Is A Gluten-Free Diet Right For Me?

BY Lee McCaskill,
Excerpts from her new book called “Belly Bustin’ Tips” (tips you can use on any diet).

To Go Against the Grain or Not—That is the Question!
Many people go gluten-free to increase their energy level, but just eating more vegetables and fruits and limiting starches can give you a ton of energy without having to totally do without gluten. We have a gluten-free Belly Buster Diet at Before and After Weight Loss Clinics; but frankly, our clients get just as much of an increase in energy levels on the other menus.
Gluten Free Here are four reasons to go gluten-free and four reasons not to. Make up your own mind what is best for you.
Reasons for going Gluten-Free:
1. For managing Celiac Disease-with this autoimmune disease, even trace amounts of gluten cause the immune system to attack the small intestine and cause significant damage. Unmanaged and under repeated attack, the intestines lose ability to absorb nutrients and put you at risk for developing other autoimmune disorders and other problems.
2. For controlling Dermatitis Herpetiformis-DH is a form of celiac disease that attacks the skin, rather than the small intestine. Chronic itchy rashes that are symmetrical on each side of the body show up after eating gluten. If you have DH, you are at higher risk of intestinal cancer if you continue to eat gluten.
3. For reducing the symptoms of gluten sensitivity, which can range from a wheat allergy to an Irritable Bowel Syndrome problem to just gas and bloating.
4. For supporting a family member that has to go gluten-free, making it easier to cook and shop for the household.

Reasons for NOT to going Gluten-free:
1. For losing weight – it is probably the hardest diet to lose weight on because it is not easy to stick to, it is expensive, and most gluten-free products are high in carbs. Also, many gluten free products are processed foods versus their counterparts being natural whole foods. Gluten-free is tricky to do without missing out on important nutrients in your diet if you are not trained.
2. For eating healthier – it isn’t healthier, unless you are specifically going on it to manage a particular medical condition. What are you replacing the fiber you are losing with—is it enough? How about the carbohydrate intake? Do you know how much weight to lose and safe activity level for your medical condition? Is a dietitian, nutritionist, or weight loss professional supervising you? Know what you are doing before you decide.
3. For diagnosing your symptoms-don’t do gluten-free to find out on your own. See a doctor for a diagnosis while you are still eating a normal diet. The blood test used to diagnose celiac disease and DH depends on finding antibodies for gluten in your blood, but won’t if you have avoided gluten.
4. Because your best friend went gluten-free—chances are she/he won’t last on it long and when the next shiny object comes along, she/he will be jumping on that fad, too.

Go with your gut (no pun intended). If you want to go gluten-free, make sure you can afford this expensive diet, can live totally without wheat and other foods you have to give up rather than simply cut back on them, can live with the inconvenience and can learn enough about nutrition that you truly feel comfortable doing it. But, understand that it is not necessary for most people and that research does not support the many theories behind it. In fact, the man that helped make gluten–free diets popular, Dr. Peter Gibson, recently admitted in May 2014 that he may have gotten it wrong. It may not have been the gluten causing that gastric distress after all! Further research showed it was the sugars in the bread that were hard to digest, not the gluten, causing a problem!
As fad diets have proven time and time again, there are no short cuts to a balanced, healthy lifestyle.


Lee from Before And After Weight Loss

Lee McCaskill


About the author, Lee McCaskill is the owner of Before and After Weight Loss Clinics in Saint Lucie and Indian River Counties, and the nationwide diet program, Belly Buster Diet, Inc. In addition to being a Master Certified Weight Loss and Wellness Coach, Lee is a microbiologist and herbologist who formulates many of the companies’ unique products, including Tropical Spa Body Wraps. Lee encourages you to contact her for information or with your questions at (772) 429-1110 or (772) 562-3601, or visit web site: www.bestdietsource.com and fill out your health profile for a free metabolic assessment.



The above information is opinion based except where noted. Always contact a licensed professional for information on the above subject or BEFORE applying or practicing the above information.

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The G – Gluten Free Diet – Book Review

I recommend the below health book, The G Free Diet, which may help improve a person’s life and health.


The G Free Diet

I recommend this book written by Elisabeth Hasselbeck. For years she coudn’t figure out what was making her sick. She asked doctors and nutritionists, but no one seemed to have any answers, could have been celiac disease?

It wasn’t until spending time in the Australian Outback, living off the land on the Survivor TV show, that, ironically, her symptoms vanished. Returning home, she pinpointed the food that made her sick – gluten, the binding element in wheat and commonly associated with celiac disease. By simply eliminating it from her diet, she was able to enjoy a completely normal and healthy life. Hasselbeck also discovered the myriad benefits that anyone can enjoy from a gluten-free diet: from weight loss and increased energy to even the alleviation of the conditions of autism.

In summary, The G Free Diet is an all-inclusive book where Hasselbeck shares her hard-earned wisdom on living life without gluten and loving it. She gives you everything you need to know to start living a gluten-free life, from defining gluten, where to find it, how to read food labels, to targeting gluten-free products and managing G-Free living with family and friends.


Easy Sexy Raw – Book Review

I recommend the below health book, Easy Sexy Raw, which may help improve a person’s life and health.


Easy Sexy Raw

This book written by Carol Alt is a must read. Nearly twenty years ago, thanks to a raw food diet, Carol Alt cured a world of headaches, stomach issues, and fatigue and became healthier, more energetic and slimmer than she has ever been. In Easy Sexy Raw Carol shares how anyone can experience the benefits of the uncooked lifestyle.

Carol takes all the intimidation out of going raw. She provides straightforward advice, easy tips and 130 super-simple and delicious recipes that will make the transition a snap. She provides readers with useful tools – such as a swapping list of raw substitutes for favorite cooked items and a “Turn It Raw” section that shows you how to gradually convert favorite dishes to raw (even chocolate chip cookies). These tools will help both new and seasoned raw eaters to build a recipe repertoire. And the dishes, including contributions by raw food authorities and chefs like Ani Phyo, Sarma Melngalis, and Raw Chef Dan, are tasty and filling – even for those who are just trying out raw for the first time.

In summary, this book, Easy Sexy Raw is a great resource providing you with 130 Raw Food Recipes, Tools and Tips to Make You Feel Gorgeous and Satisfied.


The 7 Principles of Fat Burning – Book Review

I recommend the below health book, The 7 Principles of Fat Burning, which may help improve a person’s life and health.


The 7 Principles of Fat Burning

I recommend this very informative book written by Eric Berg, DC. The 7 Principles of Fat Burning describes the sensational Berg Diet that has empowered thosands of people to get healthy, lose weight and keep the weight off. It describes how to activate your fat-burning hormones with a tailor-made eating and exercise plan for your body type.

This book is a very practical book which provides clear explanations and dozens of charts describing the principles of healthy weight loss. Easy to understand health and nutrition informaion and simple tests to determine your correct body type are the keys to its success. The 7 Principles of Fat Burning gives dieters the power to take command by eating the healthy diet that activates the fat-burning hormones for their body type.

For years people have been told to lose weight to be healthy. The truth is, you need to get healthy to lose weight. The Seven Principles of Fat Burning thoroughly educates readers and puts them in charge of their own weight.


Food Combining and Digestion, Book Review

I recommend the below health book, Food Combining and Digestion, which may help improve a person’s life and health.


I recommend this book, written by Steve Meyerowitz, which leads you through the process of stopping indegestion and getting more nutrition from the food you eat.

This easy-to-use book shows how to get maximum nutrition from the food we eat, with eating guidelines to help the stomach run at peak efficiency and maximum digestive power. This book includes an overview of the chemistry of digestion and how food is assimilated. The techniques presented in this book can help people gain increased energy and improved health.

In summary, this book, Food Combining and Digestion shows readers how by adding some simple concepts and eliminating bad habits one can optimize our digestive efficiency resulting in maximized energy and robust health.


The Food Combining-Blood Type Diet Solution, Book Review

I recommend the below health book, Supplements Exposed, which may help improve a person’s life and health.


I recommend this most helpful book written by Dhina Khader, M.S.R.D., a registered dietitian, with Irene Toovey.

This book introduces you to a new way of eating. It also illustrates how a diet that fuses the principles of blood typing with those of food combining can help you change lifelong habits so you can maximize your health while also losing weight.

This book also includes 100 delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes as well as detailed food combining charts and sample weight-loss menus for each blood type.

In summary, this book, The Food Combining/Blood Type Diet Solution is an invaluable resource that can assist you on a path to a brighter, happier and healthier future.


Supplements Exposed, Book Review

I recommend the below health book, Supplements Exposed, which may help improve a person’s life and health.


A must read is the book Supplements Exposed written by nutrition expert Dr. Brian Clement whereby he explores the various myths that have made supplements a “buyer beware” industry. Supplements Exposed strips away layers of deception to reveal the truth about what millions of supplement users have taken for granted.

This book guides you through the many choices you face every time you buy vitamins and minerals. It instructs you on how to decipher product labels that are otherwise deceptive. It shows you how to choose naturally occurring (plant-derived) supplements.

In summary, this book, Supplements Exposed reveals the truth they don’t want you to know about vitamins, minerals and their effects on your health.

“Proper supplements heal and synthetics hurt.”