Rice Versus Wheat

The majority of South Indian cuisines are centered around rice or rice-based dishes. The soil, rain, and temperature are far more conducive for growing more rice than wheat. But that’s just geography. Our ‘relationship’ with this staple food goes far beyond taste. It’s considered food for the soul.

Moreover, rice is easy on the digestive system. It’s supposed to boost gut health, reduce inflammation, the pigmented variety of rice is considered rich in antioxidants, it can restore glycogen levels, to name a few benefits. Many studies have also reportedly suggested that the protein in wheat might contribute to the manifestation of chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases. So how couldn’t doctors not recommend that I carry on with rice and ditch the consumption of wheat?

Selective eating

Over the years, scientists have made progress in comprehending how bacteria and viruses work. This has helped identify and prevent illnesses. Deciding on the right kind of treatment after being diagnosed with a choric inflammatory skin condition like hidradenitis suppurativa can be quite challenging.

Initially, I started with oral and topical therapies, laser interventions, and surgery. They had brought great relief, but the endless cycle of inflammation, puss and pain continued. Thus began my hunt to find something ‘permanent’ that could put a grinding halt to painful interventions.

Starting to see some progress

Experimenting with alternative forms of therapies and treatments had begun in full swing. The book 'Fast Hidradenitis Suppurativa Cure' written by Therese Wilson helped me perceive HS in a new light. Initially, being on a diet plan seemed absurd and unreasonable. But I was willing to take the plunge and start the elimination process. No milk, no sugar, no refined flour, nothing deep fried, no night shade vegetables, and the list continued to puzzle me even further. But much to my astonishment, I noticed that the flare-ups weren’t as painful or gigantic in size as they used to be. I could see a difference within 24-48 hours after consuming the food that I had hesitantly struck off my list. This made me realize that my new diet plan was here to stay.

However, there are always repercussions to the decisions we take, aren’t there? First and foremost, I had begun to shed weight. A LOT of weight. My hair had become thinner and weaker. This abstinence from a balanced meal plan had caused hunger pangs that affected my sleep quality and overall wellbeing. A general sense of frustration and disappointment had begun to impact my life in more ways than one. Although I hadn’t been completely satisfied with the progress, I continued to follow the diet. But I had to go in for a wide-excision surgery every year as the inflammations still persisted.

The final verdict

I consulted a well-known Ayurvedic practitioner in my city who seemed partially confident in treating me. I decided to take his help as he was willing to use my knowledge and experience while formulating and executing a treatment plan.

He recommended that I avoid citric foods, dry fruits, and wheat apart from the list of foods that I had already excluded although he insisted that I continue eating rice. I was happy to notice a considerable improvement at first, but the puss-filled lumps persisted that caused repeated outbreaks.

Instinctively, I felt that rice may have been the real culprit behind majority of the flare-ups. I was curious to see if knocking out rice and getting back on wheat would help. This was by far the toughest elimination ever! But over time, I was amazed to see a dramatic improvement. Although there had been no escape from surgeries, the pain and inflammations had receded to a large extent. Surprisingly, it wasn't just any wheat, but a particular brand called ‘Navadarshanam’ that suited me the most. It’s been 7 years and I eat wheat every single day! Yes, it's gluten. And it doesn’t cause inflammation.