A client of mine has been having some health issues albeit leading a moderately healthy lifestyle so I was very curious to learn what she was doing wrong or not doing that lead to the continuous health problems despite drinking herbal teas, keeping away from dairy and most processed foods. My instinct told me it might be a gluten intolerance and I immediately asked her to try avoid wheat (semonila for pasta), barley, oats, rye and guess what, she started to feel the health benefits immediately. This also challenged me to decrease my gluten intake and I have also witnessed increase in energy levels especially when I am training for the Nairobi Marathon.
After reading wide research on gluten I have learnt that it does cause many diseases, more than 35 disease going by the research documented in the New England journal of medicine. Yes this sounds scary, having to quit wheat and most commercially processed foods but anything that makes you healthier is worth trying out.
Some uninformed websites will try say there is nothing as gluten sensitivity but you should know better and read mostly from Natural News where they are strongly for the gluten free diet, for coeliacs and other people.
Gluten Free Alternatives
The best thing about nature is the availability of healthier alternatives for everything though gluten-free foods are not easy to hack especially gluten-free baking but I am getting there.
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Quinoa
Pronounced ‘Keen-Wah’, is a nutritional powerhouse and those people who know their food will tell you that it is one of the best pseudocereals to inculcate in your diet. It cooks in 15 minutes and can also be ground into a flour and made into pasta, pancakes, chapati. There are many grains that are gluten-free that can also be used in a pizza dough, e.g. millet dough pizza, I know it sounds funny but believe me, it tastes very good.
2. Gluten-Free Baking Mix
Mixing your own flours and condiments for gluten free baking might be tricky and expensive. As a chef I would not do this but for the busy person, it is very logical. You can get the baking mixes in your health stores and some supermarkets and also online.
3. Gluten-Free Flour Blend
I also prefer making my own blends but the ones sold at healthy U stores are well balanced and also have recipes on the back that are very hard to find on the internet. You can use it to make pastries, cakes and also thicken stews, broths and what not.
4. Xantham Gum
This is a natural binder of sorts, as you know gluten is a protein responsible for the stickiness in dough and batter. I have not tried it out but I have seen it in many gluten free recipes especially for pasta and baking, also available at Healthy U.
By the way, Novak Djokovic is strongly rising to the top seed in tennis, eating stars like Nadal and Federer for breakfast, thanks to a gluten free diet. Kim Kardashian is also crediting her nice booty to keeping off gluten, tafakari hayo!
Feel free to share your comments with the community, thanks
Hello,
Great post! I eat a gluten-free diet, and I love quinoa. As I have just recently moved to Kenya, I’m looking for somewhere I can buy quinoa. Can you recommend anywhere in Nairobi?
Thanks for a great blog
Ross
thanks, get quinoa at healthy U shops at Hilton, galleria mal, greenspan mall, westgate mall, major malls
Hallo. Great to see someone talk about gluten in Kenya. I have gluten intolerance and serious malabsorption as a result. I am looking for a doctor who frequently handles patients with gluten intolerance. Know where I can get one? The healthy u shop in Westgate has great alternatives to gluten for breakfast, check it out.
Sorry for your condition but yes gluten is an enemy to everyone, especially genetically modified sources of gluten like modern wheat and all purpose flours. I have never been to healthy U westgate mall but I have found plenty gluten-free products at Galleria and greenspan
I’ve been gluten free for a week and I feel I have more energy than usual. My appetite has become good and I enjoy my meals more. It took me a while to find out what was ailing me. I’d feel constantly tired and I think my body has not been absorbing nutrients reason why it has been hard for me to gain weight …. The best part is I get to eat more healthy foods …
Good for you and thanks for sharing your experience, adds a lot of value
how much is quinoa per kg…
nice post , I have celiac… so am on gluten free diet. What about eating out is there places in Kenya one can trust with gluten free diet ??
Hi i thought am the only gluten intolerant jenyan feels great to meet other people who understand me n gice versa .now i realy have dificulties in findn breakfast any suggestion on places to buy gluten free baked products
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