Pitfalls To Avoid When Going Gluten Free

Now we’ll be looking at a few common beginner mistakes to avoid when you decide to go gluten free. Going gluten free is a lot harder and more complex than most people realize. To help ensure your gluten-free journey runs as smoothly as possible, check out these beginner mistakes to avoid.

Not Reading Food Labels

First and foremost, one of the most common mistakes that people make when following a gluten free diet, is failing to read the list of ingredients on the food labels and packing.

Sausages for example, are generally thought of as being meat based products. Therefore, a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that they are all suitable for a gluten free diet.

Some brands, however, contain cereals, grains, seasonings, or flours that actually do contain gluten.

There are of course, 100% meat sausages, but some brands out there to add other things to their recipes. This is just one of many different examples. Basically, to avoid any potential complications, always take the time to read the ingredients.

Assuming That All Gluten-Free Foods Are Safe

Oats, as we mentioned earlier, do not contain gluten. Despite this, you still need to be extremely careful when eating oats, as they are often processed and packaged in environments where gluten is present.

Cross-contamination is, therefore, a very real possibility. The best advice we can give you here is to do as much research as possible and to not take any chances.

Not Getting Enough Nutrients

Many people suffering from gluten sensitivity issues, or celiac disease, often wind up becoming malnourished. Their bodies struggle to absorb adequate amounts of the right nutrients, along with the fact that sometimes they just don’t eat healthily enough.

Going gluten-free does not guarantee that you’ll be getting enough of the right nutrients on a daily basis. We all have our most and least favorite foods, so be sure to prioritize healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, that are high in vitamins and minerals.

Quitting Too Early

Okay, time to get real here. When you transition over to a glutenfree diet, this is a big step, and your body will not like it as first. For the first two or three days, you will feel awful.

You’ll feel tired, you’ll be hungry, you’ll have a headache, and you’ll be craving the foods that you know you shouldn’t be eating. You’ll basically want to go away and hibernate for a few months.

If you stick with it however, things will get better. Once your body accepts the fact that gluten is gone, you’ll actually begin to feel better than ever. If you can make it past the first few days, you should be perfectly fine.

Overlooking Sauces, Seasonings, And Condiments

After preparing your delicious gluten-free meal, out of habit, you may reach for the nearest seasoning, sauce, or condiments in general, and wonder why you’re bloated and in agony shortly afterward.

Though a little squeeze of sauce here, or a sprinkling of seasoning there, may not seem like much, in reality even the tiniest trace of gluten can potentially lead to some nasty side effects. Many sauces, seasonings, spices, and condiments contain gluten, or could potentially contain gluten, so just be careful and again, always read the packaging.