But I “need” grains
Someone sent me an e-mail recently with this comment/question, and I wanted to share my thoughts here for all of you.
“I’m finding (through trial and error) that my body needs grains everyday… when I first went GF, I was eating protein, dairy, veggies, and fruit with very little grains… I actually gained weight (ugh!). I’m halfway through a detox right now, so I am taking in lots of fiber via supplements and that seems to be helping… do you have any suggestions?”
Until I went full-GAPS, I thought my body needed grains too. 🙂 I gain weight any time I have any tiny amount of grains, and when I go a week or so without them, I quickly lose it. I tried low-carby diets before GAPS and felt sick, because my blood sugar fell so quickly. I thought I needed grains, starches, or maybe chocolate mini cadbury eggs, in small, regular doses. 🙂 I was worried about low blood sugar with GAPS. That’s why my family didn’t start with the intro (that, and our underweight son wasn’t a “soup” kid & we didn’t want him to lose any more weight). We started with plain meats, cooked veggies (like carrots) and broth on the side. I have learned, for my body, it’s not grains I need, it’s healthy fats. I add butter to everything now. Everything! I top everything I can with cheese. The weakness & shakiness I used to feel most of the time (the blood sugar lows) only happen if I’m not eating fats. A salad with white meat chicken and a tiny bit of dressing doesn’t cut it. I need to load on the olive oil dressing, top it with cheese, and add some sunflower seeds. Yum! 🙂 And as for fiber, to help loosen stools–grains don’t do that, in a healthy way, anyways. If it’s grains or grain-based fibers that are loosening your stools, they’re chelating necessary minerals with them. Use fruits & veggies as your fiber & eat plenty of probiotic foods like yogurt, kefir, and other fermented foods to heal the gut.
You May Also Like
4 Comments
Alicia
I agree…I am finding it is the healthy fats we need as well.. 😉
Amanda
Hi Brenda! Do you have any advice for a nauseous, pregnant mommy? I am having to eat way more grains than I care to discuss right now. I’m constantly needing to eat, can only eat really bland, and have thrown up every piece of fruit I’ve tried to eat. Before I was pregnant we were almost totally grain free, now we are all suffering because my kids see me eating grains and want them too. Grrrrr. I’m very frustrated. I want to do GAPS and we need too, I’m just scared!!
Thanks,
Amanda
Somethings Cookin
I read so much of the debate over grains that I truly feel it can only be a personal choice and not one that can be foisted upon another. God called them good and that’s good enough for me. 🙂
Hannah@ easyrealfood
I agree with “somethings cookin'” it is totally and individual choice. One you must ponder and really research. There are SO many healing diets and I believe ALL of them work, just not for everyone. I also find I need grains, I really like the “Body Ecology Diet” by Donna Gates. A few gluten free grains are allowed. I’m not following it now but I found it worked much better for me than the GAPS diet. I hated the GAPS diet. I still think it has great healing properties just not for everyone. I think grains when properly prepared in moderation are a very good thing. But, to each their own!