It’s National Gluten-Free Day, so a perfect time to talk about gluten and your hormonal health.
Gluten is a protein found in many grains, including wheat, rye and barley. It helps bind breads, pastas and other foods it is used in.
But gluten isn’t supportive for every body.
Gluten can hinder the absorption of some nutrients. For those with gluten sensitivity, it can cause bloating, constipation, autoimmune or thyroid disorders and inflammation.
Chronic inflammation can cause infertility, PCOS, endometriosis, and some implantation issues. One study showed that unexplained infertility is more prevalent in women with gluten sensitivity.
If you have endometriosis, going gluten-free may have a big payoff. A NIH study showed that women with endometriosis who are on a gluten free diet for a year had relief of 75% of their symptoms.
In general, you’ll find gluten in bread, pasta, crackers, cookies and desserts. Read labels for these sources of gluten:
- Barley
- Barley enzymes (found in most breakfast cereals)
- Distilled (Malt) vinegar
- Kamut
- Modified food starch
- Oats (due to cross-contamination, so check the label for gluten-free)
- Spelt
- Rye
- Soy sauce
- Wheat
Gluten-free foods:
- Amaranth
- Beans
- Buckwheat
- Corn
- Millet
- Nuts and nut butters
- Oats (must be labeled gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination)
- Potatoes
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Teff
Not sure if going gluten-free is right for you? Eliminate it completely from your diet for 3-5 days. Notice anything different with bloating, digestion, congestion, or any other physical symptoms? If so, maybe it’s time for you to be gluten-free.
Not noticing anything different and you want to add gluten back in? See what feels different, if anything.
Our bodies have the amazing capacity to give us information – you just need to tune in.
xo,
Jennifer
p.s. If you’d like to chat about how food and nutrition is and isn’t supporting your hormonal health, let’s schedule a call.