Paging Dr. Bing, Dr. Bing to the Bed - Monica Gellar (Friends)
So get this: a year ago I start getting some pretty ridiculous digestive symptoms. Let me just say, to spare you the descriptive details, that the word “indigestion” wouldn’t even begin to sum up my symptoms, but it would, at the very least, be a good start.
So I'm at the last stage, approximately ...
Foods that I had been eating my whole life were all of a sudden a complete no-go! In my physician’s attempt to determine the cause, which involved a quick-draw to the prescription pad, I had a $250 blood test taken that revealed high immune response to particular food particles. So long story short, I went from a normal, everyday pasta-consuming, meatball mongering half-Italian to a dairy, wheat, soy, peanut, yeast, rice, grain, egg, and gluten-free mess who had NO idea how to cook for herself.
It feels like I'm a Bubble Boy whenever I have to eat
I spent the early part of 2011 attempting to embrace my new eating lifestyle which for the most part included tons of fruit, corn-based pastas and cereals, and vegetable stir-frys. Although I thought I was being given an advantage to eating (by having to physically avoid foods like breads, dairy, and tempting junk food), I unfortunately was not given enough guidance on how to make my meals wholesome, tasty, and meaningful. By the end of March I was showing signs of malnutrition (one of my nails started changing colour), and I was also battling with gastritis, which made eating anything almost physically impossible.
I was prescribed medication to ease the symptoms of gastritis, and after a few months and a skin allergy test (concluding my only intolerances were chicken and potatoes), I began to resume my “regular” gluten-filled diet. I will never forget the day I was told this “miraculous” news. I told my mom to drive to East Side Mario’s and I like inhaled a garlic homeloaf…
Eh Budda Boom Budda Bing ... aka MISTAKE!
Over the summer of 2011, it seemed like I might be in the clear. But as August came around, my familiar digestive disturbances resumed (full on, might I add), and I was left feeling completely hopeless and uncomfortable.
It wasn’t until I decided to see a Naturopath in October, did things start to make more sense to me. My cousin, Dawn-Marie, happens to be an incredibly talented ND, and conducted tests of her own. I learned that my intolerances from the blood test were accurate, and resumed my everything-free diet regime once more. However, I felt more open to the reality of it this time. Instead of being alarmed at what I couldn’t eat (and believe me, the list got longer this time!), I began researching recipes, blog sites, and online articles for ideas about how to make this work. I also had some friends who were experiencing the same symptoms, and was given a plethora of information and resources!
Pure2Raw: Twin Chefs that have changed my life!
The fact is this: for some reason (and let’s face it, it’s probably stress) my stomach and digestive system are unbalanced. This is huge. The stomach is the centre of our physical universe (as described in Dr. John Matsen’s incredible book “Eating Alive“) and a malfunctioning stomach will lead to a whole slew of different problems: skin problems (eczema, psoriasis, acne, to name a few), mood disorders, fatigue, liver overload, allergies, and even disease.
"The face is the reflection of the digestive system" ... How well is yours doing?
I believe many of us, in our over-stimulating, fast-paced lives, have lost connection with our own inner balance. I can’t tell you how many bottles of Pepto-bismol I drank when I had gastritis (almost 3 I think). We spend our time covering up our aches and pains, instead of questioning why we are having them in the first place. Pain is a sign that the body is unbalanced, and covering it up with a drug or store-bought remedy will never truly relieve what is ailing us.
My conclusion is this: if you are suffering from food intolerances you have the option of consulting a Naturopath (which I highly recommend) as conventional medicine often has no place in treating the underlying cause of disease (in my experience). Realize that you are not alone! There are so many people suffering from these intolerances and allergies and they (like me) have found some of the most delicious and crave-worthy meals (I also now have a profound love for cooking!). Although sometimes I feel I have lost the freedom of food (meaning I can’t just order anything off a menu), I have gained the insight into my own unbalance, and am being given the opportunity to become a balanced being. It’s too bad I had to give up meatballs to find this out, but hey! C’est la vie.
In the meantime, I’m working on slowing my brain down and trying to absorb awesomeness aka learning how to relax. I’ll let you know if I accomplish this!
Me and the RZA Connect
Links to Incredible Recipes/Blogs:
Pure2Raw, Oh She Glows, A Modern Girl’s Life, My New Roots, Gluten-free Goddess, Alkaline Sisters
-rundemarco
