It’s Not a Diet! It’s more of a change in lifestyle which involves my health and food arrangement with my body.
For years I have suspected some of my health issues are related to what I eat. I have an immediate reaction with some foods, either causing bloating, chronic wind and/or belching. Other foods take rather longer to give me evidence with diarrhoea or constipation. But it had never occurred to me that it may be food that was making me ill or increasing the effects of yet undiagnosed diseases.
Firstly, I was diagnosed back in 1978 with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). My doctor allowed me to read his copy of The Lancet about IBS and not eating anything to do with cows. He told me the milk and dairy products; the grass the cows eat (that is in their system) and the actual beef products that they become, were all upsetting my bowel. I tried; I really did try and failed miserable back then. No one knew about Gluten in the 70’s or if they did I never heard about it without the internet.
Over the years I just used the excuse that I love food, all of it. I love cheese. I have cravings after a meal for some cheese with chippies, salami and tomatoes. Little did I know that the cravings I was getting were due to being foods that I should NOT eat, as my body does not get on with them. I also noticed that foods I would not have eaten in my childhood were also foods I should not be eating now. I thought it was a maturing palate, but now I suspect my body knew better than me.
Fast forward to 2015 when I met Natalia, a professional, qualified Dietician, Nurse, Coach, Nutritionist and now a friend.
Why do I need to use a professional to tell me how to eat?
Because I’m paying for someone to advise me about my eating habits. By spending dollars I will make more effort not to cheat. Let’s be honest, depriving yourself is not easy. As soon as I hear the word diet I’m peckish. I’m paying for a service, so I want results. It has not been easy, but it’s still going and it’s beginning to really work. And if I live longer as a result with less pain, all the better.
My Food Journey So Far
A one hour consultation where I told Natalia my extensive health history. I also had to tell her what my usual daily diet consisted of and any cravings I had.
My Health
Lupus, Thyroid Disease (caused by my Lupus), IBS and Asthma.
Here’s The Good News.
If you have looked at diets online you may have heard of Paleo, FODMAPS, AIP, Gluten, Dairy, Nightshades and Soy intolerance are all mentioned around Autoimmune Disease.
You don’t have to give them all up together! You start with the basic ones first and then after 6 weeks you reintroduce foods one at a time. If you are OK and don’t react, you can carry on eating them in small portions. Next you start taking away other foods and then wait 6 weeks and then test those by reintroducing. And so it goes on until you have made your bowels function correctly.
Natalia tells me that I have to give up Soy, Gluten and Dairy at our first meeting. It may be different food types for each and every one of us. Just depends on your illness and symptoms.
Unfortunately I had to have an operation out of the blue and my diet went out the window. So I basically ate what I liked over Christmas. I was so bloated I could barely move and I looked like I had put on loads of weight.
I decided to be radical, as I knew I was going to have to go FODMAP and give up Nightshades eventually. I copied the FODMAP diet from the official website that invented the diet and took off everything that was nightshade, soy, dairy and gluten list. That left me with a shopping list basically. I also removed bacon and mushrooms as during my first attempt I knew they were issues. I then removed stuff I don’t like to eat.
Now when I’m planning meals I use the list and try and make it interesting and sometimes exotic.
I have regular meetings with Natalia, who then reads my App results (where I put in what I have eaten). I list each item individually in a recipe or bought product. I did whole meals at first, but you can’t see the patterns of intolerance so quickly. The items stay in the App so you don’t have to retype them. I also added my bowel movements and any other symptoms such as cramps, wind or whatever flares happen. We then discuss what the next item to try reintroducing or remove completely. I’m also taking Magnesium and Enzymes for happy bowels.
I can honestly say that so far soy, gluten, tomatoes, garlic and onions are the worst foods for bloating and pain for me. Initially this was sad news, as I love lasagne, moussaka, pizza, well that is anything Italian! But it’s not forever; Natalia says that if I fix my leaky gut I can eat them on occasions, just not huge amounts.
So You’re Still Thinking What Do I Eat?
Carbohydrates
Rice, rice noodles, quinoa and potatoes occasionally.
Protein
Chicken, pork, lamb or fish.
Vegetable
Carrots, green beans, bok choi, spinach, fennel, ginger, squash and zucchini.
Cooking sauce/condiments
Gluten free stock, yogurt and coconut milk, coriander, cumin, five spice, anything not on the band list.
I make curries, soups, stews, salads and now I’m more inventive with my menus. For example, I had chopped up fennel, apple, carrot, zucchini and cabbage and I tossed it with mayo and a dash of mustard as a side salad with loin of pork and homemade fries, made with olive oil, salt and huge amount of black pepper baked in the oven. Other nights I will make Thai curry with rice. Breakfast is natural bio yogurt with water ice and salt. Brunch is toasted gluten free bread. Lunch is salad with meat or meat and rice. I make all my own burgers from scratch and add loads of veggies to liven them up. I will admit that chilli is still getting into my diet, but I will stop if I were intolerant.
What have I noticed so far? It has only been four weeks since going all-out, but I have had a change in bowel movements. I know if I have eaten something not on the list I get bound up. I have very little wind now, no belching as soon as I eat something and not so many cramps now. My bloating has reduced dramatically. I do not miss onions and garlic, but I can now smell garlic on others. I found great gluten, soy and dairy free bread. I don’t crave if I have been a good girl, if I cheat I crave chippies.
Will update you in a few months’ time to let you know how I’m going.
For reference.
Paleo
A diet based on the types of foods presumed to have been eaten by early humans, consisting chiefly of meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit and excluding dairy or cereal products and processed food.
FODMAPS
Are carbohydrates (sugars) that are found in foods. Not all carbohydrates are considered FODMAPs. The FODMAPs in the diet are: Fructose (fruits, honey, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), etc) Lactose (dairy)
Autoimmune Protocol - AIP
No gluten, no grains, no legumes, no dairy, no sugar, no eggs, no nuts and no alcohol. Also certain drugs and additives are on the no list.
Nightshades Vegetables and fruit
No tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, peppers, capsicums, onion, garlic and chilli
Natalia is based in the Kapiti Coast area, but works remotely with those with Autoimmune Disease, as she knows many can not travel easily. She has clients across New Zealand.
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