I am all about food as a flavorful art form, a delicious reason for social gathering, fostering world peace and substitute for occasionally needed psychotherapy. It may seem like a cliche, but a pint of Haagen Daz and a tearjerker movie can do the trick for about $8 versus a session with a therapist.
Well, since July 1st, I have been refining my relationship with food. Shedding lifetime concepts about the comfort of carbohydrates has been a struggle. I would like to think that we have always eaten well, but the fact is that convenience comes with a price.
This past year I have been caught in a vicious cycle. Over the age of fifty, we all accept a few aches and pains as par for the course of life. I have a degenerative spinal disc disease so chronic pain is part of my norm. This year I have danced intimately with intense inflammation throughout my entire body. I have played Russian roulette with different prescription drugs as doctors attempted to relieve my debilitating symptoms. I was diagnosed with systemic lupus almost thirty years ago. It has been in remission for about the last twenty five. It has awakened again with intense inflammation throughout my body. Joint pain, muscular aches and electrical shock sensations run through nerves. It has affected my ability to sleep, to move, to sit with any comfort. The side effects of the drugs put me at risk for irreversible blindness, bone and tissue deterioration and possible lymphoma. Worst of all I started to gain weight! For the first time in about fifteen years I had to give up my gym membership, I have been unable to work, and cooking has been my creative outlet and joy. Meeting friends for lunch or inviting them for dinner has been my recreation and a welcome distraction from health issues and medical visits.
Motivated by desire to shift back to health and not illness management, I have been reading and researching alternative therapies and causes for disease. The evidence is well documented. We are what we eat America! In this land of plenty, we have transformed our way of eating and we are feeding the pharmaceutical machine with our chosen diet. In order to keep food plentiful, inexpensive, and marketable with an unnaturally long shelf life, (Twinkies now last forty five days), conveniently bagged, boxed, pre-cooked for convenience, we have been killing ourselves softly. GMOs, pesticides, chemical additives and preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, artificial food colors and sweeteners have made our food supply toxic. If another country tainted our food supply this way, we would consider it an act of war.
With intense personal interest, I have devoured the the book THE INFLAMMATION SYNDROME by Jack Challem. Having borrowed it from the public library, I intend to purchase a copy for reference. It should be required reading in high school health and biology classes. It is interesting to note that when we have a food allergy, we are determined to avoid that food at all costs. I am allergic to crab. It causes instant swelling and I won't risk death by anaphylactic shock for the pleasure of eating it. Here is the catch, most people are manifesting reactions to the food they eat in subtle ways. Without rash and swelling, it is not obvious that you are developing damage to your body until you receive a diagnosis of asthma, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or a host of other maladies. Chronic inflammation causes damage. It is your body's natural defense system against allergy, infection and toxins. What we eat can send our immune system into defensive overdrive. So, if you have chronic aches, pains, sinus allergies, digestive troubles, bloating, fatigue and weight gain, the warning signs are present.
Since July 1st, I have radically changed my diet. Each day has been a battle of cravings, rationalization and determination. BUT, I have lost 8 pounds! I am sleeping better, my pain levels have improved and the difference shows. Excess fat cells, especially belly fat, give off chemicals that cause inflammation. I am determined to create a new paradigm for my health. My appetite has changed. I enjoy eating all fresh foods and am never hungry. I can't eat larger portions without feeling uncomfortably stuffed. My energy level has improved. I feel motivated to continue to eat healthy. I am Re-setting my metabolism as well as my taste buds.
Major changes:
No processed foods. If it has an ingredient that I cannot pronounce, avoid it.
No bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, sugar or alcohol. This is temporary, while I am trying to lose weight. The trick is not to eat all of these things every day, just occasionally. French fries are death. Anything cooked above 400 degrees becomes toxic especially cooking oils.
Use olive oil, never canola or soy. Avoid soy anything. It is usually a GMO and is allergenic.
Dairy causes inflammation. This was a real challenge because I drink milk and love cheese. I gave up yogurt, sour cream, milk and cheese. I did allow myself a little feta on a salad or some grated Parmesan on romaine. I did add 2 teaspoons of organic low fat milk to my morning coffee. No more cheese and crackers or lasagna right now.
I eat fresh fruit, a serving or two each day. It satisfies my sweet tooth and prevents homicidal urges from giving up most carbs. I eat meat, poultry and fish, avoiding corn fed beef and pork which cause inflammation. Grass fed is healthier and free range when possible. So, fire up the grill! Lots of fresh veggies and salads with homemade dressing and fresh herbs. I eat eggs and keep some hard boiled for a quick snack. Nuts and seeds are good. I keep a bag with me when I am on the run in case I skip a meal. I drink pitchers of water that I flavor with sliced fresh fruit, home brewed iced tea. Who knew that I would enjoy eating avocado for breakfast?
I no longer use cooking oil sprays. The propellant is toxic and millions of cans end up in landfills. Instead I brush a little olive oil in the pan. Better to use real butter on occasion instead of margarine when a recipe calls for greasing a pan. I've tried coconut oil, but it definitely flavors what you have in the pan.
I drink Veggie Patch juice from Trader Joe's. it is similar to V8. I add a tsp of apple cider vinegar to it for extra snap. The vinegar helps reduce inflammation and is really good for digestion. It gives a tang like squeezing in fresh lemon, another favorite. Over ice, it is a pre-dinner cocktail, like a virgin Bloody Mary. Add celery garnish or skewered olives for the full effect and I don't even miss the vodka.
I am seeing and feeling results in just over two weeks. Next month I will have another blood test to check my C Reactive Protein levels which measure inflammation. A level of 4 indicates possible heart disease. Mine hovers around 8-12 which indicates chronic inflammatory disease. This year it spiked to an all time high of 20. I am looking forward to seeing a significant drop and perhaps eliminating a drug that may damage my eyes.
Giving up fettuccine Alfredo seems a small price to pay for the joy of seeing Liam, my grandson grow up. I wouldn't trade my wisdom and experience for youth again. Tomorrow I celebrate my 58th birthday knowing that life will just keep getting better by the way I choose to feed my body, my mind and my soul!
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