Is Gluten a Boogeyman? 4 Reasons Why Gluten is Great (for Most People)

Gluten is one of those often misunderstood chemicals that most foods have. Many people view it as one of the worst things in the world, but the truth is that it can be really good. The people who should avoid gluten are those with gluten allergies or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Let's examine four reasons that gluten is great for most people.

1. Gluten Can Be in Healthy, Wholesome Foods

Gluten is a protein that tends to bind different things together. While this makes it popular in processed food, many healthy foods do contain this protein. Healthy options can contain gluten without having an impact on the health of a person without adverse reactions to gluten. Things like fat-free salad dressing, croutons, whole-wheat breads, oats, and countless dishes have it in some shape or form.

2. Gluten-Containing Foods Can Benefit You

While it's not always the case, many foods that contain gluten tend to be rich in vitamins. The reason whole grains are so important revolves around what they can do. They can lower the risk of diabetes, reduce the risk of heart disease, and help with a plethora of conditions ranging from arthritis to constipation. If you remove gluten from your diet, you may lose the benefits that foods like whole grains can have on your body.

3. Gluten Foods Tend to Be Nutritious

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, oats and countless other wholesome foods. These grains are an amazing source of B vitamins, vitamin D, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and other vitamins that your body requires to maintain itself. When you remove these foods from your diet, you lose these nutrients. You may need to compromise and add supplements to your diet to ensure you receive enough of them to promote a healthy body.

4. Gluten Foods Have Fiber

Fiber is one of the most important parts of your diet. It helps to promote regular bowel movements, reduces the risk of heart disease, and promotes a healthy body. While fiber tends to be lacking in processed foods containing gluten, breads like those made at by the Klosterman Baking Company tend to be rich in fiber. They also have gluten, which means that a gluten-free diet requires you to find your fiber elsewhere.

The Bottom Line: Is Gluten Bad?

Gluten is only bad if you are allergic or sensitive to it. People who lack these problems should continue to eat as many healthy foods containing gluten as they can due to the plethora of benefits that these foods can bring. The bottom line about gluten is that it's neither good nor bad. The foods containing it can be good, both in a nutritional and tasteful sense, so long as they're eaten in moderation and keep their nutrients intact.