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There are many reasons people choose to go grain free. In this post, we answer some top questions about making the change to grain free diet.
Why Grain Free? Part 2: Harmful Effect of Grains
Earlier I shared why we went grain free for a while. You can read that post here.
It took a lot of research for me to even consider this… I loved my carbs and bread and pasta… so why did we choose to go grain free?
Is there research about going grain free?
First, I learned about phytates that are part of the grain. This is mother natures way of “protecting” the grain so it would pass through the stool and then germinate once “deposited.” These phytates bind to other nutrients (like magnesium) in your foods and aren’t digested or absorbed.
It is like starving yourself from the inside – but the calories are getting absorbed. You get fatter, just without the nutrients.
I was basically chronically deficient in magnesium (even with supplements) so this was a big red flag for me!
Also, I learned that the modern food pyramid is basically a system created by the government to fuel consumers to buy foods that are produced in the US – I’m all for supporting local farmers, but not at the detriment of my own health.
The ratios of the food pyramid are also used to fatten up livestock… Hummmm if this “recommended” diet is used to fatten up livestock then no wonder people are getting fatter in the US!
Can you reduce the phytates in your grains?
There is a way to reduce the phytates – soaking your grains.
Since I am not good at this at all, I chose to drastically reduce grains and if I want to eat them, then I soak them. Grains are not a part of our general diet anymore though. You can read more about reason to go grain free here and here. We use more grain free flours like coconut and almond flour.
Grains and Blood Sugar
Does eating grains affect blood sugar?
Eating a lot of carbs throughout the day puts you in a pre-diabetic state.
It is a vicious cycle. You eat carbs>> your blood sugar rises>> you feel great you have a lot of energy>> you body burns through the energy>> your blood sugar drops lower than it was before>> you are tired>> you then crave simple carbs like sugar or caffeine…
The cycle continues over and over.
Over time your body stops being able to rebound and you end up with diabetes… not very fun.
One answer is to go on a low glycemic diet (or carb conscious) low carb diet. Read more about how to start a low carb diet here.
Could you be allergic to gluten?
A lot of people have food allergies and don’t even realize it.
Eczema, cradle cap, persistent diaper rash, reflux, sleep disturbances, diarrhea, constipation (if you aren’t having a bowel movement at least once a day, you are considered constipated), undigested food in poop, stomach aches, and lots of gas are all indications of a food allergy. You can look here from the Modern Alternative Mama for more details.
Do you eat enough fiber on a grain free diet?
Too much fiber is actually not very good for you. You can get enough fiber from fruits and vegetables and don’t need to worry about lacking anything in that department.
Can you eat fruit on a Grain Free Diet?
Fruit is great for you. It is easily digested and has loads of nutrients that grains just don’t have. I would recommend eating it with some protein just to help stabilize your blood sugar. Give me some Greek yogurt and berries any day for a snack or treat. Maybe a smoothie with some added protein for breakfast.
What can you eat on a grain free diet?
What the majority of your diet should consist of is vegetables and fruit, protein and good sources of fats. I would recommend using coconut oil and butter for cooking. They are the most stable fats and won’t go rancid when you heat them up. They nourish your body and have healing properties. More about fats here and in my post here.
Futher information can be found by reading “Eat fat, lose fat” by Sally Fallon, whole food recipes can be found in “Nourishing Traditions” by Sally Fallon and just by doing some searching on Pinterest.
What do you think about going grain free? Have you tried grain free flours? What do you think?
Grain Free Recipes
I'm on a mission to make healthy living feel like a breeze – because who's got time for complicated recipes?
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