I'm doing a 2-week gluten-free challenge.  I'm halfway through it.  As a mid-way treat, I ate a bagel!!  Lol.  I couldn't resist.  But, I'm still doing the challenge and that was the only gluten I've eaten in the past week!  My friend, Dr. Aarti Soorya, is hosting the challenge.  You might remember her from our Facebook Lives earlier this year?  She's a functional medicine doc up in Michigan.  And, from the functional medicine perspective, gluten can lead to leaky gut syndrome.  That's Dr. Soorya's expertise, and if you're interested, I can invite her to join me on a FB Live about it!

But, for this week's blog, I thought it'd be interesting to talk about the Ayurveda perspective on gluten.  Generally, Ayurveda recommends wheat. It can be balancing for Vata (Air) and Pitta (Fire) types. If you have trouble digesting gluten (or any other food product), chances are that:
1) It’s not suitable for your constitution, or 
2) You need to strengthen your digestive fire (Agni)

So, what’s the deal with gluten-free diets? As a doctor, I’ve had so many patients report back to me that they feel better after going gluten-free! So, what’s that about?  

It has to do with the processing of wheat these days. The processing of wheat is different now than it was 5000 years ago when Ayurveda originated. And so, it’s important that you adapt these ancient principles to your modern lifestyle.

What’s that mean for you?
It means you have to see what works for you! Ayurveda is all about self-awareness. Try something out for 2-3 weeks and notice how your body feels. Ayurveda recognizes that you’re unique. Gluten-free might make you feel great, and make someone else feel weak and sluggish! It’s all about self-exploration and learning what’s right for you.

I’ve honestly never tried to go gluten-free before this challenge. I’m one of those Vata-Pitta types and that’s been my excuse that wheat’s good for me! :-)  I'm halfway through the challenge, and so far I've noticed that my digestion feels smoother.  I also feel lighter after meals than when I was eating gluten.  Will I continue gluten-free after the challenge?  Probably not.  But, this challenge gave me a greater awareness of how I feel with and without it.  It pushed me out of my comfort zone to learn more about gluten and its potential effects.  And, it was a fun challenge to find creative recipes and modifications to my regular diet!

So, now I'm curious to hear your experiences with gluten!  Have you tried gluten-free?  If so, did you notice any differences with or without it?  Leave a comment below and let me know! 

P.S. Follow me on Insta and Facebook to see what gluten-free meals I've been eating this past week! @sheetalajmanimd