When people think of a grain-free diet, they often imagine restricting themselves to tasteless and unsatisfactory foods.
However, several benefits come from following a grain-free diet.
And these benefits can not only improve your health but also change the way you look and feel.
What is a grain-free diet?
A grain-free diet excludes all grains as well as those foods that contain them.
In the grain-free diet, not only cereals that contain gluten are eliminated but also other cereals such as corn, rice, or oats.
Grain-free diets are commonly recommended for people with allergies to specific food components and also for weight loss.
What are the benefits of a grain-free diet?
There are several benefits of following a grain-free diet.
Weightloss
Many people who eat a grain-free diet lose weight.
When you eliminate grains, you eliminate a significant source of calories, resulting in weight loss.
Hunger reduction
When you eliminate grains, you also reduce a significant amount of carbohydrates from your diet.
Carbohydrates often give people an energy boost, but only temporarily.
Afterward, they feel even hungrier than before and crave carbohydrates, so their energy levels spike again.
Reducing the number of carbohydrates in your diet reduces cravings and leaves you feeling full on less food.
Reduces inflammation
Eating cereals is believed to contribute to inflammation, so eliminating them can help reduce inflammation.
Better skin appearance
When you eliminate inflammatory foods like cereals, you reduce the number of toxins your body needs to filter through the liver.
This leaves more energy for other functions like detoxification, which means healthier-looking skin!
Improves overall health
Without consuming grains, people generally eat more fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts, legumes, seeds, and other healthy foods.
These types of foods promote the ability of the glandular system to keep your body in balance, giving you optimal health.
Helps with sleep
When cereals are not included in meal plans, people often find it easier to fall asleep.
Also, sleep all night because their bodies are not busy digesting food.
With a more restful sleep, you will feel rested and with the necessary energy for your day.
Improves mood
When you reduce carbohydrates, blood sugar levels and neurotransmitter function are balanced, which improves mood.
Improves digestion
Reducing the consumption of cereals, vegetables, and fruits, which are natural sources of fiber, generally increases.
This leads to better bowel movements and less discomfort when going to the bathroom.
What are the disadvantages of a grain-free diet?
Following a grain-free diet can have some downsides.
Nutritional deficiencies
Eliminating grains from your diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Cereals contain many essential nutrients, including magnesium, B vitamins, iron, and fiber.
This means that people who follow a grain-free diet must obtain the necessary nutrients from other sources.
It can be restrictive
Although eliminating cereals can bring health benefits, some think removing an entire food group from the diet is not advisable.
It is also argued that if a diet has many restrictions, it will be difficult to maintain it.
What foods can you eat on a grain-free diet?
Some examples of foods you can eat on a grain-free diet are:
- Meats: beef, lamb, pork, turkey.
- Fish and shellfish: salmon, shrimp, tuna, scallops, oysters,
- Eggs
- Dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and milk.
- Vegetables: You can eat them raw or cooked, such as artichoke, asparagus, beets, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, among others.
- Fruits: You can consume any fresh or frozen fruit.
- Nuts and seeds: almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, etc.
- Legumes: beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc.
As you can see, there are many foods that you can include in a grain-free diet.
Want to learn more about low carb and gluten free flour options?
- Is xanthan gum keto? Everything you need to know
- Chickpea flour: substitutes you’ll love!
- Learn everything about what is carbalose flour and why it’s the next it thing in low carb baking
- Is tapioca flour keto? Everything you need to know!
Leave a Reply