Are you feeling thirsty after eating gluten rich meals?
Have you ever observed that after eating gluten rich meals you feel so thirsty?
What is gluten?
Gluten refers to a protein present in wheat plants plus in some grains etc. Foods that are rich in gluten are wheat, barley, rye, malt etc
It is worth mentioning that heavy meals such as chole kulche, garlic naan and kadai paneer etc would satisfy our cravings but these would also increase our thirst and we might go in search of water. It was later brought to light by a chief dietician Rinki Kumari of Fortis Hospital in Bengaluru that feeling thirsty after eating gluten rich food is common and it could be due to several factors.
Point to be noted is that gluten when consumed could cause inflammation of the digestive tract. This would then lead to increased gut permeability and fluid loss. By eating gluten rich foods having high GI or glycemic index, there would be a surge in the insulin. This would further result in increased urine production and more thirst.
It was later mentioned by another dietician named Deepalakshmi of Chennai based Sri Balaji Medical College and Hospital that feeling thirsty after eating gluten rich meals could be due to digestive response, the sodium content present in many gluten rich foods and due to the presence of carbohydrates. Deepalakshmi spoke about how gluten was present in many foods like wheat, rye, barley, bread pasta, baked foods, processed foods like pizzas etc.
Fact is that these foods are rich in sodium and it would cause the body to retain water. By this we could have increased thirst to balance the sodium levels. As these foods are also rich in carbohydrates more water is needed for digestion and hence we feel thirsty.
Drinking lots of water after eating gluten rich foods:
After consuming gluten rich foods, it is good to drink lots of water but excessive consumption would lead to digestive issues also. It is noteworthy that over dehydration could put extra strain on the digestive system increasing inflammation and uneasiness. It is essential to drink moderate amounts of water that is 1 to 2 glasses and keep a track of the body`s response. Water intake must be reduced if we get issues like bloating, gas etc.
There are few ways by which we can avoid feeling thirsty. They are by drinking water throughout the meals while staying dehydrated plus by eating whole unprocessed foods with low GI and by balancing gluten intake with fibre rich foods etc.
