There’s a lot of information out there about the benefits of following a gluten-free diet. Mainly because there’s a lot of information out there. These days you can make a case for just about anything. But there is a pretty strong one surrounding gluten-free diets. So here’s the key question
If you’re over 60 and have always included gluten in your diet, do you really need to cut it out now?
Avoid Gluten If…
- You suffer digestion problems like gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea after eating gluten
- You feel tired or sluggish, in some cases lightheaded after eating
- You get migraines
- You suffer from anxiety or depression, or are prone to mood swings
- You get inflammation or swelling of your joints
Some cases of gluten intolerance are light and you may have never noticed how certain foods, such as bread, affect you.
Many people are only now just realising that a lot of upset stomachs can be avoided simply by watching what they eat.
Keep Gluten In If…
If you’re over 60 and been eating bread and gluten all your life with no side effects, then what’s the case for cutting out one of your staple foods? If you’ve been checked by your doctor and all your health markers are good, then you probably don’t need to cut gluten out. Especially if you’re eating healthily already.
Experiment With Your Health
If you’ve never been tested and you’ve never not had bread, then there’s an easy way to see for yourself – by experimenting. Try cutting it out for two weeks and see how you feel at the end of it. If you feel amazing, then gluten is not for you. If it doesn’t make any difference, then you can keep bread on the menu.
Also, remember that it’s up to you. No one has to tell you to cut anything out except yourself – not your children, not us, and least of all some TV programme or magazine article. Giving up gluten isn’t the smartest move for everybody. Maintaining a gluten-free diet can be expensive, tricky and can sometimes make you feel worse, especially in the beginning.
As with anything you decide for your health over 60, or at any stage, make sure to consult with your GP first. They have access to your medical history and can give you a medical opinion. And if you do decide to go gluten-free, why not let us know about it?
