Your cheeks flush, your heart beats wildly and this feeling of euphoric bliss may last a little while, but like any fleeting romance or short-lived fling, the fizzle and the crash that can be painful and a bit toxic feeling leaves you jaded and wary of the next romance. . . this is how it was for me with gluten.  (Actually all grains, but I'll focus on gluten for now since it's the most encompassing and most heart-breaking one of all)

I've always been a bread girl. . .  when I was little, given the choice of a sweet dessert and a good loaf of bread, I'd choose the bread, no question.  My mom made whole wheat bread every two weeks, and I still remember helping her knead the dough, the rising loaves beside the wood stove, the smell of it in the oven and then cooling and wafting out into the yard where we were playing.  We were fueled for the adventures of our childhood on sandwiches where the homemade jam, honey and peanut butter sunk into the thick slices.

In high school as an athlete, I relied on those sandwiches, energy bars, pasta dinners before track meets, ski races and field hockey games.

In college I began long distance running and my staple food in my dorm room was (and this makes me shudder to think of it now) loaves of Portuguese sweet bread and gatorade.  I'm not sure how I managed to survive, especially on little sleep and many other unhealthy experimentations. . . 

Traveling around Europe over the years, we would buy baguettes, fresh cheese, figs and bottles of wine and these were our cheap but incredible meals while looking at views that were indescribable. 

When I became vegan I upped my consumption of bread and all things gluten even more.  For many who choose not to consume meat or dairy products, bread products can suddenly become a huge part of your diet.  I also developed a severe sweet tooth during that time and began eating more unhealthily than I ever had before, and definitely wasn't listening to my poor body at all. 

I turned to raw veganism in an attempt to heal and rebalance but ended up going even more into an imbalanced state, although not consuming gluten in any form did feel really, really good.  The few benefits that I felt while on a raw food diet were from a lack of grains, this I now am absolutely sure of.  However for many reasons, I did begin to incorporate cooked foods (including grains) and finally years later, animal products back into my diet.

Over many intense times of cleansing, experimenting and paying attention to my body, overall noticing how everything I put into my body or on my skin or even thoughts that came into my head would make me feel and adjusting based on those reactions.

This has led to this conclusion:  grains and especially gluten, do NOT work for this body.  I'm pretty sure they're not good for anyone, since they cause so many problems in so many people (often without people fully realizing where the problems are coming from).  Many people have problems that stem directly from consuming grains (and refined carbohydrates made from those grains) such as "allergic reactions, high insulin levels, obesity, and digestive disorders [since the] job [of grains] is to damage or limit the reproduction capabilities of the herbivorous creatures, bacteria and fungi that consume them. These seeds of plants don't have fight or flight powers, their sole means of protection are these toxins and antinutrients." (The New Evolution Diet by Arthur De Vany PhD) 

Grains also contain a group of proteins called "lectins" and consumption of lectins has been linked to leptin resistance.  Leptins are a hormone that keeps things in balance in our bodies and leptin resistance causes a  disruption in appetite regulation, metabolism, blood sugar and energy levels, and is a major reason for widespread obesity.  Our bodies are still working as they did before the introduction of agrarian culture (ie the production of grains) and therefore we do not handle or process that rise in blood sugar from those carbohydrates and sugar from grain consumption, and especially the refined grain products that have come along as well (flour).  

When I get my carbohydrates from vegetables and a bit of seasonal fruit my body is supremely happy and balanced.  I'm still recovering from a fruitarian stint where for over a year I basically lived on tons of high sugar fruits, honey and raw chocolate. . .  so I'm still working with the blood sugar and insulin resistant balance, but avoiding grains has cut back on blood sugar spikes, food cravings, mood swings, has reinstated my menstrual cycle (which was absent for over six years), has regulated sleeping patterns, re-cleared my mind, and is healing my messed up metabolism, adrenal and hormone levels. 

When I avoid grains I notice a huge decrease in inflammation in my body and when I consume grains (a grilled cheese sandwich once or twice a year) the inflammation is instant.  Puffy, blood sugar spike, allergic reaction, just feeling overall more acidic and inflamed and not my lean, happy, healthy self.

So needless to say, this love affair with bread and gluten and really all grains is one that I'm actually happy to let go of.  I find that ample sources of protein and healthy fats such as eating nuts, fish, locally raised grass-fed meats, animal by-products that are raw and even better-fermented, along with ample amounts of local organic vegetables and minimal amounts of seasonal fruit gives me all I need to feel my absolute most glowing and vibrant and to banish cravings for anything processed, sugary and even bread.

Although one final and important caveat is this:  I know that dogmatic refusal of grain products that someone lovingly offers to me or that I find along my worldwide travels as part of different customs and cultures has no place in my life anymore.  I will absolutely accept those foods when offered to me out of love and generosity, with a loving and grateful heart, knowing that this enables better digestion and assimilation of even those foods that might not be ideal for my body.  I won't make anything with grains for myself or order them from restaurants, but I leave some wiggle room for joy and spontaneity and know that my body is working towards a balance that will support these slight deviations and joyful moments of true "breaking bread".

Food is a connector and I fully intend to continue connecting and engaging and being in a full-on love relationship with the crazy, amazing world around me!

So rock on. . . fall in. . . and find those partners (food and otherwise) who truly serve you along that journey.

Warmly,

Jenny

Clean Wellness Coach