Searching for Foods to Heal Myself
Since I became ill with gastrointestinal issues four years ago, I have been searching for the best food plan to heal my body. Elimination diets and omitting whole food groups have become a way of life for me. It has been confusing at times because there is many differing views about what is a healthy food to eat. I have learned a lot about how our food is grown and why to avoid factory raised animals and vegetables sprayed with pesticides. I have been on a gluten free diet while still enjoying gluten free grains. After I still was not feeling better, I omitted all dairy products from my diet while getting close to being a vegetarian. I should also say that I do not eat any peanuts or tree nuts because my daughter has a life threatening peanut, almond and hazelnut allergy. As I was trying all of these ways of eating, I kept saying to my GI doctor and nutritionist, "If I am eating healthy food why am I getting sicker". Shortly after, I went on the low fodmap diet and became grain free. It was then the paleo chic was born within me. I do feel better not eating grains, so now something I tried really started working. However, I still do not feel well and the bloating, gas and constipation are severe. Just recently I stumbled across the MRT blood test that tests 130 foods and 20 chemicals for food senstivities. Apparently my SIBO has created food sensitivities, so when I consume these foods my body creates inflammation. I was shocked that blueberries and oranges along with a list of other foods were making me inflamed and sick. I also found out I have a sensitivity to salicyclic acid and tyramine which is found naturally in many foods, so I have to avoid these foods containing these chemicals. So now I am on an elimination diet according to this blood test. Soon I am going to take another blood test that is going to look at foods that cross react with gluten and produce symptoms like when I ate gluten. I was shocked to find out that some food proteins are so close to gluten proteins that your body thinks your eating gluten when your really not. So currently I am grain free, gluten free, dairy free, nut free, refined sugar free and soy free. I try to eat grass fed beef, wild caught seafood and organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible. My new adventure is learning about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I am going to start only eating legal foods on their illegal/legal food list. I have heard this diet is suppose to help people with SIBO that do not get 100 percent well on the paleo diet. The Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food". So as i move forward with my journey of healing, I am going to focus on consuming whole foods that will contribute positively to healing my body.
Since January my doctors have been reintroducing foods into my diet to see how I would react. None of the foods we have tried had a positive effect on my body instead my body has been becoming more inflamed and sick. They also were trying to make this a more liveable plan with paleo treats made with coconut flour and sweetened with maple syrup or honey. My emotions have been a roller coaster with highs and lows which started a string of emotional binge eating. Paleo treats, sunflower seed butter, coconut oil and whole foods are good, but you can get into a lot of trouble if your over consuming them. While my body was becoming more and more inflamed while introducing foods that I actually have food sensitivties to, the weight on the scale was going up. So during the past 6 months I have learned a lot of important lessons on what foods are good and not so good for my body. I also learned how important portion control is with any food and how important it is to continue eating the foods that are good for intestinal repair.
For the next 21 days starting June 9, I have decided to focus on eating whole unrefined foods that are MRT testing and specific carbohydrate diet approved. The paleo treats help with cravings but coconut flour is still refined and needs to be eaten once in awhile as a treat. I have learned it is easy to get into a habit of eating several servings daily of yummy paleo desserts. I will not be consuming refined foods or any sugar including honey or maple syrup except for natural sugar in fruit. I have worked hard in the past four years to heal myself, but have made many mistakes due to lack of knowledge, motivation and hopelessness. Today I have better knowledge and am able to make better food choices for my medical needs. I am focused on God's journey for me and know that he wants me to heal my body. Saying the Serenity prayer daily and living one day at a time has given me the strength to stay motivated even when the road becomes full of irritation, temptation and loneliness. The temple of the holy spirit that lives inside me deserves to live in a healthy temple free of illness. I choose to find the positive and opportunity during my time of challenge. I am determined that I will heal myself through food and become well again.
Since January my doctors have been reintroducing foods into my diet to see how I would react. None of the foods we have tried had a positive effect on my body instead my body has been becoming more inflamed and sick. They also were trying to make this a more liveable plan with paleo treats made with coconut flour and sweetened with maple syrup or honey. My emotions have been a roller coaster with highs and lows which started a string of emotional binge eating. Paleo treats, sunflower seed butter, coconut oil and whole foods are good, but you can get into a lot of trouble if your over consuming them. While my body was becoming more and more inflamed while introducing foods that I actually have food sensitivties to, the weight on the scale was going up. So during the past 6 months I have learned a lot of important lessons on what foods are good and not so good for my body. I also learned how important portion control is with any food and how important it is to continue eating the foods that are good for intestinal repair.
For the next 21 days starting June 9, I have decided to focus on eating whole unrefined foods that are MRT testing and specific carbohydrate diet approved. The paleo treats help with cravings but coconut flour is still refined and needs to be eaten once in awhile as a treat. I have learned it is easy to get into a habit of eating several servings daily of yummy paleo desserts. I will not be consuming refined foods or any sugar including honey or maple syrup except for natural sugar in fruit. I have worked hard in the past four years to heal myself, but have made many mistakes due to lack of knowledge, motivation and hopelessness. Today I have better knowledge and am able to make better food choices for my medical needs. I am focused on God's journey for me and know that he wants me to heal my body. Saying the Serenity prayer daily and living one day at a time has given me the strength to stay motivated even when the road becomes full of irritation, temptation and loneliness. The temple of the holy spirit that lives inside me deserves to live in a healthy temple free of illness. I choose to find the positive and opportunity during my time of challenge. I am determined that I will heal myself through food and become well again.
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