Grains- Don't Do It!

If you are already a Paleo devotee, you've long since eschewed all grains from your diet.  If not, however, please read on.

Most people are aware that 'certain grains are bad news':  white bread, corn chips, ultra processed wheat made into sugar cereals marketed to kids, but many are unaware of just how detrimental ALL grains are to the human body.  

Yes, this includes WHOLE grains, sprouted grains, brown rice, quinoa, corn, just to name a few that clients have asked about in particular; regardless of a grain being gluten-free, the consequences of ingesting them are numerous.

Thanks to the many years of research conducted by Dr. Loren Cordain, scientific proof to support these statements is at our fingertips, and can be read in depth in both of his books, The Paleo Diet, and The Paleo Diet for Athletes.

For a quick, extremely basic run-down, however:

-Grains contain anti nutrients, which bind to vitamins and minerals in the body, preventing them from being absorbed and utilized by your body

-Grains contain lectins which contribute to intestinal permeability, allowing partially digested bits of protein to leak into the peroneal cavity, which, over time, can lead to Leaky Gut, IBS, Crohn's Disease, Acne and exacerbation of Auto Immune Disease

-Grains have a net acidic effect on the body, causing the body to leach Calcium from the bones in an attempt to buffer the pH and return to normal alkalinity.  Over time, this contributes to osteopenia, then osteoporosis.

You might be reading this and think, "Well, I have tested negative for Celiac, so I can continue to consume grains, even gluten".  I do encourage you to think again.  Regardless of testing positive for having Celiac disease or not, if you are in fact, a human, it would behoove you immensely to NOT EAT GRAINS.

Food for thought, isn't it (pun intended!)?

Comments

[Alan Low]

Why do people still think grains are healthy. The words just seem to flow together "healthy wholegrain" just like that other falsehood "artery clogging saturated fat". Keep up the good work and get the word out there.

[Jimmy Moore]

YES! Great job putting this information out there for people, Nell. I so need to get you on my podcast show (http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/shownotes)! :)

[Anne]

I like Lierre Keith's definition of grains from her book "The Vegetarian Myth". "Grains are essentially sugar with enough opiods to make them addictive."

[Adam Sanford]

"Paleo devote" - I think you mean devotee :D

Excellent post.

[Nell]

Love it! Thank you for sharing such an appropriate quote!

Nell Stephenson
www.nellstephenson.com
BS EXSC, USC ACSM H/FI

Sent from my iPhone

[Jeanie]

Another great grain quote from Lierre Keith, "Back-breaking labor for piss-poor nutrition". Thanks for the great post, Nell.

[Nell]

Thanks- apparently I was so passionate about getting the message out that I clearly failed to check my grammar.
Point taken and correction has been made.

[Nell]

Thanks- love to be on your show- lets talk!

[Nell]

Thanks, Alan; I couldnt agree more!

[Nell]

Oh- that is a fabulous one! I will be sure to use both of those in conversation!

[Nell]

Oh- that is a fabulous one! I will be sure to use both of those in conversation!

[Amy]

Right on! I've got celiac disease and I frequently spread the word about how wonderful grain-free diets are with my local celiac community. They look at me like I've lost all my marbles. They're thinking to themselves: I already have a restricted diet, why are you trying to ruin my life even more? It's too bad they won't try it. In my experience, a gluten-free diet only led to modest improvements in health. I can't believe how much better I feel on a grain-free (paleo/primal) diet--it's so much better than just gluten-free!

[Nell]

Couldnt agree more! While I do not have Celiac, I learned in my late 20s that I had a latent allergy to gluten. I, too, cut out gluten and kept eating other grains for a while and then, just about five years ago, began The Paleo Diet and theres NO going back, as far as Im concerned! Its unfortunate that many people wont even give it a try until there is something wrong, and that its viewed as being so radical, when in reality, its so simple and natural:

DO eat food (fresh fruit, veg, lean protein and healthy natural fat).
DONT eat processed things that are not food (grain-based products, dairy, legumes, white sugar....)

Its so common sense!

[Jessica]

Hi, Nell...just wondering if you know much about "The Dietary Cure for Acne" (Cordain). I already follow the Paleo Diet and still have some breakouts; do you happen to know if this book has additional tweaks to the Paleo Diet, or if it's simply P.D. marketed to those suffering from acne? I'm a grad student right now, so I have a tight budget - with organic and grass fed meats the only ones in my diet, I don't want to buy the book if it's the same info I already have:) Thanks for any info!

[Nell]

Hi Jessica!

Yes, there are additional tweaks to The Dietary Cure for Acne. For one example, on The Paleo Diet, one can have some dried fruit (for athletes- a great part of the recovery from workout process; for non-athletes, part of a balanced snack which should also have some healthy protein and fat to bring down the overall glycemic index of the meal) , but on The Paleo Diet for Acne, one wouldnt consume any dried fruit.

There are a few other nuances like that which youll find in the book. The e-book is available for $20, so its definitely budget friendly!

How long have you been following The Paleo Diet and are you doing so at 100% commitment level?

[Jessica]

Thanks for your input...I've been following half-heartedly for about a year now, but only over the past six weeks or so have I been trying to get rid of things like whey protein and commit myself to sashimi and not sushi rolls:) I have eaten some Lara Bars recently (love them) when I was on the road, so I'm wondering if they could be the culprit, as I had noticed a great improvement in my skin prior to adding them into the mix. Thanks again for getting back to me!

[Nell]

If I were you, I would give it a try at 100%
effort for 6 wks with no deviation.

While Larabars are, in my opinion, probably
the best option out there as far as bars go (with the
exception of the flavors made with peanuts), they
do indeed contain dried fruit which is contra indicated for the
Acne plan.

Dairy would be a huge issue as well, so the whey
you were eating wouldnt have helped the situation either, nor would
the lectins in the rice you may have had in your sushi rolls.

Clean out your kitchen, stock up with loads of fresh veg fruit, lean
proteins and healthy oils (focus on Omega 3s (fish oil!!) and NOT 6s, which are inflammatory
and are found in high concentrations in many nuts, like almonds).

Keep us posted! Id be really surprised if, by the end of May,
you havent got a completely clear complexion!

Nell Stephenson
www.nellstephenson.com
BS EXSC, USC ACSM H/FI

Sent from my iPhone

[Jessica]

Great, thank you:)

[Nell]

Youre very welcome!