From Popcorn to Amaranth and Quinoa

If you have intense cravings for foods like glutenous grains, wheat, corn, and soy, you may have food sensitivities or allergies. These sensitivities occur when the mucosa that lines your intestinal tract becomes permeable, allowing food molecules to enter into the blood stream to trigger an immune response (1).  This permeability is known as “Leaky Gut.”

Eating a diet high in processed foods packed with sugars, additives, and chemicals can over time create inflammation leading to this permeability. The consequences can be severe, causing autoimmune diseases (2).  Examples of autoimmune diseases are IBS, Crohn’s Disease, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  In my experience, eating yogurt, whole foods (meat, vegetables, and fruit), and transitioning out of foods I craved not only helped to overcome Candida, but helped to reverse Leaky Gut as well.

If you have intense cravings for microwave popcorn or candied popcorn, start out by replacing it with whole kernels you have to pop yourself.  You can use a hot air popper or a sauce pan with a lid.  If you have Candida and you use the sauce pan method, layer the bottom with antifungal coconut oil and spices.  Coconut Oil is a sweet oil, so it is a great choice if you like kettle corn, and spices like Rosemary provide added flavor.

Popped Amaranth

If you still have intense cravings for popcorn after shrugging the packaged kind, try popping Amaranth or Quinoa.  These whole grains, like popcorn, are non-glutenous and, unlike popcorn, are small so they pop quickly.  Because they pop quickly, they need to be watched as not to burn. Try popping them using the saucepan method minus the oil, or using a stainless steel or ceramic skillet.

1)     http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1856434/

2)      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22109896