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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
4 Comments
I did a four to five month challenge in which I cut all bread and pasta etc. (flour and grain based products) except for once a week “cheat” days. I felt like I was starving at first and ate a lot more potatoes to compensate for the lack of other starch. I did lose weight and inches, but sometimes didn’t feel quite whole without bread on my stomach. I’ve since stopped that eating challenge. For me, having bread regularly makes me feel better. Perhaps it’s because I am very active in playing sports throughout the week or in life being an entrepreneur. Not sure, but my constitution seems to do best with gluten :).
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Sheetal
9/10/2019 10:11:25 am
Hi Tina! Thanks for sharing your experience :-) Good for you for listening to your body! And, you're right, from the Ayurveda perspective, I think wheat is balancing for your constitution. That Vata (very mobile, active lifestyle) along with Pitta (the fiery drive that makes you an amazing entrepreneur) are balanced with the wheat. And so, even though, it may take off some inches on the waistline, that doesn't mean it's balancing for your overall physical-mental-emotional well being. That's what I love about Ayurveda! It's not a one-size-fits-all system. It really looks at each person's needs as completely unique :-)
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9/10/2019 12:05:54 pm
I live about 80% gluten free and I feel much better. If I decide I want a cookie or a piece of bread occassionally (or something that is breaded) I'll do it, but in general I don't. I learned that when the body has trouble digesting a particular food, it can make us feel very sleepy - and that was the case for me. I have gotten rid of the afternoon slump! I also find that I'm less puffy and less itchy when I avoid gluten. I agree with you that current processing has created wheat that is very different than what it used to be.
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Sheetal
9/10/2019 04:36:50 pm
Hi Cheryl! Thanks for sharing your experience! It's so amazing how everyone has a different experience. I love that you listened to your body and that you found an effective solution to your afternoon slump! I think an excellent sign of good health is feeling energetic throughout the day. I'm so glad you found that! :-)
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