The world has only recently discovered that one of the significant ingredients in food isn't quite suitable for everyone. Of course, we're talking about gluten. And the more we talk about it, the more people discover that they are gluten intolerant. Bloating, cloudy mind, and so many more symptoms that were your everyday reality suddenly disappear when you try eating gluten-free. Today, let's talk about how your gut can benefit from ditching gluten and whether you should do it.

No more diarrhea and constipation

Those who claim to be gluten intolerant often suffer from alternating episodes of diarrhea and constipation. Having digestive problems every once in a while is natural, but having them often may point to a more severe problem. Not only is it unpleasant, but since you lose a lot of fluids in the process, you can become severely dehydrated after a while.

Diarrhea and constipation are two more symptoms that might affect those with celiac disease. Because of the illness's nutritional absorption issues, it might also cause an unpleasant odor. Celiac disease is one of the main reasons people actually decide to start a gluten-free diet. Since gluten triggers the problem, when you stop consuming it, your diarrhea and constipation issues might get a lot better. A good reason to start reading those nutrition labels, right?

Abdominal distention, aka bloating

No one likes to feel like there's a balloon in their stomach. Unfortunately, bloating is another typical complaint among those who have gluten sensitivity. Having a bloated stomach is a bad sensation that lasts for a while. A buildup of gas is another symptom often seen in celiac. It can cause physical discomfort and social anxiety (no one wants to let the gas go in public).

Although there are several potential causes of abdominal distention, the most frequent cause is simply overeating. People who are gluten intolerant may experience bloating on a daily basis that is unrelated to the quantity of food they consume. Letting go of gluten will at least leave it up to you when you're bloated.

Stomach ache

Similarly, there are a variety of potential origins for stomach aches. However, persons who claim to be gluten intolerant often describe chronic stomach discomfort for no apparent reason. So, if you feel pain in your stomach more often than not, try ditching gluten for a while; it might help you. If it makes things better, there you have it – you are probably gluten intolerant.

Exhaustion can come from the stomach

Did you know that in medicine, there is something called the brain-gut axis? Most doctors agree that the mesenteric plexus (a bundle of autonomic nerve fibers in the abdominal area) is responsible for that. The mesenteric plexus is a nervous system quite active on its own, but it also communicates a lot with the brain. That's why, when you're constipated, or your bowels just don't work that well, you feel slightly more depressed, and the anxiety often builds up. On the other hand, when you're under a lot of stress, your bowels respond with constipation and
diarrhea; if that condition lasts longer, you might even develop peptic ulcers.

So, it is no surprise that when you have gluten intolerance and your guts suffer, it also manifests in your mental state. You can't focus, you feel like your mind is clouded, with headaches, and often you feel anxious and exhausted. Individuals with gluten intolerance often have fatigue that interferes with their day-to-day lives, and starting a gluten-free diet helps them feel well-rested.

Healthy guts - healthy brain

This principle stands for a lot of other conditions. Have you noticed how you start feeling better when you start eating healthy? You're more energized, and the way you approach the world is more positive. You can use this phenomenon to your advantage, even if you have some more serious mental issues. Mental health experts often advise us to follow a balanced diet when faced with a major issue. For example, healthy eating habits can help you immensely during addiction.

Say goodbye to feeling sick and nauseous

Nausea is a common symptom of gluten sensitivity, especially after eating a meal that contains gluten. There are numerous potential reasons for nausea, but if you often feel sick after eating gluten, it may be an indication of gluten sensitivity.

Potential anti-inflammatory effects

Eliminating gluten from your diet may benefit your health even if you don't have celiac disease. The experts claim that removing gluten from one's diet may lead to a number of health benefits, including a reduction in bloating and inflammation as well as improved skin tone, increased energy levels, and fewer feelings of mental fogginess. We talked about this, but what lies underneath it?

This is due to the fact that gluten consumption has been linked to increased inflammation in the small intestine, which in turn has been linked to a variety of health problems, including:

• Impaired digestion
• Nutritional malabsorption
• Autoimmune diseases

Your gut can benefit from ditching gluten, but first, do no harm

There is a saying in medical circles - primum non nocere. Translated from Latin, this means, “first, do no harm.” This should be applied to every aspect of dealing with our bodies. Yes, ditching gluten can have a lot of benefits, but to certain people, with certain bowels. Those people are many in number, but there are still people whose bowels won't get along with a gluten-free diet. So, you need to be careful. Ditching gluten out of the blue can mess up the normal microbiome of your bowels and mess up their normal function (so, quite counterproductive).

Also, since a lot of food we take contains gluten, people who are not careful with it often have severe vitamin and mineral deficiency. So, make sure to consult your doctor and let them evaluate if your gut can benefit from ditching gluten for real. Only then, be free to pursue this new type of eating and live your life stress-free.