Gluten-free people are annoying! Those yoga loving, green juice drinking hipsters turn their nose in judgement as you foolishly eat your “poisonous” bread and your “toxic” cookies. Leave me alone you gluten-free hippie!
Okay, I’m just kidding. I’m gluten-free and (I like to think) I’m not annoying. Here are the top 6 gluten-free stereotypes I encounter all the time and why they aren’t true.
“Do You Even Know What Gluten Is?”
Well, as a certified health coach and all around nutrition nerd, I certainly am very familiar with gluten. I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who preach gluten-free and have no idea what gluten actually is (a sticky protein found in wheat, rye and barley), but is that such a bad thing? If you know that you feel better when you avoid a food, why not avoid it? If you’re just listening to your body, that’s perfectly fine too. It’s okay not to know everything about everything.
“So, You’re Not Allergic To Gluten?”
An estimated 1 in 100 people worldwide have an actual allergy to gluten, called celiac disease. This is an autoimmune disorder where the body, when exposed to gluten, malfunctions and attacks it’s own tissues and organs. A strict gluten-free diet is necessary in this case.
It is far more common for people to have what is called gluten intolerance, or gluten sensitivity. While these people are not allergic to gluten, they still have negative reactions upon consumption. Symptoms of gluten intolerance include GI distress, gas or bloating, acne, fatigue or depression, skin rashes and much more.
I do not have Celiac disease. I do, however, know that I feel way better when I don’t eat gluten and that’s all that matters to me.
“You Don’t Eat Gluten Either?! Let’s Be Best Friends!” 
While I am all for making new friends, it is not a pre-requisite that they be gluten-free. Similar food choices do not somehow bond us for life as soulmates or BFF’s. Let’s move on from this ridiculous assumption.
“You Must Be Vegetarian And All Into Yoga, Right?”
Ummm no. Well, kind of. I prefer to not be bloated and feel depressed because of what I ate. I do not, however, prefer to eat like a rabbit. Don’t get me wrong, I like my veggies and my green juices and have nothing against those who choose to be vegetarian, but I am not a vegetarian and there is no reason to assume someone who avoids gluten is.
I do happen to love yoga, but I chalk that up to purely coincidence.
Pro Tip: All meat, all vegetables and all fruits are gluten-free. By eating whole, fresh foods, you don’t have to worry if gluten is in your food.
“You’re Always Judging What I Eat.”
I choose not to eat gluten because of how it makes me feel and the extensive research on it’s harmful impact on our bodies. If you want to learn about gluten and the harm it can do to your body, I’m your gal, but I am not one of those preachy types who falls to the floor in the site of someone eating a piece of bread.
If you want to enjoy your pasta right next to me, that’s fine. I make plenty of other questionable decisions. That is just part of life.
“Going Gluten-Free Is Just a Fad. Get Over Yourself!”
Thankfully, it seems that ridding gluten from our diets is not just another fad. It is here to stay. The research supports this. There are countless studies linking gluten consumption to, not only GI issues, but brain disorders, including an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.
Gluten is a proven inflammatory food, whether you have Celiac disease or not. It is unnatural and unnecessary in our diets. But don’t worry, I won’t make you eat rabbit food or come to a yoga class or even yell at you when you bite into your sandwich. I’m just a regular Joe who happens to not eat gluten. Don’t be scared!
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