Have you seen South Park, Season 18, Episode 02? Well if you haven’t, you should! This is where we all learn the following nutrition fact: GLUTEN MAKES YOUR DICK FLY OFF! Seriously. One of my all-time favourite episodes.
Ok. Let’s get one thing straight here: Gluten is NOT the devil. Unless you’re a diagnosed celiac.
It will not tear apart your insides, cause you unbearable pain, or kill you. Unless you’re a diagnosed celiac.
If you cut out gluten you may lose weight, yes, but only because you’re cutting out the cakes, pies, muffins, cupcakes galore. White food contains little nutrients and is often accompanied by hideous amount of sugar. I’d worry more about your sugar intake than your gluten intake.
Here’s a little fact about me. Yes, I am a holistic practitioner, but this does not mean I buy into fad quackery or pseudo-science. I explore, I experiment, and I read. A lot. Holistic means whole.
When I work with a client, I work with all body systems in symphony, as we are the sum of our parts, and where a symptom lies may not be where the actual problem is originating.
Yes, incidence of food sensitivity has flourished in the last decade. But why? Is it food quality (pick better options)? Is it GMO related (then buy organic)? Is it genetics? Lifestyle? Maybe a little mix of everything – it depends. It depends on you.
Mostly what I see as a nutritionist, are ridiculously over-charged nervous systems paired with poor eating habits, consequently resulting in impaired digestion, inflammation, intolerance. I think the root of intolerance is digestive malfunction. Which IS repairable. If you have any sensitivity (not allergy), it is suggested that you look at the following digestive functions / lifestyle choices and see what applies to you:
Gluten Friend or Faux?
- are you low in digestive enzymes?
- is your stomach acid (HCl) secreting at optimal levels?
- are you finding more and more foods causing your stomach distress?
- are you chewing your food to a paste?
- are you drinking copious amounts of water with meals?
- do you have undigested food in your stools?
- are you bloated on a regular basis?
- are you always on the go? do you eat on the go? get take-out? order in?
- are your stress levels so off the chart that you sometimes feel like you’re vibrating?
- gassy much?
- do you exercise?
Does this sound like you? Sounds like a digestive issue to me, not a food-specific issue.
The best thing you can do for your digestive system, is eat a variety of healthy, whole foods. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It’s not poison, it just has a very bad reputation. (Cue Joan Jett: Bad Reputation).
Vary your protein, fat and carbohydrate sources. Vary your whole grains, avoid refined grains, sugars, flours. Exercise! Hydrate! Incorporate stress management into your life.
See a nutritionist if you are experiencing trouble with gluten. It can be remedied and reversed with proper diet/lifestyle & supplemental alterations.
Image Credit: South Park Willie
Holistic Health Disclaimer: All information and services provided by Nikki Hurst & Veganomical Living Inc. are at all times restricted to consultation on the subject of health matters intended for general well-being and not meant for the purposes of medical diagnosis, treatment or prescribing of medicine for any disease, or any licensed or controlled act which may constitute the practice of medicine.
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