Are free-from diets becoming the new “normal”?

Free from foods are those foods which do not contain either gluten, milk or eggs and more recently vegan foods are entirely plant-based. These sections in the shops or these meal alternatives in restaurants were primarily for those with allergies or food intolerances who would have eliminated certain foods from their diets after taking a food intolerance test although these days, these alternatives are also a godsend to those who have made the moral decision to eliminate these ingredients from their diets. Thus, free-from diets are becoming increasingly popular and a lot more “normal” than you may think!

Why are so many people making this choice to eliminate certain ingredients from their food intake?

I cannot look on my Instagram page without being subjected to the benefits of following a vegan lifestyle from one of the many celebrities I follow! Not only have a vast number of people been left with no decision but to remove certain ingredients from their diets after allergy testing or food intolerance testing but an increasing number of people have made their own decision to change their whole lifestyles for health reasons or environmental reasons. 

What are the health reasons for living a free-from lifestyle?

It has been proven that dairy products can pose problems to our digestive system, and also our immune system if we have an allergy. Dairy products have been proven to cause nausea, abdominal pains, bloating, weight gain, headaches and rashes. So, many people feel healthier and happier after switching to almond, soya or oat milk. Gluten doesn’t only cause horrific, embarrassing symptoms for those with an intolerance but it can also cause similar issues as dairy products, therefore, removing this ingredient from our food intake can reduce weight gain, hair loss, joint pain, headaches and depression. It can also improve energy levels, thus we understand the decision to turn away from these foods.

Environmental reasons for making this lifestyle choice.

Dairy-free milk is evidently safer for the environment than cow's milk. The production of these different types of milk use less land and a smaller amount of water, therefore they produce smaller quantities of greenhouse gases. Almond milk produces the least amount of greenhouse gas because the trees hold a lot of CO₂ as they grow.

Furthermore, the production of wheat is greatly dependent on the use of pesticides, which can be harmful to our rivers and streams when blown by prevailing winds. What’s more, a recent study discovered that a loaf of white, medium-sliced bread in a non-biodegradable plastic bag bequeaths a carbon footprint of 1,244 grams of CO2.

In addition to this, every person who chooses to become vegan will end up saving around two hundred animals a year!

So, is this new lifestyle the new “normal”?

Although only 14% of the UK population follow a meat-free diet and only 3% follow a vegan diet, 8.8% of us have implied that we will change our lifestyle in 2023. Add to this the 10% of the population who are restricted to a gluten-free diet and the 48% of British adults who state that they use a plant-based milk alternative in their diet, it would seem that free-from diets are undeniably becoming more widespread and unfashionable!

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