You’re talking to your coworker and they mention that they have so much energy, feel lighter, and are sleeping better. You’ve been noticing they also have clearer skin. You’re curious how they’ve done it, so you ask them what they’re doing.
They tell you that they’ve eliminated dairy and gluten from their diet.
You’ve heard this before. You’ve seen people talking about it on social media. You see the packaging of gluten free or dairy free in the stores. You’ve always wondered about it and if it’s right for you. If that’s the secret that you’ve been missing out on with your diet to finally see results.
And the truth is, most people do not need to eliminate dairy and gluten.
People who need to eliminate gluten and dairy have an allergy to both – like people who are celiac or lactose intolerant. But, surprisingly, that’s about 1% of the US population. You’d think it was more with how many people are eliminating dairy and gluten!
There are a few reasons, outside of an allergy, why people would eliminate gluten and dairy
Health reasons
Outside of celiac disease and being lactose intolerant, there are a few populations that may benefit from eliminating gluten and dairy.
If you have a gluten sensitivity. These are not the same people who have celiac disease. But they may get headaches, brain fog, bloating, and fatigue when they consume foods with gluten in them.
People with dairy sensitivities. Again, these are not the same people who are lactose intolerant. But they do have a harder time digesting lactose and may experience more bloating, gas, or digestive issues when consuming dairy.
People with higher inflammation may want to consider a short term elimination diet of dairy and gluten to see if it helps their symptoms.
Health benefits
Over the last decade, eliminating gluten and dairy has become very trendy, especially from a weight loss perspective. Though, this is less because of the gluten and dairy themselves, and more because it helps put people in a calorie deficit, ultimately helping them lose weight.
Other health-based reasons people have been eliminating gluten and dairy include
- Skin health. Some people experience clearer skin or managed eczema when they cut out gluten and dairy.
- Mental health. Improved mood, less brain fog, and more energy are also one side effect for some who cut out gluten and dairy.
- Gut health. And for some, cutting out gluten and dairy improves their gut health. They experience less bloating, gas, and better bowel movements.
When cutting out gluten and dairy, it is important to consider a few things first.
If you’re health conscious and looking to improve your lifestyle, cutting out gluten and dairy may be very tempting, especially with better mental health, clear skin, and a better gut. But it’s also important to consider two things:
Nutritional deficiencies
When cutting out food groups in general, you may be missing out on nutrients that your body depends on.
Specifically with eliminating gluten and dairy, you may miss out on fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and some B vitamins. When you are deficient in vitamins and minerals, your hormonal symptoms could get worse, making it harder for your body to feel safe. If your goal is weight loss, when your body doesn’t feel safe, it holds onto weight.
If you choose to cut out dairy and gluten from your diet, it’s important to get annual bloodwork to make sure you aren’t deficient in any of these nutrients. If you are deficient, it’s a good reminder to incorporate other foods and supplements that will support your deficiencies.
Bioindividuality
This is the most important part!
Just because it worked for someone else – your coworker, your best friend, someone you saw on social media – does not mean you need to do it or it’ll work for you.
It’s okay to explore different styles of eating and movement that work for you. But it’s more important to learn how your body works, what your symptoms are, and what helps your body thrive the most.
If you are looking at gluten and dairy free as a quick fix or another diet, you may not need to eliminate them and can be doing more damage than good. However, if you are looking at them to help you with specific symptoms, it could be worth experimenting with a short term elimination and seeing how your symptoms feel after!
Want to dive more into symptoms and what’s the best diet for you? Let’s chat! Set up your free Hormone Analysis Call today to see what’s best for you, your goals, and your hormones!
