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TOPIC: |
Gluten Free |
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LESLEYN
SparkPoints: (14,438)
Fitness Minutes: (1,798)
Posts:
825
5/1/12 6:30 P

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ANARIE
Posts:
11,058
5/1/12 6:25 P

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Have you been diagnosed with a gluten intolerance or celiac disease? If not, there's no reason to worry about gluten. Gluten is just a particular protein. Some people are allergic to it, just like some people are allergic to the protein in peanuts or the protein in eggs or shrimp. If you're not allergic to it, then there's no more reason to avoid gluten than there is to avoid any other protein. If you are allergic, there are thousands of healthy foods that don't have it. Fresh fruits and veggies are all gluten-free, and we all need more of them. Most nuts and legumes are gluten free, and you can easily get a list of what grains are "safe." (In fact, if you've been diagnosed with gluten intolerance, the doctor should have handed you a pamphlet about gluten-free foods when s/he gave you the diagnosis.) You CAN be healthy on a gluten-free diet if you absolutely have to. But if you don't have to, it's extra effort and expense that could be used on other things that matter more to your health.

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LESLEYN
SparkPoints: (14,438)
Fitness Minutes: (1,798)
Posts:
825
5/1/12 6:11 P

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I eat gluten free most of the time. Since I'm not celiac, I do have meals or entire days where I do eat gluten-full foods. Like a PP said, anything that is healthy normally will be healthy gluten- free. Brown rice bread, brown rice tortillas, UNSWEETENED almond milk are good examples. Buying gluten-free cookies is not healthy. A typical day for me: B- 1/2 cup egg white scrambled with 1 tbsp salsa, 2 pieces turkey bacon, 1/2 of a red pepper cut into strips, 1 slice rice bread with 1/2 tbsp nut butter. Snack- cherry tomatos, celery, broccoli, radishes, etc and 2 tbsp hummus L- white turkey chili or some sort of soup with a salad. Snack- 1/2 cup 0% fat Greek style yogurt, 1/2 scoop of flavoured protein powder and an apple sliced up to dip D- 3-4 oz of chicken or steak or pork chop, grilled with as many veggies as I want. If I am exercising that day, I'll add one cup of spaghetti squash to this meal. Snack (if hungry): Protein shake made with 1 cup unsweetend almond milk, 1 scoop protein powder, 1/2 cup frozen berries.

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YACHTSMAN
SparkPoints: (807)
Fitness Minutes: (0)
Posts:
269
5/1/12 12:36 P

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I do, I eat gluten free. It took a little while to become used to, but at this point I don't find it all that difficult. A web sight that you might find of help is WheatBelly. It is about eating wheat free. I saw this morning that some new gluten free breads are to be offered. Thought it might be of interest. "Help Wheat-free Market Foods test its new almond flour breads!" www.wheatbellyblog.com/2012/04/help-wheat- free-market-foods-test-its-new-almond- flour-breads/

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YOGINILMT
Posts:
308
5/1/12 10:59 A

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My husband has celiacs, so we're completely gluten free in our house. (he's also lactose intolerant, which makes eating pizza and mac&cheese a spiritual experience for me). Gluten is a substance found it several types of grain (but mainly wheat) and is sometimes used as an additive in processed and packaged foods. If you're asking what kinds of foods are healthy, then anything that would be healthy normally. There are gluten free breakfast cereals with as much sugar as lucky charms, and others that are almost sugar free. There are gluten free cookies, which are no more healthier than gluten-full cookies. If you're asking what gluten free brands and foods taste good. Udi's is an awesome brand, but gluten free pizza crust tastes bad no matter who makes it. just be warned. And be careful. If you're completely cutting out gluten it can be difficult (and expensive) to get all your whole grains. Make sure that you're eating plenty of quinoa, rice, and gluten free oats to replace the wheat, barley, etc you're cutting out of your diet.
Edited by: YOGINILMT at: 5/1/2012 (11:02)

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CMCOLE
Posts:
2,105
5/1/12 10:32 A

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Some people eat them for the sake of eating them. Others, for which they were originally designed, have celiac disease (sp?), whereby they cannot process the gluten (most often wheat), and it means not only distress, but a whole lot of other medical concerns. Like any specialty foods - there are good and bad choices. If you don't require them for medical reasons, you're free to choose the ones that fit in your healthy lifestyle, at your discretion (same as choosing low carb, low fat, low salt, or whatever)

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