They say you are what you eat. This has been proven to be true for me at least. I’ve struggled with digestion issues for the past year. I have tried many elimination diets but none leave me satisfied. I have seen doctors, none who have the answers. What I have discovered is that when I eat well, I feel well. I used to be able to eat whatever I wanted in moderation. These days dairy and gluten make me feel horrible. I have also cut way back on essential oils, not because I don’t believe in their healing properties, but because overexposure to fragrances of any kind can really damage your endocrine system and wreck your hormones. I also have reason to believe my hormones were way out of whack to the point doctors thought I had endometriosis. I never got a formal diagnosis but my monthly cycles were tragic. My low back and tailbone pain required pelvic physical therapy. Not even yoga was cutting it. I also have had chronic sinusitis and allergies my entire life. These are all inflammatory conditions. For me, following an anti-inflammatory, whole foods based diet is key to healing. I’m still a work in progress.
After working with a holistic nutrition practitioner and doing a ton of research on my own, I have found that what I eat truly affects how I feel on a daily basis, that I can actually have a normal period and be pain free. What I’m getting at here is that food is medicine. I don’t have a degree in nutrition, but I do have the inner wisdom to listen to my body. I can no longer eat the way I used to and in some ways it sucks, but on the other hand I acknowledge that the deep fried chicken strips and french fries I had over the weekend no longer serve me. I love the saying “Life is short. Eat the cake.” It’s just that now, that cake needs to be a healthier version for me. I really enjoy vegan baking and experimenting with different gluten free flours. I enjoy cooking new recipes and eating whole foods from local farmers who practice sustainable farming. I no longer rely on the grocery store, especially during summer. Another thing that is really important to me is knowing if my food is NON-GMO and organic. Don’t be afraid to ask your farmer and read labels. We all love corn on the cob in the summer, but if your veggies are coming from GMO seeds and are being sprayed with harmful pesticides it’s probably not the best option. We can do better. We are human. We must support humane methods of farming. Eating processed, chemical laden food isn’t doing you or the earth any good. If you care, do your research. Use your voice. Buy local.
Here’s where I buy most of my food:
Mountain Harvest Farm, LLC (Morgantown, WV) for organic produce
Footprints Farm (Gibbon Glade, PA) for pasture raised, grass fed meats
Red Range Farm (New Salem, PA) for grass/pasture raised meats and organic produce
Tips (I’ve learned over the past year):
Eat to support your gut health. Our gut is tied to our immune system. If you want to strengthen your immune system cut way back on sugar (avoid sugar substitutes), drink spring or mineral water or filter your tap water (bottled water in plastic bottles is harmful to your health), eat whole un-processed foods, reduce caffeine, eat less meat (this one was hard for me at first, but now meat only makes up a small portion of my plate. The rest is veggies). Fat is good for you (healthy fats like nuts, olives, advocados, olive/advocado oil). If you eat gluten/grains, try to buy breads and pastas that are organic and NON-GMO. I can tolerate sour dough. Maywood Grill in Chalk Hill, PA makes me homemade sourdough upon request. It’s amazing! As an alternative to pasta, I really love lentil or chick pea pasta.
Disclaimer: These are just my personal opinions. I’m not a nutritionist. I am simply stating what works for me.
Eat well. Exercise. Get outdoors. Enjoy your summer! Be safe!
Nourish to flourish,
Jenny
