Get Your GLOW with Gluten Free Living
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, spelt, kamut, farro and semolina. It's what binds dough together, making it elastic and giving. Many people have an unknown allergy or sensitivity to gluten that takes away from their natural GLOW. In fact, gluten may be the underlying culprit in weight gain, skin problems, sluggishness, fatigue and many other unpleasant symptoms.
Why is Gluten Different Today?
You may have noticed more people you know being diagnosed with gluten allergies or an autoimmune condition called celiac disease, while stories in the mainstream media that sing the praises of a gluten-free diet are becoming the norm. You're not imagining things – intolerances to gluten are on the rise, and it's not simply because everyone is jumping on the bandwagon.
The gluten in our food system today is quite different than the gluten of 50 or 100 years ago. That's because grains such as wheat have been genetically altered, hybridized and cross-bred to produce crops that are hardier and yield more grain. The result? An increase in the amount of gluten in the hybridized variety. Add that to the fact that most packaged foods contain gluten – and you’ve got an onslaught of gluten in our digestive tracts that we have not evolved to be able to digest. This is causing serious damage to our bodies. Here's why!
Where did my GLOW go?
You don't have to be celiac or gluten-intolerant to feel the effects of gluten. In Latin, 'gluten' means glue. That's no coincidence – because grains with gluten often become gooey and difficult to digest in our guts.
Our bodies are designed to recognize food after it is broken down into elemental building blocks such as amino acids or fatty acids. But when we eat foods that mother nature did not intend for us to eat such as sugar, processed & refined foods and hybridized wheat - we cannot digest food properly. As a result, the body mounts an allergenic response that can leads to inflammation that can cause conditions such as depression, mental fogginess, mood swings, sluggishness, acne migraines, IBS, joint problems and more.
The allergenic response and inflammation also cause a thick mucus to coat your digestive tract - again making it more difficult for your body to absorb the nutrients it needs for building blocks to build normal functionining hormones, brain and nerve cells, skin and everything your body is made from. Inflammation can lead to weight gain because when it becomes more difficult for your body to absorb nutrients, your body will tell you its hungry even when you are physically full in an effort to get the nutrients it needs. Often this leads to weight gain.
Learn More How Gluten Free Bring out your Natural GLOW…
Read more about Gluten Free for Clarity of Mind and Mental Wellness
Gluten Sensitivity and The Impact on the Brain
Read more about Gluten Free and Disease Free
Gluten - What you don't know might kill you
GLOW with Naturally Gluten-Free Grains
There are plenty of healthy and delicious grains that can help us glow from the inside out. Naturally gluten-free grains like buckwheat, rice, millet, teff, quinoa and amaranth are full of vitamins, minerals and fibre that will nourish our skin, minds and bodies. For example, buckwheat (which is gluten-free, despite the inclusion of 'wheat' in its name) is great for our digestive tract, cardiovascular system and blood sugar levels. It's a good source of an amino acid called tryptophan, which promotes sleep, relieves stress and produces the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. Buckwheat also contains magnesium, a mineral that is also known to relieve stress and relax muscles. And when we're relaxed and get a good night's sleep, we feel the GLOW in the morning!
That’s why GLOWnola breakfast cereal is made with organic sprouted buckwheat – so you can bring your best GLOW to the world.
Stress-Free GLOW with Reduced Gluten Consumption
Wheat is the grain with the highest amount of gluten. For those who want to take their health and GLOW to the next level without the hassle of avoiding all gluten, simply cut out or significantly decrease wheat consumption. Consume grains that have not been hybrized and have lower gluten contents - some examples include rye, kamut and spelt. And of course, enjoy lots of gluten free whole grains such as buckwheat, quinoa and millet.
I am grateful for Sondi Bruner's assistance with researching and writing this article.
Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, spelt, kamut, farro and semolina. It's what binds dough together, making it elastic and giving. Many people have an unknown allergy or sensitivity to gluten that takes away from their natural GLOW. In fact, gluten may be the underlying culprit in weight gain, skin problems, sluggishness, fatigue and many other unpleasant symptoms.
Why is Gluten Different Today?
You may have noticed more people you know being diagnosed with gluten allergies or an autoimmune condition called celiac disease, while stories in the mainstream media that sing the praises of a gluten-free diet are becoming the norm. You're not imagining things – intolerances to gluten are on the rise, and it's not simply because everyone is jumping on the bandwagon.
The gluten in our food system today is quite different than the gluten of 50 or 100 years ago. That's because grains such as wheat have been genetically altered, hybridized and cross-bred to produce crops that are hardier and yield more grain. The result? An increase in the amount of gluten in the hybridized variety. Add that to the fact that most packaged foods contain gluten – and you’ve got an onslaught of gluten in our digestive tracts that we have not evolved to be able to digest. This is causing serious damage to our bodies. Here's why!
Where did my GLOW go?
You don't have to be celiac or gluten-intolerant to feel the effects of gluten. In Latin, 'gluten' means glue. That's no coincidence – because grains with gluten often become gooey and difficult to digest in our guts.
Our bodies are designed to recognize food after it is broken down into elemental building blocks such as amino acids or fatty acids. But when we eat foods that mother nature did not intend for us to eat such as sugar, processed & refined foods and hybridized wheat - we cannot digest food properly. As a result, the body mounts an allergenic response that can leads to inflammation that can cause conditions such as depression, mental fogginess, mood swings, sluggishness, acne migraines, IBS, joint problems and more.
The allergenic response and inflammation also cause a thick mucus to coat your digestive tract - again making it more difficult for your body to absorb the nutrients it needs for building blocks to build normal functionining hormones, brain and nerve cells, skin and everything your body is made from. Inflammation can lead to weight gain because when it becomes more difficult for your body to absorb nutrients, your body will tell you its hungry even when you are physically full in an effort to get the nutrients it needs. Often this leads to weight gain.
Learn More How Gluten Free Bring out your Natural GLOW…
Read more about Gluten Free for Clarity of Mind and Mental Wellness
Gluten Sensitivity and The Impact on the Brain
Read more about Gluten Free and Disease Free
Gluten - What you don't know might kill you
GLOW with Naturally Gluten-Free Grains
There are plenty of healthy and delicious grains that can help us glow from the inside out. Naturally gluten-free grains like buckwheat, rice, millet, teff, quinoa and amaranth are full of vitamins, minerals and fibre that will nourish our skin, minds and bodies. For example, buckwheat (which is gluten-free, despite the inclusion of 'wheat' in its name) is great for our digestive tract, cardiovascular system and blood sugar levels. It's a good source of an amino acid called tryptophan, which promotes sleep, relieves stress and produces the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. Buckwheat also contains magnesium, a mineral that is also known to relieve stress and relax muscles. And when we're relaxed and get a good night's sleep, we feel the GLOW in the morning!
That’s why GLOWnola breakfast cereal is made with organic sprouted buckwheat – so you can bring your best GLOW to the world.
Stress-Free GLOW with Reduced Gluten Consumption
Wheat is the grain with the highest amount of gluten. For those who want to take their health and GLOW to the next level without the hassle of avoiding all gluten, simply cut out or significantly decrease wheat consumption. Consume grains that have not been hybrized and have lower gluten contents - some examples include rye, kamut and spelt. And of course, enjoy lots of gluten free whole grains such as buckwheat, quinoa and millet.
I am grateful for Sondi Bruner's assistance with researching and writing this article.
