ADVERTORIAL
EMBRACING MY GLUTEN FREE BODY By Sylvette Constable-Wilson
I am often asked about my gluten-free lifestyle and how it has impacted my body. There are many misconceptions about gluten-free products or lifestyle. I have always laughed at the multiple questions that I’ve had to answer because it’s hard to comprehend why people would assume that we don’t eat food, don’t socialise etc. My gluten-free journey began at a difficult period in my life. My son was diagnosed with Severe Brittle Asthma and was continuously hospitalised so needed a new direction, a new solution to assist in easing his pain. Coming from the island of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, we were taught that food and herbs should always be prevalent in our daily diet and living. My grandmother cultivated and processed cassava, a tuber, which is naturally gluten-free, and always spoke about the differences between cassava flour and wheat flour. We discussed the health benefits of cassava, particularly
when it’s used to aid those with gastrointestinal disorders. As a child I thought farming was completely hard work, “I should be playing with the other kids, not learning about farming,” I would say. Her response was always the same, “Sylvette, knowledge is power.” Little did I know that her theory would be the beginning of a new era for my family. Desperate to find a solution for my son, my husband and I decided to focus on the lessons we were both taught about farming, but most importantly how food can impact the body. Our gluten-free journey began. We started focusing on creating glutenfree products, as well as by–products made from cassava. The vegetable tuber is so versatile, it can be used to create both sweet and savoury dishes that can be eaten in meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, as well as a snack. And the benefits of cassava don’t stop there: • It is a great source of
