Almost a decade ago, I got off the corporate treadmill, after my son was born. While I was pregnant, I paid close attention to ingredients in foods and only ate foods with 5 or less ingredients. When my son was born, I fed him organic baby food and tried to limit his intake of sugar. I made him homemade food for a while (about 3 years) and then, I decided I needed to start a business for myself. During the time I had my business, I cheated and let him have "kids" food, which is just horrible for him. I justified this to myself in that he is young and it can't affect him too much. The good news is he doesn't like most of it. I have a child that will eat broccoli before mashed potatoes...yay!! So, I had to beg him to eat chicken nuggets at McDonalds (why, I have no idea).
I watched some shows on Netflix and really got an idea of how bad "good" food is for you in America. The kids food is the worst. I checked the labels on my son's breakfast food one morning and he had just eaten 42grams of sugar...WHAT????
Over these years, I had a few different doctors. I went to one Dr. and told him I was just tired all the time and that my skin was breaking out, which caused me to pick at it and make sores. He prescribed me Prozac. My second Dr., I loved her, but she missed a lot. So, I finally changed my health insurance and went to see a holistic M.D. She will prescribe pharmaceuticals, but tries everything else first for chronic conditions. I love that she gives us soaks, scrubs, supplements etc. before writing the prescription. She also utilizes plant based pharma as much as possible.
My new Dr. diagnosed me with Leaky Gut Syndrome. It is complicated, but an overview is that my intestines are sensitive to many foods and they become inflamed easily. When they are inflamed they do not digest nutrition from the foods I eat the way they should. So, I am deficient in nutrients. My Dr. prescribed me many supplements to help with the inflammation and to blast my gut with nutrients, so that some get through.
I honestly didn't know I had symptoms, until I didn't. I took the supplements religiously in the beginning and avoided the foods she told me to avoid. However, one of the foods was dairy and I LOVE dairy. I love cheese the most. Well in true human nature form, I stopped being so diligent as soon as I started to feel better. (Why do we do that?) Then, I started to feel bad again. My symptoms range from discomfort in my belly to real pain depending on what I have eaten and if I have taken my supplements or not. I feel fatigued, foggy headed and sluggish.
The good news is I can heal my leaky gut...however I have to eat right and take my supplements. But remember, I can't seem to do that...ugh!!! I bought a book called Eat Dirt by Dr. Axe. He says that the causes of leaky gut stem from 5 different things: stress, overuse of pharmaceuticals, environmental toxins, corrupted food supply and overuse of antibacterial soap/cleaners.
He gives really great ideas about meals and foods to eat. I seem to do well for a while, but then I crave junk food and fall off the wagon.
I am learning that this self-sabotaging behavior is rooted in many different areas of my life and me. This is where the journey for the mind-body-spirit-soul connection begins. I am realizing that this cannot be just a diet for me...it has to be a total lifestyle change. I have to detox and nourish my mind, body, spirit and soul. I want to write about it and maybe someone can get something out of it...either way...I feel compelled to write it.
