Is there a link between gluten and ADHD/attention issues? My eleven-year old daughter says, "Yes!" Two weeks after she stopped eating gluten at the age of eight, my daughter described a remarkable change in her behavior and told her teacher: "It is so much easier to pay attention in class now that I'm not eating gluten. And, three weeks after I stopped eating gluten, I noticed a significant difference in my own attention span as well. Clearly there is a direct connection. But, why?
Read MoreBook Review – Dermatitis Eczema: Gluten Wheat–Solving the Eczema Puzzle by Dr. Rodney Ford
"Eighty percent of chronic eczema is triggered by food allergy/intolerances. In older children and in adults, the culprit food is most often gluten/wheat." Dr. Rodney Ford is a pediatrician, gastroenterologist, allergist, and worldwide expert on adverse food reactions who has been studying and helping patients for over 35 years. Dr. Ford's new book, Dermatitis Eczema: Gluten Wheat–Solving the Eczema Puzzle, is filled with evidence-based research, making it the source for understanding and curing dermatitis/eczema. It is the only one of its kind.
In this book, Dr. Ford is authentic and direct as he dovetails clear scientific explanations with personal stories from his patients. He uses data with graphs, charts, and patient's pictures and narratives to educate the reader.
Read MoreIs Gluten Sensitivity Genetic?
Gluten sensitivity runs in my family. (I'm not using the new official term: "non-celiac gluten sensitivity or NCGS" because we weren't officially tested for celiac disease and won't ever know). I believe there is a genetic component to gluten sensitivity that has yet to be confirmed. There are many researchers and doctors who are focused on the world of gluten like Dr. Alessio Fasano, author of Gluten Freedom; and Dr. Rodney Ford, author of numerous books and most recently Dermatitis Eczema: Gluten-Wheat - Solving the Eczema Puzzle. This is new territory and the science behind gluten sensitivity is advancing. Here's how gluten sensitivity plays out in my family...
Read MoreFood Allergies and Temptations at School
Are the donuts pictured above tempting to you? Just imagine how difficult it is for a child! Are these donuts nut-free, soy-free, dye-free, dairy-free, and/or gluten-free?
More and more children now have food allergies or medical conditions like diabetes that are affected by food. Six out of the seven houses in our cul-de-sac have children with food allergies. We are one of those houses. The allergies on our street range from nuts (peanut, cashew, pistachios) and shellfish, to fruit (kiwi, mango skin, strawberries), dairy, oats, buckwheat, and gluten. Yes, we are living in a new age.
Read MoreYeast Overgrowth (Candida) Diet
I felt fabulous when I stopped eating gluten, and I thought I was home free. But, about nine months into a gluten-free diet, I stopped feeling so great. My face starting breaking out again, my intestinal system was offbeat, and my brain fog slipped back. After a few tests, I was diagnosed with a yeast overgrowth. This was not a piece of good news.
As is the case for many people who are gluten sensitive, I had a leaky gut. When I stopped eating gluten, the leaky holes in my gut started to heal and close up releasing the toxins that had been trapped for so long. Some people even have bacterial infections and parasites also. My toxins were an overabundant amount of yeast, which is much more significant than a yeast infection.
My naturopathic doctor prescribed a medication, supporting supplements, and a rigid diet to rid my body of the yeast overgrowth. I had to eliminate all sugars for nine weeks. This meant no sugar, no fruit (except a few blueberries), no root vegetables (including carrots and potatoes), no starchy vegetables like peas, no condiments, no alcohol, only one-half cup of rice per day, no corn, and no dairy. I wasn't dairy-free yet, so that was especially difficult. I didn't even eat bacon or ham because they contain sugar. It's the sugar that feeds the yeast, so if I cheated and had just a tiny amount, I would be erasing all the work I had done up to that point. I put my head down with blinders on and plowed through the nine, very long weeks.
I took this photo of the lemon water two years ago during my "yeast overgrowth summer." The first few weeks I was feeling cranky and sorry for myself. Then, I turned over a new leaf and embraced the many foods I could eat during that time. I discovered coconut and bean flours. I colorfully plated my meals, used cloth napkins, and savored every bite. I embraced the simplicity of food, went to bed early, sorted and purged contents from closets and boxes from over the years, and started to feel better.
I successfully conquered my yeast overgrowth by the end of the summer. My tastes had changed, and I no longer had that compulsive craving for sweets. I felt such a sense of relief and accomplishment, and my body was back on track.
If you have gone gluten-free and some of your symptoms have returned, consider being tested for yeast overgrowth. It's worth the effort to overcome it. There is light at the end of the tunnel! Here are a few menu ideas I relied on and that satisfied me.
Breakfast
Brown Rice Hot Cereal with Toasted Coconut Flakes
Chia Seeds with Nuts, Cinnamon, & Toasted Coconut Flakes
Scrambled Eggs with Parsley & Chives
Leftover Curried Red Lentils Served Over a Hard Boiled Egg
Lunch
Coconut Flour Pancakes
Garbonzo Bean Flour Griddle Cakes
Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups
Snacks
Coconut Butter
All Nut Butters
Macadamia Nuts
Roasted Sunflower Seeds
Cucumber Sticks
Dinner
Curried Red Lentils served over Zucchini
Sole with Lemon, Herbs, and Olive Oil
Roast Chicken with Olives
Grilled Steak with Chimichurri Sauce