Many people are looking to gluten free and paleo diet plans to help them make healthier lifestyle choices when it comes to their nutrition and diet. When making a change to your current diet, always be sure to learn all the facts so that you can find one that best suits your health needs and dieting goals.

What is Gluten?

You hear the term gluten-free or gluten-free diet used a lot these days. But what is gluten? Gluten is a protein composite found in foods that are made from wheat, barley and rye. Gluten is what gives bread dough its elasticity and helps it to rise. 

Many people have allergic reactions to gluten, or a very high sensitivity to it, which leads them to start on a gluten-free diet. This diet choice is important for people that have Celiac Disease. The protein damages the small intestine and causes issues with digestion for someone with this disease. A newer discovery is the connection between a diet that is free of gluten helping to minimize the symptoms of autism. 

What is Paleo?

The Paleo diet has gained lots of attention lately. But many people still find themselves wondering what it is? Paleo is short for Paleolithic. The Paleolithic Era is a period in history of about 2.5 million years – a period in time that ended around 10,000 years ago. This diet is based upon the eating habits of our caveman ancestors. 

Is a Paleo diet gluten free? When you are truly Paleolithic, you would be free of gluten because it consists of wild meat and fish, and wild-grown fruits, berries and nuts. However, since most people who follow a Paleo lifestyle actually buy their food in stores, you need to read the labels to be sure that there is no hidden gluten product where you wouldn't expect it to be.

What is Wheat?

What is wheat? Wheat is a cereal grain that is grown worldwide. Grain is grown on more land than any other commercially grown food. Wheat has traditionally been used to make flour, which is then used to make foods like bread and pasta, but in recent years it has been added to most of the food you buy.

Many people mistakenly interchange wheat and gluten; however, they are not the same thing. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. 

Healthy Food Options

With all of the diet options available today, including both gluten free and Paleo diet plans and many more, it is so important to find healthy food options and incorporate them into your diet. When combined with some kind of exercise, a healthy diet can improve the way you feel on a daily basis.

Different food and calorie needs may be based on a person's age and activity level. It is important to understand what your personal and medical needs are when selecting your diet plan and the food that is included in that plan. 

Gluten free and Paleo diet plans are just two of the many that are currently available. With so much diet advice readily available at your fingertips, it is more important than ever to carefully review them all before making a decision about which one is right for you.