Gluten-Free by Choice or Necessity? What Changed My Mind

I will admit it — I used to roll my eyes when someone said they were going gluten-free. It felt like a fad, part of a wave of modern food trends that came with their own buzzwords. Gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free — I had heard it all and quietly thought, Do we really need to avoid so many things to be healthy?

But then I watched people close to me struggle — not with diet trends, but with real symptoms. A friend who was constantly tired and bloated until she removed gluten from her meals. A child who could not focus, could not sleep, and constantly felt sick — until a celiac diagnosis changed everything.

I started paying attention. And what I saw shifted my perspective.

Gluten intolerance, and especially celiac disease, is not about preference. It is not about avoiding bread to feel trendy. For some people, even a small amount of gluten can cause serious digestive issues, inflammation, fatigue, and long-term health problems. And for those with celiac disease, it is an autoimmune condition — not a dietary experiment.

What surprised me most was how difficult it is to live gluten-free. Reading labels, avoiding cross-contamination, asking awkward questions at restaurants — it is not easy. It is not glamorous. It is not convenient.

So no, I do not think everyone needs to quit gluten. But I do now believe that some people genuinely need to — and they deserve to be taken seriously, not dismissed.

Sometimes, understanding does not come from research or reading. It comes from watching someone you care about suffer — and then slowly get better.

I may never have to eat gluten-free myself. But I now understand why some people do. And the least I can do is respect that — and maybe hold back the eye-rolls next time.

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