The gluten-free and vegan transition is not always an easy one, especially together. However, the results are life-changing once you educate yourself on the benefits. Gluten is a string of proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye and is harsh on those with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and wheat allergies. Gluten causes issues with specific individuals by destroying the inner lining of the intestine that takes in nourishment from food. Dairy intolerance also affects a significant number of people, causing a variety of issues including bloating, acne, digestion issues, and oxidative stress. In Western society we are constantly overeating, yet undernourished, thus not getting the nutrients from the food that we desperately need in order to feel good and live a happy life. For many individuals, cutting both gluten and animal products out of your diet can not only improve overall health but also assist in healthy weight loss.

Breakfast was a hard one to figure out. I love granola and had a pretty hard time finding something that helped me jump-start my day. When I first tried Nora’s Kitchen Granola, I was pretty blown away by the taste and felt so satisfied on my way to work after eating it. I love when I look at a list of ingredients and understand what each of them is. I decided to do a little more research on 5 of them to better understand how each of them was helping my body.

Gluten-Free Oat Bran Lowers Cholesterol

Oat bran contains 50% more fiber and soluble fiber than oatmeal, making it more effective at lowering cholesterol and helping digestion. Lower cholesterol means your heart is happy. Oat bran has fewer calories than the same amount of oatmeal, which encourages natural weight loss. Oat bran also has more protein, calcium, iron, thiamin, phosphorus, riboflavin, magnesium, and zinc.

Flaxseed Meal Loves Your Heart, Too!

Omega-3 contains essential fatty acids called “good” fats. These fats have been shown to have heart-healthy effects. Lignans, which have both estrogen and antioxidant qualities, are 75 to 800 times more abundant in flaxseed than in other plant foods. Flaxseeds are rich in micronutrients, dietary fiber, vitamin B1, and the essential fatty acid, omega-3. It is also another great weight loss tool. Flaxseed meal provides fiber, which helps you feel full and increase weight loss.

Rice Protein Powder Is Packed With Vitamins

Rice protein powder provides a great source of protein, but it also provides essential amino acids, vitamins B and E, fiber, and carbohydrates. It lacks fat, cholesterol, sugar, and sodium. Brown rice contains five grams of protein per cup compared to other similar plant protein sources.  Protein powder, in general, is a great dietary supplement that can help improve liver and heart function while regulating your cholesterol. If you are actively exercising it is a great tool for building muscle.

Your Skin Will Never Look Better

Many people experience a near-complete clearing up of their skin within a few weeks of going gluten-free and vegan. Nora’s Kitchen Granola has almonds, pumpkin seeds, and pistachios. All of these nuts together create a great source of protein, but each targets something healthy individually too. Almonds are a go-to snack for me by themselves because they are a great source of vitamin E, copper, and magnesium. They also contain high levels of healthy unsaturated fatty acids along with high levels of bioactive molecules such as fiber, phytosterols, other vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Pumpkin seeds contain a lot of nutrients that include vitamins E and K, magnesium, manganese to copper, and zinc. Pumpkin seeds are a nutritional powerhouse. Pistachios contain fewer calories, have more potassium and vitamin K per serving than other nuts. They are a great source of fiber, sodium, calcium, iron, and potassium. All of these benefits are great for your skin as your body is working more fluidly to get rid of some of the deeper toxins that it could not target as easily before.

Not Only Will You Be Physically Happy, But Your Mind Will Be Happy Too

While the physical benefits of being vegan and gluten-free are well known among the masses, the mental health benefits aren’t necessarily common knowledge. Around 25% of American adults suffer from mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or stress-related problems. Changing your diet to be gluten-free and vegan will not only improve your mood and reduce anxiety but help you manage stress. One of the main reasons for these mood improvements was to do with the elimination of long-chain fatty acids which are more present in meat and gluten. Sometimes people notice the mental benefits over the physical first. Cutting gluten, specifically, was major for my issues with mental fog and anxiety. Cutting it out was almost immediate mental and emotional relief within just a few days.