[godusjourney]

Now, I don't want this to turn into a debate, please. I simply would love it if everyone would contribute their research, experiences, thoughts, etc. regarding whether or not you think human beings should be eating grains.

I've read and played with the Paleo ideas, WAP ideas, and the "semi-adapted" ideas. I'd love to read more.

Anyone care to contribute to this confusing topic?

TIA!

 

[bella_stranger]

I read in the blood type diet book that if you have bumps on the top inside part of you molars, then your dna has evolved to digest and handle grains. not everyone has these bumps, apparently! i will look for a link to more info about that.

I also think that if you are trying to maintain your weight, small amounts of properly prepared grains could be a great way to stabilize.

and I think all grains are different. people with asian ancestry definitely thrive on rice, people from nordic or eastern european countries can usually handle rye, and what not.

I personally, bloat and don't do well on a lot of grain, and I am of anglo-saxon heritage (and a dash of cherokee!!

 

[WuWei]

My $0.02 is that regarding digestibility, mostly it depends on how the grains are prepared (soaked), and if you have adequate stomach acid, or a leaky gut. Since many, many Americans don't have adequate stomach acid (~40% taking antacids) and subsequently, they probably don't digest and absorb nutrients optimally, they likely have some leaky gut issues with undigested proteins.

With an intact gut, without bowel or allergy issues, while consuming fermented vegetables daily and adequate nutrients from whole foods, soaked grains are probably fine for folks, imo.

Pat

 

[tanyalynn]

More and more, for us (DH, me, the kids) I'm seeing diet as a dynamic process. We got into this (making dietary changes) for our health needs, and I'm starting to realize that we may be fiddling with things for a few years, to give each of us what we need to get back to a state of reasonable good health. For us, the biggest test is whether we feel better. The kids and I are definitely better gluten-free, so we consume less grains than the typical US diet, but I think DH may need a while completely grain-free, so we're going to do that probably for the remainder of the year (as I learn to transition into it). I think eventually we'll be able to add in at least some fermented grains and legumes (would love to add idlis in) and maybe soaked grains, but I'm not sure gluten will ever work (maybe it will, just a few years down the road before we can see).

I think grains can work for some people, depending on their health status, and on what particular health issues they are prone to. I see a lot of differences between myself and DH as to what our health strengths and weaknesses are, so I think grains would always tend to be more problematic for him than for me--but I think that I can probably get us both to good enough health that we can consume at least some. Though as a practical matter, I'm finding so many tasty-looking grain-free recipes out there that by the end of this, we'll probably settle on less grains anyway just because there's so much great food in the world that I've overlooked before this.

 

[Metasequoia]

I don't know if it's that I have type O blood or if it's adrenal-related, but grains tend to mess with my blood sugar. I'm allergic to gluten & since eliminating it over a year ago, my cycles are around 30-31 days every month (which is huge for me) & I have zero PMS & barely any cramps. I've also *finally* managed to put on some weight - so perhaps I had some nutritional deficiencies from the gluten?

But grains in general don't make me feel good. I personally do best on a high fat/high protein diet.

I tend to lean more towards the Paleo Diet (with raw dairy thrown in, lol.)

 

[Metasequoia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WuWei Since many, many Americans don't have adequate stomach acid (~40% taking antacids)

I've always found that funny.

 

[TzippityDoulah]

I wonder if it's a liver thing... b/c I have a liver problem and I have stomach acid issues so I end up popping tums more than I'd like to admit. (it's not a permenant thing). When I take dandelion root every day and milk thistle, eat astringent foods and stay away from sugar, I feel so much better and don't need antiacids...

 

[bella_stranger]

is that in ancient socities, it was verrrrry labour intensive to make. At the British museum, here in London, they have on display the stone grinding equipment of the early Britons--- basically a flattish stone with and indent, and a stone rolling pin. The *women* spent hours grinding this, and they found spinal problems on the majority of the adult female skeletons in this society.
so... that is definitely traditional, but I know that I won't want to sacrifice my spine for a loaf of bread. obviously we have technology now to do the milling (although there are also social implications of having our milling outsourced either via fancy equipment from china or by factory workers in iowa, etc) but in principle, this shows that milling grain does come with a price... in our bodies and in society.

does that make sense?

I think maybe eating soaked and sprouted bread or things like that might be okay, or even handmilled flour in small quantities, but for me, a flour or bread based diet would make me miserable. My body is just not capable of handling high amounts of refined (and other) carbohydrates.