Five Reasons to Eat a Gluten-Free Diet

December 29, 2008 By 20 Comments

Gluten is a combination of plant-derived proteins found in products containing wheat and in many oats and barley products. Gluten is the substance that makes flour sticky and gives firmness to cakes, breads, crusts, etc. While it is digested well by most people, there are many who are not able to digest the substance or have conditions that are better treated by following a gluten-free diet.
A gluten-free diet is a little tough to follow but the health food industry is making it easier on the consumer by offering many gluten-free products that can be found in health food stores and many major grocery stores. The benefits of the diet make following it well worth your while.

1.  A diet without of gluten is very low in carbohydrates. Some of the ingredients found in gluten-free foods have no refined carbs. That means that it is easier to lose weight, lower cholesterol and gain energy.

2. Many diseases and conditions are helped by following a gluten-free diet. Celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, loss of balance, memory issue, and many more illnesses can benefit from this diet.

3.  When you follow a Gluten Free Diet you are increasing the use of whole foods in your daily diet. Fresh, whole foods are the body’s best friend. There is a higher concentration of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients found in whole foods. By going gluten-free your body will thrive and thank you.

4.  On a gluten-free diet you can be more creative in the kitchen. Don’t allow a so called restricted diet to stop you from making masterpieces in the kitchens. The sky is the limit no matter what way you choose to eat. You can find some very tasty recipes on the internet and there are gluten-free recipe books available in most books stores and on Amazon.

5.  If you have a problem with fatigue then a gluten-free diet is a good option. A diet free of wheat has been proven to relieve the symptoms associated with fatigue allowing you to have a more energetic vibrant day without a case of the blahs.

You will be grateful for taking the plunge into a gluten-free world should you make the choice. Yes, it does seem very limiting and hard to follow. A gluten-free option when it comes to diet should be approached with a great deal of thought, research, and study.

Purchase a few books, ask some questions from other gluten-free foodies, and write down the pros and cons of following the diet. You may even think about joining a group or hiring a coach to help you through the transition. If the benefits seem to fit just what you need in your life, then go for it with it gusto and don’t look at it as a daunting, difficult chore that must be done.

When you are feeling healthier and having more energy, you will realize that it is worth it.

The longer you follow a Gluten Free Diet the easier it will get.

Diana Walker, CEO, Diana’s Healthy Lifestyles
Cravings Coach

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Five Reasons to Eat Whole Foods

December 22, 2008 By 1 Comment

Whole foods include vegetables, fruits, and whole, unprocessed grains, nuts, seeds, sprouts and legumes. Whole foods are not processed in any way and that is better for your body. You will find no added fat, sugars, or salt in whole foods.

Whole foods are not to be confused with organic foods. There is a difference in that whole foods can have pesticides and herbicides. So if you are going for a whole food diet, make sure to buy organic whole foods for a healthier experience.

Whole foods can be raw foods, but are not necessarily raw foods.  For example, oatmeal is a “whole food”, containing the protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals in the way that nature intended.  You can cook oatmeal, and it is considered a “whole food”, though not a “raw food”.

To further your whole food experience it is suggested that you eat a high percentage of your whole food in raw and sprouted form. Raw foods carry enzymes that your body needs for proper nutrition.

When it comes to consuming these delicious nutrient rich whole foods, there are many reasons for doing so.

1.  No Added Sugar, Salt, Fat

Compared with foods that are boxed or canned, whole foods contain an array of advantageous nutrients and phytochemicals, providing your body with powerful nutrition as nature intended.  Unlike processed foods these healthy choices are also noteworthy for what they don’t have. Whole foods have no added sugar, salt, or fat.

2.  Powerful Nutrition and Delicious Taste

Eating whole foods fills your body with thousands of phytonutrients that have health-promoting properties, as well as vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients like fiber and beneficial fats. The process of preparing canned and boxed foods removes many of the vital nutrients necessary for good health. An example of this is fresh versus canned tuna. When you cook fresh tuna along with the skin on, you get the tuna meat with all the omega-3 fatty acids that are necessary to support your cells’ membranes and promote health. You can compare that to a can of tuna fish packed in vegetable oil. In the can of tuna about 50% of the omega-3 fats are missing and the delectable taste has been compromised.

3.  No Added Chemicals

By nature, whole foods differ from refined foods in that they are not processed with many chemical additives. Some of these additives are thought to compromise the body’s structure and function and are suggested to be linked to a host of skin, pulmonary and psycho-behavioral conditions.

4.  Lower Toxicity

When you consume a whole food diet you lower the toxicity in your body because you eliminate added fat, sugar, refined flour, sodium, and other ingredients that can encumber your body. You also reduce the exposure to a large number of toxins that exist in conventionally grown/processed foods.

5.  Reduce Expenses

Another great benefit of the consumption of whole foods is the fact that you avoid the high cost of supplements. Supplements are fine and have their place but the bottom line is that in a diet that consisting of high quality organic whole foods, there is not as much need for supplements. Your body is getting the nutrients it needs with a whole food diet.

When it comes to optimum nutrition for good health, incorporating whole foods into your daily diet should be standard. Study, research, ask around and find out which foods you need to remove from your pantry and which ones you need to replace them with. Once you have done that, get to the grocery store for some delicious whole foods.

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Five Reasons to Eat Vegetarian Foods

December 15, 2008 By 1 Comment

There are many types of diets in society today. However, many of them are not healthy. A healthy diet is not a diet for a day or a week or a month, but rather a lifestyle change. Becoming a vegetarian is a total lifestyle makeover and a very beneficial one.

The term vegetarian can be a complicated one because some may eat one way while others eat another.

Vegetarian
A vegetarian eliminates meats and dairy and eggs from their diets, living on a plant-based diet.

Lacto-Vegetarian
A lacto-vegetarian is a person who avoids meat and eggs but eats dairy items (milk, yogurt, cheese) as well as plant foods.

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian
A lacto-ovo vegetarian eats all dairy, including eggs, and plant foods but they avoid meat.

The diet of a healthy vegetarian includes whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains.

Becoming a vegetarian or adopting a portion of this lifestyle has many practical benefits.

1.  Reduce Your Risk Of Heart Disease
Eating vegetarian foods is great for your heart. A British study discovered that eating fresh fruits is linked to a 24% reduction in death from heart disease. It has also been shown through this same study that daily consumption of raw foods was associated with a 26 % reduction in mortality from heart disease.

2. Reduce Your Risk of Cancer
Those who consume higher amounts of fruits and vegetables have about one-half the risk of cancer, especially the epithelial cancers, as those who do not eat more vegetarian foods. The risk of most cancers was 20-50% lower in those with a higher consumption of whole grains.

3. Reduce Digestive Disorders
A vegetarian diet tends to be higher in fiber than other diets. With a high fiber diet there is a positive effect on the health of the digestive tract. A healthy digestive tract will save years of pain due to the overburden of the pancreas which directs digestion in the body.

4. Save A Few Dollars
You can add some money to your savings account by eating vegetarian foods. By simply replacing meat, chicken and fish with vegetables and fruits you can cut your food bills by an average of $4,000 a year. With that kind of money you can even take a family vacation.

5.  Clean Out Your Body
Consuming vegetarian foods will give your body a much needed spring cleaning. By deciding not to consume meat you are helping rid your body of toxins like pesticides, environmental pollutants, and preservatives that overload your systems and cause many illnesses. It would be important to note that those who choose to detoxify their bodies consume more fresh juices, fruits, and vegetables during their detoxifying period.

There are many benefits to consuming vegetarian foods. The fact that one would even think to go the route of a vegetarian diet is a proactive step towards a healthier way of life. And contrary to popular belief, a properly planned diet can provide you all the necessary minerals and nutrients for a long and healthy life. If you are considering adapting more vegetarian foods into your daily diet then you can only help your body receive the optimum treatment it deserves.

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