Gluten Free: Find Your Path Back to Health

Gluten free diets are becoming more and more common these days, as people who are on them often feel and perform better in their everyday lives. The first gluten free dieters were those who had celiac disease, meaning they were allergic to wheat and would get terribly sick if they ingested even a tiny amount of it. However, as other people began experimenting with various health and nutrition trends, gluten free diets slowly but surely became more and more popular. This has given rise to a large number of gluten free foods, dishes and even restaurants to serve this growing community of gluten free eaters. However, what are the benefits of the gluten free diet for those who don’t have Celiac disease? Is it even healthy or are they robbing themselves of important carbohydrates and nutrients? Below are some of the most noticeable benefits for those who do not have Celiac disease but have decided to live gluten free.

More energy. Those who go on the gluten free diet often claim to have more energy. This is because most gluten filled foods often make people feel full and bloated, slowing them down after a meal and beyond. Going without gluten will keep this from happening as often.

Better bowel movements. There are different levels of sensitivity to gluten out there and many people have a slight sensitivity to it that affects their bowel movements and the frequency of when this happens. People who have gone gluten free often report having better bowel movements on a more regular schedule throughout the day, as they aren't having even subtle allergic reactions to wheat anymore.

Losing weight. As most foods that contain gluten have a lot of carbohydrates and are also part of meals that have a lot of fat, people who change to the gluten free diet for their own wellness often lose a lot of weight and get in better shape in general. This is not to say going gluten free is something that should be used to lose weight, but it is a convenient side effect of the diet.

Trying new more nutritious foods. Those who go gluten free are often forced to explore and try new more nutritious foods so that they can eat throughout each day and meet all their dietary requirements on a regular basis. This leads to problem solving when eating on a regular basis, which some people take on as a challenge when doing something as simple as eating a meal.

Eating less. Eating smaller meals is a trend that comes with going gluten free as well. This is something that is being incorporated into more American diets in general as we begin to fight the obesity epidemic in our country, so going gluten free also helps on that front.

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Juicing: Heath Benefits or Just Another Fad?

Want to live a healthier lifestyle? Well, one ways to do that is to incorporate more fruits and vegetables in one’s diet. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), people should eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. While eating nutritious food daily is important, many people eat little to no fruits and vegetables. One can integrate more fruits and vegetables by eating produce, taking supplements, or juicing.

Juicing is one of the hottest trends in the health industry today. Some say it’s just a fad that will soon pass like all the other health food crazes, but many feel it’s here to stay and should be added to one’s daily nutrition needs. While most would agree that incorporating fruits and vegetables is important to include into one’s daily diet for healing and overall wellness, not all agree on the method. Evaluate the following myths and health benefits to see if juicing is right for you.

Juicing myths

1 Juicing is all that is needed.

Juicing is a great way to add needed nutrients to your body, but it is not the only requirement needed to promote or maintain health. Exercise, drinking water, and cutting out “junk food” is also needed along with juicing.

2. Juicing is costly.

Some people may feel that juicing is too costly, and that you need to buy enormous amounts of fruits and vegetables. Truthfully, buying more fruits and vegetables may be a little more expensive, but is not as expensive as numerous trips to the doctor. What price would you pay for better health?

3. Juicing alone is the best way to lose weight.

Juicing will cause you to initially lose weight, but it is not to be used exclusively as a weight loss regimen. Excess juicing without adequate protein and healthy fats will cause one to also lose muscle mass.

Health Benefits of Juicing

1. Provide immediate source of vitamins and nutrients.

Nutrients are absorbed quicker into the body because juice bypasses the process of food breakdown. Fruit and vegetable juice is made up of smaller particles than solid food, and therefore can be immediately absorbed into the intestines. Juicing is also great because you can all the recommended servings in one glass a day.

2. Easy on the digestive system.

Juicing is a great way for people with gastrointestinal issues to get the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables. Many people with digestive problems need nutrients without the added fiber or bulk.

3. Energy boost.

A green drink is perfect for breakfast and will provide you with abundant energy, and is also a great way to start the day. Juicing will give you an instant energy boost without the “crash” that you experience after eating sugary, processed foods.

While juicing may be a new trend, it is also an excellent way to add the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables to your diet. Juicing will increase vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant intake to the body, but it should not be a stand-alone regimen. Juicing should be added to a well-balanced diet.

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Acai: Miraculous Weight Loss Miracle, Or Just Hype?

Acai. You see it everywhere – cleanses, weight-loss supplements, infomercials and talk shows.

The blueberry-like fruit from Brazil's acai palm certainly is trendy the past few years. You hear a lot about its antioxidant properties and positive impact on your health, but is it really the miracle cure those Internet weight-loss gurus want you to believe?

Maybe.

Acai berries, while high in antioxidants, may or may not be the weight-loss miracle the world has been awaiting. Any diet that incorporates daily balanced servings of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein promotes wellness and may help you lose weight. But the truth is, most of the research on acai has centered on its antioxidant properties and not on its ability to aid in weight loss. So, if this fruit has any sort of “miracle” weight-loss properties, science has yet to prove it.

Researchers have reached preliminary conclusions on the wellness properties of acai. Most are attributable to its high level of antioxidants:

• Research conducted at the University of Florida suggests that acai might be beneficial in destroying cancerous cells associated with leukemia.
• Acai aids in preventing serious conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
• The properties in acai help to heal and repair skin cell damage and to fight inflammation, making it a popular additive to skin creams and oils in the fight against aging.
• A single serving of acai has almost double the recommended daily allowance of fiber -- meaning it's beneficial in preventing constipation and in regulating digestion.
• Unlike most fruits, acai is high in monounsaturated fats. Foods high in these fats make you feel fuller for longer periods of time.

While clinical nutrition is the backbone of a good chiropractic treatment program and your overall wellness, that is not to say that you should necessarily count on acai as a booster for your weight loss plan. However, science has proven it to be a part of a healthy diet.

For weight loss, it’s better to focus less on hype surrounding one particular food or compound, and more on watching meals and portions and getting regular exercise. After all, those methods are backed by science.

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