Born and Bread?

Bread...

It's EVERYWHERE. I can't BELIEVE how much bread we have to choose from and how overwhelming it can get. Lame.

We go for cheaper and we go for taste, but sometimes, on a budget, cheap wins. I can totally understand that. As a newlywed, my husband has been totally awesome and supportive...isn't he cute?

Anyway, he has been such a support in encouraging me to buy the foods I need and not to worry about price. Sometimes I cut here and there, like purchasing the store brands when my stomach isn't at stake, but bread is something I can't cheat with anymore. Being gluten sensitive has changed my world and I am constantly asking myself, "Is it worth it?" Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn't. Some breads and wheat products put me under, and some don't. It's all about experiment.

I had to do a research paper this past semester about an argument I could support. I decided to research agricultural changes in the United States and it's effects on the wheat crop. To make a long story short, yes, the wheat crop is being modified to grow faster and be lighter when processed so as to make production of bread astronomically cost-efficient. Never mind the effects on the human body...? It is said that the chemicals used to alter the wheat, when digested, tell the human brain that 1. they aren't full
2. they need more bread
and it tells the human digestive system that
1. you have willingly digested goo

Thus we have the digestive problems when too much is consumed...the gas, the bloating, the haziness of mind. If you don't have a problem when you eat bread, just try for a week of reducing your wheat intake to a few less servings a day. I've been able to reduce it down to 2 and I am working on it and so far am being successful. (Side note: It has also helped me determine if I want a piece of toast right now or if I want a chocolate chip cookie from mom's house later...WEIGHT LOSS HELPER :) )

Hang It or Have It

I choose "Have It" because it's something I love and I get "rabies" if foods I love are limited. Rabies- a term created by the Laycock family, used when someone becomes extremely grumpy, usually by lack of food. Needless to say, I get them often... :) So, with having it,  I have had to find some products that WORK FOR ME.

If you are wanting to try Gluten-Free, it's no walk in the park...believe me. It's practically impossible for me, but some people can do it. Mainly because they are forced to, due to Celiac Disease, or their symptoms are MUCH worse than what I experience. Nonetheless, I have come to love Spelt Bread. It's usually found in health food stores, but luckily I can find it at my local Winco and Smith's (which is like Albertson's) Spelt Bread is naturally gluten free and it tastes great! No bloating problems here! I have also come to love a brand called Killer Bread which has so many different varieties and can usually be found at your local Costco. It's not gluten free, but it is WHOLE GRAIN. Don't look for "whole wheat" because it undergoes the same process of rapid fermentation, thus having the grain become more acidic than anything else. Killer Bread is a little more on the expensive side, but it's the only sliced "gluten bread" that I can eat. It has so many great grains and a natural sweet taste, that I just love toasting it plain...just when I can't get rid of the craving. Also, Fiber One English Muffins have been a GREAT breakfast treat. My brother, Josh, LOVES putting those in the toaster and topping it with Nutella and fresh strawberries. The positive thing about this, there is TONS of fiber in each muffin. I think each has close to 5 grams of fiber! That also helps with regularity...something you may find weird to talk about...but it's necessary for a healthy body. Fiber feeds the natural body functions! (Water is also a must...but that discussion is for another day :) )

So it's your choice to "hang it or have it". If you hang it, be confident in your choice and tell yourself you are NOT missing out. If you choose to "have it" maybe reduce the intake and say to yourself, "is it worth it? Do I really want this right now, or would I rather have something else later?" (Cookie and toast example). And if you choose to not reduce any of your bread intake, just consider switching to whole grains and I think you'll find you'll feel more full and better with less :)

I'd love to hear about your experiences and questions! Don't hesitate to ask! :)