food

Because food it is a Big Deal right now. My food journey has taken a sharp and unexpected turn. My approach to keeping my auto immune condition in remission is a rather more holistic one than the conventional attitude. First up for me since it is immediate and something over which I can exert control (believe me this feels like a HUGE deal when it's as though there is an invisible under-skin battle happening over which I am the anxious bystander). I have a friend who is writing a book for an auto immune specialist. Coincidentally. How is that for a stroke of luck? She has been sending info to me and I am amazed that there is so much to know about our immune systems. It is fascinating. To me now. This specialist does a combination of high tech lab - blood tests and then uses botanical compounds (amongst other things) to re balance the immune system. Or rather uses the testing to find out if the T or B cells are out of control either under or over producing and the specific botanical compounds then relate to dampen the immune response. In support of this is the use of high, or therapeutic, levels of emulsified Vitamin D, and a vascular glutathione cream (a naturally occurring antioxidant that is usually low in those with auto immune conditions). Then of course there is the repairing of a potential leaky gut (which leads to leaky lungs and brain) and is the heart of the immune system, and so not just probiotics but specific gut healing compounds can be used.

There is a lot to take in. But a lot I *can* do. Which makes me feel so much better, so much more in control, so much happier! I am looking for someone to take these sorts of extensive blood tests in order to figure out which of the 'medicines' I can use. My friend is ordering me the products to support my immune system and has put together a plan for me based around this approach.

Also paramount is having a gluten free diet as the effects of gluten can be both severe or subtle but usually effect everyone on some level. It is also interesting that many auto immune specialists won't treat those who are not gluten free. So I decide to be grain free. Sugar free is important, including fruit sugars so that I can keep my blood sugar levels from fluctuating - which alone can cause immune issues, so I am refined sugar and fruit free. Also from an eliminating allergen stance I have eliminated dairy, eggs, soy and corn for a while. Although I think I am going to stick with being dairy free, I like it :)

So what do I eat? Not much right?

I can eat veg; root, salad, leaf, sea. Meat and fish. Nuts and seeds (although I think at some point I should eliminate them for a bit and then reintroduce them to see how they effect me), superfoods, blueberries (low in sugar, high in antioxidants).... plus, well so many other things. Like arrowroot. Arrowroot is my new best friend because with it I can make these:



Almond and coconut cookies

1/2 cup of ground almonds
1/2 cup of dessicated coconut
pinch of pink Himalayan salt
1 cup of arrowroot powder

1/2 cup of Virgin Coconut Oil
1/2 cup - or less - of agave nectar
dash of vanilla extract

~Mix the dry. Melt the VCO and stir in the agave and vanilla. Add wet to dry and mix. Form into balls with your hands and then press flat on a greased (VCO) tray. bake at medium heat for about 15 minutes.

I also made Lucuma Fudge



Found here on the fabulous Susan Jane Murray site -which is chock full of gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free recipes.

But enough of the sweets. What do I actually eat?

For breakfasts I eat soups, or left over roast veggies sitting in a big romaine leaf with shelled hemp seeds scattered over.... lunch is something salad-y, with shredded chicken or fish (and hemp seeds - I am becoming so fond of these creamy little seeds). Or maybe a big roast sweet potato dolloped with humus (as seen in the picture above) on a bed of spinach. Dinner is usually a version of what everyone else is eating or maybe salmon and veg 'burgers' or bean burgers, fish rolled in nori sheets..... and of course I have my 'sweets' too. Plus my 'sweet' dh who stops nearly daily to buy me punnets of organic blueberries.

I feel... lighter. All my adult life I think I have been bloated daily and not even known it. Like I thought it was just regular after-dinner-fullness. Now I know I was bloated. I have dropped nearly two dress sizes, in what, a a month? Not intentionally but coupled with low appetite and this drastic paring back of my intake and variety of foods, well, my weight has dropped. I have had even moods. This was something else I have never realised. That my dips and sways and irritability levels - which I assumed was me not coping well with life or not being patient enough - actually may have been food related. This is a real shocker. Is it the stable blood sugars? The lack of gluten? Dunno. But I feel, well, happier. More often. Not so irritable. It's nice :)

I'll be posting here on how this goes for me, if it all helps. And the recipes! When I find good ones - I'll post them too.