“I can see clearly now the ‘grain’ is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day.”
I frequently get asked why I went grain free (and subsequently Paleo) from people, so I thought I would use this blog to give you some insight. There are many reasons why I decided to jump into this lifestyle and not look back and some are explained here.
So it has been about a year and a half since removing all grains, especially gluten containing grains, from my diet. No small feat I might add being that I am 100% Italian! The pasta, the amazing bread, the tiramisu – oh the tiramisuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu……… Oh I’m sorry – I must have leaned on the “u” key as I went into my sugar coma just thinking about the tiramisu. (BTW – if you are ever in Summit, NJ, stop by Marco Polo’s Restaurant and get a piece of their tiramisu. Best.Tiramisu.Ever!) And that then leads me to one of the points for this blog.
Ever since removing grains/gluten and products made with grains and replacing that caloric deficit with good quality protein, more fiber from veggies/fruit and good sources of carbs such as sweet potato – I definitely can see clearer now. The fog, “the dark clouds” have all been removed and things are so much brighter. That is not to say that I am in a euphoric state all day, every day – oh no no no no my friends – I have too many witnesses that will attest otherwise, so I can’t even begin to lie about that if I wanted to. But what I do mean is that I can definitely see things with more mental clarity.
I am also not having those extreme highs and lows from eating the grain/gluten containing food. I know you know what I am talking about. A big pancake breakfast made from grains (and yes the same goes for the angelic whole grains) when consumed will wreak havoc on your blood sugar level. Not to mention the sugar that they are topped off with in the form of syrup -typically containing high fructose corn syrup – will add to the misery. Then, shortly thereafter, as you are going about your day…BAM! It hits you: the blood sugar slump. Nap time, anyone?
“I think I can make it now, the ‘grain’ is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the ‘answer’ I’ve been prayin’ for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day.”
Another wonderful benefit I have experienced since going grain/gluten-free is that I no longer have that annoying bloat and that uneasy feeling in my stomach (kind of like burpees on a full stomach) along with the bizarre noises that made their presence known! There were times when the noise coming from my stomach sounded like a scene from Nightmare on Elm Street with Freddy Krueger and his stomach (totally just dated myself). The sound and feeling were if an alien was going to pop out at any minute. My polite response when people would whip their heads around like Linda Blair in the Exorcist was, “Oh I am so sorry. I am just REALLY hungry.” No – hunger was not the issue – I had just eaten!
And of course it would happen at the most inopportune times such as the part of a wedding when it is announced, “Does anyone have any reason why this man and this woman should not be wed? Speak now or forever hold your peace.” What my stomach actually heard was, “Ready. Set. Gooooooo… Make unruly embarrassing noises!” Grrrr. I used to wonder why I was always feeling this way. It took me many years and a lot of embarrassing moments later to figure it out. Now I have my answer. Whew! (Thanks to a Whole30 challenge – more on that at the bottom.)
Do I ever indulge in gluten containing foods, you ask? I haven’t thus far. It is not worth the pain, and to be truthful there are so many amazing foods out there that have filled the gap. For instance, I now use spaghetti squash in place of pasta, and I top it off with whatever I would have used on regular pasta.
I would not, could not, eat a grain/gluten containing ordinary food by my own volition. It is not to say that I won’t ever – I am human. But in that case it must be so special, so amazing, for me to put my body in that position where I know I will most likely end up sick. I do, on occasion, eat some rice here and there – but that’s it.
I do suspect that I have unwittingly exposed myself to it going out to eat even though I have requested no grains/gluten. Those were most likely the times where I have not felt well afterwards. I have allowed myself the occasional gluten-free homemade or bakery made cookie/muffin/pancake/ and have even tried gluten-free pizza. However, they still do not make me feel well. And when I do it, I fully understand that I have made the choice and am fully prepared to deal with the consequences; albeit they are far less severe than if it was a grain/gluten food.
Sticking with a nutrient dense, whole foods approach to my nutrition has served me well from the mental clarity to the cessation of digestive issues to no more highs and lows caused from food, to name a few. Highs and lows from food – I said. People and life are a different story 😉
I make no apology for you now having that song stuck in your head. In fact I am hoping that the song will inspire you to do some introspection and see if there is anything in your life that will help you see clearer now once it is removed – from food to clutter to toxic relationships and the like. Good luck, and please let me know if you learn anything about yourself like I did.
“Look all around, there’s nothin’ but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothin’ but blue skies.”
*Yes – I took some poetic license with this song. So now I give credit where credit is due. “I Can See Clearly Now” was written and recorded by Johnny Nash.
*If you suspect that certain foods may be negatively impacting your health you may want to consider an elimination diet for a month or so.
It just might change your life…it just might save your life!!!
It did mine!
