More Health Foods that Aren’t: Gluten Free Edition

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:59:02 +0000

I feel like picking on processed “health” foods today. Let’s see…. Kashi is almost too easy, and Diane over at Balanced Bites has already ranted about that. I love the commercial where they talk about how their cereals have as much protein as an egg! Also, you are getting plenty of sugar with your “protein” (which is actually soy protein, big processed UGH that can actually contribute to harmful hormonal issues). Why not just have the egg?

You know what I feel like ranting about? Speaking of soy, I always love a good soy rant, but you can read all about that here. I feel like ranting about “gluten free” products. Gluten free has swept the nation with its fancy claims of better health and weight loss, and naturally, the food industry wants to capitalize on The Next Big Thing. People assume anything gluten free is healthy, and that they’ll just swap out their bread, pasta, cookies, and cereal for gluten free versions. Folks, this is all wrong. I sound like a broken record when I tell my clients: going gluten free does NOT mean switching out all the refined foods you once ate to “healthier” gluten free options. But why not? If it’s gluten free, it must be healthy, right? WRONG.

Just because a product has gluten free stamped across it does not mean it’s healthful. In fact, it’s most likely not (and don’t get me started on my spiel about packaged foods in general….) Many gluten free products are high in sugar, use unhealthy oils such as canola, use processed ingredients, or are cross-contaminated with oats or other grains that are just as harmful as gluten (meaning they cause inflammation and digestive problems) and may actually contain trace amounts of gluten.

Gluten Free! Healthy?

The point about going gluten free isn’t to conveniently replace everything you were eating with gluten free options. These foods use grains and sugar and other ingredients that are just as irritating to the body’s tissues and digestive system as gluten. Going gluten free means that you make your diet a plant-based diet and focus on whole foods rather than refined, white flour, or “whole grain” foods. We’re taught to believe that grains should be the staple of our human diets and that grains provide fiber and necessary vitamins and minerals and antioxidants. A grain-based diet also brings with it weight gain, gas, bloating, sugar cravings, fatigue, and brain fog. You wouldn’t eat eggs at every meal, right? Then why have bread, pasta, tortillas, muffins, scones, or crackers at every meal?

Now, I’m not saying everyone who eats grains (yes, even healthy brown rice) will suffer with these maladies. But if you’re already going gluten free, it’s likely you are interested in correcting your digestive issues, fatigue, bloating, etc, or have a sensitivity to gluten. If you go gluten free and don’t feel any better because you are still using gluten free breads & pastas, rethink your strategy. It’s likely you are sensitive to all grains, even rice and corn and oats, the grains that are used to make gluten free products. Try focusing on lots of veggies, starchy root veggies, good fats like coconut oil, butter, and olive oil, and organic proteins and watch your digestive woes disappear.

Grain-free, Gluten-free, Dairy-free Pie

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:35:30 +0000

Pie: Usually not the healthiest thing around. Pie usually involves refined white flour, shortening (trans fatty acids), tons of white sugar, and a high calorie filling. Well, I am here to remake the traditional berry pie just in time for your 4th of July BBQ. Try this “paleo pie” made with seasonal berries, nuts, and dates for natural sweetness. Refined sugar free, gluten free, trans fat free, and grain free, this pie offers healthful ingredients like the berries (high in antioxidants) & walnuts (high in essential fatty acids). Grain & sugar free foods are ideal for those on a weight loss plan, as you will avoid the insulin spike that causes increased fat storage. This pie is no-bake, too! Enjoy.

Paleo Pie (adapted from a paleo website I ran across, though I can’t remember which one)

Crust:
1 cup macadamia nuts
1 cup walnuts
1 tsp ground cinnamon
8 oz medjool dates, pitted

Filling:
2 cups organic strawberries
8 oz dates
3 cups strawberries cut into bite-sized slices
1 cup blueberries
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, plus a little more to decorate
2 tbs lemon juice

Directions:
1. Pit & chop 8 oz of dates into chunks and soak in water for 15 minutes.

2. Put nuts in a food processor and pulse until they grind up into tiny crumb-like pieces. Be careful not to over-process, or you’ll get nut butter. Should be crumbly.

3. Chop dates into chunks and put in food processor along with the cinnamon.

4. Pulse mixture until it comes together and resembles a graham cracker crust mix.

5. Press this mixture into a 9 inch pie plate starting at the center and working your way out to the edges.

6. Stash the crust in the freezer while you prep the filling.

7. Chop up 2 cups of strawberries and put in a blender.

8. Drain dates and add to blender with lemon juice.

9. Puree until smooth.

10. In a large bowl, combine the sliced strawberries and the blueberries along with the shredded coconut. Pour puree over the mix and gently combine with a rubber spatula.

11. Carefully put filling into the crust and spread with spatula to even it out. Sprinkle some shredded coconut on top.

12. Chill pie in the fridge for at least an hour. Red, white, and blue pie! If you are not sensitive to dairy, whip up some organic fresh cream to top, or sprinkle with dark chocolate shavings.

Holistic Nutrition Bytes--San Francisco Nutrition Consultation » paleo

More Health Foods that Aren’t: Gluten Free Edition

Grain-free, Gluten-free, Dairy-free Pie