Please enjoy this guest post…

Gluten-free has been a health fad for many years now and I can see why. To start, several studies have already associated this diet to a healthier brain.

Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat and is a cause of celiac disease. While only around 1.8 percent of the population suffers from this disease, neurologist and author Dr. David Perlmutter said that approximately 30 percent of us could suffer from gluten sensitivity.

Gluten-free protects your cognitive function from weakening

Now, what exactly happens when we suffer from gluten sensitivity? Because our brain responds adversely to inflammation, we could experience memory loss and severe headaches.

Going gluten-free cannot guarantee that we will never suffer from memory loss or severe headaches but it can at least lessen the possibility of it occurring and affecting the quality of life.

Gluten-free helps the immune system to ward off diseases

According to Dr. Perlmutter, gluten fuels the cells of our intestines to secrete zonulin, a protein that controls the absorbency of the intestine. The more we intake gluten, the more we produce zonulin, which leads to the corrosion of the walls of the intestine.

Should this happen, it will pose a lot of challenges to our immune system, thus making us vulnerable to various diseases. Going gluten-free can help us avoid weakening our immune system so our bodies can continue fighting off diseases.

Gluten-free fuels the brain

Instead of feeding our brain with carbohydrates and sugars, it is a lot healthier to feed it with healthy fats including eggs, nuts, and seeds. I suppose it is not rocket science to know that it is important that we nourish the brain to enable us to do the activities we need to get through the day.

Gluten-free food list

Now that we know how gluten can adversely affect our brain, it is time we list down a number of items that are free from gluten. Fortunately, healthier options do not necessarily mean they are boring ones. In fact, we are starting the list with an ultimate favorite: wine.

Wine is good for both the brain and the heart because they contain natural antioxidants.

The second item on the list is yet another favorite: coffee. Coffee is gluten free and helps prevent brain degeneration. In fact, studies suggest that big coffee drinkers are far less likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases.

The trick to going gluten-free is quite simple: just go organic as much as you can.

• For healthy fat, you can consume extra virgin olive oil, coconut milk, grass-fed butter or ghee and seeds including pumpkin, sesame, and chia, among others.
• For protein, you can consume whole eggs, shellfish including shrimps and crabs, and grass-fed meat including beef and lamb.
• For vegetables, you can consume lettuces, spinach, and artichoke, and more.
• For low-sugar fruit, you can consume avocado, tomato, and squash.
• Last but not the least, for herbs and other condiments, you can consume mustard and horseradish.

Gluten-free health fad: yay or nay?

The problem with any fad is that it can be short-lived and without basis, so it is pretty much difficult for one to trust and go gluten-free.

But that’s the beauty of the diet itself. It is basically just telling you to avoid what you already know to be harmful. Instead, you are lead to focus on the healthier options.

Now that you know a number of items that are gluten-free and the many brain benefits of doing the diet, are you now ready to give up the bad stuff and start living a healthier life? I know I am.

Bio: Sarah writes for Simmer and Zest. She wants to promote a healthy lifestyle by guiding her readers to choose the right ingredients and use proper cooking techniques.