Why I Am Gluten Free: The Short Version

So gluten free options are all over supermarkets and are gaining popularity in the media in general. But there still seems to be a lot of resentment and misunderstanding around he whole idea of not eating gluten grains (there are several gluten grains, but the main one that people eat is obviously wheat). Honestly, I can understand why. Good bread is fluffy, wonderful, comforting, and really addictive.  

I wish bread made ME this cute

  As it turns out, bread actually IS addictive and according to Dr. William Davis of Wheat Bellies. It has an opiate- like effect on the brain, targeting both your opiate receptors (the same receptors that react to pain killers and heroin) as well as creating strong surges of dopamine in your brain, another feel good chemical that leaves you craving more. 

Another fun thing that gluten does, is create a chronic condition called leaky gut syndrome. The wheat germ of a gluten grain contains a protein called lectins. Many grains and legumes contain lectins, which is why people following a paleo diet avoid them. However, gluten grains have the most persistant and ugly lectans around. 

The Germ is where the lectans are contained. Ironically, isolated wheat germ is sold as a health food

Plants contain these lectans as a defense mechanism against animals who want to eat them. It is poisonous to small animals. Although it is not fatal, it is poisonous to us too. When we eat wheat, the lectan is able to disguise itself as any other protein and bind itself to our tissues. Eventually, our bodies figure out that the lectan is hurting us and creates an inflammatory response in an effort to save our cells. This constant inflammation is stressful to our bodies, and can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. If we eat lecan conaining grains often enough, they bind to our stomachs and break down our gut lining, literally causing small holes in our gut (hence the term leaky gut syndrome). 

Essentially, this leaky gut allows gluten, and any other food you eat, to enter the blood stream. Your body, knowing it doesn't belong there, attacks it. This again creates an inflammatory condition that can literally effect any organ in your body. This is why there is such a HUGE range of symptoms including Alzheimer's, auto immune diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoporosis, and even Autism! Often many times people who are really just allergic to gluten take tests that show they are allergic to many many foods. This is because when you have leaky gut, your body will attack anything you eat, making it hard for you to absorb nutrients, and leading to other ranges of problems.

In my case, my thyroid has been acting funny and since my blood work is pretty darn near perfect, no one really knows why. So for me, I hope that eliminating gluten will help me with my thyroid as well as prevent me from developing conditions in the future. Not to mention the fact that when you avoid gluten, you also happen to be avoiding a lot of carby foods that will make you fat.

The good news is that the human body is amazing and many people can heal themselves with diet alone. If you are kind to your body for long enough, cutting out the gluten grains can improve your life and be part of your long term health plan.

So I think that everyone should give it a try for at least a few weeks and see if they feel better. I know it can be hard if you are used to eating it all the time. But for a lot of people it is totally life changing.

Here is an example of an easy weeknight gluten free meal. It's basically just good easy wholesome food:

I'm not really even sure what I did with these chicken thighs. I caramelized some onions in coconut oil, chopped it up stir fry style,  and let it cook with Bragg Liquid Aminos (gluten free soy sauce), Worcestershire sauce, and then let some shiitake mushrooms and greens from my garden wilt in.

 

I also roasted some sweet potato and put it all on a big bed of greens. Easy, delicious, and perfectly grain free. 

Enjoy!