Is “gluten-free” really the answer?
If you’ve stopped eating gluten but still aren't feeling well, the culprit could be corn!
Corn is a grain not a vegetable.
Yes, corn could be even worse for you than the wheat gluten you have been doggedly avoiding (and giving up on some favorite, actually innocuous foods in the process). We know how invasive corn and corn syrup are in the American diet and most of us would choose to minimize our intake. However, many gluten-free products contain corn as a substitute.
Corn, which is not a vegetable, contains gluten like other grains, which can be highly inflammatory for those who are truly gluten intolerant. Though studies on corn and gluten are still inadequate, to date they suggest that corn induces inflammatory damage in those with gluten sensitivity.
More definitive research shows that the gluten found in wheat, gliadin, must be avoided by celiac patients and truly gluten-intolerant individuals. Presumably, that is not the issue with corn. However, be careful of the misperception that corn gluten is okay. Consider this about corn:
It is the second most commonly genetically modified food on the planet (soy is #1)
Genetic modification of foods continues to kill animals in scientific studies.
It is an incomplete protein.
It is difficult for humans to digest (ever see corn in your stool?)
It is high in calories and low in nutrient value
It is “new” food to the human genome.
It is being used as a staple food for livestock like cattle, fish, and chicken.
When animals eat corn as a staple they have shorter life spans.
Corn-fed beef is linked to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. Grass-fed beef is not.
Fructose derived from corn is toxic to the liver and contributes to severe health issues.
If you have fallen prey to the powerful marketing of "Gluten-Free" packaged foods as if they are the holy grail remember that "Gluten-Free" on the package does not necessarily equate to being healthy, feeling your best after you eat it.
Please read your labels! Eat real food that is free of genetically modified organisms, pesticides, and hormones! Also, sharply reducing carbohydrates. Doing so will help you feel better!