The Gluten Free Diet Plan And 9 Carbohydrates That You Can Eat While On It
In recent decades, healthy eating has become an obsession in the United States, largely due to the high amount of overweight and obese people living in the country. One of the most popular healthy eating trends that is going on in the U.S. is the gluten-free diet. This diet helps manage certain diseases. Some people adopt a gluten free diet weight loss. The diet has also become popular among celebrities, Olympic athletes, and other prominent figures.
Over the last decade, gluten has become a villain of healthy eating. Gluten-free diets exploded on the market and many food manufacturers are now offering gluten-free versions of their products. Gluten-free diets have become so popular that in 2015 Americans spent over $4 billion on gluten-free products.
Low Carb Almond Flour Bread Ingredients
The pleasant surprise about this low carb bread recipe was that it worked out with only five ingredients :
- Blanched almond flour The kind you use here is important. It needs to be super fine almond flour like this to achieve the right texture.
- Psyllium husk powder Some brands can turn gray or purple when baking, so I recommend this one for consistent results.
- Baking powder I always use gluten-free, but any kind will work.
- Sea salt
- Eggs Be sure you use large not medium, extra large, or jumbo.
- Coconut oil You can also use butter instead, in the same amount.
- Warm water This helps the psyllium husk bloom, since it absorbs moisture.
The combination of texture, taste and only a handful of ingredients all make this the best low carb bread in my book.
Should I Avoid Gluten Or Eat Gluten
The trend of individuals reducing or eliminating gluten from their diets is increasing worldwide.18
Although a gluten-free diet is a necessity for people with celiac disease and recommended for those with gluten intolerance, people without diagnosed gluten issues are also excluding it from their diets because they believe it healthier to do so.
Many claim to lose weight or experience other improvements in health when cutting out gluten, but there is no solid evidence to support this strategy.19
Recommended Reading: Is Sweet Baby Ray’s Bbq Sauce Gluten Free
Gluten Free Vs Carb Free For Weight Loss
If you are trying to lose weight, you may be tempted to try a gluten-free or carbohydrate-free diet since both eating plans have made headlines as potentially viable weight-loss solutions. By understanding the benefits and risks associated with each diet, you can determine whether a gluten-free or carbohydrate-free diet is right for you.
Whole Grains Provide Several Health Benefits
Whole-grain consumption is tied to a number of impressive health benefits.
In fact, eating whole grains may lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and even colorectal cancer .
Keep in mind that bread is made from grains that have been pulverized to form smaller particles. This process speeds up your digestion and diminishes many of the potential health benefits .
For this reason, the benefits of whole grains like oats, buckwheat and barley may not apply to certain types of bread or other refined grains.
However, whole-wheat bread is higher in fiber, protein and micronutrients like selenium and manganese than white bread, making it a better choice if youre looking to lose weight or improve your health .
Certain types of whole-grain bread may also be made from less-processed grains, which are digested more slowly and may carry more health benefits.
Summary
Whole-grain consumption may provide a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and colorectal cancer though these same benefits may not apply to certain types of bread.
Don’t Miss: Does Red Robin Have Gluten Free Buns
Naturally Gluten Free Vs Commercial Gluten Free
Now some of these foods you may already be familiar with and some may be new to you. What youll notice though is that these roots vegetables, nuts and veggies arent labelled as gluten free because they have always been gluten free, just the way mother nature made them, since time began.
These foods are then labelled as gluten free so that you, the public, view them as healthy.
Supermarkets and food brands are aware of the trend to go gluten free and so have manufactured a whole range of gluten free junk foods for your convenience and consumption. Thats why its more beneficial to focus on foods you can eat and not to buy foods just because they are labelled gluten free. Commercial food manufacturers use potato starch, high levels of sugar or high glycemic index corn, genetically modified soya , and industrial non cold pressed oils in their gluten free products.
These foods are then labelled as gluten free so that you, the public, view them as healthy. Unfortunately its just a marketing strategy which has nothing to do with your health and is just a way to keep you on processed foods.
Comparing The Nutritional Value Of Gluten Free Bread And Wheat Bread
Despite the growing number of gluten free breads now available, gluten free bread still hasnt managed to replicate the taste, texture and nutritional qualities of bread made from wheat.
Why cant gluten free bread be more like wheat bread? Because gluten is the key to most of the properties that make wheat bread so popular. Replicating these properties in gluten free bread means using several kinds of flour and additional ingredients. This also means differences in the nutritional value found in gluten free bread compared with gluten containing bread. To find out what you get when you eat gluten free bread, we compared two supermarket home-brand white sliced loaves and two supermarket home-brand gluten free white sliced loaves.
Lets imagine that two people well call them Amelia and Jack are making sandwiches for lunch with white sliced bread. Jack is on a strict gluten free diet. Amelia can eat gluten.
Amelia is already ahead on price. She only had to pay $1.40 for a standard 650 gram loaf compared to Jack paying $4.50 for a 525 gram loaf. See Cost of a Gluten Free Diet.
When Jack eats two slices of gluten free bread, hes actually eating more bread and more calories of energy than Amelia. A slice of gluten free bread is thicker than a gluten containing slice. Its also likely to be around one-third heavier. In other words, three slices of gluten free bread weighs the same as four slices of wheat bread.
So, what can you do right now?
Don’t Miss: How To Make Gluten Free Tortillas
Outer Aisle Gourmet Cauliflower Sandwich Thins
Price: $$$
Outer Aisle Gourmet Cauliflower Sandwich Thins stand out from other gluten-free wraps and thins, as theyre made with just four ingredients, including cauliflower, cage-free eggs, Parmesan cheese, and nutritional yeast.
As a result, these veggie-packed thins are not only certified gluten-free but also paleo- and keto-friendly.
Free of artificial ingredients, each Cauliflower Sandwich Thin is low in calories and carbs, high in protein, and provides one serving of vegetables.
Still, keep in mind that theyre unsuitable for people who are allergic to eggs or dairy.
These thins get good reviews for being soft and having a mild flavor that complements a wide variety of toppings. In addition to their suitability for wraps and sandwiches, these thins can be baked in the oven to make mini pizzas.
One thin provides 50 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 130 mg of sodium, 2 grams of carbs, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 4 grams of protein .
Gluten Free Does Not Necessarily Mean Healthier
Despite the health claims for eating gluten-free, no scientific evidence supports weight loss with a gluten-free diet or suggests that the general population would benefit from avoiding gluten for health reasons.20
Although many people think that a gluten-free diet is healthier and more nutritious, the opposite may be true, as many products marketed as gluten-free are highly processed.
These gluten-free foods are often made with refined grains and additives such as tapioca starch, less commonly fortified with folic acid and iron, and have less fiber and more sugar compared to regular gluten-containing foods.21
In fact, several studies have actually found a tendency toward weight gain and obesity among those who follow a gluten-free diet.22
In addition, highly-processed gluten-free diets that are high in refined carbohydrates are often deficient in important nutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin D, and protein.
We suspect that these drawbacks would be significantly attenuated by eating a whole-foods, minimally processed gluten-free diet.
Don’t Miss: What Foods Are Gluten Free
Healthy Gluten Free Carbs
We encourage all people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes to follow a lower carbohydrate eating plan. In this sense, we recommend to avoid or minimise most grains and grain-based food items.
When you do this, you instantly slash a lot of the problematic higher carb foods from your eating plan. Instead, you can choose the best type of carbs to eat: vegetables!
You can literally fill your plate with vegetables like an all-you-can-eat smorgasboard!
Believe it, that doing so will dramatically improve your blood sugar and health.
Tips For The Best Low Carb Bread
Im so excited about how delicious and chewy this almond flour bread is! Its one of my favorite low carb bread recipes, and I want it to be yours, too.
So, below are some of my best tips for it. And if you have other questions about this low carb gluten-free bread, dont hesitate to ask! Id be happy to update this list.
Don’t Miss: Gluten Free Graham Crackers Walmart
Q: I Dont Have Celiac Disease Or Gluten Sensitivity Can I Still Benefit From A Gluten
A: Perhaps not. You may have heard that eating gluten might lead to inflammation or other problems among people without celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. But several studies have debunked these concerns and some have actually found the opposite.
For instance, one large study on people without celiac disease found that people who ate less gluten had a higher risk of heart disease than those who ate more which was likely influenced by their reduced consumption of heart-healthy whole grains.2 Because of these risks, the researchers recommended against gluten-free diets for people without celiac disease.
Furthermore, according to the Harvard School of Public Health,8 numerous studies have found that eating 2-3 servings of whole grains per day, including whole wheat, can have beneficial effects, significantly lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.
Reducing your gluten intake may also reduce your intake of other essential nutrients. A small study of people without celiac disease6 showed that participants who followed a gluten-free diet had less-than-optimal intakes of certain micronutrients and fiber, as well as an increase in their fat intake. Other studies have also found that many gluten-free foods may be deficient in several other nutrients, including folate, niacin and riboflavin many are also higher in trans fats and salt compared with foods that contain gluten.6
Carbs That Can Be Eaten On A Gluten
Only a few carbohydrates are restricted on a gluten-free diet. That leaves a long list of carbohydrates that can still be consumed on the diet. Here are nine carbohydrates that can be eaten on a gluten-free diet.
Eating a gluten free diet has become one of the most popular diet trends of the century. Many people avoid gluten because of Celiac disease, intolerance, or wheat allergies, but other adopt a gluten free diet plan just to be healthier. People also adopt a gluten free diet weight loss.
Recommended Reading: Is Liquid Iv Gluten Free
How To Store Almond Flour Bread
Like any other bread, youll want to wrap this almond flour bread for storage, so that it doesnt dry out.
Ive kept it on the counter for 3 or 4 days with no problem. It did get a little hard toward the end. Id expect the same thing if I bought wheat bread at the store.
TIP: Dont wrap this low carb bread in plastic wrap or a plastic bag. It will trap moisture and ruin the texture. If it gets a little damp or gummy with time, you can pop it in the toaster to fix that, but usually thats only an issue if storing in plastic.
To get a few extra days out of it, you can store this low carb gluten-free bread in the fridge for up to 1 week. Just wrap it in parchment paper, not plastic.
Why Does Gluten Get Such A Bad Rap
Gluten continues to be demonized by many health-conscious individuals. But does it deserve this reputation?
For those with celiac disease, gluten definitely deserves the bad rap. These individuals have an autoimmune reaction to gluten that can cause many health troubles, as discussed above.
But is gluten bad for those without celiac disease or a true allergy to wheat?
Although many people think that gluten-containing foods play a role in causing or worsening an array of non-gastrointestinal symptoms , there is a lack of solid evidence. The strongest statement that can be made regarding glutens association with other health problems is that, in people with suspected non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten might exacerbate some of their pre-existing symptoms.
There is speculation that changes to the methods of processing gluten-containing foods or an increase in gluten intake may be responsible for the rising prevalence of gluten-related conditions.15
However, given that there are several other substances in gluten-containing foods that may actually be responsible for peoples adverse reactions, it seems prudent to focus more on the types of food that contain gluten and related substances, as opposed to gluten itself.16
You May Like: Are Blue Diamond Almonds Gluten Free
Effects On The Blood Sugar
If you eat a high-GI food you may experience a sudden surge of energy which quickly drains away, leaving you feeling tired, weak and hungry again. This is because the quick releasing carbohydrate caused your blood sugar levels to rise and fall sharply. To avoid this and keep your blood sugar levels stable, try low-GI foods.
