The Dairy Dilema

Okay, so milk is my best friend. I am most interested out of all the food elimination to see if Milk causes me to flare. I drink a lot of milk. I eat a lot of yougurt. I enjoy low fat cheese. I am a farmer's daughter after all.

As I have been reading online, I have seen a lot of positive comments about unsweetened coconut milk. I have to admit I was really resisitant. I have tried Almond milk and I gagged. Give me the cow! But I was very surprised and the close taste. So, yesteday I felt like I was set free. I have milk on Buckwheat cereal. I had yogurt for lunch. I had a little bit of coconut milk Ice Cream for treat.

Nope, there is no feeling of deprivation here!

The Food

I was so worried about feeling restricted and giving up when it comes to these food restrictions. Let's face it, I have tried "diets" before and they never lasted. So far, I have not felt deprived. I realize the value of making food special. Making it look elegant. The meal needs to feel like an experience. The hardest part of this of course, is planning ahead. I realized yesterday how much harder it is to eat healthy when you are rushed. I had to get 4 kids out the door and myself ready to be at work all day. Meals, snacks, etc. Live and learn they say, and I have. I must prepare myself a litle more.

My family was having Spaghetti for dinner the other night, and I knew right away that I wouldn't be joining them. But I wanted to make something easy for myself that fit right in. Let's see: No wheat, No tomatoes, No Beef. Hmm.

I didn't want to start preparing something completely different from my family, and eating together is important to me. So I used a gluten free pasta and used a "Creamy Avocado Dressing" on top. It was SO delicious! Most importantly, it was fast and easy.Then I made a homemade poppy seed dressing (which my family LOVES) and put it on top of a Spinach Strawberry salad. I didn't have any takers on trying the pasta, but I think it is important to expose my children to healthier options.

The Process: Food Elimination

The first step has involved removing foods from my system, then trying them to determine if they cause more inflamation and pain. I thought this part would be difficult, but it really hasn't been. Maybe that part is still coming. So far I have removed the following:

Wheat/Gluten

Eggs

Milk Products

Corn

Soy

Beef

Nightshade Foods (Tomatoes, Potatoes, Peppers, Etc)

Peanuts

White Foods including Sugar

I have been debating which food I will re-introduce first, and I am leaning toward Eggs or Dairy products. I am a farmer's daughter after all. Then there is the temptation of Beef. Hmm. We will have to see.  The nightshade foods are really difficult, because my father is Hispanic and I grew up eating spicy foods. It's hard to eat good mexican without Gluten or Dairy or Peppers or Beef.

I am also working on taking supplements and vitamins, and trying to reduce my stress levels. Getting excersise will be the most difficult thing for me, as I already have such a crazy schedule. How do I manage my stress while adding in more things? That is a balancing act that I will have to play with.

I am really glad to be doing this now, rather that 10 years ago. There seems to be so many more options in the stores and online for people trying to eat healthy. These 2 websites are my favorite so far. They have a lot of really good recipes.

glutenfreehope.blogspot.com

adventuresofaglutenfreemom.com



The Book

www.immuneprogram.com

This is the book that has set me on my current path. I happened to be reading the news one day and stumbled accross the information for this book. I immediately purchased the Kindle version and starting reading. The book was amazing. It was like I was reading MY STORY. I couldn't put it down. I am now at the beginning steps of turning my life around, but am more motivated to do this that any prior attempts at anything at all. I am hopeful to see a difference in my own pain, and through my expereinces help my mother as well. She suffers from a rare auto-immune encephilitis, which mimics MS.

I am hopeful the book alone will be able to make a difference, but wish I lived closer to the Blum Center for Health so I could meet Dr. Blum in person. Colorado is just a little too far from NY!

My Story

Arthritis. It has been my story for 20 years. I am now looking foward to the happily ever after portion of my story.

I was first diagonosed with a problem when I was 16 years old. The Dr's had no idea what was the matter, but they new I had an autoimmune disease and assumed it would develop into rheumatoid arthritis. They were right. Iwas first diagnosed with Fibromyalgia after my wedding. Then it was on my 21st birthday when I was officially diagnosed with Rheumatiod Arthtitis. You see, I gave birth to a baby boy 6 months prior, leaving me without the use of my hands and knees. I was put on Methotrexate and Prednisone, and the next day I picked up my baby for the first time. How luck I was to have relief.

Fast track to 2013. I have 4 children, each one a miracle pregnancy. My body has become completely dependant on Prednisone and I still take Methotrexate. I am massively allergic to all other arthritis medicines. I have developed Osteopenia, the precursor to Osteoarthritis. I have lost all the cartlage in one hand and my knees are shot. I struggle with weight gain. I can't run, I can't ski (that was a total disaster), I can not be as active as I yearn to be. Yet, up until now, I have considered them miracle drugs.

Then I found a book.

I realized I don't want relief. I want to eliminate the problem.

Today is a new day. I am embracing my life. I am taking control.