Have you ever heard of teff flour? I wasn’t either until I started experimenting with gluten-free flours to use on the candida diet. Teff grass, botanical name eragrostis teffBuckwheat, is an ancient grain that can thrive in a variety of extreme weather conditions, making it a very reliable grain choice. Teff grass is native to Ethiopia where it has been used for centuries as cattle feed and as a component of building materials. Teff is the smallest grain in the world but despite its small size it is an extremely versatile grain. Today in Ethiopia it is ground into flour and used to make a flat bread called injera, porridge and as an ingredient in alcoholic beverages. Although teff has proven to be a reliable grain, it has remained largely unrecognized and unused in North America until now.
Growing awareness of medical conditions such as celiac disease, autism, gluten allergy/sensitivity and candidiasis in which eliminating gluten from one’s diet is necessary or may be beneficial has brought non-glutinous flours such as teff to the forefront in North America. . As we search for alternatives to our main gluten-filled grains, wheat, barley, and rye, we’re starting to search far and wide the globe for useful alternatives. Using teff flour as part of your diet to treat these conditions is of particular interest because teff flour has a very impressive nutritional profile when compared to other flours, both glutinous and non-glutinous. Teff flour contains large amounts of bran and germ which make it an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein and iron. Teff is also a good source of calcium. Because teff flour doesn’t contain gluten, it’s a powerhouse of nutrition and is slightly lower in carbohydrates than some other grains, making it an ideal choice for a candida diet also known as a yeast-free diet.
The candida diet is used to treat candidiasis, an overgrowth of yeast in the intestinal system. This is why it is often referred to as a yeast-free diet, as the goal is to eliminate all foods and ingredients containing yeast to reduce the amount of yeast in the intestinal tract. The biggest culprits are sugar, processed foods, quick-acting carbohydrates, vinegar and fermented foods. Many candida diet resources also suggest giving up glutinous grains like wheat, rye and barley because they are not only difficult to digest, which puts an extra burden on an already compromised digestive system, but gluten can also cause yeast overgrowth problems. Can contribute directly to yeast feeding. Symptoms of candidiasis include, but are not limited to, digestive problems, mental confusion, premenstrual syndrome, depression, eczema and acne.
The cornerstone of candidiasis treatment is the candida diet. Candida diet is the most important part of treatment but it can be the hardest part because of the amount of foods that have to be removed. Having alternatives like teff flour opens up new possibilities on a candida diet. Using teff flour along with other non-sticky flours can help candida dieters create a variety of yeast-free recipes. You can substitute teff flour for about a quarter of the flour called for in the recipe.
For more information on living yeast free Visit Yeast Free Living by following the candida diet.
Source by Tennille Jordan
