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A cereal or grain-free diet is one where all grains are eliminated.
Reasons For Use
Some believe that grains in general are addicting and that eliminating them will result in weight loss, less allergies, sharper thinking and improvements in some schizophreic patients.
Contrary to common belief, corn is a grain, not a vegetable, and contains high amounts of sugar. When early Native Americans changed their diet to one based mostly on corn, they had increased rates of anemia, dental cavities, osteoarthritis, bone infections and other bone problems.
References & Further Information
The amount of information on this subject is limited, though books such as Dr. Graham's Grain Damage and Going Against the Grain: How Reducing and Avoiding Grains Can Revitalize Your Health by Melissa Diane Smith may help. The No-Grain Diet by Joseph Mercola, DO and Alison Rose Levy is now available in paperback also.
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Grain-free Diet can help with the following: | | | | | Autoimmune |  Ankylosing Spondylitis | In an attempt to confirm a connection between Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Klebsiella, doctors at Kings College introduced a low starch diet to AS patients, along with medication to control symptoms. Klebsiella thrives on a diet rich in starch. Without starchy carbohydrates such as rice, potatoes and flour products, the number of Klebsiella are reduced in the gut and, subsequently, so is the production of antibodies to the bacteria that cause the inflammation. Patients were instructed to cut out bread, pasta, cereals of all sorts, rice and potatoes as well as sugary foods. They were unrestricted in eating vegetables, fruit, eggs, cheese, fish and meat.
Over 200 patients have so far been through this program with the claim being made that the majority have had their disease process halted. One patient is quoted as saying "Once I stuck to the diet religiously, I noted a real improvement after six months or so. Movement became easier and the lethargy and depression lifted. The best way I can describe it is that after years of pain and stiffness I suddenly feel 'well-oiled'." |
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Diet |
 Carbohydrate Craving| | The reason why many people continue struggling with sugar and carbohydrate craving is that they are still consuming grains and sugars. The grains break down readily into sugar, raising insulin levels which work to perpetuate the craving/addiction. |
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Infections |
Blastocystosis (Blastocystis hominis)| | Blastocystis is a very peculiar organism in that it especially likes grains. Many affected people may have grain allergies or difficulties tolerating grains. |
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Lab Values |
High Total Cholesterol| | It is important to realize that diet is the key to lowering cholesterol levels. Restriction of processed grains, sugars and dairy, and replacing all fluids with water are key. Many doctors are finding large and relatively quick drops (as much as 100 points in several weeks) in people who follow these recommendations.
Minor cholesterol (LDL) reductions can be achieved by adding whole grains (especially oats) to the diet. This may seem confusing! Although moderate grain consumption (due to its fiber content) can lower cholesterol somewhat in some individuals, radical grain restriction may substantially lower cholesterol levels in others. If large reductions are needed or other cholesterol-lowering methods are ineffective, grain and sugar restriction may be the answer. |
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KEY | | Likely to help | | | Highly recommended |
GLOSSARY
Anemia (Anaemia, Anemias)
A condition resulting from an unusually low number of red blood cells or too little hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The most common type is iron-deficiency anemia in which the red blood cells are reduced in size and number, and hemoglobin levels are low. Clinical symptoms include shortness of breath, lethargy and heart palpitations.
Carbohydrates (Carbohydrate)
The sugars and starches in food. Sugars are called simple carbohydrates and found in such foods as fruit and table sugar. Complex carbohydrates are composed of large numbers of sugar molecules joined together, and are found in grains, legumes, and vegetables like potatoes, squash, and corn.
Crave (Craving, Cravings)
To have a strong desire for; to feel the need for.
Insulin
A hormone secreted by the pancreas in response to elevated blood glucose levels. Insulin stimulates the liver, muscles, and fat cells to remove glucose from the blood for use or storage.
Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
Also known as "bad" cholesterol, LDLs are large, dense, protein-fat particles composed of a moderate proportion of protein and a high proportion of cholesterol. Higher levels of LDLs are associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
Last updated: May 11, 2008
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