Taste it Tuesday: That Cake'll Kill Ya, 7 Reasons Grains Are No Good

Pumpkin donuts, butter cream cake, garlic bread, and steaming hot cinnamon rolls...if I was on death row, these are the foods I want as my last meal.

No I don't plan on kicking the bucket anytime soon (or getting arrested), but if I knew I was headed to the great beyond I'd want a buttery blueberry muffin for the road.

Grain based foods have become a staple for every special occasion in our country. Whether you are getting married, celebrating a birth, graduating, retiring from 30 years on the job, or its just Tuesday, there's ALWAYS a reason to have cake.

Can you imagine salad without bread sticks, or breakfast without toast? Years ago I nearly had a melt down when I wasn't served a steaming hot biscuit at Thanksgiving dinner. What the hell am I supposed to sop up my gravy with!?

That all changed when my sweet pea allergic son was born. From nearly the get-go this child had eczema and an allergy to dairy and soy. Now at age 6 he's developed an intolerance to gluten and refined wheat products.

What is the difference between whole wheat and refined wheat products, you ask? Bare with me I'm about to go all sciencey on ya.

A whole wheat product contains--you guessed it--the whole  3 part wheat kernel---endosperm, bran, and germ. Whereas refined wheat is only comprised of the starchy endosperm. This means that refined products like white flour and white bread are missing important nutritional components.

Because of this recent diagnosis I've really had to come to terms with the idea that the foods that I want to be smothered in are endangering the health of my son. The most shocking thing I've learned is that grains aren't really good for anyone. I know you might be thinking "How you can be against grains when your site is called Granolaville?!" Lemme splain....

1. They Block the Good Stuff
Grains contain Phytic Acid, a mineral blocker that prevents absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc. Before we began mass producing them, fields of grain would have time to sprout which would break down some of the phytic acid and retain many nutrients. But today, crops are harvested quickly and eaten on such a large scale that we are negating the purpose of eating wheat in the first place.

2. Trust Your Gut
Both traditional and alternative medicine have begun to realize how the health of our intestines is critical to good overall health. Grains like wheat, barely, and rye contain gluten which is a sticky protein that can wreak havoc on your intestinal wall. Gluten and other nasty grain based proteins breakdown the microvilli in your small intestine. Microvilli are small finger-like hairs that are supposed to allow your body to absorb nutrients. If they have become damaged all the nutrient dense food you do eat won't be properly distributed into your system, causing weight loss and malnutrition. Grains are also connected to leaky gut syndrome. The intestinal walls become so damaged that bacteria, waste and other toxins may literally "leak" into the blood stream.

3. You May Have a Gluten Intolerance
It seems that this diagnosis is running rampant in this country. But there is a good reason for that. Researchers studying Celiac disease, which is an allergy that effects 1% of the population, have found that nearly 30% of all people of European decent have a gluten intolerance. Which means a whole lot of people are eating foods that are making them sick and they might not even know it. My son was one of these kids. He experienced loose bowl movements, bloating, stomach aches after every meal and slow weight gain. If you have any of these symptoms a simple blood test can determine if you are sensitive to gluten. Luckily there are now many delicious wheat and gluten free pastas, snacks and even chicken nuggets  for those picky kids like mine.

4. They Rot Your Teeth
The same phytic acid that prevents mineral absorption of calcium also uses up precious Vitamin D, which is imperative for bone growth. This can lead to dental decay, which was not found in our pre-agricultural ancestors or in cultures today that eat a fruit and vegetable based diet, with no dental care.

5. Grains Make You Want More Grains
Recall the smell of fresh baked bread, brownies, or cake. That warm sweet smell that envelopes your senses. Foods that are dense in carbohydrates can give you a quick energy boost, but will wear off just as rapidly leaving your body in a sugar induced slump. When those carbs break down into sugar, your insulin levels increase and then decrease leaving you craving more grains--- and so the cycle continues.

6. Eating Excess Grains Can Cause Infertility
A 2010 article from the NY Times discusses the link between Celiac and infertility in women.

Women with Celiac disease are reported to start having periods later and stop menstruating earlier than average. They also suffer more often from secondary amenorrhea, a condition in which menses start but then stop. Together, these menstrual disorders lead to fewer ovulations, which results in less of a chance to get pregnant. Hormonal factors and poor nutrition are thought to play a role in causing these problems.... For men, problems can include abnormal sperm – such as lower sperm numbers, altered shape, and reduced function. Men with untreated Celiac disease may also have lower testosterone levels. 

7. The Aren't Good For Your Joints

The inflammatory nature of processed grains can not only cause skin irritation manifesting as eczema or psoriasis, but can also cause pain in your joints and arthritis. The amino acids that make up the composition of a grain mirror that of the soft tissue in your joints. When immune cells become inflamed they begin to attack your joints soft tissue as if it were an invader, causing serious damage.

So now what do you do? The key is moderation for most people. If you do eat grains stick to whole grains with minimal processing. You can also try alternatives like rice, corn, buckwheat, or millet, which contain no gluten.

BUT if you do notice any of the above issues try removing them from your diet, one meal at a time, for a few weeks. Sure breakfast might not taste the same without your trusty piece of toast, but your body will thank you for it in the end.

My son's gluten intolerance has actually made it A LOT easier for the whole family to jump on board. I try to minimize the amount of refined wheat the rest of us eat, with a few splurges, like garlic bread (YUM), here and there.

Could you live without grains? Let me know in the comments section below!

Dreaming of Cake in Granolaville,

Resources: 
http://nourishedkitchen.com/against-the-grain-10-reasons-to-give-up-grains/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/533753-gluten-joint-damage/ 
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-grains-are-unhealthy/
http://wellnessmama.com/575/how-grains-are-killing-you-slowly/

Posted in: body,food,gluten,grains,healthy body,taste it Tuesday