Body-conscious celebrities and their diet gurus are saying good-bye to gluten, dairy, and sugar. Their self-control is impressive. But is it necessary?
I came across this article in Allure Magazine recently. I love how it spells out the pros and cons, and of course, I have to add my two cents in. Take a moment to read Ginny Graves excellent article along with my side bar comments.
“With food, Americans have a penchant for extremes. Hot-dog-eating contests. Deep-fried Oreos. Portions the size of Nebraska. We crowd our plates with patriotic values of consumerism and largesse. But a few new radical diets have taken on a lofty appeal of their own. Intended for people with legitimate health concerns, gluten-, dairy-, and sugar-free diets have gone mainstream, (this is essentially a Paleo template for eating), promising to improve the complexion, brighten the mood, increase alertness, detox the body, and last but certainly not least, help you shed pounds. It seems like a lot to ask of the food you eat—or, more specifically, don’t eat.
These restrictive plans require intense commitment, which, in a strange twist, might be part of their draw. “Avoiding a food group altogether can seem easier than trying to eat it in moderation,” says Lisa Young, an adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University and the author of The Portion Teller Plan. (On this point I would whole-heartedly agree. Eat less prepared and watch your energy soar- cut out refined sugar and grains and watch those pesky hunger cravings disappears- lighten up on the dairy and watch your belly flattten fast… Simply said- rid your body of these inflammatory foods and watch your body shrink without effort.)
But austerity isn’t the only reason such extraordinary measures are gaining traction. Many devotees are attracted by celebrity enthusiasm (Kim Kardashian recently tweeted, “Gluten free is the way to be”). Others “will latch onto any trend to prove that they’re in the know,” says Young. Of course, these plans don’t guarantee weight loss. “Some people undoubtedly lose weight, but it’s not a given,” says Andrea Giancoli, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. So, is the effort-per-pound ratio worth it? We found out. (Hello people, sometimes getting over your resistance to getting out the toxins in your body is only real hard about this lifestyle. That’s why we have a 21 day community jumpstart so you can test it out for yourself and feel the immediate benefits and I think that’s why it’s worth it)
What is a Gluten-Free Diet?
The Skinny: Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Translation: It’s in practically everything. For starters, bread, pasta, cereal, and crackers, plus beer, some salad dressings, soups, and soy sauce. Gluten-free adherents learn to love alternative grains like amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, and rice, but only those with a wheat allergy or, more seriously, celiac disease must strictly comply. (Please note that while our T School program does have 3 levels of participation and these limited gluten free grains are an option in Level I, in the Paleo lifestyle does away with all grains listed above with the exception of quinoa)
When people with celiac eat gluten, it sets off an immune reaction that damages the lining of the small intestine, causing diarrhea, gas, bloating, and other symptoms: irritability, muscle cramps, skin rashes, anemia, plus a risk of developing intestinal cancer. (A blood test and an intestinal biopsy can confirm a celiac diagnosis.)
Celiac disease affects about 3 million people in the U.S., but far more—as many as 20 million—have gluten sensitivity; bread or pasta leaves them bloated, foggy, depressed, and headachy. “Some people eat gluten safely for 20, 30, or 40 years, then suddenly develop a problem,” says Alessio Fasano, director of the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Since no reliable sensitivity test is yet available, the only way to determine whether your malaise is gluten-related is to try the diet and see if you feel better—which should be apparent within a few days. (I suggest giving it up for our jumpstart and you will be amazed by the lack of bloating and gas when you skip grains- and that flat belly feels really good!)
Benefits: Those with celiac or pronounced gluten sensitivity will see the most improvement. “Brain fog, bloating, and headaches should go away immediately,” says Fasano. “Many people feel remarkably better.” Some look better, too, since gluten sensitivity can trigger an inflammatory response that leads to acne, rosacea, or eczema, according to Fredric Brandt, a cosmetic dermatologist in Miami and New York City. But if you don’t have true gluten sensitivity, you’re not likely to notice any changes to your mood, skin, or gut. ( I disagree with this statement – I know you will see fat loss results from minimizing grains and gluten)
Drawbacks: You could pack on the pounds. “It used to be that a gluten-free diet almost assured weight loss, because there were very few alternatives except for fruits and vegetables,” says Susan Bowerman, assistant director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition. But thanks to the gluten-free trend, there is now a glut of G-free muffins, pies, cakes, and pizzas. Some of these substitutes are more caloric than their standard counterparts, because manufacturers use corn or potato starch to add texture. (Hello people- this is why on all levels of the T School Program you are going to avoid processed foods. Just because the muffin label says gluten free, doesn’t mean it’s not full of corn and potatoes- two guaranteed foods to stymie fat loss)
Another problem? Avoiding gluten can set you up for a vitamin deficiency, since wheat is rich in thiamine and other Bs, says Cynthia Kupper, executive director of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America. “B vitamins are important for the health of your hair, skin, brain, and nerves,” she says. “So you may pay a price if you’re not careful.” The other way you’ll pay: G-free foods can cost two or three times as much as conventional ones. (As far as getting adequate vitamin B, you can easily get enough from eating protein sources which are jam packed with them. Don’t miss our T School Nutrition 101 workshop with Jason Fechter as he discusses good nutrition and supplementation when needed. This is part of our T School Course Syllabus)
The Paleo lifestyle can see restrictive at first, but I am here to tell you that once you get over the initial resistance to eating this way, the benefits are amazing. And not just for leaning up and feeling amazing! More and more physicians are now recommending this way of eating as well.
Dr Jeanne Drisko of the KU Medical Center Integrative Care Center recommends eating this way as does Kansas City Cardiologist, James O’Keefe.
The bottom line is to look at your body and your food choices and see if it’s working for you. If not, do something different and I promise it will work for you.
Our next session of T School kicks off with a FREE SUGAR ADDICTS WORKSHOP this Saturday, January 18th at 1230 pm. This is completely FREE so grab a friend and find out how you can transform your body with T School in 12 short weeks.
Click here for more information on T School and why it works.
Questions? Email me at tina@pilates1901.com
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