You have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity and avoid the gluten enemy at all costs, but inevitably, at some point, gluten gets in. When it does, what will you do?
While there is no guaranteed way to get the gluten out, there are steps we can take to help our bodies recover the trauma of gluten ingestion.
Here are 5 foods to add to your diet to help your body recover faster.
1 - Blueberries have the highest cellular antioxidant activity of all fruits and vegetables.
Blueberries are tiny antioxidant powerhouses. In fact, research shows blueberries have the highest cellular antioxidant activity of all fruits and vegetables.
As a mini-refresher, antioxidants are naturally occurring phytochemicals (plant compounds) that combat damage to the cells in our body caused by oxidation and free radicals.
Free radicals are molecules that have an unpaired electron. Now, to save us a lengthy (snooze fest) of a chemistry lesson here, think of free radicals this way - they are kind of like your crazy Aunt Lurlene, they're unattached and are liable to do just about anything at any time with anyone. : )
Seriously though, these rogue molecules are unstable and extremely reactive and are known to attack and damage other cells in the body, which can lead to serious illness.
Of course, free radicals are produced in the body as the result of various normal metabolic reactions going on all the time. Normally, our bodies are equipped to handle this, but when extra free radicals are produced, due to pollutants from the environment, cigarette smoke, radiation, ozone, certain drugs and even things like exercise and inflammation (like the inflammation that occurs when those of us with celiac disease ingest gluten!), they body isn't able to handle all those renegade molecules pillaging the system.
And that is where antioxidants come into play. When we consume foods containing antioxidants (like fruits and veggies), it helps reduce the amount of free radicals in the system and protects our cells from damage.
So, when someone with celiac disease ingests gluten and the subsequent inflammation occurs in the small intestine (and throughout the body), it makes sense to reach for antioxidant packed foods like blueberries.
Further, the science backs it up - consuming blueberries, due to their high level of antioxidant capacity and high levels of phenolic compounds, provide significant protection against free radicals and oxidative stress within the red blood cells.
Nutrition Tip:
Eat blueberries every day when they are in season. When they are not, buy organic frozen ones to add to smoothies, breakfast foods (like gluten-free cereals, pancakes or oatmeal, or yogurt - depending on what you like and can eat on your special diet).
2 - Beets contain compounds with anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties.
The compounds that give beets their vibrant hue are special health-promoting pigments called betalains. These compounds possess powerful antioxidant properties and have special anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties other antioxidants do not.
The cell protective properties in beets are of significant importance in reducing oxidative stress in the body and beets' anti-inflammatory power is so strong, these compounds are being evaluated for their anti-cancer properties.
Nutrition Tip:
To receive the maximum betalain from foods like beets, less is best when it comes to cooking. Eating beets raw or gently steamed insures maximum betalain benefit.
3 - Lemon contains antioxidant compounds that activate detoxifying enzymes.
Like all citrus, lemons are rich in vitamin C, which is the #1 champion of the immune system. Lemons go a step further, with special antioxidant compounds called limonoids, which are known to have detoxifying effects in the body by activating special detox enzymes.
Multiple research studies show the anti-inflammatory effects of limonoids and flavonoids in lemons.
While you normally don't eat lemons like you would other fruits due to their tart flavor, they make a terrific addition to room temperature filtered water to keep you hydrated during your recovery from ingesting glute
While there is no guaranteed way to get the gluten out, there are steps we can take to help our bodies recover the trauma of gluten ingestion.
1 - Blueberries have the highest cellular antioxidant activity of all fruits and vegetables.
Blueberries are tiny antioxidant powerhouses. In fact, research shows blueberries have the highest cellular antioxidant activity of all fruits and vegetables.
As a mini-refresher, antioxidants are naturally occurring phytochemicals (plant compounds) that combat damage to the cells in our body caused by oxidation and free radicals.
Free radicals are molecules that have an unpaired electron. Now, to save us a lengthy (snooze fest) of a chemistry lesson here, think of free radicals this way - they are kind of like your crazy Aunt Lurlene, they're unattached and are liable to do just about anything at any time with anyone. : )
Seriously though, these rogue molecules are unstable and extremely reactive and are known to attack and damage other cells in the body, which can lead to serious illness.
Of course, free radicals are produced in the body as the result of various normal metabolic reactions going on all the time. Normally, our bodies are equipped to handle this, but when extra free radicals are produced, due to pollutants from the environment, cigarette smoke, radiation, ozone, certain drugs and even things like exercise and inflammation (like the inflammation that occurs when those of us with celiac disease ingest gluten!), they body isn't able to handle all those renegade molecules pillaging the system.
And that is where antioxidants come into play. When we consume foods containing antioxidants (like fruits and veggies), it helps reduce the amount of free radicals in the system and protects our cells from damage.
So, when someone with celiac disease ingests gluten and the subsequent inflammation occurs in the small intestine (and throughout the body), it makes sense to reach for antioxidant packed foods like blueberries.
Further, the science backs it up - consuming blueberries, due to their high level of antioxidant capacity and high levels of phenolic compounds, provide significant protection against free radicals and oxidative stress within the red blood cells.
Nutrition Tip:
Eat blueberries every day when they are in season. When they are not, buy organic frozen ones to add to smoothies, breakfast foods (like gluten-free cereals, pancakes or oatmeal, or yogurt - depending on what you like and can eat on your special diet).
2 - Beets contain compounds with anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties.
The compounds that give beets their vibrant hue are special health-promoting pigments called betalains. These compounds possess powerful antioxidant properties and have special anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties other antioxidants do not.
The cell protective properties in beets are of significant importance in reducing oxidative stress in the body and beets' anti-inflammatory power is so strong, these compounds are being evaluated for their anti-cancer properties.
Nutrition Tip:
To receive the maximum betalain from foods like beets, less is best when it comes to cooking. Eating beets raw or gently steamed insures maximum betalain benefit.
3 - Lemon contains antioxidant compounds that activate detoxifying enzymes.
Like all citrus, lemons are rich in vitamin C, which is the #1 champion of the immune system. Lemons go a step further, with special antioxidant compounds called limonoids, which are known to have detoxifying effects in the body by activating special detox enzymes.
Multiple research studies show the anti-inflammatory effects of limonoids and flavonoids in lemons.
While you normally don't eat lemons like you would other fruits due to their tart flavor, they make a terrific addition to room temperature filtered water to keep you hydrated during your recovery from ingesting glute