I've been struggling with how to delve into the topic of diet. As I've said a few times on this blog, it's a major subject in my life. It needs a good introduction, because it's really just that huge of an issue in my life. The trouble is, I'm not a doctor or nutritionist. I've learned that every person is very unique, and a diet that works well for one person may work poorly for another. There are facts that are true for everyone, but the details are where we all differ.
There are a few angles I could take on introducing diet on this blog, but I think I'll introduce it through the lens of chronic illnesses. Generally speaking, I believe most people that read this blog probably are here searching for answers about health concerns.
5 years ago, if you would have asked me if I believed I would ever develop a chronic illness, I would have said "not likely." If you would have asked me why, I would have said, "because I eat a clean, organic diet. I'm careful about what I put into my body. I'm investing in my health. It's all the food additives that make us sick, right?" I know a lot of people who would have given the same answer. Well, here I am today, fighting chronic illness, even after that clean, organic diet I ate.
I'll back up a bit. I was born allergic to about 10 different foods. My parents have told me all sorts of stories about how difficult it was to care for me as a baby because they didn't know how to feed me. They eventually found a formula without my allergens, and then thankfully I slowly outgrew most of the allergies as I got older. Eventually I was only allergic to wheat and corn, and then by 4th grade I appeared to only be allergic to corn. (In recent years, however, that wheat allergy has made a come-back.) This corn allergy resulted in many painful hives, rashes, heart palpation, fevers, gut aches, severe anger issues, and more. The problem with corn is that it is in almost everything. I grew up learning to read food labels, being very careful and selective in restaurants (avoiding many restaurants too,) saying "no" to any food I wasn't sure of, and saying "no" to food that friends insisted was corn-free (because they often don't know all the different names for corn on food labels.) I grew up being used to bringing my own food with me, knowing I couldn't rely on others to feed me safely. To me, reading food labels is normal - it's second-nature. I never buy a single product without reading the ingredients first, even if I've bought the item before (because companies change their ingredients every so often.)
I was introduced to the world of organic food when I was a young teenager. My mom found it harder and harder to find food that was safe for me (other than meat and vegetables - but I'll get into the problem of corn in meat later,) so she tried searching in local food co-ops. We quickly found that organic and natural brands had less corn overall, mainly because they don't use high fructose corn syrup. As I grew older and more independent, I started buying my own lunches and snacks at the local food co-op, because it was organic and safe. The older I got, the more of a habit only buying organic food became. I knew that I felt better when I ate organic, but I also did a lot of research into why organic was a better option. I learned about toxins in food, how dyes cause brain and reproductive dysfunction, why corn syrup (which wasn't proven safe) was in everything, the danger of GMOs, and more. I was quickly converted to eating strictly organic... except for the treat of getting to eat out. I considered it my "cheat time." My husband knew this about me when he married me, but I think he was in a for a shock when he found out what it actually meant to buy only organic foods all the time - ha!
So, how it is, you ask, that after a lifetime of reading food labels and avoiding all forms of corn and food additives that I managed to get chronically ill? Shouldn't I be really healthy since I haven't been poisoning my body like most people in America? Well, there were signs that my diet wasn't working for me, such as the fact that my weight increased to almost 180 pounds despite plenty of physical exercise, drinking my healthy kobmucha drinks, never drinking soda, and all those good things. (I'm 5'5", so this was very overweight.) Heck, I was even dairy and gluten-free - so should I have been losing weight? The question I'm asking myself now is, "Would I have been way more sick than I was if I wasn't eating carefully all along?"
Last year, I learned many valuable lessons about food, with the help of my naturopath (who is a huge blessing to me.) First of all, I was eating tons of foods that my body isn't capable of tolerating. Organic or not, I can't digest them well. Second of all, I can't handle sugar - sugar is a strong poison to me, and I used to eat more of it than I realized. Third of all, I was eating lots of grains, which I now know cause all sorts of horrible problems for me, such as inflammation, irritable bowel, leaky gut, and more. Fourth of all, I found out that I wasn't eating enough of what my particular body requires to stay strong and healthy. I learned a whole lot more, but these are the highlights.
I did lose about 20 pounds of weight before seeing my naturopath, but struggled to lose any more than that. I was still overweight. After very carefully following my naturopath's tailored-to-me diet, I lost an additional 30 pounds. I'm down to around 130 pounds, which is a healthy, normal weight. Weight loss wasn't my goal, though. My goal was to get my life back - I wanted my health back! Thankfully, I have been reclaiming my health in the past year since starting treatments with him. I no longer suffer arthritis, major inflammation issues, or fibromyalgia. I have a lot less brain fog and more energy.
Again, this is just a general overview - an introduction. I'll write about details in future posts.
In conclusion...
Diet is an exceptionally important part of our health. Just because you eat organic doesn't mean you eat healthy, in fact you could still be eating too much trans fat and sugar. Just because you're a vegan doesn't mean you're eating right for your body and your specific needs, in fact you could be hurting yourself more than you realize. Just because you eat Paleo doesn't mean you're avoiding enough foods, in fact you could still be eating foods that cause health issues for you. You need to learn your body and your needs, and eat only according to what your body needs, not how diet fads tell you to.
Most importantly - stay positive! Dietary changes aren't a "loss." They're an opportunity to feel better so you can experience life more fully and joyfully! Diets aren't "limiting," they're actually opening you up to a world in which you can fully function and feel great. As I talk about food, never assume I'm complaining. I'm actually extremely grateful for my food allergies, because they prepared me for making the lifestyle change I needed to when it came to food. The danger of modern food is a scary topic in most situations these days, but for me the topic of food is a joyful one, because finding the right food for me in this toxic society has changed my life for the better.
P.S.: Want to hear a funny story? One time, when I was a teenager, I was at a sleep-over party with friends. One friend asked if I could eat popcorn. When I said no, she asked, "Why not? Does it have corn in it?" I said, "read the ingredients, you'll see." The first ingredient was corn, and she said, "Ohhhhhhhhh..... duh!" I forgave her and we laughed it off.
This is one of many examples of why I don't trust other people to make food for me. :)
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