Day 25 - Painting My Nails, and Other Healthy-Girl Stuff

Last night, I painted my nails.  

I don't do that very often.  I work with children, and I keep my fingernails trimmed short to avoid scratching while playing and tickling.  But, over this past month, I have seen a real improvement in the way my nails look, so I decided to celebrate with just a very little length... and some pink polish.

I remember being a teenager and always having my fingernails done.  I loved the whole process of filing and painting, choosing colors, the "me time".  My classmates in high school refused to believe my nails were real!  At some point in my young adult life, all of that ceased, as my nails refused to grow and became brittle and weak.  If they started to grow, the chipped and broke before getting very far.  I was disappointed, but I never attributed it to my health.  

Once I changed my diet, I saw a big improvement in my nails.  They were growing again!  Unfortunately, they still chipped and split easily, so I have been especially careful when special occasions are approaching when I might want to groom and show them off, but it hasn't always worked out.  

If you suffer from chronic fatigue, you know how hard it can be to think about things like this.  Not only do your work, home, and family feel the impact of your condition, but so do your hobbies, social life, and your personal self.  When you are just trying to muster enough energy to get through the day, sometimes the last thing on your list of priorities is you.  

The sad reality, however, is that if you don't take care of you, then you really won't be much good to anybody else.

When you make big changes to take care of the inside of your body, the outside will show it.  Whether it be healthier fingernails, hair or skin,  the way you walk when you are no longer in pain, or brighter eyes and smile when you can stay awake through the day, others are likely to notice a change.  Even better, you will begin to feel like you have the energy to take care of the outside of your body - you can begin to exercise, and you can afford time to pamper yourself with long baths, or manicures and other special treatments.  

My fingernails are stronger now than they have been in many years.  But that is such a small thing compared to all of the other wonderful improvements eating real food has made in my life.  Living in constant pain and exhaustion is really barely living.  

When was the last time you felt like taking some time for you and the outside of your body?  If it's been too long, then maybe it's time to make some big changes for the inside first.

Day 24 - What You Don't Know Could Hurt You

There are times when I will avoid a certain food or ingredient, because I don't know enough about it to decide if it's something I want to put into my body.  

My first experience with this came some months after my original big changes in diet and resulting big improvements in my health.  I had decided to try Menchie's for a treat one day, since they boast all natural ingredients and offer dairy free flavors (sorbet).  Ever vigilant about ingredients, I asked and was provided an ingredients list (many food service places offer this now).  There, in the ingredients was "corn syrup" - but, they specifically advertise "no high fructose corn syrup", and quite frankly, I didn't know the difference.  I had heard that high fructose corn syrup is bad for you, but I figured just-plain-old corn syrup must be okay.  I thought long and hard before I made my choice, and in the end I went home with dish of lovely sorbet.

I woke up in the middle of the night with terrible pain in my arms.  My muscles were sore and tight, and I just felt "not quite right" all over.  I strongly suspected the corn syrup, and I avoided it for a long time after that.  

One day, several weeks later, I was feeling like a sweet treat after lunch, and I grabbed a package of "all natural" fruit snacks - the kind made with real juice and no artificial stuff.  It was a small package (the kind you put in your child's lunch box), and it satisfied my sweet tooth quite nicely.  Within two hours, however, I was in so much pain I could barely walk; my hips and thighs felt bruised, and my legs were heavy, giving me the sensation of wading through thick mud.  I immediately pulled that fruit snacks wrapper out of the trash and read the ingredients - and there, amongst all the other natural stuff, was corn syrup.

When I get these terrible "fibro flares", they can last up to a few days, come with debilitating fatigue, and are sometimes accompanied by congestion.  It's totally worth it to me to read ingredients and avoid certain thinks like the plague, if it means I am also avoiding the pain.

Many, many times, I have come across ingredients that I don't recognize, and if I don't have the means to "look it up" right then, I simply don't eat it.  If I don't know for certain all of the ingredients in something (at a restaurant, or in someone else's home), I don't eat it.   I've missed out on some things, but I've learned to eat before I go places and even bring food with me when it's appropriate.  My general rule of thumb when reading labels is,  "If I don't know what it is, if I can't pronounce it, if it has more than five syllables, then I don't eat it."   

Of course, corn syrup is not going to affect everybody the way it does me.  Be aware, however, that corn syrup is a common trigger food for autoimmune response, as are many corn products and other grains.  These are what are called "inflammatory foods", and if you are experienced with the pain of inflammation, then that name should say it all.

My point in telling you about my corn syrup aversion is to give you an understanding of why it is so important to pay attention to your body and to learn your trigger foods.  Each individual is different, and will respond differently to different foods.  An elimination diet can help you begin to recognize those foods, and following the blood type diet can help you further understand and choose foods that are safest for you.  Yes, there are times you are going to miss out, and you will miss certain foods.  But, once you begin to experience relief from pain and health problems, you will find the effort more than worth it.

By the way, I still enjoy an occasional Menchie's treat - I load up my bowl with fresh fruits, almonds, walnuts, and chocolate chips, and I feel like I'm not missing a thing!  I also love Chipotle, where I can get wholesome ingredients by the heapful for dinner and an all natural soda to wash it down.

Day 23 - STOP THE PRESSES!!!

"Eighty thousand chemicals have been approved for use in our environment. Every year 1700 new chemicals are approved -- that's an average of five a day. Have scientists studied the effects on our bodies of all these chemicals? No. However, those chemicals that have been researched -- in occupational studies and in studies of lab animals -- have been shown to play a role in triggering autoimmune reactions." 

(Donna Jackson Nakazawa, 2008)

Pictured here is an actual junior high school textbook...

Published by McGraw-Hill, this book could possibly be found in just about any classroom in America.

This book has a unit on biotechnology, with a small section on artificial foods - it praises modern science for creating growth hormones for cows (giving us more milk) and pesticide-resistant corn, among other wonders.  It even mentions Nutrasweet by name.  It goes on to entice the reader with thoughts of future food mutations (an edible pencil, and a turkey with three drumsticks).  The entire section is written in a positive light, with absolutely no input about the adverse effects of these artificial substances on our bodies.  

I found this book today in an eighth grade technology classroom and just happened upon this information while glancing through it.

The book was published in 2002.  An older printing was sitting nearby, so I picked it up and compared - this version was printed in 1994 and had a similar section with almost word-for-word exactly the same writing.

It is now 2014.  Twenty years have passed since the 1994 printing of this book.  This means that for at least the past twenty years, middle school students have been exposed to this way of thinking about artificial foods.  

An entire generation of children have been taught in school that chemicals and artificial ingredients in our foods are not only okay, but are somehow superior in quality to what our ancestors ate. 

This month, I have tried to educate you just a little about the adverse effects of artificial ingredients and processed foods on your health.  I have shared with you my own story of healing, and I've invited you to come along with me and experience a cleansing diet and big changes in the way you think about food.  I hope you can begin to  imagine my horror when I read in this school text book today the exact opposite of what I stand for and tried to comprehend the number of students who have been exposed to this.

I hope you know what your children are being taught in school, and I sincerely hope you are educating them at home and feeding them a variety of real food to help them grow up with diverse tastes and able to make healthy choices.  

Don't our children deserve better than the mistakes we've made with our health?

(For more information on the rise of autoimmune disease in the past four decades, look here...)

Day 22 - Try It, You Might Like It...

This month has been a real learning experience for me, in that I've tasted lots of new foods that I had never eaten before.  

This past weekend, I tried kelp noodles for the first time.  This was a completely new concept for me, and so far I have mixed feelings...

The kelp noodles have absolutely no flavor (so, if you're thinking "seaweed", don't let that deter you).  I can definitely see them being a versatile replacement for pasta with your favorite sauces, or noodles in oriental dishes.  My one problem with them is that I haven't yet learned how to soften them - they are... crunchy.  

Yes, kelp noodles are crunchy, but there is apparently some trick to softening them, which involves marinating them over night.  I found this video explaining how to soften kelp noodles.  (I'm not too sure about this woman's attire for the kitchen, and the background music seemed a little suggestive as well, but she does show you how to marinate the noodles.)

I myself  have not tried this method yet, and I used up my whole bag of kelp noodles.  I will definitely be trying this in the future, though.  Also, you can find lots of recipes for salads using the kelp noodles, and I think the crunch would come in great for those.

I mixed mine with stir-fried broccoli and bamboo shoots, and served along-side baked tilapia.

So, I have now - in the past three weeks - experienced rutabaga, sardines, leeks, celery root, and kelp noodles, all for the very first time!  I'm happy to report that I've liked them all, and so have added a few new items to my healthy diet.  Variety is very important to me, since I'm limited as to what I can safely eat.  From all of my health issues, the pain and suffering and unanswered questions, I've gained so much knowledge and experience of real food.  The only thing I would change is how late in life I discovered all of these fabulous foods.  

My advice to you is, let your food be food, and enjoy the adventure - try it, you might like it!   

Day 21 - Rounding the Bend

I don't know how the weather is where you are right now, but where I am, it's still cold!  Spring has been taunting us for some weeks now - sunny and warm one day, and snow flurries the next.  This week, I decided to try one more soup variation before the warm weather sets in for good...

Celery and leek soup...

  (Shout out here, to Rada, for making awesome knives.  

One really good knife in the kitchen 

can make all the difference!)

I followed the same procedure as I did for the broccoli soup and the carrot almond ginger soup.  I used about 10 stalks of celery and one leek.  Simply boil the chopped up celery and leek until soft, drain and rinse with cold water, add to blender with about 1/2 a cup of cold water, and puree.  Pour the puree back into your pot, with 2 cups of hot water, heat to boiling, and salt to taste.

I will admit, this one probably could be improved by using chicken broth, instead of plain water.  But, it's great to know that you can have a perfectly fine soup at less cost.

If you like the taste of celery, you will probably really like celery root!

I tried this root vegetable - affectionately known as "the ugly one" - for the first time this past week.  It isn't the root of the celery that we eat; it's a whole different plant entirely.

This is a very low-carb alternative to potatoes, but it's definitely not the same - it has a very strong flavor... of celery.  If you're okay with that, it's really good.

I tried celery root two different ways...

Peeled...

diced, and fried in olive oil...

this was great with eggs for breakfast!

And, mashed...

This was a little more difficult to accomplish.  I had read that the entire root could be boiled whole, and the skin removed after...  

After an hour, however, my celery root still was not cooked all the way through, so I peeled the skin, cut up the white inside and boiled it that way until done.

Next, I added a bit of olive oil, garlic, parsley, and almond milk, for something very similar to mashed potatoes (aside from the distinct flavor).

A great side to my roasted vegetables - broccoli, asparagus, onion and leek. 

If you have been doing this with me, then after three weeks, you should be feeling differently than you did before we started.  You may or may not be experiencing symptoms of candida die-off, you may be feeling better than you have in a while, or you might still see the whole thing as a huge sacrifice (very fitting that we started this during lent).  

I sincerely hope that you are learning how easy it really is to eat without chemicals and artificial stuff - and learning that real food can be good.

In the coming week, I will be sharing a few more new (to me) foods I've tried, and I will put together a sample menu for the entire 28-day plan, that you can use if you are thinking of starting now.  

Next week, we will begin slowly adding to our food list, watching for "trigger foods", and learning to eat real food every day.

Day 20 - Crazy Days and Lazy Days

Life happens to all of us sometimes.  We all have crazy days.  days when we have to eat on the run, or forget to go shopping and have to make due with what we have in the house.  Days when we get lost on the road.  Days when we get our INs and OUTs all mixed up.  I don't know anyone who doesn't have days like that.  

The important thing is balance.  This is where the lazy days come in.  If you don't take a break sometimes, life will certainly overwhelm you, and things could get ugly quick.

When I started my new job, one week into my anti-candida diet, I wasn't sure how it would go.  I have suffered from chronic fatigue for more than 15 years; and even though I am now virtually pain free - as long as I watch what I eat - I was still very tired all the time, which was my biggest reason for putting together this 28-day plan.  It seems to be working.  I now work five days a week and spend a total of 42 hours working or in commute.  I have found myself running errands or grocery shopping after work, coming home and cooking real food, and spending time relaxing (and, of course, blogging) before bed.  It feels amazing to get through an entire day without even thinking about a nap.  

Nap time came for me today.  

Yesterday, I went to work with my husband, as we had a class to attend together in the evening.  It meant getting up an hour earlier in the morning and not getting home until bedtime.  To add to the crazy schedule, for some reason the two grocery stores I stopped at the day before were completely out of ground turkey - a turkey burger is my quick and easy go-to menu item, for any of all three meals, and I had intended to top a salad with one for lunch and bring along an extra for dinner.  I ended up buying pre-made frozen turkey burgers with the very frightening phrase "natural flavoring" listed as an ingredient.  I wasn't able to find anywhere online what exactly this natural substance might be, although rumors abound, and it was too late in the day to call the 800 number on the box.  I took a risk.  

All seems well.  Although I certainly wouldn't eat these regularly, they worked in a pinch.  

I brought my big salad and my tainted turkey burgers with me, and I brought along a handful of almonds for a mid day snack.  Since changing my diet, I've learned to pack a lunch, dinner, and even a Thanksgiving meal, in order to preserve my health and still get enough to eat.

If yesterday was a crazy day, today was a lazy day.  My husband came down with a terrible head cold yesterday, and I don't feel so well, myself.  Today was a day to sleep late and stay on the couch.  A day for napping.  A day for comfort food - which for him meant chicken noodle soup, and for me meant plain old fried eggs, and a delicious snack of baked rutabaga fries.

Lazy days are necessary sometimes, for our bodies to stay well.  You can eat a diet of all organic, raw, healthy foods all the time, drink enough water, and get plenty of exercise.  You can follow all the "rules", but if you don't take time to rest, then you are not really taking care of your body.  You can expect to feel tired and beaten down if you allow your work, family, or other obligations to take over.  A very wise person once said, "Stress will kill you, and so will housework if done properly." 

I love the idea of having a nap once a week, especially if I don't need one (or two) every day.  I love the idea of working hard all week and then having the weekend off.  I know everyone doesn't have that luxury, but I also know that taking care of your body should be a priority - no matter what else you have to sacrifice - because, in the long run, every area of your life will benefit from you being well.

Let your treats be real food.

And, take time to rest.

Day 19 - A Little Indulgence Goes a Long Way

I wouldn't say it was a bad day, but before noon I  found myself hopelessly lost in a town I'm not familiar with, on snowy roads with "iffy" breaks.  One wrong turn led to another, guided by the robotic voice of my smartphone GPS app, who impatiently "rerouted" as needed, and in the end, I figure, I went about an hour out of my way for a "quick" errand.

I finally reached my destination, for a five-minute stop.  Upon leaving, I nearly turned out the "IN".  It was that kind of day.  I caught my mistake just in time, and pulled out only to be almost hit head-on by someone who was turning in the "OUT".  Heavens!  Was everybody having that kind of day?!  

It was the kind of day that could try even the strongest of wills.

It was the kind of day that makes a gluten free wife envy her husband's breakfast toast.

The kind of day that makes you want... cake.

And, cake I thought about!  

But, I didn't do it.

I went to work with my husband today, and up the street from the office is a pretty nice health food store.  I went, looking for a treat to settle my weary soul.  Seaweed chips were just the thing.  

I know what you must be thinking - seaweed chips can in no way possibly resemble cake!  But, that's what's so great about doing this diet - my thoughts could be quickly redirected.  A little urge for something sweet - brought on by emotions - is truly not the same as a craving that is the result of your body being deprived of nutrients for so long that it thinks it needs some junk food to fill the gap.

When you realize that your body can live - and live well - on real food, you can begin learning to indulge without overdoing it.  A bite of chocolate, instead of a whole candy bar.  A candy bar on Friday, instead of one every day of the week.  A piece of cake at a birthday party, a slice of pie at Thanksgiving.  Ice cream on a hot summer night - but, not every night of the summer!  Learning to listen to your body, and getting to know your trigger foods, also means you will be able to indulge occasionally without regretting it in the morning.  

Of course, it will take discipline at first.  I know all too well how easily one can get caught up in all the pleasures of desserts, not to mention, salty snacks, sodas and fast food.  Certain social situations almost require poor food choices, but it's okay to be the odd man out if it means preserving your health.  It's perfectly okay to say, "No, thank you."  It is more than okay to bring along an alternative healthy treat to share - even if it does get you some funny looks.  Don't worry, your friends and family will get used to it.  And, if you feel better, they will take notice.

Seaweed chips was not my only indulgence today.  

I also sprung for store-bought salad dressing.

 An expense, for sure, but so full of healthy stuff, and so very tasty.

  

I reasoned that everything on the ingredients list matched my list of allowed foods for my 28-day plan, and it even included those wonderful probiotics.  

A little indulgence can really go a long way - in either a good or bad direction.  

When you feel the need to treat yourself, keep your body in mind - it will thank you!