What are grains?

[BellinghamCrunchie]

I want to eliminate grains from my diet but I'm not sure what all the grains are. I know rice and wheat are considered grains, but what about oats and soy?

Why is it good to eliminate grains, and are nuts and root vegetables (potatoes, carrots) better for you than grains?

[earthmama369]

"Grain" is a weird word when it comes to definitions. The common sense definition of grain is the seed (or fruit) of a cereal grass, a specific type of grass, you know? But the commercial definition includes soy, because then they can slap a "contains whole grain" type label on the food and sell more of it.

It terms of what you would commonly think of as grain, only buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa are exempt. They aren't from a cereal grass. They're called pseudocereals. Everything else listed below is classified as a true grass:

maize
rice
wheat
barley
sorghum
millet
oats
rye
triticale
fonio
teff
wild rice
spelt
einkorn
emmer
durum (used to make semolina)

ETA: I have no idea why eliminating grains is supposed to be good for you. I'm sure there's a theory. There are a ton of various theories about the "right way" to eat. I've come to the conclusion that humans are very flexible and can thrive on a wide range of foods in general. That's a pretty big survival trait for a species, you know? We're omnivores with the ability to digest all sorts of foods. On an individual level, it really depends on you. Everyone's different. Some people feel far healthier when eating meat. Meat makes others sick. Many people thrive on a diet full of whole grains and raw fruits and vegetables. Whole grains and raw foods are a major irritant for me; plain white sourdough and cooked veggies make me feel great.

[BellinghamCrunchie]

Thanks! I was having severe PMS symptoms and Dr. Lam's site said something about eating grain and dairy free. I am trying to decide if I should give it a shot. I'm already gluten free.

[dogmom327]

We are grain, bean, and potato free around here I'm also dairy free at this point for the sake of my nursing daughter. I feel so much better eating this way and it's allowed us to address our kids' food sensitivities. You might check out the book Primal Body, Primal Mind which is a great resource for learning why grain free can really work well.

[cristeen]

There used to be a grain free/sugar free tribe around here somewhere.

Many people do not/cannot properly digest/utilize grains. Many of us find that we feel so much better once we've removed grains from our diets.

Potatoes are not a grain, but if your problem is starches in general, then cutting out potatoes can be beneficial. Oats, rice, wheat, corn are all considered grains. Soy is neither a grain nor a starch, it's a legume. But many people who have trouble with grains also find they have trouble with soy.

Personally, when going grain free, I kept fresh corn and potatoes, but eliminated the rest. Wild rice and buckwheat neither one are grains, some of us treat them like grains, and some don't.

[nicolelynn]

Yes, definitely listen to your own body when you alter your diet. I really thought/wanted grain/starch free to be the answer for me. I was fully convinced on the science behind it. But it wasn't the answer for me. My digestion immediately improved when I added back plenty of whole grains. But I know others swear by grain free and my diet would not work for them. Our bodies are fascinating that way.

[lil_earthmomma]

Check out www.marksdailyapple.com for grain free living.