Wheat is a billion-dollar agricultural business. Sadly, today’s wheat is nearly unrecognizable to our bodies as wheat. Hybridized to stand tough under hailstorms and plagues of insects, the wheat produced today is now too tough for our bodies to really digest (remember, I’m an aggie and I took many courses on this). Think about it this way: If wheat can withstand a hailstorm and bug infestations, what chance has your body got to break it down? Wheat can cause bloating, gas, water retention—not exactly the slim, healthy look we’re after. Going wheat-free might sound intimidating, but I promise you won’t miss it.
On the same foot, corn is almost just as sneaky. Check out this article for some of the hidden names of corn!
But wheat is tricky. Did you know wheat can be found in:
Bran – The outer layer of a grain. If it doesn’t specify, it’s probably wheat.
Bulgur – Whole wheat that has been parboiled and dried.
Couscous – It looks like grain, but it’s actually just tiny pasta.
Farina – aka Cream of Wheat.
Gluten – A wheat protein. It’s in all wheat foods, and manufacturers add it to low-protein processed foods to make them seem healthier. But gluten is hard for our bodies to digest, causing problems ranging from bloating to depression—even possible malnutrition and cancer in people with celiac disease. (See this earlier post on gluten for more on gluten sensitivity and celiac.)
Seitan – Flavored wheat gluten, used as a vegetarian protein (if you’ve ever had “mock duck” in a Chinese restaurant, that’s it).
Semolina – The type of wheat flour used to make pasta and couscous.
Tabbouleh – Middle Eastern salad made with bulgur wheat.
And don’t forget the wheat-derived additives:
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Modified food starch (or anything “starch”)
Plus other things that often contain hidden wheat:
Beer
Gravies
Meatballs and meatloaf
Soups
Soy sauce
Natural flavoring
Convinced you should go wheat-free but afraid you’ll miss baked goods? Not a CHANCE with my Pomroy’s All Purpose Baking Mix. Check out these delicious recipes that are corn-free, soy-free, wheat-free, and dairy-free.
Decadent Cacao Cake
Lemon-Poppyseed Muffins
Pomroy’s Pancakes
Click here for more amazing baking recipes that are corn, soy, dairy, and wheat-free!
