Gluten-Free Diet
This became part of the mainstream to cater to those living with Celiac’s disease and to people on grain-discouraging diets, like the Paleo diet. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Because wheat pops up in nearly every kind of product on the grocery shelf, so does gluten. For those with Celiac’s disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by eating gluten that can lead to severe malnutrition, it is 100% essential that gluten is avoided. Other people who avoid it consider themselves sensitive or intolerant, with symptoms like digestive upset or brain fog. Many experts say that unless you have Celiac’s disease, there is no need to avoid gluten.
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Pros:
- Can reduce bloating and other digestive problems
- Can help you think more clearly
- Less consumption of refined grains, if you don’t rely heavily on the gluten-free counterparts, and can lead to weight loss
- Can help clear skin
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Cons:
- A gluten-free cookie is still a cookie, so it’s not necessarily healthier. Beware of gluten-free junk food.
- Can miss out on the nutrients in gluten-containing grains
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Bottom line: If you see positive side effects from avoiding gluten, and aren’t eating sugary gluten-free foods instead, disregard the expert opinions and avoid it. If you don’t feel any different eating it or not eating it, don’t worry about it. If you have Celiac’s disease, it is imperative that you avoid gluten like the plague.
Pegan
If Paleo and vegan both peaked your interest, we have the solution. This is the hybrid of the two extremely popular diets. Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D. coined the term “pegan” when he wrote the guidelines for this mostly gluten-free diet. It promotes nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables., with the occasional use of non-gluten grains, beans and grass-fed, organic meats. It says no to dairy and recommends supplements for vitamin D3 and Omega-3s. Sugar is, as usual, to be used sparingly.
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Pros:
- Nutrient dense
- No focus on portion size or calorie counting
- Wide variety of foods available to eat
- Promotes weight loss
- Can help alleviate ailments and inflammation
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Cons:
- No research to back it up and it relies on the limited studies of the Paleo and vegan diets
- List of approved and forbidden foods has a lot of gray areas
- Might be too cumbersome or confusing to follow long-term
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Bottom line: By combining the best parts of two popular diets, this one might be the golden ticket if you’re willing to learn the somewhat complicated rules.
