Want a hot date for Sunday? Gluten for Gluttons & Pancakes!

The GOOD NEWS. He's giving up gluten...she's giving up gluten....should you be doing it?   Your mom's words "If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?" might apply here.   Despite the fad, going gluten free is not necessary for everyone.... yet it can be helpful to reduce your intake.

Gluten, found in many grain products is a sticky protein that can be very difficult for the body to digest. While some are allergic to this protein (celiac's disease) others are just sensitive to it.   Sensitivity to gluten can not necessarily be tested and can be hard to pinpoint as it may cause symptoms that we wouldn't necessarily connect with food (feeling tired, foggy, grouchy, congested, watery eyes, even asthma...).

The best way to test for gluten sensitivity is to follow an Elimination Diet wherein you eliminate the potential allergen for 7-10 days, and slowly reintroduce it watching carefully for symptoms. I believe our bodies know more than the medical tests, so this is an amazing practice in learning to listen to what your body has to say! (This is something I lead clients through, so ask if you're curious about an Elimination diet. It works wonders for dairy, sugar, eggs, soy & peanuts....as well).

THE KICKER: One reason some of us may be more sensitive to gluten than others is because WE CAN CREATE THE SENSITIVITY.   When we eat a particular food over and over and over again (especially when it's a difficult to digest protein), our body can become overwhelmed and lose the capacity to fully break it down). So, if you're someone who eats a lot of gluten (wheat products: bread, pasta, cereal, crackers) you might consider giving yourself a break. Your body just might breathe a huge sigh of relief!
In addition to overwhelming our bodies with gluten, the stress of daily life and other less than friendly foods (sugar, caffeine) limit the body's ability to function optimally. Thus giving it a break, by giving up some difficult to digest foods can help to get us back on track....so that we can get back to enjoying all foods.    Taking a break does not mean forever!

TIPS for reducing the gluten:
- Rotate glutinous* and non-glutinous** grains.
- Do it now! According to Ayurveda SPRING is a great time to clean out the digestion. Digestion is strongest in winter, so we can more easily digest gluten come the colder months.
- Go for sourdough or sprouted grains instead of wheat bread. (the fermentation & live enzymes help to break down the gluten)
- try rice crackers instead of wheat crackers

* Glutinous: wheat bread, crackers, pasta, cereal, some oats
** Non glutinous grains include: quinoa, brown or wild rice, millet, amaranth, buckwheat.

RESOURCES
- Here's a guide to San Francisco gluten-free restaurants.
- Here's a fun looking gluten-free blog (though careful of the sugar!)
- And another with 'easy' recipes from a gluten free mommy.

If you have your own favorite gluten-free recipes sites post them on