(Photo with Pesto and no cheese)
Parents who have children with ADHD most often understand they need to cut out the sugar, but grains are often overlooked. Even "sprouted wheat" and "whole grains" are just glucose molecules linked together in long chains; the digestive track breaks it down into sugar. So a sugary diet and a starchy diet are the same thing.
But, let's get back to wheat. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Have you put flour and water together to make your own gooey paste? In Poland, they use this for wallpaper paste. I’m not putting that “gummy” paste in my body; it causes way too much inflammation.
After the digestive tract, the most commonly affected system to be affected by gluten is the nervous system. It is thought that ADHD can be caused by gluten in one of two ways.
The first area addresses the inflammatory changes gluten can cause. A gluten sensitive individual’s immune system responds to the protein gliadin. Unfortunately, that protein is similar in structure to other proteins present in the body, including those of the brain and nerve cells. A cross reactivity can occur where the immune system “confuses” proteins in the body for the protein gliadin. This is called cellular mimicry and the result is the body attacking its own tissues with inflammation resulting.
When inflammation happens in the brain and nervous system, a variety of symptoms can occur, including ADHD. Research shows us that patients with symptoms involving the nervous system suffer from digestive problems only 13% of the time. This is significant because mainstream medicine equates gluten sensitivity almost exclusively with digestive complaints. Please note, that even though most doctors will dismiss a gluten allergy/sensitivity if you don’t have any digestive issues, this is not true. You can have problems with gluten that show up in other parts of your body, not just the digestive track. Gluten can attack any organ: thyroid, gallbladder, nervous system, joints (arthritis), cellular membrane (multiple sclerosis), you name it.
In addition to circulation problems, other research looks at the association between gluten sensitivity and its interference with protein absorption. Specifically the amino acid tryptophan can be deficient, which is essential for brain health. Tryptophan is a protein in the brain responsible for a feeling of well-being and relaxation. A deficiency can be correlated to feelings ADHD, sleep issues and anxiety. 90% of serotonin production occurs in the digestive tract. So it makes sense that food might have an effect, either positive or negative, on serotonin production.
Encounters with allergens stimulate the release of serotonin and histamine from mast cells in the body. This increase affect alters arousal, attention, activity and vigilance. As a result, a highly allergic child can be either quite sluggish or hyperactive, depending upon the system of the allergic reaction. Eliminating all allergens from the diet will eliminate hyperactivity or lethargy and inattention.
So when I tell clients to eat “gluten free” they often grab all the “gluten-free” pre-packaged foods on the shelf, but that most likely will cause weight gain and slow the healing process in your gut. Rice flour, the common flour substitute in gluten-free products, is higher in calories, higher in carbohydrates, and lower in nutrients than regular flour. It can cause more inflammation in our body. So my recommendation is to use make your own healthier options by using almond flour and coconut flour, which are very easy to digest. The healthy fats in nuts actually are nourishing to our brain.
To find tons of recipes to feed your family healthy and tasty recipes without gluten or starch, check out my book: Nutritious and Delicious.
(Photo with Olive Tapenade and Cheese)
NOTE: Not all coconut flours are the same, click HERE to find the one I use.
3 eggs
1/2 cup butter or coconut oil, softened
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup blanched almond flour
1/2 tsp aluminum free baking powder
1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
1/4 cup olive tapenade OR PESTO
1/2 cup goat cheese (optional)
1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, cream the butter and the eggs. In another bowl mix together the coconut flour, almond flour, salt and baking powder. Slowly add in the dry ingredients into the wet. Stir until a thick dough forms. Cover and place in fridge to chill the dough for 1 hour or overnight.
Place a sheet of parchment on counter, then spray with coconut oil spray. Place dough on greased parchment, push the dough down a bit, and spray with another layer of coconut oil. Top with another sheet of parchment. Roll the dough out with a rolling pin until a long rectangle shape (9x12) or so. Then remove the top layer of parchment.
Spread olive tapenade or pesto over dough, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Sprinkle with cheese and rosemary. Gently roll up dough, starting at 1 long side. Cut into 12 (1 1/4-inch-thick) slices. Place slices in a lightly greased 9-inch round cake pan. Brush top of dough with melted butter if desired. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Serve immediately. Makes 12 servings.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per roll)
Traditional Rolls = 253 calories, 15.5g fat, 3g protein, 23 carbs, 1g fiber
"Healthified" Rolls = 197 calories, 16g fat, 6.4g protein, 4.2 carbs, 2.3g fiber
