For many in the United States, a new trend is emerging in doctors' offices, nutritionists' consultations, and health coaching sessions. This trend involves doctors, especially for those who are diabetic or pre-diabetic, recommending a gluten-free diet or the complete removal of bread from their diet. But why?

Bread is considered an American staple. Asking Americans to remove bread from their diet is like asking them to eat steak without potatoes or macaroni without cheese. So why is this happening? Is this another movement by progressives or the "woke" trying to take away all your fun? Actually, no. It’s a product of the good ol' USA, just like the mass production of bread. In European countries, gluten intolerance is not as big of a problem as it is here. But why?

​Simply put, it’s because our food is produced in a way that prioritizes cost and quantity over quality and health. Here's why:

Understanding these differences can help us make better dietary choices. Opting for traditional fermentation methods, avoiding highly processed foods, and being mindful of the types of wheat we consume can all contribute to reducing gluten-related problems.

Simple Solutions for Reducing Gluten:

Reducing gluten doesn’t mean you have to give up everything you love. Here are a few simple steps you can take:

​​By making these small changes, you can significantly reduce your gluten intake without feeling deprived.

Truth has many facets. For instance, if three people are in a room in Denver, CO, and one says they are in Denver, another says they are in Colorado, and the third says they are in the United States, who is wrong? Nobody. Each statement is a valid truth from a different perspective.

As we approach a highly anticipated political debate in the US for the Presidential elections, understanding that there are multiple truths can bring peace of mind and emotional relief during these often unbearable times.

Most people already have a preferred candidate. This isn't about my political views. In fact, I'm not a fan of politics because of the drama, pain, confusion, lying, and hurt that spans the political spectrum. Instead, I suggest considering that the other person's truth is also valid. You may not understand or agree with their perspective, and that's okay.

The secret to change is acceptance, and the secret to acceptance is harmonization. For your mental well-being and the health of our world, it benefits us to accept everyone's truth, especially when we disagree with it. It's not our job to decide what's right and wrong but to create harmony.

Use this Thursday's debate to practice listening without judgment, sincerely understanding others' perspectives, and thinking compassionately about how their viewpoints came about. The answer isn't, "because they're wrong," but rather something valid, loving, and relatable if we take the time to consider their truth.

​​By doing this, you create mental peace for yourself instead of letting anger, frustration, or sadness rule your life. If it's good for them and good for you, what can go wrong?

"Stop yelling. Please stop yelling." This is something I've said to my two-year-old recently, and it’s a sentiment that resonates deeply with many of us. But what does it really mean to yell? While it typically involves raising our voices in disapproval or frustration, yelling can also be silent, manifesting as judgment, a sharp glance, an eye roll, or even outright rejection.

Regardless of how you define it, please stop yelling. Your anger and frustration are not the world’s responsibility. The anger you feel is a message meant for you. When you project this anger onto others, you are avoiding your own responsibility and imposing your unhappiness on the world.

So what does it mean that anger is a messenger for you? Think about the last time you felt true anger. If you reflect on it, you'll likely realize another person was involved, doing or saying something you didn’t like. Whether this has been ongoing for years or was a fleeting encounter with a customer service representative for the electric company, it doesn’t matter. If you break down the situation and replay it in your mind, you’ll see there was a brief, often invisible moment between the triggering event and your response.

To get right to the point, your anger is no different from the yelling of a two-year-old. You wanted something to be a certain way, and the world didn’t comply. In Buddhism, suffering is defined as "the unreasonable expectation that favorable conditions will not change." As humans, we crave safety, organization, and control as our favorable conditions. When reality doesn’t meet our expectations, we explode.

Next time you feel like lashing out, consider that no matter how much you yell, like a two-year-old, you still have to wear pants. Ask yourself, "Why does this bother me so much?" Accept the situation, find your inner peace, and understand that the world doesn't have to meet your expectations for you to live peacefully.

​Key Takeaways:

​By embracing these insights, you can create a more peaceful and harmonious life, both for yourself and those around you.