To Gluten Free, or not gluten free? That is the question.

As some of you may know, I manage stellaLucy Gluten Free Market located in the Claremont Village. Among the hustle bustle of our regular customers we always get the looky loo wondering "What is gluten free? Is it the right choice for me?". We also get the skeptics who think I am peddling snake oil in the form of cookies and bread.

First things first:
Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. The damage is due to a reaction to eating gluten, which is the protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and contaminated oats.

Some people can be tested for Celiac disease and have the results be negative but still find that eliminating gluten alleviates symptoms. False negatives can occur in young chilren and in people who have already changed their diet to gluten free. Symptoms include; bloating, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, stomach pain, headaches, exhaustion. Dermatitis Herpaphormis is also a symptom of celiac disease. Undiagnosed celiac disease can cause colitis, chrons, IBS and other autoimmune issues. Avoiding gluten has also shown to help people with inflammatory diseases such as lupus, arthritis ect. A gluten free casein free diet has also shown positive results in children with Autism and ADHD.

Celiac disease can be tested for by taking a simple blood test, or a more invasive biopsy of the small intestine. There are also genetic test available using a saliva swab.

A Gluten Free diet may not be suitable for everyone, but the reduction of gluten products can have a positive effect for all people. The American diet is loaded with wheat products. Think about it, grab a bagel for breakfast, sandwich for lunch and pasta for dinner. Not only is your blood sugar peaking and crashing all day beacuse of carb loading, but over intake any one item is not good for your body. Try starting out small, switch you morning bagel or cereal for a protein smoothie. Have a salad for lunch and try a brown rice or quinoa based pasta for dinner.

I think the first positive step of going GF is slowing down and reading labels. When you really start looking at the back of packages you will find that most ingredients are man made chemicals. Michael Polland author of Omnivores Dilema and who also appears in Food Inc. gave me a great rule of thumb. If your great grandmother wouldn't recognize something as food you probably shouldn't eat it. Without mentioning any company names think about the tube of brightly colored "yogurt". Your grandmother wouldn't know if she should eat it or condition her hair with it. Also think about those 2 inch long words on the back of you favorite Nacho Cheese Chips. If I were to put the powdery chemical in a bowl and gave you a spoon, would you eat it? If your answer is no, then why would you want to eat it masked in salt and fat? We have a huge disconnection to our food. Real whole foods should be the bulk of your daily intake. If it doesn't rot, you shouldn't eat it.

I'll be the first to admit, eating healthy isn't always convenient. But I would rather take the steps to plan so I can avoid intaking heavily processed and preserved food. My next post will include a meal plan and simple tips for making healthy decisions.

Diets don't work, healthy does!

"Eat real food, not too much. Mostly Greens" -Michael Polland, Author of Omnivores Dilemma

Everyday we are bombarded with products, plans, and pills that are suppose to make us thinner and happier. The truth is there is no magic pill or packaged meal that will make you a better you.

I am a firm believer that if you are dieting to lose weight it won't happen. You must commit to being healthy and the rest will follow. Women tend to put so much pressure on that number on the scale when really weight has little to do with health. Some people notice that with regular exercise they may even gain weight due to the increase in muscle mass. So what should we focus on? Focus needs to be turned to what we are putting in to our bodies and getting regular exercise. This may sound simple, but in this day and age people rarely weigh the repercussions of the processed foods we eat. The modern food is so complex and processed. It is hard to even call it food; more like a science project. Even "health" food doesn't resemble food.

I am challenging you to get back to the basics! Roll up those sleeves and get in the kitchen... There is nothing better you can do for your health then instilling whole foods into your diet. I am not asking you to become a raw vegan. Vegetables and fruits have lost there place in daily meals. Obesity and diabetes are on the rise, the food processed and eaten in America is much to blame. Food is a choice, no one forces you to eat fast food or packaged food. It is true that these food are cheaper and more accessible than any other type in America. Healthy eating isn't convenient and won't come out of a drive-thru window. you will need the money you save from shopping off the Value menu, to pay for health care later.

So why not make the investment now, in your health and your future.