These videos cover important nutritional aspects of healthy gluten-free living. They also discuss the consequences of eating too many processed gluten-free foods or store bought gluten-free substitutes. People who start eating too many of these foods often experience weight gain and constipation, which can be pretty discouraging when you are trying to alter your diet to improve your health. Type 2 diabetes is another potential problem many people face when they start eating too many unhealthy substitutes.

There is a lot of discussion about eating whole grain foods, but when it comes to eating gluten-free some people forget that eating whole grain is an option, and a far healthier one at that. There are a number of whole grain gluten-free flours and other grains that can be used to make healthy gluten-free foods and baked goods. While the options in stores are improving, it can still be difficult to find healthy options made with safe whole grains. Sometimes it is best to find your own recipe, make a big batch and freeze portions for convenience.

The second video discusses the importance of reading labels to monitor and compare the content of fiber, protein, carbohydrates, sugars, fat and micro nutrients, like iron and calcium, in the foods you buy. It also provides tips on how to get more fiber in your diet to make sure you get the the daily recommended allowance of 25-30 grams.

Many gluten-free substitutes aren’t fortified and if they are made with starches and processed grains, like white rice, they won’t offer much nutritional value; instead eating too many of these foods may lead to weight gain and/or constipation. Read more about what to eat to avoid constipation in Foods For Constipation.

She also discusses how many celiac disease patients are low in iron, so it is important for these patients to read labels and eat more foods high in iron. Learn more about this in Low Ferritin Symptoms.

This video highlights some of the lesser-used, healthy gluten-free flours and grains and it also explains how it can be good to turn to new, ethnic foods, like injera, as healthy options or substitutions. It’s really important to try healthier gluten-free options and expand your palate as you move to or sustain a healthy gluten-free diet. After all you are trying to repair your body from the damage already done from consuming gluten; your body needs all the help it can get.