What Is the Ingredient? Grains
Yup, grains. You may have guessed it, also known as wheat, corn, rice, rye, barley, bulgur, sorghum, triticale, millet, oats, and teff. Or more commonly known as bread, pasta, processed foods, fast foods, baked goods, etc.
It wasn’t until recently that I realized all the “diets” like Keto, Paleo, Whole 30, and Wheat Belly lifestyles all agree on eliminating grains and of course sugar. But don’t we already know that?
I’ve noticed brain fog clears, energy levels go up, and mental wellness improves when removing grains. Recently, I fell back into poor eating habits. It happens to us all. You go out to eat once or twice and eat bread, fried food, etc., and it happens just like that, and you’re back into your old routine. And just like that, you’re feeling poorly again.
But is it really the fried food or the grains?
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, it may not be pollen but food allergies or sensitivities that are the real culprit. You may have gluten or corn sensitivity. You can try food allergy/sensitivity tests at home to determine if you have sensitivities. You can read more about that discovery in the 5 Day Cleanse -AHA moment.
Below is the comparison of Paleo, Keto, Whole 30, Wheat Belly, and AIP lifestyles. It is easy to notice that all lifestyles agree that you should avoid grains and sugar. Of course, we all know at this point that sugar should be avoided.
What are Paleo, Keto, Whole 30, Wheat Belly, and AIP?
| Lifestyle | Meats | Dairy | Fruit | Veggies | Legumes | Nuts/Fats | Avoid | Avoid |
Why avoid Grains?
Grains can cause inflammation, digestion issues, gluten sensitivity, joint pain, and more. But let’s focus on the many benefits of going grain-free.
Benefits of Going Grain Free
Improve your mood
Reduce anxiety
Clear brain fog
Prevention of dementia – read Grain Brain for more on this and Alzheimers
Relief from acid reflux
Reduced joint pain
Relief from allergies
Improved skin
Reduce inflammation
Relief from digestion issues
Recommended Reading – No Time To Read, Try Audible for on-the-go listening
I am now proposing that we yank that big chunk out of our diets. This is because, by eliminating grains, you eliminate the appetite-stimulating effects that encourage consumption of junk carbohydrates.
William Davis, MD, Wheat Belly Total Health
The origin of brain disease is in many cases predominatly dietary. Although several factors play into the genesis and progression of brain disorders, to a large extent numerous neurological afflictions often reflect the mistake of consuming too many carbs and too few healthy fats.
David Perlmutter, MD, Grain Brain
Gluten has been linked to coronary disease, arthritic conditions, cancer, diabetes, and thyroid disease. You name the symptoms, gluten is likely the cause.
Jack Wolfson, The Paleo Cardiologist
Take Away
The takeaway from these comparisons is that avoiding grains and sugar is beneficial, and most seem to agree.
As I’ve said before, over and over, no two people are the same; therefore, no two people will have the same results or outcomes. Try an elimination diet to see how you feel after eliminating certain foods.
Everyone will have an opinion on whether or not to eat meat or not. Eat grains or not. Be vegan/plant-based or be an omnivore. Both sides make claims about what you should or should not do. But none of them can say what will work for you. It’s just a general theory on what they’ve seen. Not everyone is the same, so you must find what works for you by trying different eating habits and documenting how you feel.
Take Your Time and Find What Works For You
For instance, I know now that eating grains have caused me allergic reactions. Secondly, I know that I cannot eat a lot of red meat as it causes my triglycerides to rise and that I must take a high dose of fish oil to maintain healthy triglyceride levels.
Knowing these things about your body will take effort, time, and focused energy to find what works for you. I encourage you to stick with it. Be your own advocate and detective in finding what is suitable for you. The efforts of my blog are to share my knowledge and experiences with you to see if something will work for you and not to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do with your own body and health, but to be proactive in your wellness.
Remember that other factors such as endocrine disruptors can also impact your health. You have to thoroughly assess contributing factors, including a food sensitivity test that can jump-start you in the right direction.
Check out my course Health and Wellness Explained to start decoding what works for you and only you.
I wish you peace and guidance on your journey.
Take care and be well.
