Yes, I am gluten-free (and 99% grain-free) and I’ll be sharing more about my personal health journey with you soon, dear friends. But first, I wanted to take a moment to pose a common question that many are asking (or silently mulling over in their minds).
It’s a question that I don’t take lightly, because it’s one that I myself took a lot of time to consider. If there is one thing about me that you should know, it’s that I’m a painstakingly slow decision maker. And if everyone’s jumping on a bandwagon, it often gives me even more reason to pause and consider what’s the right choice for me?
Probably because I’m not a fan of fads – especially fad diets. They come, they go, and the majority of the time they leave their followers frustrated, overwhelmed and malnourished.
Instead, I’m a firm believer in adopting a healthy lifestyle – a consistent lifelong pattern of healthy living that comes from a taking a personalized, holistic approach to one’s health.
I share this because taking a personalized approach to achieving a healthy lifestyle is what I believe to be the key to answering the REAL question:
Should Everyone I Go Gluten-Free or Grain-Free?
When the answer might be YES!
For some (like me), being gluten-free (or grain-free) isn’t a matter of wanting to embrace the so-called latest dietary trend – it’s a legitimate necessity!
For example, living gluten-free is an absolute must for those with Celiac Disease, since even the smallest amount of gluten triggers a serious immune system response that damages the lining of the small intestine, resulting in a number of debilitating symptoms and problems related to malnutrition.
Yet, it’s important to note that troublesome reactions and health issues related to gluten intolerance are more prevalent than previously realized. According to recent research, experts now agree that celiac disease represents just one extreme of a broad spectrum of gluten intolerance that includes millions of people with problematic reactions to the protein.
So, while celiac disease affects about one percent of the U.S. population, experts now estimate that as many as 10 percent of the population may have a related condition known as Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS), often referred to as gluten sensitivity.
The problem is, many physicians are unaware of NCGS, and the common tests used to detect Celiac Disease do not reveal the whole story when it comes to gluten sensitivity. For more about NCGS, be sure to read this article by Chris Kresser, “Gluten Intolerance May Be More Serious Than Celiac Disease.”
For individuals with NCGS, going gluten-free is also a necessity in order to help alleviate troublesome symptoms and chronic health issues, particularly autoimmune related disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, autism, ADD/ADHD, asthma and more.
It’s also important to note that for many, gluten intolerance may not present with typical digestive-related symptoms. In fact, nearly 50 percent of individuals diagnosed with NCGI do not have gastrointestinal symptoms at all, which is why there are so many undiagnosed cases of gluten intolerance.
So I would hope that this proves the point that the GF lifestyle is no fad diet, but is instead a required lifestyle for countless individuals in order to achieve improved health and wellness. Therefore, just because the GF diet is receiving a lot of limelight right now, doesn’t make it a fad. What makes anything a fad, is when individuals jump on board with no real thought as to why they are doing it …
When the answer might be NO.
But what about those who do not have a specific health issue that’s best addressed by removing gluten (and potentially grains as well)? Should these individuals go gluten-free or grain-free too?
Some might disagree, but my two cents (i.e. opinion*) is it’s best to first stop and think before taking the plunge. Living a GF lifestyle requires commitment. It’s a very restrictive diet, so special measures must be taken to ensure proper nutritional balance. That’s why I recommend doing your own research before going gluten-free, grain-free (or anything-free), particularly if your motivation is simply because everyone else is doing it. In fact, I can’t help but recite the sage words of moms everywhere – “Just because everyone else is doing it, does that mean it’s right for you?”
So take some time to read up on the GF diet, be sure to talk it over with a trusted health care practitioner, and ask yourself some important questions:
• How would the GF lifestyle benefit me personally?
• What is my motivation for wanting to go GF?
• Am I committed to making this a lifestyle? (Or at least committed to an extended trial period to evaluate its potential benefits?)
• What support and resources will I need to make this a healthy transition?
The fact is, despite the wonderful benefits of the GF lifestyle for many of us with chronic health issues and gluten sensitivities, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the one and only ideal diet for everyone period. After all, God created grains for man’s nourishment (as recorded in His Word) and mankind has been enjoying and thriving upon properly prepared whole grains since the beginning of recorded history.
So although I am a firm supporter of the GF lifestyle which is why you will find The Nourishing Home to be a wonderful resource for nourishing whole food GF recipes and meal plans, you will never find me preaching it’s the one and only lifestyle for every single person period.
Instead, just as the Lord has walked me down this pathway of grace and mercy in helping me to better achieve health for the sake of better serving Him and those he’s placed in my life – my prayer is that He will guide and direct your steps as you walk with Him in your own personal journey toward living a more nourished life.
Seeking the True Bread Life!
So let’s make healthy living, whichever path we decide to take, about embracing a whole hearted lifestyle – an intentional journey toward making small steps forward in nourishing our bodies and souls, so we can better serve the Lord.
Because no matter which diet we choose, there is no greater nourishment that we can receive than to put our faith and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ and to follow hard after Him … “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst … For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6)
That sounds like good advice to me.
Kudos on this post!! It was such a “polite” way to explain this situation! I was recently diagnosed with leaky gut so I am now gluten-free. My mom follows the thinking that it’s just a diet fad and will go away. Your post was informative, well-written, and allowed others to make an informed decision. Thanks for all your great recipes as well-made your chicken soup last night and it was fantastic! I certainly appreciate all you do to help those of us living a gluten-free but nutrition-rich lifestyle!
You are so welcome, Jen! I appreciate your kind words and pray continued healing for you! Blessings, Kelly 🙂
Thank you so much for this article that lists the reasons to consider a gluten-free diet while admitting this isn’t the path for everyone. Our focus should be on living a healthy lifestyle to serve God. Great perspective!
I couldn’t agree more, Julia! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts! Your kind words are appreciated! 🙂
This is an excellent post Kelly. It puts the options out there, plain as day, and let’s the reader decide which is best for THEM. We’re not a GF family and sometimes it feels like we’re “wrong” for making bread and eating pasta. But then again, we’re fortunate to not have any gluten sensitivities in the family – and I consider this a real blessing! No one should be bullied into being GF or grain-free or any type of eating for that matter when all that truly matters is that we’re serving Him.
I also like how you de-bunk the fad diet of GF too. Being gluten free is NOT diet, it’s a lifestyle. And for many, it’s a matter of living a normal life vs. routinely being sick in the hospital. The questions you pose for readers to consider are very helpful, as is every mother’s advice!!
I totally agree with you Tiffany! My family isn’t GF either and many times I’ve wondered if we should be, but I think it’s the whole marketing of it that I’m letting get to me. I’m grateful to God that we’re so healthy and that we don’t have any allergies or sensitivities. I definitely am working my way towards using ancient grains and preparing things in a more traditional manner. Sure it takes more time, but thankfully I have the time to put towards something that is so important because without our health, we have little else. Great article Kelly… I appreciate your way of thinking and even your “slow decisions” because I’m right there with you!
Thanks, Meagan. Appreciate you taking the time to leave a kind note! Blessings to you, Kelly 🙂
Thank you for sharing this as I feel as if I am being swayed into GF eating. I feel so hungry all the time when I tried it and my blood sugar levels went crazy. I am sure there is a way to do it right but I have neither the time nor the money to experiment and discover what it is. I love your meal plans and tend to tweak them with a more whole foods approach. This was well written, too. Thank you for reminding us who the true bread of life is.
You are so welcome, Larissa. I’m glad you’re finding the recipes and meal plans here to be of help to you. Again, I am no medical expert, but one thing you might want to look into if you’re hungry all the time is the amount of protein and fat in your diet. Low-fat, low-protein diets can cause constant hunger and are not healthy diets in general terms. But again, you should work with a trusted health care practitioner to rule out more serious conditions that might be leading you to feel hungry constantly. Blessings, Kelly
Amen on all fronts.We are celiac and referred to you by Tiffany at DWTC.Loving learning how to do real food gf. thank you.
Welcome to The Nourishing Home, Di! Thank you for taking the time to introduce yourself. Be sure to take a moment to check out my free GF Whole Food Meal Plans and extras for subscribers:
http://thenourishinghome.com/2014/01/new-whole-food-meal-plan/
It’s my heartfelt desire to offer support to GF families and all families who are seeking to follow a real whole food lifestyle. Many blessings to you, Kelly 🙂
I would also like to add that without you I don’t even know if I would have attempted GF baking at all as it really intimidated me. But I LOVE your Cinnamon Apple Muffins! You helped me feel more confident baking GF for friends and family members. Thank you so much!
What a blessing you are, Larissa! Thank you! I am so happy that those little muffins were the catalyst to you gaining confidence and enthusiasm for GF baking! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a kind note! Blessings, Kelly 🙂
Kelly, I couldn’t have written this better even if I wanted to!! GREAT explanation and I love that you give people the option. Gluten free and grain free is not for everyone and unlike other blogs out there that say “this is THE way” I love it that you presented both sides. great job!
Thank you so much, dear friend! You are such a support and encouragement to me! I thank God for you!! 🙂
THANK YOU for this fantastic post. I get so tired of hearing that I must go GF to be healthy. Nope, I don’t. It feels just as “fad” to me as all the other ridiculous diets I’ve heard over the years. Yes, some people do need to be GF (just as some people need to not eat dairy, or nuts – my son is one of them), but that doesn’t society has to be GF to be healthy.
Blessings, and thank you for the reminder that ultimately, JESUS should be the center of our lives (nourishment).
Amen, Amanda! Thank you for taking the time to leave a kind note! Many blessings to you and your precious family, Kelly 🙂
Thank you for your take on this! My husband and I have gone gluten-free this year (me for GI issues, although I now realize that I had all of the classic symptoms of Gluten Intolerance which have all been greatly improved) and my husband for energy/ brain fog/ mood issues. I have one son who can’t tolerate wheat, but my other 3 still eat it. Sometimes I wonder if the other 3 would be better off without it, as well. However, I resist because I know that it is such a change in lifestyle, and, as of right now, I don’t see any major signs of Gluten Intolerance.
Thanks, Julie! I agree. It’s best to keep an eye on your children to watch for signs since gluten intolerance does run in families. So far I am the only one in my house that seems to have issues, although my oldest son doesn’t do well with wheat – similar to your son, so I’m keeping my eye on him. 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to share about your personal journey and your family’s! Many blessings to you, Kelly 🙂
I would have to strongly disagree with this post. On what scientific research did you base your answer? I don’t see any sources cited; seems like just an opinion, which is fine, but then why should I take your word for it? What makes you credible, or an authority on the subject? If you research sites like marksdailyapple.com robbwolf.com thepaleomom.com chriskresser.com (just to name a few) you can find a wealth of information (backed by science) about what grains (and gluten) do to the intestinal tract, and consequently how they may negatively affect the entire body. You do mention that gluten can affect behavioral disorders, but I’d like to add, you may have absolutely NO digestive symptoms because your gluten sensitivity is being manifested in other ways – everything ranging from mood/psychological disorders to migraines, skin conditions, etc. So how do you ever find out if gluten is at the root of your health problem if you never omit it because you assume you’re not in that 10% because you don’t notice any digestive distress when you consume it? Or no one ever mentions to you that there’s a possible link between gluten and _?
Of course different people have different levels of tolerance but there is absolutely NO health benefit from consuming gluten. Just the opposite – whether or not you think you “react” negatively to it, the body releases zonulin, the regulator of intestinal permeability, when our intestinal lining is exposed to gliadin (a component of gluten). So if you truly want to live a “healthy lifestyle” I just don’t see how you can justify eating gluten. Now, to each their own of course. I’m not saying you’re a bad person or whatever for eating it, but don’t make health recommendations saying it’s fine or healthy to do so.
Finally, when you say “After all, God created grains for man’s nourishment and mankind has been enjoying and thriving upon whole grains since the beginning of history.” Geez, that’s not accurate at all. Human beings have existed for 2 million + years, yet the agricultural revolution wasn’t until 10,000 years ago. That’s hardly the same. And even if you say it was 100,000 years ago that people have been consuming grains, (based on an article that was published years ago) I would reference this article as the rebuttal, and again, 100,000 is not the same as 2 million!:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/stone-age-grains/…
I’m not trying to come off as mean, but it upsets me when people make overarching recommendations about health without backing it up. Misinformation like that could prevent someone from finding a real solution to whatever their health issue may be. And even if they don’t have an existing issue, it could potentially prevent them from being in a better state of health when confronted with stressors which could then lead to a health issue, such as an autoimmune disease.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-common-is-gluten-sensitivity/#axzz2rI6wxTiU
I appreciate the respectful tone in which you write. Thank you for your concern about not coming off as mean. I certainly do not sense that, and I hope that you will see my heart in this reply to you, because I am very concerned about what you are placing your hope and trust in. To put your trust in the speculative “science” of today that removes the Creator from the equation is no truth at all, but is a farce that will soon be revealed when Christ returns and every knee bows and confesses Him as Lord – and Creator. (Philippians 2:10)
Which is why, I strongly disagree with these evolutionary based claims of “scientific fact” about mankind’s origin. It’s clear we have two entirely different world views, which I believe is at the root of your misreading of this post. The religion of evolution (and what our proposed “primal” ancestors ate) is pure speculation and is not true science (observable facts) as much as these evolutionary proponents would like to have you believe. I encourage everyone to really do their homework and study the truth about this unsubstantiated worldview founded on no real evidence or scientific process: http://www.answersingenesis.org/get-answers/features/evolution-not-even-theory
And as a sidebar, it always is quite intriguing to me that if evolution is so true – creatures evolving to higher forms – more advanced life forms – then why “de-evolve” and go back to a subspecies diet if mankind is now the latest greatest development of this elusive evolutionary process?
If we are going to deal in observable facts, rather than speculation, we can look to the fact that since recorded history mankind has eaten grains – it’s been a constant in all recorded writings of people groups worldwide throughout the centuries. And for those of us who believe in God as the Creator, we can clearly see throughout His Word references to mankind consuming grains.
But does this mean grains are best for everyone – No, of course not. And this article is in no way saying that at all. What is fact is that there are plenty of real foods (not just grains) that may be fine for one person, but for some reason or another these same foods can cause negative reactions for another person. Clearly, grains can be quite harmful, even dangerous, for many individuals and with the increase in poor gut health due to diets heavily based on processed foods, including processed grains, it’s no wonder that many would be better off forgoing gluten/grains entirely. But again to say every single person on the planet is at health risk from eating grains, is not scientific fact, it’s speculation.
My whole point in this post is not to give health advice which is clearly stated, but instead to encourage people to think through their decisions, rather than jump on the latest bandwagon. It’s important for people to consider both sides of the issue, do their own research and speak to their personal healthcare practitioner. For some, perhaps many, it is imperative that gluten/grains be removed from the diet, but for others this is not a clear-cut yes that everyone should go GF period end-of-story. There simply is no ONE SIZE FITS ALL diet that is the cure-all for every single person, which is why I continually stress that individuals should do their own research, consider what they are willing to commit to as far as healthy dietary changes, take small steps forward in their personal health journey (so they do not become overwhelmed), and that again, seek the counsel and assistance of a professional healthcare practitioner.
But at the end of the day, none of this “which diet is superior” discussion has any real eternal value. Whether we live 50 years or 100 years, the only thing that matters in the end is WHO we are living for? Is it for the King of kings and Lord or lords? Or is it for ourselves with a focus on the earthly rather than the eternal?
My hope is not centered in one diet or another, although I am thankful to God for helping me discover ways I can alter my diet to be healthier and more effective in serving Him and others. Instead, my hope is IN CHRIST ALONE. My nourishment and sustenance comes from Him – His body is the bread of life and the living water. And once you’ve tasted of Him, you will never be satisfied with the fleeting hope and empty promises of this life.
So, I beg and implore you on behalf of Christ to begin a quest for true truth in knowing the real reason you are here – the real reason we are all here. And it is not to pursue earthly nourishment as our ultimate gain, but to strive to live for the one who grants us real life – eternal life in Him.
We were created with a deep insatiable desire to LIVE FOREVER, because we were created for the eternal, not the temporal. I hope you will read this post – The Good News – because it is only through the Lord Jesus Christ that our eternal destination is secured.
http://thenourishinghome.com/2012/03/the-good-news/
With blessings in Christ, Kelly
I’m also coming from a christian point of view. My family is very Catholic actually. And I don’t think believing in science and God are mutually exclusive. God has provided us with everything we need, and that includes enlightening people with the desire to research to find out what is best for us as humans. Did God tell you specifically to go and eat gluten; that that is the best source of nutrition? I don’t think so. So I really don’t get that argument in this context. Even though God provides, we’re human. We learn things along the way. We adapt. So yes, though humans ate grains at some point, we’ve since be able to learn about its damaging effects. God created the sun but that doesn’t mean you can sunbathe all day and not experience negative consequences. We’ve now learned about skin cancer, etc. So the fact that (1) God created it and (2) humans have consumed it, is not really a good enough argument to be able to say yes, we SHOULD be eating it.
And speaking of our ancestral history, grain free (which is more restrictive than gluten free) is actually based on what our ancestors ate (hence it’s sometimes called the ancestral diet). The actual “diet” I follow or believe in is really a lifestyle and not diet, and that’s paleo (or the grain free as mentioned above). I think the paleo mom best described what paleo is: “A Paleo Diet is a whole foods diet based on what the most current, high-quality nutrition and biomedical research suggests is the best way to eat for optimum health. It is a nutrient-dense diet that helps resolve inflammation and regulates a huge variety of hormones. While the original research supporting a Paleo Diet came from archeological and anthropological studies of early man and contemporary hunter-gatherer populations, this diet is not a historical reenactment. Instead, we avoid the foods that scientific research has shown to be linked to chronic health problems like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.”
Everyone has the right to their own opinion of course, but my point is you shouldn’t make a health recomendation to others without properly researching what it is you’re recommending (I find a recommendation to be a bit different than just stating an opinion). We’re not talking about a product, wer’re talking about people’s health and I just think that should not be taken lightly. And you’re right, there isn’t one cookie cutter “diet” that fits all of us. Even with paleo, as Chris Kresser puts it, “think of paleo as a template, not a rigid prescription. There’s no on size fits all approach.” Some people can tolerate grains (if prepared properly/traditionally, not how it is now), moreso than others. Some tolerate dairy, others do not, some need more starch in their diets, etc. But regarding gluten specifically (a protein in wheat, barley and rye), based on everything I’ve read and researched, there is no redeeming quality to it, and how your body reacts to it is just a phsyiological fact. Whether you experience long term negative effects from it, that’s another thing and maybe you’re lucky and you don’t. But, instead of waiting to see if your child develops add/adhd, avoiding that risk (among others that come from gluten exposure) by following a paleo or gluten free lifestyle and not exposing your child to it is a valid stance, not just following a “fad diet”. Think about it. Children and people have been able to completely reverse autism and add/adhd by soley changing their diet (i.e. removing gluten among other changes). That’s how strong of an impact it can have on our brains. Wow. So educating people on the dangers of gluten and its potentially profound effects on development and the brain is necessary. We are just now starting to learn of all of this, and the importance the gut plays in not just digestive health, but overall and mental health as well. And all this information too, and scientist’s unceasing desire to learn more to help people, I believe, comes from God.
And as for the “fad diets”. Well, I don’t see this is as a fad. And knowing many friends and family members who, in recent years, have found out they have an autoimmune disease such as celiac, I’d like to better look at it as increasing awareness. Giving up gluten is not easy. It’s a complete 180. You’re going against the norm. You’re the minority. Eating out is challenging. Going to social events and gatherings can be challenging. So I don’t see the “fad” behind it – except in the newly marketed “gluten free” foods that are really not much better than the processed regular foods. They can still be loaded with sugar, chemicals and artifical ingredients. So regarding that, yes, it’s a stupid fad to market what is processed junk as now healthy just because it does’t contain gluten.
But gluten free or not, I think we can all agree that what families really need to at least follow is a real food “diet” and eliminate all the chemicals, articificial ingredients, excess sugar, etc. processed foods provide.
Rather than continue a comment debate here when it’s clear you have misunderstood the point of this article, I would like to simply end this discussion in a humble and friendly tone, by again stating that the one and the only recommendation made in this post (or anywhere else on this site for that matter) is for people to to do their own research and come to their own conclusions about which dietary lifestyle is best for them.
As someone who has been battling chronic illness and has been following the SCD for quite some time, I have firsthand experience in the benefits that come from removing gluten and grains, so I am in no way implying that people should turn a blind eye to the problems associated with these. I am not sure how you are reading into this article that I am somehow downplaying the importance of people seriously considering a GF diet, or making some type of blanket recommendation for or against the GF lifestyle?
It seems clear in your comments that you are a firm advocate that everyone should be grain-free and you are certainly entitled to your opinion. But here is where we disagree … I do not believe that is wise or prudent to recommend that everyone adhere to a very specific restrictive diet. Instead my heart here was to simply offer up a question – a question that I clearly encourage each individual to fully explore and answer on their own (with the guidance of a trusted healthcare practitioner).
So again, the only health “recommendations” I share here at The Nourishing Home are to …
• eat real/whole foods (which is the basis of the real food lifestyle)
• do your own research to determine which particular real food dietary lifestyle is best suited to your unique needs and that of your family;
• seek the care of a trusted healthcare professional who can help guide you;
• and most important of all, to pray and seek God’s wisdom – putting your trust solely in Him. There is only one Savior and it is not real food – it is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Because again, at the end of the day, all of our attempts at living a healthier life in the “here and now” are of no value in the “then and there” if we are not first and foremost seeking to surrender our lives to follow hard after God.
Blessings in Christ, Kelly
First, let me put you at ease, I promise this will be my last reply and it is not argumentative in nature 🙂 I really appreciate you taking the time to respond, even given that we have different opinions. I don’t expect to push “grain/gluten free” on anyone. You’re totally right that It is a choice to not be taken lightly, especially since you have to make sure you are eating adequate amounts of the different food categories (protein, fat, etc) so you are getting the nutrients you need as well as other considerations regarding each person’s individual health needs. It is also a choice that has to come from within, as is any lifestyle choice, so shoving this idealogy down someone’s throat isn’t going to get the result you want. I hope it didn’t come off like I was shoving it down your/people’s throat LOL but maybe it did a bit. For that I apologize. I guess I was harping on the idea that eating gluten could be considered healthy. Non gluten containing grains are more debatable (in my opinion). So perhaps I was “over eager” in my response, or misunderstood the post. Your last reply, at least for me, made things more clear because I guess I took the original post as, like you say, downplaying the negative effects of gluten and perhaps focusing too much on people joining a “fad diet” (not that you consider it a fad diet). Obviously you’ve been around people who have thought that way but that really hasn’t been my experience at all. I haven’t met anyone who thought it was cool or just wanted to “jump on the bandwagon”. Quite the opposite, actually; I’ve been faced with a lot of resistance and people brushing it aside. Pretty much everyone I’ve met that follows this lifestyle do so because of health issues, and thankfully, they’ve been able to be healed, or start the healing process, with this new information, leading to new food choices. When speaking of people’s health, it can obviously become a very personal subject and so maybe I was sensitive to this specific topic and responded strongly. All I wanted to put out there is that gluten sensitivity is a real serious issue; it’s not something that concerns just celiacs since the manifestation of gluten sensitivity can be so diverse and sometimes it’s not accompanied by any digestive symptoms so if you’re not aware that gluten could even have such an effect on someone, you’d never suspect it, which could leave people suffering needlessly for years; all this “gluten free talk” is rooted in science, new information that, until now, is being discovered (though unfortunately don’t be surprised if conventional doctors, even gastrointerologists, are ignorant of this); and therefore it’s not, by any means, a fad. So at the end of the day, I guess you could say we do have some views in common 🙂
Thank you! What a humble, sweet person you are. I am SO thrilled that we could have not only a polite respectful discussion but one that ends in friendship. I accept your sweet apology. If you stick around, I’m going to be sharing my personal story soon of how gluten nearly destroyed my health. I will also be sharing some posts in an attempt to help people who (like me) may be experiencing unexplainable symptoms that are related to gluten but are not the common Celiac symptoms. So for many people, they continue to suffer not knowing that it’s gluten to blame. Anyway, I agree that we do have much common ground here – we both have a passion for wanting to help people heal and be blessed to the glory of God. So thank you again for taking time to send this note. What a blessing to see God honored through two people who are willing to be respectful of one another. Blessings to you, Kelly 🙂
Kelly, I absolutely love this post! I love the practical advice, research, and heart that went into writing this. Pinning and sharing.
Thank you, Kristin! That means a lot! Appreciate you, sweet friend! 🙂
I’m continuing to study the various papers on this topic. It’s starting to look like the issue for the general population may relate to RAW grain.
Some think everything we eat should be raw… but a variety of foods are not healthy when eaten raw, and grain appears to be one of them.
So much for chocolate chip cookie dough… 🙂
Hi, Pete. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m glad to hear you’re diving in and researching, that’s such an important step in helping to decide which dietary lifestyle may be best suited for you. Many of our health issues can be helped or even eliminated by changing what we eat. Blessings, Kelly 🙂
Thank you for the thoughtfulness taken with your comments. I too am running a good race with Him. I’ve had many surgeries including three spinal; been in constant pain for about 20 years. Three days after coming off grains, my pain level dropped. I was simply trying to find a healthy way to drop 20 pounds, lol. Although, without His healing hand, I will always remain in pain, I am beyond thrilled to experience a measurable reduction. FYI, I also came off beans, sugar and 99% dairy free (I want that one cup of coffee with creamer). You might be thinking… Beans !?!? I spent about 5 hours researching that one before I said ahhhhh I get it. My encouragement is to try it for 30 days.
So glad you’re finding relief. It is amazing how much diet can impact our health – even seeming good foods. And yes, beans can often be a culprit for those with autoimmune conditions in particular. That’s why I really encourage people who are wanting to unlock the mystery of which foods may be sabotaging their health to do the Whole30 program. It is a safe, nutritionally sound elimination diet that can really help people to discover problematic foods and personalize a dietary lifestyle that is right for them. 🙂 I’ve talked about Whole30 a lot here, but incase you missed it, you can find it here: http://thenourishinghome.com/2014/09/join-me-for-whole30/ May God continue to bless you in your journey! 🙂