I wish bread didn’t taste so good 🙂
I’m not gluten free, but I know several people who are, and they’ve found that when they made the change to their diet that it helped them to overcome various issues that they were facing.
While I don’t think i have a sensitivity or any other pertinent reason to get rid of gluten, I did go gluten free for about 3 weeks when I did a clean eating eating reset and definitely noticed a difference. I didn’t feel bloated all of the time for sure. I don’t recall the energy part, but I’d be interested to keep a journal and do it again and note what happens!
I’m not gluten free and have not noticed any difference when I’ve gone gluten free, but Udi’s makes some really yummy stuff. Glad you got to try it out!
I try to avoid gluten if I can by mainly staying away from breads and stuff, though I do enjoy whole wheat pasta after hard workouts (with protein), so it’s hard. Sometimes I’ll use rice instead. But I definitely get crazy bloated after eating pastas and stuff so it is very possibly I’m sensitive to it.
I avoid gluten as best I can due to stomach issues and bad skin. I find when I do eat it (like this past weekend) I get bloated and completely break out. I’m so thankful there are many gluten-free options out there now that don’t taste like cardboard!
I don’t seem to have an issue with gluten but I have never really gone without it. That lasagna looks great on the box, I would try it!!!!
i am not gluten free and don’t have any reason to eliminate it from my diet but it sounds like it may work for your family! i do have a number of friends that avoid it so it’s helpful for them to have products like this available.
I have never tried Udi’s but their products look great! I am not gluten free but have several friends who are. It is nice that there are so many great gluten free options out there now!
lol at forgetting to take a picture before cleaning the plate…been there done that!! I totally agree with not being able to out train a bad diet…I have to KEEP reminding myself of that. I’ve maintained the same weight for far too long…all because i’m eating too much. Anywho…I too am trying to eat better…I just recently cut out refined sugar from my diet…ok…minimized it. I’m loving the affects it’s having on my body…I’ve often heard of Gluten Free then and Gluten Free that but honestly never really knew what it was….so thanks for education me because clearly I didn’t care enough to investigate, out of fear that one I knew…it would mean giving up something else. lol I’m in the process of reading “it’s starts with food”…I’m kinda nervous about finishing it for the same reasons.
Almost 3 years ago I listened to the audio version of “Wheat Belly” and decided to trial a gluten-free diet just to see if I noticed a difference. I didn’t eat gluten for 2 weeks and definitely noticed increased energy and I didn’t have that dreaded post-lunch slump that always made me want to nap! When I did eat some gluten (not even thinking about it) I had an INSTANT migraine headache–and realized my daily migraines had decreased while eating GF. Eating GF has been lifechanging for with decreasing my migraines by 75%. I try to do some GF meals for my family and am always on the look out for snacks that are naturally GF–although they still eat plenty of gluten!