Are you looking for alternatives to wheat products? Are you interested in following a more gluten-free diet like me? Read my story below on what lead me to make this lifestyle change.

My Gluten-Free Story

Here’s a small slice of my life story. It begins back in my college days. That’s when I decided to live a healthier life. My belief for optimal health and longevity is to lead an active life, exercise regularly, eat healthy and take vitamin and mineral supplements.

Needless to say I was shocked when my doctor shared with me 6 years ago that my blood platelets were at 800,000 mm3; normal is 150,000-400,000 mm3. High blood platelets have no symptoms and can lead to very serious diseases like hardening of the arteries and leukemia.

I was monitored by a specialist doctor at the Kansas City Cancer Center for 2 years. Initially he recommended doing a bone marrow since medication would not lower the platelets plus some additional tests. One of my tests was for celiac disease, a condition which causes intestinal damage when gluten is eaten. I’m very thankful that the test for celiac was negative but did uncover that I have some sensitivity to gluten.

In summary inflammation is what was causing my blood platelets to elevate. I choose healthy eating plus vitamin and minerals supplements to reduce them back to the normal range. Also decided to start a gluten-free diet! It’s all about taking control of your body and healing it naturally.

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” ~Jim Rohn

Alternatives to Wheat Products

Millet is high in protein and rich in fiber. Cooked millet is fluffy like rice and mashes like potatoes. Add vegetables and chicken for a healthy meal. You can toast millet in a dry pan for 10 minutes for extra flavor before adding your liquid.

Rice is gluten-free but choose brown, wild or black for the most nutrients. Long-grain rice is better for your blood sugars. Bake it up casserole-style with rice, chicken, vegetable and low-fat cheese.

Corn is rich in antioxidants and is a gluten-free whole grain. Cornmeal with whole grain corn can be a substitute for all-purpose flour in baked goods like muffins, etc. Enjoy your corn on-the-cob, popped, frozen or canned.

Buckwheat is rich in fiber and protein and is not related to wheat at all. It’s used as a base for pancakes and Japanese soba noodles which is a delicious alternative to wheat pasta. Give hot kasha a try instead of oatmeal for breakfast.

Tip: Gluten-free diet is essential for most people with gluten allergies and a must for people with celiac disease.

Gluten Products: What Not to Eat

• Wheat, barley and rye all contain gluten
• Malt is made from barley – so guess what – no beer
• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein may contain wheat
• Bread – say goodbye to bagels, muffins, croissants, bread and buns
• Pizza, pasta, crackers and cereal, check the ingredient list
• Breaded fried food is usually made with wheat flour
• Cookies, cakes and pies usually made with wheat flour

List of resources, all worth checking out.

Top 10… Alternatives to Wheat from TheEcologist.com

Gluten-Free Diet Slideshow from WebMD.com

Gluten-Free Main Dish Recipes from CookingLight.com

Got Comments/Questions?

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Cheers to a Healthy Day!

Lou Ann Donovan