Do you need a special diet because specific foods upset your stomach?
Are You Having Digestive Problems?
When I was at school, which was a long time ago, I didn’t know anyone who had to eat special foods. My grandchildren, on the other hand, know lots of children who do have special diets.
What has changed in this time?
Sure we have a lot more pollution, we have a lot more processed food, we are busier and on the run so have more snack foods, we have less sleep as we push ourselves to do more, and children are on their electrical gadgets for long hours.
What can we change?
We need to change our lifestyle, our diet and our sleeping habits. Rushing less, getting more sleep and changing the way we eat can all be beneficial.
Do you realise that most of us eat wheat-based products every day?
What’s more, wheat years ago was quite different from the wheat produced now. Growers have developed different types of wheat with shorter stems so more can be grown. Worryingly, they also use new pesticides to increase the yield of wheat crops.
The way wheat is processed has also changed. This has altered the structure of the wheat molecules so that we now digest more gluten which is causing a lot of people problems.
What is gluten?
Gluten makes bread lighter and because this new wheat contains more gluten, it makes manufactures much happier as people enjoy the lighter bread. This means they buy more and eat more of it!
Most people don’t realise this lovely, lighter bread gives them more gluten. Bread mixture used to be left for quite a time to rise but now it is done much quicker.
Why is gluten a problem for some people?
Gluten can cause inflammation and damage to the lining of the gut. Our gut lining is quite delicate and it doesn’t take much to damage it, letting undigested food and waste products leak through and enter the bloodstream. This is what is called a leaky gut.
Alternatives to foods with gluten
- Sourdough bread takes longer to make and has beneficial bacteria in it to ferment the flour, making it easier to digest.
- Rye flour is also a useful alternative to wheat flour because it doesn’t have enough gluten in it to react with the yeast.
If you have no digestive issues with gluten, eating bread with gluten is okay and you don’t need to make any changes!
However, if you are suffering from digestive problems caused by gluten then, rice, buckwheat, polenta, millet and quinoa are gluten-free grains.
Where to buy gluten-free foods
Most food shops sell many gluten-free products these days; just make sure you read the labels carefully.
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