Wheat Free

UPDATE:  The link to On the evils of wheat is now working!!!

Over the weekend my husband and I read a very interesting article in Macleans magazine about wheat! Check it out for yourself - On the evils of wheat - but be warned it may change your thoughts and opinions about eating wheat. My sister-in-law has been preaching about the evils of wheat for a while now but her approach focuses on gluten as an allergen and the how hard gluten is on our digestive system, whereas this article focuses on how wheat has been hybridized throughout the decades.  It explains how the breeding process of wheat uses poisonous chemicals that we should never intake (much like cigarettes)!

When you think about it, we do as a society eat WAY too much wheat! I mean take a look at the average persons day - breakfast usually consists of some sort of wheat product (cereal, toast, muffins, donuts, pancakes), lunch - a sandwich, a hamburger, a piece of pizza and for supper lets say pasta and garlic bread, or even just a dinner roll with your supper; nevermind any snacks or desserts you might have had that day. On some days we consume an insane amount of wheat! In the article he stays that "20 per cent of all calories consumed by humans worldwide" comes from wheat. That is a staggering number - 1/5th of our daily calories comes from one food source!?! Where's the diversity? Our philosophy with everything is moderation, and that is just not moderate!

The one thing that really stood out to me in the article, however, is the way wheat is processed - not just after harvest but the actual seed and plant itself. The wheat we eat now is not the same wheat our grandparents, or parents or even we ate as a child! It has been processed and processed with chemicals that poison control will tell you to completely avoid! No wonder wheat is no good for us and contributes to all kinds of health problems. Can we really be surprised? Things need to be left in their most basic natural form!!! What is going to happen when the ancient grains begin to gain popularity and they start messing with them (if they haven't already)?!

I try to live my life free from toxins as much as possible, which of course in this day and age is getting harder and harder.  And now I find out that the wheat I eat and feed my kids is poisoned! My husband and I have been watching and limiting the amount of wheat we consume for a while now just purely to diversify our diet a little more, however, after reading that article we both decided we would try to eat 'wheat-free' for a week just to see how we feel! It's harder than we thought - wheat seems to be in everything, especially when you're in a hurry and nes to make something quick. Like a couple nights ago after spending two (plus) hours waiting to see the doctor what can I make quick for supper? Pasta! So that's what we had. But so far today -wheat free (at least for hubby and I)!  


Coming up...spelt apple pie muffins, cinnamon honey granola, rice pilaf, and turkey chili!