Wednesday 18 January 2017

On eating my way to better health


The photos I've used in this post bear absolutely no relation to the subject. Because today I'm mostly writing about food. I tried to think of a snappy title but failed. Sorry. Hopefully the content will be more inspiring.



I'd love to share photos of my dresser, filled as it is with baking paraphernalia and jars of dry goods. Or beautifully-styled shots of my cookery book collection, artfully strewn with flour and bunches of herbs and so on. But with the light being what it is (dim) you'd have got a lot of grainy, blurry pictures. 



So instead it's the usual little visual journal of our recent wanderings. I hope the disparity between the words and images doesn't prove to be too off putting.


I'm always a bit unsure about these type of posts; I'd hate to come across as preachy or sanctimonious. It's just that once I start thinking about things, and these things start to form a bit of a thread, they can end up here on Mitenska. So, without (hopefully) coming across as a bit of a bore, here goes.

I've written before about food being medicine (and medicine being food, as Hippocrates wisely said). I truly believe this. So I'm trying to get healthier. It's not a 'New Year, New Me' type of thing - which, let's be honest, would probably fall by the wayside after a few weeks.

I'm not ditching any major food groups (I believe carbohydrates are completely necessary). And I'm not following any 'trends', despite what I read about or see on Pinterest and the like. Matcha this, chia that.



But the whole idea of healing is really important to me. I have an autoimmune condition: nothing scary, but it's there and it needs controlling. And rather than dealing with the symptoms using prescription drugs (as I have for the past almost 30 years) I've decided to try and address the actual cause, to treat the reason it's there in the first place.

Nutrition fascinates me. I love reading about it; surprising, considering my complete aversion to anything even vaguely scientific. And I've read about some really compelling, if grim-sounding, stuff like leaky gut syndrome, adrenal fatigue and food sensitivities. Much of it I can identify with. 



I know for a fact that I have a real problem with gluten. I struggle to avoid it because I love bread, cake, biscuits, dumplings... the list goes on. And on. But when I've given it up for reasonable amounts of time I've felt well again. My fingernails stop flaking. My stomach stops hurting. My 'brain fog' disappears. The aches and pains in my joints go away.


So I'm now absolutely determined to avoid it for good. And, ideally, to avoid the gluten free snacks and 'treats' you see on the supermarket shelves. Because they're full of sugar and all kinds of additives and ingredients I don't even recognise.

I now make my own bread and pancakes and sweet things using buckwheat flour, ground almonds, psyllium husks and whatever else works. I play around with recipes. Brown rice pasta tastes just like the usual stuff. As do gluten free porridge oats and oatcakes.



I've also cut right back on the dairy. No, my bones aren't about to crumble. I eat a lot of leafy greens and other good sources of calcium. And I made a truly beautiful discovery the other day: that hazelnut milk makes the most incredible-tasting cocoa.



I've ditched the booze (for now) and am going low-sugar. I avoid processed food, which isn't really a hardship as we cook from scratch anyway. Yes it pains me to hear what Joe eats for his school dinners sometimes, but he's four. I'm not going to impose any kind of regime on him. We don't have sweets in the house but chocolate is fine. He doesn't have crisps or fizzy drinks but we do bake biscuits together. He has toast with jam and the odd portion of trashy stuff if we're having something that's a bit out-there for him.


So, what do I eat?

Fresh fruit and vegetables. Juices and smoothies. Beans and pulses, brown rice, certain grains. Nuts. Eggs, avocados, fish, chicken, the odd bit of lamb or beef. Nut milks. Vegetable crisps. Hummus, nut butters, olives, artichokes in oil, coconut. Stuff I bake myself. Honey, herbal teas, (very) dark chocolate. Herbs and spices, soups and stews. Interesting recipes I find online and in books.


It's far from the old image of wholefoods, with everything looking and tasting like sawdust. Well, apart from those psyllium husks. I love a good health food shop, but most of our provisions come from the local weekly market and little supermarket. A very small proportion comes from M&S Food (we don't have a Waitrose in these Northern climes, and Booths is a bit of a way away). That's mainly organic meat - not that we eat a lot of it - and dairy, for Joe.

I'm determined to feel better than I have in a long time. So by ditching the food that bothers me, and by adding that which is nourishing, coupled with brisk walks and supplements, good sleep and the odd bit of precious downtime, maybe I'll get it right.


The mug of cocoa has become a daily thing, by the way. And you can never underestimate the healing power of a good novel...






19 comments:

  1. A really interesting post Sarah, especially about how you've been feeling better without gluten. I wonder if it would help me as well. I totally agree that food is key to feeling well, that and a decent amount of exercise really makes me feel better. I am in a bit of a slump at the moment though. But your post is really inspirational, thank you. I shall try harder! It's all a bit catch 22 - when I feel low I am less inclined to eat well. Determined to get to grips with it all now. Thanks again for the encouragement. CJ xx

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  2. I think it sounds like a good plan... I'm not allergic to gluten but I do feel better if I only eat it once a day... especially bread... but I probably should make my own and that it might be better...

    Good luck, hope you feel better.

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  3. The other thing that's worth thinking about is how much you eat and when. My digestion has worked a whole lot better since I cut down on portion sizes and ate earlier in the day. I also avoid wheat after breakfast and that helps too and stick to raw fruits and veggies for lunch. I drink lots of water too. Might be worth checking your magnesium levels, women tend to be low on them and they impact so many body functions. Good on you for tackling it this way, it's got to be a good thing. Good luck.

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    1. Hello! I should drink a lot more water, admittedly - I even bought a water filter a few months back. I take magnesium supplements and find they really help with sleep. I ran out of the good quality ones and am now on a supermarket version and I have to say, I can really tell the difference...

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  4. Bravo! I am cheering you on your efforts to be well, Sarah. At almost 66...gasp...I am still learning much about life, including what I can eat that is good for me. Avoiding gluten and dairy and soy seems to be helping me feel better. I am trying to learn to like Stevia as a sweetener, but am not there yet, so have coconut sugar, honey and maple syrup, all of which I try to use in moderation, but have room for improvement. During the holidays and for special times I have eaten gluten free bread, but like eating rice. it seems to make me feel clogged up. Daily I have fruit and vegetable and sometimes various types of meat, and eggs. I eat dark chocolate [Enjoy Life brand small chips] I continue to try to exercise consistently, and once in a great while I have just a few sips of wine. Folks think I am deprived, but since battling being overweight for most of my years, I feel so much better that I do not feel deprived, but rather grateful to feel better! I have been heating up the 30 calorie per cup almond chocolate milk with boiling water and adding a dash of cinnamon sometimes for cocoa and I enjoy it. Wishing you well, and thanking you for your post :)

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    1. Hi Gracie, Thank you for your comment. It sounds as though you know what agrees with you and what doesn't! I know what you mean about people thinking you're denying yourself treats... but yes, feeling better is preferable to overindulging and feeling sluggish. I know you only live once, so everything in moderation. But I do avoid gluten completely as I'm hoping to repair the damage I feel it's done over many years.

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  5. Dear Sarah,
    You and I are on the same wavelength. I too have been feeling my way toward eating what is best for me. For me that also means low sugar, low dairy and no flour or soy. I ditched coffee a long time ago and have been drinking plant milk for decades. I also try very hard to buy clean meat and eggs whenever possible. Here's to better health!
    Cheers,
    Dana
    @NieveandEstrellas

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    1. Hi Dana, I really think that you become familiar with what works for your body as time goes on. Red meat (particularly beef) and gluten just make me feel unwell. I don't actually like beef anyway, so that's a good thing. Gluten, on the other hand...
      And caffeine sends me crazy. My anxiety levels go through the roof after just one coffee! Best to just stay away from it.

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  6. We have been enjoying millet instead of rice - tastes better and has more nutritional value. Now I prefer it, but the supply has dwindled.

    Lovely colourful little paws ;~)

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    1. I think I had millet pasta once and must admit, I struggled to tell the difference. Which is a good thing!

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  7. I can totally see how the hazelnut milk would be good with cocoa, just like liquid Nutella I imagine! I hope that it works well for you, and that you enjoy what you are eating and what the brings to you.

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    1. I also chuck in a square of very dark chocolate, just for good measure!

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  8. I totally agree about food being an aid to healing... It just seems to make sense. We've been trying to stick to a healthy regime the last few weeks and have cut out refined carbs and sugar, eating plenty of whole grains, fruit, veg, eggs and fish and we both feel so much better. I can't believe the energy I have now. I don't think I was aware how tired and lethargic I felt before.

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    1. Amazing isn't it? I just had some blood tests done and it turns out I'm very low on iron, borderline anaemic in fact. I suspect upping my iron levels will help me feel much brighter.

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  9. if you desperately need a bread fix then the M&S poppy seed gluten free loaf is the nicest gluten free bread I've eaten in 20 years.

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    1. Their sourdough's not bad either. And it's better priced than the cheaper supermarkets :)

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  10. Good luck with your endeavours, I find sugar to be my downfall, and keep trying to ditch it. Having said that, hazelnut milk cocoa sounds lovely! xx

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    1. It is! I've cut down on sugar but I think attempting total abstinence would be futile... x

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  11. I find the whole nutrition thing fascinating and feel sure that what we eat has a profound effect on our well being. I've not tried hazelnut milk - it sounds delicious!

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