How Healthy is Your Diet, Really?

Photo by: R29

Gluten-Free

What It Is
Gluten is a protein found in some foods that can cause inflammation in your intestines - part of your GI tract - because that's where it is absorbed," says St. Pierre. Possible results: bloating and stomach pain. It's important to note that whether you've been diagnosed with Celiac disease or not, it's possible to have a gluten sensitivity. The main sources of gluten: wheat products such as crackers, bagels, ... more 

Photo by: R29

Gluten-Free

What It Is
Gluten is a protein found in some foods that can cause inflammation in your intestines - part of your GI tract - because that's where it is absorbed," says St. Pierre. Possible results: bloating and stomach pain. It's important to note that whether you've been diagnosed with Celiac disease or not, it's possible to have a gluten sensitivity. The main sources of gluten: wheat products such as crackers, bagels, and bread as well as rye, spelt, and barley, plus soy sauce and salad dressings.

Pros
You don't need the wheat-based grains and other items that gluten is in to be nutritionally balanced, says Williams. And what you can eat a ton of while being GF can be super-good for you - think quinoa, potatoes, rice, risotto, and buckwheat. Also, you can end up eating less processed junk food.

Cons
You could run into some nutritional pitfalls. "If you eat GF, you still should steer clear of processed foods, and not use it as an excuse to house a box of gluten-free cupcakes," says Williams, who notes that there has been some buzz around people possibly lacking fiber when eating GF. "But that's most likely because many wheat products are fortified with fiber and then you aren't getting that extra push when you cut them out, but you can still totally get fiber from increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables." less