Gluten Free Diet

I've talked to a lot of clients over the years who have a sensitivity to gluten and felt much better once they cut gluten out of their diet.  Some symptoms of gluten sensitivity may not be that obvious until you cut gluten out completely and find out just how good you can feel.  I wanted to share some info with you and share a delicious gluten free pancake recipe I found online!

What is gluten?  It's actually a protein found in many grains including wheat, spelt, rye, kamut, barley, spelt, oat, triticale, semolina, farro and pumpernickel.  I'm not gonna lie - I don't even know what some of those are! 

What are some symptoms of gluten sensitivity?  Head aches, stuffy nose, eye sensitivity to light, achy joints, bloating, sharp stomach pains, exhaustion and irritability.  Any of those sound familiar?  It may be time to try cutting out gluten!  You may want to go see your doctor too.  Some people (not all) who experience the above have what's called Celiac disease which is an autoimmune disease that can be very difficult to diagnose.  Other symptoms of Celiac disease include diarrhea, constipation, chronic fatigue and even depression.  When in doubt see your doctor ;)

Is wheat free gluten free?  It is not.  Wheat free simply means the food contains no wheat and as mentioned above, gluten is found in more than just wheat.  If a food is gluten free however, it is also wheat free.

Why go wheat free?  Some people experience a sensitivity to wheat.  When they eat wheat they'll typically experience gastrointestinal distress in the form of bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, reflux, skin issues such as rashes and allergies/asthma - wheezing and congestion.  You can see that some of the symptoms are similar to gluten sensitivity so if you're experiencing any of these and you're not quite ready to go gluten free, try cutting out just wheat and see what happens.

If you're thinking about cutting out gluten you may be asking what in the world are you going to be able to eat?  There are lots of options!  There are even stores that sell only gluten free foods - google gluten free stores in your area and I'll bet you find something close by. 

Here's a list of gluten free grains:  rice (just rice though, not any kind of mixed grain rices unless you read the nutritional label closely), buckwheat (but beware of buckwheat soba - most times the buckwheat is mixed with wheat), amaranth, quinoa and polenta (it's corn!). 

These days there are tons of products that are gluten free so it's really not that hard to cut out gluten and still have a very satisfying diet.  By the way, Vega products are all gluten free, so if you're looking for some excellent supplements that are gluten free try Vega!

Now for the good part!  Delicious Gluten-Free Pancakes! (makes 10 servings/pancakes)

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice flour
• 3 tablespoons tapioca flour
• 1/3 cup potato starch
• 4 tablespoons dry buttermilk powder
• 1 packet sugar substitute
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 cups water

Directions

1.      In a bowl, mix or sift together the rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch, dry buttermilk powder, sugar substitute, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum. Stir in eggs, water, and oil until well blended and few lumps remain.

2.      Heat a large, well-oiled skillet or griddle over medium high heat. Spoon batter onto skillet and cook until bubbles begin to form. Flip, and continue cooking until golden brown on bottom. Serve immediately with condiments of your choice.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 147 | Total Fat: 5.8g | Cholesterol: 37mg

Here's where I found it: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/delicious-gluten-free-pancakes/

Share your questions or comments - you never know what you'll learn, or what you'll teach someone!