This was the question I asked myself last March. When you have eaten one certain way for 33 some odd years then all of a sudden you have to remove not just a certain food but a huge group of foods and read every label, it’s overwhelming. It seems daunting and impossible. I’ll be honest any other “diet” I have ever tried to do, I failed. I had no will power. This was not a “diet” to lose weight. It was a diet to gain control of my life again (avoiding pain, insomnia and anxiety) instead of surrendering to taking a bandaid pill. I know the latter seems like the most normal and easier choice. And to some, it’s all they know or will even consider. And to each their own.
For those of you that are curious if removing gluten or dairy to help with said issue you are facing, my best advice is to research it! Yes, google, pinterest, ask on facebook, search an instagram hashtag, something. The thing about food elimination diets is there is really no good way to do a full on study due to such variability and compliance. I mean it’s hard enough to make sure a patient takes a certain pill placebo or not and study those trials, can you imagine trying to monitor a large group of people and their dietary habits? The best randomized controlled trial you can find, is your own. Set small goals and remove what you are considering from your diet for 4-6 weeks. See what happens. If you mess up one meal or day, don’t think you have blown it or give up. Just start again the next day.
There is so much research and even Netflix movies nowadays about the food industry. It consumes America, as does heart disease, obesity, anxiety/depression and diabetes. You don’t have to rely just on me for help. Research for yourself and go wander around a store and read labels.
Here are some of my favorite food subs and staple items I eat:
- Soy sauce= coconut aminos
- pasta= chickpea pasta or spaghetti squash
- bread= Canyon Bakery bread (on occasion) or lettuce wraps
- Plant based protein shakes
- homemade tuna salad with gf protein crackers and vegan “mayo”
- anything made from “Cook once eat all week” cookbook
- anything made from “instant loss” cookbook (i sub the eggs)
- Loren’s cookie dough (publix)
- Hippeas chickpeas “cheese puffs”
- chips and salsa or guacamole
- chicken fajitas with no cheese or sour cream with corn tortillas
- grilled chicken, steak, fish, rice and steamed veggies
- french fries! especially homemade ones
- Sorbet instead of ice cream
- Kind pressed fruit bars
- nuts
- nestle allergen friendly dark chocolate chips as a quick treat
- fruits and veggies
- Jayme Williams fitness blog or Fit n clean mama on instagram
There has been so much come on the market in the last 5 years for dairy alternatives and gluten as well. I love to shop at Aldi, local farmer’s markets/produce stands, Costco, Target, Amazon, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Food City and even Wal-mart has pretty decent options. Take an afternoon and stroll around the store and read labels. Order a cookbook I mentioned and try them out. Your pantry will convert in no time and you won’t miss the former ways ever again. I remember the days when I had to think so hard about what I could and could not eat and it consumed me. Now all that consumes me is that the food I eat either fuels or harms me and the choice is obvious.
I had “candida gut” based on my Gut Type quiz from Dr. Axe. https://draxe.com/5-gut-types-quiz/
If you get that result too, you can read more about it below.
As you can see, many symptoms can be from multiple food intolerances. Wouldn’t it be awesome to just avoid eating certain things and automatically feeling better from it instead of ingesting a pill or living on caffeine or being miserable all the time?
Food has fueled me and helped healed me. I would be happy to help you muddle through the murky waters like I did last year to make yourself feel better too. Love yourself so you can love others too.
John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
The Gut Gospel 