Why You Shouldn’t Cheat on Your Gluten-Free Diet

As a celiac, you’re already aware that following a gluten-free diet isn’t a piece of cake and staying on a strict diet is hard.

Beginning a gluten free diet after your diagnosis is challenging but doable for many, but quitting gluten for the rest of your life is a tough nut to crack.

Gluten is tricky and many people don’t even realize that they’re surrounded by it—salad dressings, vitamins, even toothpaste! You better think twice if you feel like having a scrumptious delight!

Here are some reasons to not cheat on your gluten-free diet ever.

Triggering of Symptoms

Many celiacs immediately develop symptoms after they consume gluten. These can be mild, moderate, or severe.

You may experience intense gas, joint pain, diarrhea, or even skin disorders depending on your sensitivity. It can be quite embarrassing if you’re with your friends, having a good time, but you need to rush to the washroom all of a sudden if the symptoms trigger.

If you avoid gluten and follow a strict gluten-free diet, you’ll always feel your best. Since gluten-rich foods are tempting, there’s no hard and fast rule that you can’t make a tempting meal with gluten-free ingredients.

Your Risk of Earlier Death is Higher

It may sound dire, but you should be aware that continuous consumption of gluten may shorten your lifespan.

Various studies revealed that eating gluten occasionally (even if you don’t develop any symptoms), can lead to severe health disorders in the long run. It’s best to avoid gluten since paying with your life isn’t worth it!

Accumulation of other Autoimmune Diseases

Here’s another big reason to say no to wheat and other foods containing gluten. As per a study, people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity have twice the level of antinuclear antibodies.

This means that there likely exists other underlying autoimmune conditions, such as lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, or Rheumatoid Arthritis.

In other words, if you continue to have gluten in your diet, you’ll likely see other autoimmune disorders that can be quite severe for you to deal with. Remember, celiac disease is just one autoimmune condition triggered by gluten!

No One Would Take Your Condition Seriously

This is perhaps the most common issue that many celiacs face. If you eat gluten-rich food once, your friends or even family members may not take your medical condition seriously, considering many see a gluten-free diet as just another fad.

It’s annoying when you know you’ll develop symptoms if you consume gluten, but your acquaintances try to force you to taste a meal containing it. Remember, most people won’t take your gluten-free diet seriously if you cheat on your diet. It’s always best to say NO every time you’re offered gluten-rich food.

You’ll Lose all Your Progress

Cross-contamination can also lead to severe symptoms, and you probably already know that very well, right? On top of that, you crave food full of gluten. But, when you eat it, you lose any progress of healing your intestine, which gets affected each time you gulp gluten.

Once the inner lining of your small intestine is damaged, it can take a long time to heal depending on your diet pattern, health, and overall sensitivity. Besides, the moment it’s healed, you may crave gluten again. This can drastically impact your overall health and lead to severe illness.

Remember, every ounce of gluten you consume knowingly will hinder your healthy lifestyle journey. Health is the biggest wealth, and if you’re not able to navigate yourself to a gluten-free diet, you will face consequences.