Huge changes are happening in my eating habits lately. I don't know whether it was the constant joint pain I was experiencing which I had put down to a recently diagnosed autoimmune issue, talking to people around me who are also shifting their approach to eating or even the influence of Jean Auel and her absorbing books that are the cause..but I've gotta tell you..I am feeling great! I seem to have loads more energy and am not suffering from that mid afternoon slump and the most exciting part of all..that debilitating joint pain that had been around for months is at last making an exit! Good riddance, I say.
Seriously though, thinking that this was the new kind of normal for me didn't cut it. Restricting activities because I felt pain after walking the dog around the block (ridiulcous, right!) made me realise that this was not a quality of life I was happy to accept. After confuddling doctors and their fancy x-ray machines and still not having any answers, my glimpse of hope finally came after examining my diet and what I was putting into my body. I am not advocating this change for anyone, I am merely keeping notes for myself to refer back to, so please, if you have health issues do get a thorough examination.
Looking back I can see that I have always been sensitive to dairy..extremely dry skin and stomach issues should've been the obvious indicator. Why is it so easy to dismiss these kinds of things to other contributing factors.."It's winter..everyone's skin is dry" "I need to drink more water" or my favourite "This is just how I am" No! It doesn't have to be that way. By eliminating dairy from my diet I have found that my stomach is sooo much happier, as is my skin and my joints. This was hugely challenging for me though..from the girl who spent a chunk of her childhood living on a dairy farm. Cream! What would I do without it!! Butter for cooking and milk products aplenty..how would I ever survive?
After noticing the unbelievable improvements to my body after removing dairy from my diet for a trial period, the decision was made for me. It was obvious, dairy had to go. It hasn't been so hard at all. Nothing like I anticipated. Eliminating gluten and sugar also had me wondering. There is an enormous amount of information out there on the cons of consuming foods containing these and we can only make up our own decisions on how we feel after we eat them and their effects on our own bodies. I was completely in the zone and noticing positive results with eliminating dairy so decided to probe further and increase the challenge to see what would result for me.
Gluten is in everything, right? How would I make a sandwich? Coat a schnitzel? Bake a cake? This from the girl who completely loves to bake. (To answer my own questions: wrap it in a lettuce leaf, use almond meal and maybe I shouldn't be eating that anyway). Did I really just say that? Me? Lover of fine baked goods and cakes unlimited - how can this possibly be? I'll tell you.. my body did not lie.
After experiencing more positive results to my system after cutting back on gluten and processed sugar, I was inspired stick with it. There have to be people out there eating this way, right? Just like there has to be alternatives to certain ingredients I have become used to eating which are probably not the best for my situation? Yes! Absolutely. I actually feel a little overwhelmed by the amount of information that I am finding online..not to mention the books that are calling (shouting even) at me to read them. If my body feels good after eating then I know that what I am eating is right for ME. I can only explore this further and see where it takes me.
Are you finding different foods affect you in different ways? Are you in a similar situation? What are your thoughts on food in general?
Wow..If you have managed to read through my ramble this far, I'd love to show you what's been happening in my kitchen lately..
Raw fruit and nut balls - my new occasional sweet treat
A foray into almond milk..with a bonus - almond meal to use in other dishes
Roadside foraged cherry plums from a stroll with my mum :)
Said cherry plums after being stewed and strained. They made their way into the crockpot to flavour tonight's dinner - slow cooked shoulder of organic lamb (purchased from these lovely people).
I felt very 'Ayla' when I decided to slow cook this enormous hunk of meat and use my foraged plums stewed and mashed for the flavouring ;) Don't have a clue what I'm talking about? Read the Jean Auel books!
In preparation - san choy bau. The 13yo's dinner for the family this week. It was YUM!
The 2013 garlic harvest..dried, braided and hanging in the kitchen. Love!
Enjoy your week out there, people. And happy eating, whatever foods you most love to enjoy. :)
