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Gluten and Low Carb Diet they don't match because the gluten is addictive, already Low Carb Diet, aims to free you from the cravings caused by foods that aren’t real. Have you ever wondered why a small slice of birthday cake leads to a day, week or month of binge eating? Well, you’re not alone. We are a nation plagued by cravings that fuel compulsive overeating. Some people crave sweets and others crave breads and pasta, but one thing most of the foods we crave have in common is that they contain gluten.
Gluten and Low Carb Diet | What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, and Kamut. Common foods containing gluten include breads, cereals, pasta, bagels, muffins, and cookies. Gluten provides elasticity to dough, which helps the dough rise and gives baked goods a soft, spongy texture. Of all the sources of gluten, wheat Modern gluten seems to be the most problematic, as it is the most widely consumed source of gluten. According to Dr. Mark Hyman, in one year, more than 55 kilograms of wheat flour are consumed by each human being.
Gluten and Low Carb Diet | Why is gluten addictive?
There are two main reasons why gluten is so addictive:
- Gluten causes blood sugar to rise rapidly
2. This can cause mind-altering effects that lead to compulsive, addictive eating.
Let's look at this in more detail.
1. Gluten causes your blood sugar to rise rapidly, leading to compulsive overeating.
Wheat has become one of the highest glycemic foods you can eat. It now tops table sugar on the glycemic scale. In other words, two slices of bread will raise your blood sugar levels above the amount of two tablespoons of table sugar. That’s seriously alarming! And as you know, what goes up must come down. After your blood sugar spikes from gluten-containing foods like whole-wheat bread, your blood sugar drops dramatically, which often leads to you feeling hungrier and eating more in an addictive way.
2. The mind-altering effects that lead to compulsive overeating
Foods that are high in gluten, such as wheat, can increase your appetite. Eating gluten actually makes you crave more processed foods (cookies, cupcakes, candy, soda, pizza, muffins, and sandwiches). Studies reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who consume gluten eat an average of 400 calories per day.
In addition to the extra calories, for some people, gluten can act like a drug, causing peculiar neurological effects of drugs. In his book, Wheat Belly, the Dr. William Davis says that morphine-like compounds created from the digestion of gluten pass the blood-brain barrier and have the potential to generate euphoria, addictive behavior and appetite stimulation.
For many people with gluten addiction, it can dictate food choices, calorie intake, and how often meals and snacks are consumed. Gluten can influence behavior and mood, and even dominate thoughts. Dr. Davis reports that the obsession with gluten-containing foods “can escalate to thinking about them constantly, talking about them with someone who will listen, and salivating over them even when they’re not in sight.” He’s had many clients dream about gluten-containing foods!
Research estimates that thousands of people are sensitive to gluten. Severe cravings and compulsive cravings for gluten grains are symptoms of food sensitivity or intolerance. There is a theory that people tend to crave the very foods they are intolerant to.
Gluten and Low Carb Diet | What's your next step?
Your plan to reduce binge eating may be to cut out all gluten-containing foods. Also, stay sugar-free and keep your blood sugar levels balanced (eating plant-based carbs, animal proteins, and healthy fats in your meals and snacks). This reminds us of the Low Carb Diet .
Most people need regular support and individual guidance in order to keep up with healthy eating and understand what is best for their individual needs. Working one-on-one with a highly qualified nutritionist can provide the best support for a balanced diet.
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