Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Your diet sounds great! But....

     I can't tell you how many times I explain my diet to a well meaning doctor or nutritionist and I hear "Everything sounds great, just add some whole grains."  They really don't get it!  It's like we are all brain washed.  It was not overnight that I jumped on the Paleo band wagon.  I was already gluten free due to Celiac disease but even I couldn't wrap my head around the concept of no grains.  A friend of ours, a well respected athletic trainer, had told us about the Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf.  I smiled to be polite and acted interested.  He let us borrow his copy and when I got home I couldn't wait to open it and find all its weaknesses.  The problem was, I couldn't argue a single thing!  Everything stated was backed by sound reasoning and real science.  I read that book with the intention of disproving everything in it and later that week I was emptying our pantry preparing to try the 30 day challenge. I felt better than I had my whole life!  I was looking good too!  I will never look at food the same. 
So let's break down the science on why grains are not a good thing to have in your diet. Grains are essentially the reproductive part of the plant.  They evolved mechanisms to avoid being eaten such as Phytates, Lechtins, and immunoreactive proteins like gluten. It is only since the agricultural revolution that humans have eaten grains.  Our bodies are not designed to digest them.  In fact, most mammals can't digest grains.  Recent research is linking our bodies responses to these foreign invaders to a variety of autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation that plague modern man.  If you're worried about missing out on nutrients I would like to direct your attention to this article by Robb Wolf,  Kids, Paleo and Nutrient Density  
By elimating grain from your diets you will avoid inflammation and you will have room for nutrient rich vegetables and fruits instead.  Sounds like a healthy way to eat to me!

1 comment:

  1. I had the same thing happen to me....I just nodded, thinking that it would be better to act like I agreed...but thought to myself "Idiot!!".

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