1. Limit those grains. I don't think everybody needs to be grain-free, but a lot of people seem to find benefit in doing so. Grains are an economical and filling food, though, as well as a base for a lot of yummy treats and staples. Some people benefit from going gluten-free* as gluten can be inflammatory and hard to digest. Other people choose to keep gluten in their diet but prepare their grains by soaking, sprouting or souring them. People used to use sourdough before they ever had little packets of yeast to buy and sourdough is easier to digest. You may also choose to simply limit the amount of grains you have and consume them less often.
2. Eat fermented foods. Sourdough, kimchi, yogurt, and kefir are foods that are fermented so that they are full of good bacteria. These good bacteria help digestion. Many (all?) foods can be fermented, so if you don't like some of them, try some different kinds. I get Bubbie's Saurkraut for myself and Bubbie's pickles for my husband, and I like to drink the pickle juice, too. (Many pickles and sauerkraut brands you buy are not fermented, so look for those in the refrigerated case that say they are fermented.) You can learn to make your own fermented foods as well.3. Consume homemade broth. Broth is full of nutrients that are good for you and for your gut. Gelatin is soothing and healing. Make your own broth from meat and bones, as the kind in the store usually just doesn't compare. Also a lot of brands can contain MSG and other additives.
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| Yes, that broth is in a Bubbie's jar |
4. Reduce the sugar. Reducing sugar, especially refined sugar is just better for overall health. Sugar feeds bacteria and yeast. This doesn't mean never having a treat! But have treats that you can feel good about or at least not as bad about. And consider a treat to be a treat--not an every day thing or a three-times-a-day thing.
*If you think you might have celiac and think you may ever want to be tested for it, do so before going off of gluten.
Source:
Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride
Linked to: Healthy Tuesday Hop
5 comments:
These are really good tips. I have read about reducing grain intake, and I've been experimenting with that some. My problem is I'm not very consistent.
When you eat gelatin, do you eat it as Jell-O? Also, when you eat the broth, do you eat it like soup, by itself, or do you mix it in with other things?
Thanks, Kristina!
Tina: It is hard to change your diet--I know!
I just eat the broth for my gelatin. Some people do get gelatin powder and make a jell-o-type snack or add it to stuff. If you do that, I would encourage the use of one of the brands that uses pasture-raised animals like Great Lakes brand gelatin.
I eat broth in soup or in my food and I also drink it with a bit of salt in it sometimes.
What timing for this article! I'm actually still in shock...but after a weekend off gluten, I feel so much better. Long story short, my daughter went gluten free three years ago at the age of four. I started having problems a month ago, and you think that I would have figured it out sooner. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this, but feeling much much better! I really want to try out sourdough, I've heard those with gluten issues benefit from sourdough. Any suggestions?
Michelle: That's good you are feeling better! It is so frustrating when the food you eat makes you feel bad. Some people are able to do sourdough even with gluten intolerance, but others cannot. You will have to be your own detective. I went completely gf several years ago but still had issues. Right now I am on the GAPS diet.
Though I know it's important, sometimes it's so hard to stay away from refined sugar. I know we consume waaay more than we're supposed to. Didn't realize it feeds bacteria! Thanks for sharing at A Humble Bumble. :)
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