January 13th is National Gluten-Free Day! To celebrate, we’re taking a deeper look at gluten and why people choose to go gluten-free. We’ll also explore some of the benefits of the gluten-free diet and lifestyle.
One of the hardest parts of going gluten-free is giving up sweets made from refined grains, so we also made sure to explore our favorite gluten-free cookies at the end.
But first, let’s learn more about National Gluten Free Day and get a brief low-down on gluten:
National Gluten-Free Day History
So how did National Gluten-Free Day get its start? NGFD first began back in 2014, with the goal of sharing the benefits of the gluten-free lifestyle with a wider audience.
If you’re unfamiliar with gluten, it’s essentially a broad term for the proteins found in wheat, rye, barley, and other cereal grains. Gluten has several roles, like helping foods hold their shape, but for many people it can also cause digestive issues or even immune issues.
Many people have difficulty with gluten or choose to avoid eating it, and opt instead to follow a gluten-free lifestyle or diet. National Gluten-Free Day Brings awareness to the community and the benefits of this lifestyle.
Why Eat Gluten-Free? Gluten-Free Benefits
So why might someone choose to eat gluten-free? For those with Celiac Disease, gluten actually triggers an immune response that can result in irritable symptoms.
Common symptoms of Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivity include things like:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Joint Pain
- Bloating
- Gas
- Heartburn
Gluten can also aggravate those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. For people with these conditions, avoiding gluten may help drastically reduce symptoms and improve their quality of life.
However, even for people without autoimmune diseases, allergies, or known sensitivities, going gluten-free can have benefits. Many people find that gluten-free diets help improve digestion, relieve inflammation, boost energy, and support weight loss.
The Best Gluten-Free Cookies
We know that one of the hardest parts of going gluten-free is giving up breads, pastas, cookies and other foods made with refined grains. The good news is that you can often find gluten-free substitutions for all your favorite foods. Oftentimes these gluten-free foods will still have the same great taste and texture as the sweets or grains you’re craving.
For example, our gluten-free cookies taste great, use healthy all-natural gluten-free ingredients, and come in a bunch of delicious flavors, including:
Not only are all of our cookies certified gluten-free, they’re also dairy-free, vegan, and fit into a bunch of other healthy diets and lifestyles. So make sure to try some Maxine’s Heavenly Cookies and give your sweet tooth some love on this National Gluten-Free Day!
