| Please note: the information below is NOT meant for anyone with Celiac Disease |
| Wheat has been the most widely used food all over the world for thousands and thousands of years. However, wheat has been modified as we need more resistant, spongier varieties wihich generates bigger harvests. Yes, gluten, a protein found in grains like barley, wheat, rye and many others can be hard on the digestion due to the high glutamine and proline contents. However, there are many more factors involved in the fact that more individuals have a hard time digesting food items which are heavy in quality like dairy, wheat, nuts and seeds, eggs, meat and fish. Many individuals have chosen to avoid gluten because of their food sensitivity. However, the underlying cause might not be gluten or dairy, but food choices which weaken our digesive strength: Eating bread and dairy which are commercially processed with added pesticides, preservatives, antibiotices, herbicides. Overeating of food groups. Today’s food choices tend to be heavily leaning towards wheat products. Poor food choices which weaken the digestive fire and gut health. Eating out of season and, according to Ayurveda, the time of the day that we eat our meals is also important for a healthy digestion and metabolism. As explained in the book ” Eat Wheat” there is “ample evidence that we are genetically well-adapted to eat wheat. For example, there are wheat- and gluten-digesting enzymes in the saliva of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines—that’s the entire digestive tract. There are also numerous wheat-digesting microbes that support this process at every stage of the digestion as well.” Ayurveda and Reintroducing Gluten Not being able to digest gluten and other hard to digest food items are mostly a symptom of a more complex problem, which, in Ayurveda translates to having a weak digestive fire/agni, resulting in stagnation, indigestion, and fermentation in the digestive tract. Chances are that if we can’t digest what we eat, it is important to find the cause of indigestion than treating the symptoms alone. Support a healthy lymphatic flow for good digestion and general health. Ask an Ayurvedic Practicionar for advice. Improve your digestion: In Ayurveda, the internal fire called agni means the process of converting food into energy, responsible for all functions of all organs.To improve the internal fire, avoid all processed food, raw and cold food as well as cold drinks, eat at regular times with biggest meal at lunch time. Dinner shouldn’t be later than 7 pm. To reintroduce wheat to your diet, start with small amounts at lunch time as the digestion is the strongest at that time of the day. Ayurvedic texts mention wheat as a grain that strengthens the body and improves the ojas/immunity. The sweet taste, makes it a good choice for vata and pitta doshas.  Avoid constipation: start the day with a glass of warm lemon water with some grated ginger added. Sip 6 to 8 glasses of warm or room temperature water daily. Eat at regular times.Drink a cup of spice tea (cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric, cardamom, nutmeg, dry ginger and cinnamon) before meals. http://https://wellnessfiveelements.com/2018/01/15/digestive-tea/ Eat in a quiet space without the phone, tv, work or running around. . Address stress: Regular yoga, breathwork and meditation can help to release stress hormones from the body. Slow down, get adequate rest. A good practice is to massage the feet before sleep with either warm sesame oil or brahmi oil to soothe the nervous system. Spend time in nature  Decongest the liver. In Ayurveda, bitter tasting and cooling herbs and food like aloe vera, neem, amla, turmeric among others are used for both protection as well as boosting liver health. Green leafy vegetables, beetroots, carrots and apples are also good for the liver.  “Eating gluten is not a requirement for optimal health. You never have to eat it again, but in many cases the reason folks have trouble with gluten is that their digestive strength has weakened. Interestingly, the digestive pathways are the same as the detox pathways, so if you do not digest gluten well, you may not be detoxifying well either. Yes, you can avoid hard-to-digest foods, but you cannot avoid the toxins in the environment. Being able to ramp up your digestive strength to be able to tolerate gluten again will be a clear sign that your digestive and detox pathways are doing their job.” From the book “Eat Wheat” by .Dr. Douillard, a globally recognized leader in the fields of natural health, Ayurveda, and sports medicine. Disclaimer: This information about Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic tradition of health and wellness is not intended to replace the one on one relationship with a qualified health care professiona |
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