Gluten Free Diet
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I wrote in my most recent post that one of my health goals for 2009 is to go ‘gluten-free’ for at least six months, possibly a year.
The reason I decided to do this is because gluten has many undesirable properties as a food product. Gluten basically means any grain that contains the protein gliadin. Some of the side-effects of eating gliadin are abdominal bloating or digestive discomfort, mood swings, energy highs and lows, depression and anxiety, failure to absorb and assimilate nutrients, and many, many more.
If you suffer from any of these and eat gluten then it is likely that you have a gluten intolerance – generally a sensitivity to these foods that aggravates your system. Even if you don’t have any of the above symptoms, you may still find that you benefit from a gluten free diet.
In the past I have suffered from many of the above, hence my desire to eliminate gluten altogether from my diet.
A gluten free diet means eliminating all grains except rice, millet, buckwheat and corn. (I also have a corn intolerance so I have to avoid this too!) Now for many people this might seem very restricting – eliminating breads, pastries, pastas, cakes, cookies, etc – but the benefits far outweight the foods that you might “love”. I am just 9 days into my New Years Resolution and I feel fantastic already – clearer mind, less bloating, better digestion and better moods. Just 9 days in! Fantastic!
Since I can admit that I am addicted to gluten (or at least I was!), I decided to give myself a fallback, and I have definitely needed it. I am using rice and my food that I am always going to turn to when I get a craving. I like rice but was never a big eater of it until these past 9 days. This might be something you want to try if you also go for a gluten-free diet.
However, be careful! I was recently told by a fellow blogger that some rices are actually coated in gluten.
Not proven, but definitely an issue that is not solved yet.
I was directed to this site and I can take one rule from it regarding rice:
- Make sure it is not “enriched”. If it is, then it is likely to be enriched and coated in a grain that is likely to contain gluten / gliadin. My suggestion would always be to go for organic produce too as you are then avoiding pesticides and other industrial farming chemicals.
So, there you have it. Try the gluten-free diet and see how you feel. Maybe you can’t commit yourself to a full 6 months just yet, but I suggest you try 21 days with not a sniff in your diet and re-evaluate.
I’ll let you know how I get on with my own challenge!
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I wish you luck! I developed my gluten sensitivty with this pregnancy I am currenlty on and it has been a challenge finding things to eat…I cook ALOT!! well wishes and happy new year