The Mediterranean Diet continues to be one of the most popular diets nowadays with a lot of good testimonials and feedback from the community that has witnessed and benefited from it.
But because some foods included in the diet contain a lot of gluten, it might become an issue for people suffering from gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
During the past few years, Gluten-free foods have gained a lot of controversy and popularity. There are two main schools of thought regarding this issue.
One group claims that if you’re not suffering from celiac disease, it’s unhealthy to be on a gluten-free diet. The other group maintains that everybody would do well to live on a gluten-free diet.
This article does not take sides. If you suffer from celiac disease, then you absolutely should avoid foods that contain gluten.The dangers of this type of condition are well known, symptoms like IBS ( Irritable Bowel Syndrome ), Inflammation, Neuropathy and Autoimmune Disease , just to name a few, are more than enough reasons to give it up.
If you can handle gluten, then it’s up to you. You should bear in mind that many people can’t really handle gluten. This intolerance shows up as upset stomachs, sinuses, headaches, leaky gut syndrome, and other health problems.
If you are generally unwell, it would be a good idea to go gluten-free for two months and see if you feel better. If you do, you have just narrowed down your problem, and you should know what to do.
The Mediterranean diet can be gluten-free if you want it to be. One of the best parts of the Mediterranean diet is its flexibility. Unlike the Atkins diet or paleo diet that can be rigid, the Mediterranean diet is more of an eating plan with a variety of choices. Most of the foods are natural foods and do not contain gluten.
The diet is rich in fish, veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, olive oil and fruit. Red meat and poultry are consumed minimally. Wine is also consumed, but there is no need to if you don’t wish to have alcohol.
Certain foods in the Mediterranean diet such as pasta, bread, couscous, barley, etc. contain gluten. So, you should avoid those. These foods can be replaced with rice or quinoa pasta and potatoes.
There are many gluten-free options for the Mediterranean diet. You may need to look at your health store, eBay or even Amazon for your substitutes.
There is no hard and fast rule with the Mediterranean diet. All you need to do is avoid processed foods and look for your gluten-free Mediterranean foods, and you’ll be fine.
You should always consult your doctor to see if the foods you’re consuming are suitable for you. Some people may be allergic to seafood that is a part of the Mediterranean diet.
If that happens, you can just use poultry. The “damage” is minimal because poultry is also natural food. Chicken Nuggets, however, are artificial and detrimental to your health. Always remember to stay natural.
You should also note that gluten-free and grain-free are not the same thing. You can consume grains and still be on a gluten-free diet.
To conclude, the Mediterranean diet can become effective even for people with these health problems. All it comes down to is making choices. Take your time and do your research.
There is no rush. Once you know what you can and can’t eat with the Mediterranean diet, that’s half the battle won. Then all you need to do is whip up tasty dishes for yourself. That’s the fun part.
