6/16 Foodie Friday

Jessie, Nancy and Christina bust out air squats during Baseline and Beers in May. 
It's Foodie Friday! One of the most debated "Paleo" issues (at least it was in our house) is beer. Is it or is it not Paleo? Does it or does it not have gluten? Does it or does it not have a place in a healthy lifestyle?
James and I like beer. We brew our own with hops we grow in our back yard. We have also abstained from beer (and all alcohol) during Whole 30 and Whole Life Challenges. We have over consumed beer, too. Yet, we continue to drink it. We have our healthy lifestyle parameters, we don't drink if we're going to workout the next day, we try to limit consumption to no more than 2 pints (well, sometimes.) But, beer can be a problem for many folks. 
First, let's be clear. Beer can be high in calories and carbohydrates (e.g. sugar). Reducing or eliminating your consumption can help you loose weight and feel better. However, beer is not such a bad beverage and, unless you have celiac disease, it has so little gluten as to not be a problem. REALLY! 
The reason beer can't be labeled gluten free is because according to the FDA a food that is labeled gluten free must be made with gluten free ingredients. Beer is made from malted barley, rye and other grains, all of which contain gluten. 
UC Davis (my Alma Matter) is home to one of the best fermentation science centers in the world. When I first started my Paleo lifestyle, it was to this research that I turned to find reliable answers regarding beer. To my delight, I discovered that beer is naturally gluten free or damn near so because Most gluten protein is denatured during fermentation. But, beer can not be legally labelled as gluten free since it's made from gluten containing grains.
Since I don't have celiac disease, the tiny amount of gluten protein that might be present in some styles of beer won't bother me at all. Yes!
However, that's not a reason to over-consume beer. Remember, beer still has calories, carbohydrates, and alcohol, all of which can be a problem when trying to maintain a healthy weight. 
Want to read more about gluten, beer and fermentation? Check out this article: Celiac Disease, Beer and Brewing By Michael J. Lewis, Professor Emeritus of Brewing Science Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California Davis. 

Click Here for the WOD

Coach's Notes: Today's workout is a test of our stamina, speed and endurance. These two minute intervals are sprints. Go as hard and as fast as you can. Scale to the easiest version of each movement to that you can KEEP MOVING. You will rest 45 seconds between each interval. Good luck!