The depression and bipolar issues I wrestled with during my childhood and well into my late 20s was always something that I was ashamed of. I was on a form of medication for depression since I was about 12 years old. I spent well over 10 years of my life trying one pill or another, and not once did anyone ask me about my diet, not once did the first tenet of Hippocrates medical philosophy enter into the equation: “Let thy food be thy medicine.”
As a matter of fact, when I look back on my life before the creation of Guiltless Superfoods, I remember feeling a constant black cloud hanging over my head. I was sad a lot of the time, moody, unmotivated and in addition, I was always hungry for grains, carbs or anything sweet. I ran to breads, grains and sweets as my solace, before I came to find out they were my nemesis.
I was doing everything the prevailing health sentiment of the late ‘90s and early 2000s was telling me. I followed the food pyramid protocol to a T, sure to include a grain or starch with every meal.
I honestly never had any idea that grains and yeast could be the reason. It wasn’t until I graduated from college that I put one and one together. I began to read that yeast was actually a fungus and grains were what fed fungal overgrowth. Could that have been the reason I was always sick?! I vowed that I would never take another prescription pill and I would, instead, heal myself through nutrition.
I remember the day it all changed for me. I found out about the low carb movement and immediately began a tuna fish and egg white diet. I lost 50 lbs in 90 days by doing cardio everyday and eating a strict diet of lean protein and no refined carbs. It worked well enough, until the day I would “reward” myself with some bread, tortillas or anything from the baked good department.
Once I ingested anything grain or yeast based, it was right back to feeling terrible again. I was addicted and didn’t stop eating comfort foods until I was completely uncomfortable. I would literally gain 10-12 lbs over a weekend. And then spend the following work week in a state of self loathing. It was worse than any alcohol hangover. They say grains, yeast and processed sugar is the most addictive food on the planet and I’ve come to believe it’s true.
Low carb/high protein was a good start, but I was lacking the essential fats and fiber my brain needed to thrive. I had to find a lifestyle solution. It became my passion to help people discover what I had discovered. That abstaining from grains and carbs was the answer, but what would I replace them with?
Then one day I was reunited with and later married my college sweetheart, Lindsey. In a season of self discovery, she sought her life’s work. It just so happened to be the solution to her husband’s lifelong malaise. Instead of using wheat, she created a 7 Super Seed blend as our flour. It was a completely Guiltless way of eating.
My prayers were answered. I was literally being healed by eating bread, pizzas and tacos at every meal. Chef Lindsey even created muffins and cookies for me, simply substituting 7 Super Seeds in place of grains or yeast.
These 7 Super Seeds include:
- Golden flax seeds, which are an excellent source of fiber, protein and essential amino acids
- Sunflower seeds, a great source of protein and help lower cholesterol
- Chia seeds, an excellent source of iron, calcium and omega-3s
- Sesame seeds, which are high in copper, manganese and essential fats
- Hemp seeds, contain all 20 amino acids, including the 9 essential amino acids our bodies cannot produce on their own
- Pumpkin seeds, which are high in magnesium and zinc
- Poppy seeds, which help prevent disease and contain minerals like iron, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc and magnesium
With these foods, I ended up feeding my brain the nutrients it needed to produce norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin – all the feel good hormones I had lacked for so long. The Guiltless Superfoods solution has saved my life. I finally said goodbye to the black cloud that held me captive for years, and Guiltless Superfoods has continued to thrive and help others in need of dietary love.
With Lindsey‘s background as a Superfoods Personal Chef and Daniel‘s as a Personal Trainer, they have a combined 20 years of experience in health and wellness. Three years ago Daniel and Lindsey Crouch turned their passion for healthy living into Guiltless Superfoods Solutions, making foods that are grain-free, gluten-free, low-carb and delicious. Guiltless Superfoods is now distributed nationally online and at Peoples Rx in Austin, TX, where Lindsey and Daniel live with their two boys, Shepherd and Hank, and their dog, Woody Harrelson.