What is Gluten? Why Go Gluten Free?

gluten free, gluten free diet, Pearl Natural Health
These days it is easier to go gluten free in your diet. Perhaps you are wondering what it is and why it can be a problem.
Read on to learn more.

Gluten is….

• A protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and many food additives. Gluten is often hidden in foods, which makes reading labels even more important.

• These grains are particularly toxic to susceptible individuals due to their gliadin content, a polypeptide (chain of amino acids) contained in gluten.

 

Why is it a problem?

• Gluten can create many behind the scenes symptoms that stress the body over a long period of time leading to weight gain, inflammation, digestive problems, and joint pain. Gluten strikes everyone differently.

• People with chronic fatigue, adrenal insufficiency, and auto immune disorders have suppressed immune systems that create an inability to assimilate and digest these foods.

• Like sugar, our culture relies too heavily on grains which can overload the body even in healthy individuals.

 

What can be done?

• Begin by eliminating gluten containing foods while increasing the amount of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds, and high quality protein.

• Know your grain options which include: quinoa, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, wild rice, teff, and sorghum; and enjoy them in moderation.

• Increase the nutritional value of these grains by soaking and/or sprouting them prior to eating. Thriving traditional cultures always properly prepared grains.

• Increase your intake of all vegetables, seeds, lean protein, and fruits.

 

If you want to learn about how gluten can affect your health click here to contact Pearl Natural Health today to set up an appointment.

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Ellen Goldsmith

Ellen Goldsmith

Ellen Goldsmith is a licensed and nationally board certified acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist. She has been in the field of Asian medicine for the past 30 years, teaching, speaking and working with thousands of people to give them the resources, skills and tools they seek to improve the quality of their health and lives. Ellen is the author of the well respected book, Nutritional Healing with Chinese Medicine: + 175 Recipes for Optimal Health. She is on faculty at the National University of Natural Medicine’s College of Classical Chinese Medicine in Portland, Oregon.

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