The Gluten-free Diet
Contrary to the popular myth, going gluten-free will not result in weight loss and better health for most people. Some types, like Kapha or Vata people with naturally weak digestion, should moderate wheat and gluten intake. However, most people who adopt a gluten-free diet do so to relieve digestive problems, are not Kapha or Vata types, and are not actually allergic to gluten. For those who go gluten-free for weight loss, there is no evidence that this type of diet induces weight loss. Meaning, going gluten-free is not automatically going to make you lose weight.
Unless you have had tests done by a doctor to confirm that you have celiac disease, going gluten-free is likely just treating a symptom of a much deeper problem. What happens as we age is that bad eating habits catch up with us. Maybe you have not had "bad"eating habits as defined by the nutrition industry, but have just been eating the wrong foods for your body type. As years of unbalancing dietary habits catch up with us, we begin to get problems such as heartburn, bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea. We notice that if we give up eating certain foods, we relieve our symptoms.
This is where the gluten-free diet comes into play for most people. Wheat is generally a hard grain to digest. If your digestion is weak, then it will be difficult for your body to break it down. Giving up wheat, or going gluten-free, gives weak digestive systems a break. However, digestion will stay weakened, and it is only a matter of time before you discover new things that you cannot digest.
When digestion is not working properly, your body is not going to absorb all the nutrients from your food and body tissues will not be built or maintained properly. The lymphatic channels become congested, which results in weight gain, low immunity, migraines, PMS, hot flashes, acne, difficulty digesting fat, and many other problems.
Weight loss that occurs from adopting a gluten-free diet happens: 1) because the person has celiac disease and a gluten-free diet allows the inflammation in their digestive tract to decrease, returning normal digestive function, or 2) because giving up gluten allows a weak digestive system to have a rest from breaking down this hard-to-digest protein, which temporarily increases the efficiency of the metabolism, but does not permanently heal the digestive tract.
For real healing to take place, the underlying problem of weak digestion must be addressed. During my healing from recurrent pancreatitis, there was a period when I could not digest wheat. Now, I have rebuilt my digestive capacity so I can enjoy it once again. If you are considering a gluten-free diet for any reason other than celiac disease, I would recommend that you see a qualified healthcare professional first (even if it is not me, please see someone!). Doing this can save you years of digestive and weight management issues down the road.
I have worked with many people over the years to rebuild digestive function, permanently relieve heartburn and indigestion, and create personalized eating programs for health maintenance. Feel free to contact me if you would like to work together on your digestive health.
Text inquiries to: 703-475-9642
Or email: [email protected]
Contrary to the popular myth, going gluten-free will not result in weight loss and better health for most people. Some types, like Kapha or Vata people with naturally weak digestion, should moderate wheat and gluten intake. However, most people who adopt a gluten-free diet do so to relieve digestive problems, are not Kapha or Vata types, and are not actually allergic to gluten. For those who go gluten-free for weight loss, there is no evidence that this type of diet induces weight loss. Meaning, going gluten-free is not automatically going to make you lose weight.
Unless you have had tests done by a doctor to confirm that you have celiac disease, going gluten-free is likely just treating a symptom of a much deeper problem. What happens as we age is that bad eating habits catch up with us. Maybe you have not had "bad"eating habits as defined by the nutrition industry, but have just been eating the wrong foods for your body type. As years of unbalancing dietary habits catch up with us, we begin to get problems such as heartburn, bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea. We notice that if we give up eating certain foods, we relieve our symptoms.
This is where the gluten-free diet comes into play for most people. Wheat is generally a hard grain to digest. If your digestion is weak, then it will be difficult for your body to break it down. Giving up wheat, or going gluten-free, gives weak digestive systems a break. However, digestion will stay weakened, and it is only a matter of time before you discover new things that you cannot digest.
When digestion is not working properly, your body is not going to absorb all the nutrients from your food and body tissues will not be built or maintained properly. The lymphatic channels become congested, which results in weight gain, low immunity, migraines, PMS, hot flashes, acne, difficulty digesting fat, and many other problems.
Weight loss that occurs from adopting a gluten-free diet happens: 1) because the person has celiac disease and a gluten-free diet allows the inflammation in their digestive tract to decrease, returning normal digestive function, or 2) because giving up gluten allows a weak digestive system to have a rest from breaking down this hard-to-digest protein, which temporarily increases the efficiency of the metabolism, but does not permanently heal the digestive tract.
For real healing to take place, the underlying problem of weak digestion must be addressed. During my healing from recurrent pancreatitis, there was a period when I could not digest wheat. Now, I have rebuilt my digestive capacity so I can enjoy it once again. If you are considering a gluten-free diet for any reason other than celiac disease, I would recommend that you see a qualified healthcare professional first (even if it is not me, please see someone!). Doing this can save you years of digestive and weight management issues down the road.
I have worked with many people over the years to rebuild digestive function, permanently relieve heartburn and indigestion, and create personalized eating programs for health maintenance. Feel free to contact me if you would like to work together on your digestive health.
Text inquiries to: 703-475-9642
Or email: [email protected]