Glimpse into listening to the lessons

Having a body that is not working to its full ability is frustrating beyond description. To begin to explain the feelings that it creates, the words sadness, disappointment, anger, self pity, jealousy, self loathing, and disbelief spring to mind. However, it can also have a positive side. Sometimes, in my low moments, I think of the upbeat things I say about this faulty body of mine, and I roll my eyes at my pathetic optimism! But as hard as it is to see, there has to be something good to come from these situations.

 Illness, be my mentor.

Glimpse into fructose malabsorption

I feel that I have brushed over the explanation of fructose malabsorption, and that you are well over due for a full description and definition, as it is, after all, a main feature of this blog!! So here goes...

Glimpse into white tea

I love tea. Thank the Food Intolerance Gods for letting me still be able to drink tea!! I keep mindful around fruit teas (monitoring for FODMAPs), but to be honest, fruit teas don't do it for me as much as other teas do! I also watch the caffeine content because as we all know, this is just another thing the body has to process, and when you're unwell, really it is an unnecessary pressure. This still leaves me with a wide range of teas to choose from and I can't get enough! I drink at least 4 cups a day on an average day, and now that we in the Southern Hemisphere are coming into winter, that will soon increase!

Glimpse into movement; every bit counts!

During the evening of Tuesday April 16th, Mum and I went to a two hour seminar held at the Hilton Hotel by Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat. The topic of the talk was the concept of using movement to be healthy.

The main message of the evening was perhaps an obvious one, but very overlooked due to our society's current mindset; move. Push, pull, bend, lift, take the stairs, park further away, stand when answering the phone, move, move, move. We have had it drilled into us over the past few years that if we do a session of exercise most days, we will be fit, a healthy weight and live longer, despite sitting at a computer all day, and carrying out tasks in the most convenient, time and energy efficient way. However, the research that is now coming out is that people who do this do not beat the health benefits (hip and waist measurments, lifespan, fitness) gained by the people who just keep moving throughout the day. It does not have to be much; just incidental movement, as much as possible throughout the day.

Glimpse into dizziness; my hypotension progress.

I have been playing the waiting game for the past few weeks, so have not posted about my personal health progress lately. I have been monitoring to see if the new medication would assist me. It has been six weeks since I started it so it is still a little too early to tell, but it is possible that I am having some positive effects from it! I have had some bad side effects from the drug; headaches and nausea most days, and trouble sleeping, but hopefully they will ease.

Glimpse into the Boston Marathon bombing

 

We need to stop waking up like this; waking to news from overseas of something horrible happening.

I woke this morning to the sound of my parents' phone ringing. It was missed, and then it rang again. I heard Dad get up and answer it, and say hello to my aunt. Then after a little while I heard him say ''Oh my gawd", the words and tone he uses when something bad shocks him. He said this and then walked downstairs, still talking to my aunt, so I was left unable to hear if something was wrong. I rolled over and found a text on my phone from Mum, saying my brother and his fiance were ok, so that made me get out of bed, needing to know what was going on. I am glad at least that I was staying at my parents' house.

Glimpse into sweet and sour pork

I love gooey, sticky, comforting meals with sauce and rice and deliciousness! This can actually be achieved when eating clean, healthy, low allergen foods!
One of my favourite meals is sweet and sour pork with rice. This was what was on the menu last night, on a cold and rainy day, so I will share the recipe with you. I hope that you enjoy it as much as my family and I do!

 

Just Like Mum's Sweet and Sour Pork Hot Pot

(for 4 people)

Glimpse into a "Welcome To Your New Life" book review

(Book two of ten for Project 29.)

On a rainy Sunday afternoon on April 7th, I started to read Anna Goldworthy's book, "Welcome To Your New Life". I had found it that day in one of my favourite bookstores (Mary Ryan's in Brisbane) after a morning filled with yoga and breakfast with a friend. Bliss.
The first pages easily pulled me in (in case the amazingly gorgeous cover photo hadn't already), and I could tell that this book was written in a funny and interesting way. The subject matter is not one I would normally purchase a book about. Pregnancy, birth plans and welcoming a new family member are all things that I would love to experience, and hope to one day, but they won't be part of my life any time soon. That said, it seemed an odd book choice for me, but good reviews and the light and humerous way in which it appeared to be written intrigued me. And hey, a girl can dream.
I loved this book. It made me laugh out loud; it made me sad and anxious for the family; it made me desperately want to experience having a child; it made me thankful that I am child free! It was a simple read, but well written and kept me wanting to read more. Goldworthy looks into the many aspects of pregnancy, child birth, and the difficult and love filled event that is raising a child. The book also looks into attempting to combine adult life with children. It even contemplates life, death and the important questions in between.
I recommend this to anyone who is pregnant or plans to be, anyone who has had children, and anyone who has an interest in life and the making and ending of it. Even if you have no thoughts of having children but you want a good laugh, grab a copy!

Glimpse into the world of eating out with food intolerances

My diet restrictions involve the avoidance of fructose, egg, dairy, gluten, wheat, some nuts, and grains. As you can imagine, that list can make eating out rather difficult! I have always loved food, and I love the social side and the excitement that comes with eating out and trying new restaurants and delicacies. Unfortunately, my freedom with this activity is a distant memory to me. I do find it quite disheartening when I think about trying out a new fancy restaurant or a particularly tasty sounding dish, and then realising that I can not. It is frustrating, but of course, I have it far better than some, and I am thankful for what I can enjoy.
If you are like me, or have friends or family in this boat, do not despair! There are ways around it! You can still go out!

Hallelujah!

I have found a few places that are either really great at accommodating food intolerances and allergies, or provide foods that are simple and avoid a lot of the foods that I can not eat.

The places that I have learnt where I can eat at include:

Grill'd -The healthy burger joint. They provide gluten free bread buns (they still have egg and milk no doubt), and can cater to a range of specifications with their "build a burger" option, which allows you to specify meat, sauce and salad variations.

Fish and chip shops - This is such an easy staple for me. A bag of chips and grilled fish, and some salad without dressing and I am set! No cooking, no washing up, no pesky food reactions. Perfect.

Steak houses - I have eaten so much steak since changing my diet! Steak and chips and salad or vegetables is my go-to option; you will be hard pressed to find a basic restaurant which does not serve this option!

Pubs & cafes - Pub and cafe food allows you to find basic food, like chicken or steak and pair it with vegetables, salad and chips. Be careful, because these places might not stay as mindful of food intolerance specifications, but as long as you are direct about your needs, I find they do pretty well.



Sushi restaurants -  Staying clear of the marinades and fried foods, I can enjoy sashimi and rice and plain sushi. Delicious and healthy! Remember to ask for wheat free soy sauce!

Pizza capers - Pizza Capers now do an amazing gluten free base. They also are very open about their ingredients in their sauces, which makes avoidance of onions and garlic so easy, and they are very helpful in removing certain toppings and adding in others. I have waited for fix ups when they have done normal pizza bases and not gluten free, but aside from this, they are great.

Chips - If you are looking for a quick snack, hit Maccas or a fish and chip shop up for chips. If you buy hot chips from other places, make sure they are gluten free, or not seasoned with garlic. This might not be a healthy snack, but when you need to eat regularly like me, they can be a life saver when there a limited choices around.

Meat and salad from kebab shops - Here is a nifty trick! Ask for a plate of the meat from a kebab shop, and combine with salad with no dressing or chips. Make sure you choose the meat that does not contain added products, such as gluten, garlic and marinades.

Speciality restaurants - Gone are my visits to Indian, Mexican, Thai, Chinese and similar restaurants. However, my restrictions have opened up to me options that I may not have been aware of previously. Organic restaurants are becoming more popular as healthy foods become the preference, and they often provide options for allergies. I love the Mondo Organics restaurant in Brisbane's West End. Their menu specifies which meals are gluten or dairy free or vegetarian, and their food is so fresh and healthy. I even ate a meal of duck once! A delicious duck dinner which I did not have to create by altering a recipe, eating it in a restaurant! What a happy night that was! Look out for organic cafes and restaurants for menus that are mindful of food variations.

The things I have learnt that you need to remember when eating out:

People do not understand the complexities of multiple food intolerances until they have had personal experience with it. If you say "a milkshake with just banana and soy milk", somehow most people don't understand that you don't want other flavours to jazz it up. I have lost count how many times I have received a milkshake that has had honey, ice cream and yogurt in it, when I specifically said just banana and soy milk!! I understand that this seems bland, but for me it is amazing to have a drink other than water or tea, so the excitement gets kind of ruined when I take a big mouthful of flavours that are going to make me sick!!

Asking for no sauce or marinades seems simple enough. Multiple times though I have been presented with a meal that is drowning in sauce. One time I ended up in tears because of sauce! We had gone to Vanuatu on holiday, and I had been very apprehensive about how I would manage the foods there. On the first night there, I asked for steak and vegetables, no sauce or gravy, and it came out covered in sauce! I think I was just tired and overwhelmed, but the prospect of nearly two weeks in a country where they were not going to understand my needs left me embarrassingly in tears at the dinner table on the first night of a holiday! (It did turn out though that I could manage, and the rest of the fantastic holiday was spent eating yummy foods.) Be specific and clear, say that what you are asking to avoid will make you sick, and make sure they repeat your order back to you.

These days I usually say that I have allergies when I am eating out. It is more easily and readily understood, and makes people more vigilant than saying food intolerances.

Check the meal before you bite! You may look like a fussy five year old, but it is much better to be safe. So often sauce is hiding in the burger bun! I have had to return many meals before the first bite (or worse, after the first bite, when the damage has started!).
I always forget to say no butter on gluten free bread! This is something I need to remember, because it is very often slathered on before it arrives at the table.

Restaurant staff are often horrified and apologetic at the bland state that my meal comes to the table in, after all my specific requests. They don't understand how exciting it is to have a meal in a restaurant; a meal that I didn't have to prepare; a meal that means I can enjoy a social occasion out!! It does not matter if it doesn't look like it would in a magazine! Not at all! Enjoy the experience of eating out, learn what works for you, be descriptive and vocal and ensure the directions are clear and have been understood. Eating out is an important part of life in our society, and having food intolerances or allergies does not have to mean you miss out!

Glimpse into life's forks on Monday April 8th, 2013

As I sit here at my laptop, the rain bellowing above me on the tin roof, the beautiful sounds of Vivaldi, Handel and their fellow genius composers accompanying my keyboard taps beside me, and the contents from my mug of hot tea warming my belly, I am contemplating that we call life, and the intention behind it. Deep, I know. Maybe a little too deep for a Monday afternoon. But what is one to contemplate when alone on a rainy day? I have no other plans for the day, let alone the week, due to unpredictable health issues that can one minute give my body its freedom, and the next have it falling deeply between the couch cushions, hoping the world will stop its noisy spinning.
Early last year something happened to some people who are very special to me, and it really made me question my beliefs of the notion that there is something, someone, bigger than us all, leading and guiding us through our journey. As most people do at some stage or another, I questioned that if there is such a being, then how can it bear to have us all suffer so much.
After the past few months however, I suddenly feel like so much has changed for me that I can not ignore the idea that something is guiding me. Everything that I have worked for, planned, lived and fought for was placed in a big metaphorical cardboard box, and shaken until there were only shattered splinters left inside. It feels like I had put myself on the wrong path, and someone or something was hinting and warning me, but I was ignoring its whispers, so it resorted to wiping my entire slate clean. Ignore me will you, it said. Take that.
So I suddenly find myself at the fork of a new path. The old one stretched temptingly to the left, the new one panning frighteningly to the right. It is impossible to ignore the upheaval and pass it off as a bump in the road.
I have decided I will take the road to the right. It is horrifying and exhilarating. But what I am learning is that when that fork does slam us in the face with its sharp prongs, we don't have to smash the old path up and throw it in a giant skip. We can take the pieces we choose with us. We can pick the memories, the lessons, the hopes and the people, and pack them up with us in our bags, and wear them on our backs, and their weight will keep us grounded and warned, warmed and strengthened.

Glimpse into challenge 13; Sunday April 7th, 2013

                                                                                                       Stretching it all out in a child's pose.


Today I managed a second yoga class for the week! It was even followed by a delicous pineapple and mint frappe and gluten free toast with jam (and no ill effects!) with the bestie!! Throw in a book purchase, and it was a downright blissful morning, followed by a rainy afternoon spent reading on the couch.

Glimpse into what I can eat

This post is directed at my friends and family, as requested by my friends Joel & Junna, and is basically so Joel stops asking me what I can eat every time he sees me!! ;-) 
To all those reading who have fructose malabsorption, my list may help you explore your intolerance. Be aware though that everyone has different tolerance levels to different fructose containing foods. So please experiment for yourself; what works for me could make you unwell, and vise versa!


To narrow it down, the list of what I can not eat first!....:

Gluten (not even a whiff!; staying clear due to my autoimmune condition)
Grains (a little corn from time to time is ok. Quinoa and rice are fine)
Dairy (a very small amount very occasionally; i.e. the amount in gluten free bread is ok)
Eggs ("                                                 as above                                                                   ")
Peanuts
High fructose foods

Fructose is where it gets tricky!!

There are some foods that contain such high amounts of fructose that they are not worth even a lick! (or the other FODMAPs which cause reactions in people with fructose malabsorption {Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols - these are sugar molecules in foods}).
I can not eat: honey, wheat, onion, garlic, artificial and natural sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, dried fruits, pistachios, stone fruits, apple, pear, inulin (artificial fibre).


Moving on to the foods that I can eat!......

There are foods that I can have in small to tiny amounts, watching what I combine them with so as to not OD on FODMAPs! (For example, even safe fruits need to be small serves, spaced 2-3 hours from other fructose foods).
These are: mushrooms, beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, tomatoes, leeks (green part only), lettuce, zucchini, green beans, asparagus, avocado, celery, fresh figs, dried cranberries and blueberries, melons, grapes, caster sugar, nuts, coconut, corn flour, Powerade drink, dry wine, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, lemonade.

Then there are foods that I can eat fairly freely, but still need to be aware of amounts and combinations! These are: potato, carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin, spinach, cucumber, berries, lemons, limes, bananas, pineapple, grapefruit, citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, passion fruit,  rhubarb, dried pineapple, quiona, gluten free pastas, rice, gluten free flours, rice flour, almond meal, dark chocolate, dairy free chocolate (with caster sugar, not sweeteners), dextrose, rice syrup, vegemite, Lucozade drink, vodka, rum, rice milk, decaffeinated teas.

Then the foods that I don't need to monitor amounts with (not any more than anyone else has to anyway!):
All meat and fish. (Slow cooked, stewed lamb seems to be no good for me though).
Yep, this one is a big list.... ;-)


So....clear as mud?! Yep, I am the worst possible dinner guest. Ever.

Essentially, I am a gluten and peanut free, low fructose consuming vegan who eats meat!

Glimpse into challenge number 13

In February, my good friend and I started a six week beginner's yoga course. I have always thought yoga was gentle stretching and meditation, and would be too boring and slow to keep me interested. How wrong I was! I decided to give it a go because I have such a low tolerance for exercise at the moment, but am feeling the effects of being so unfit and inflexible due to so much of my time spent resting.
Within the six week course, I missed two classes due to dizziness and feeling unwell, and I have gone to two normal classes since we completed the beginner's course. I love it! I can feel my body being stretched and strengthened, and challenged! Sometimes the up and down repetition is not good with my postural hypotension, but I feel comfortable trying as my friend is nearby! The class is hard work for me, and I am sweating and exhausted by the end, but feel loose, stronger and invigorated.

As part of my Project 29, I plan to keep with it for the year (at least!). At the moment, making one class a week is an achievement, and I will gradually increase to doing two when I can. I will post pictures of my progress, to show that I am progressively achieving challenge number 13 - learn yoga!

This is my downward dog after six classes. There is a lot of improvement needed that I can see in the photo, but it is better than in week one!

 

 

How it is meant to look! (and how I intend to look when I do a downward dog by my 30th birthday!)......

The real pros! ;-)

Glimpse into berry and poppy seed cake

This is such a delicious cake. My mum and I have tweaked and altered til we got to this combination, which is wheat, dairy and egg free, and fructose friendly. It is sweet but tangy, and the poppy seeds provide such a great pop to the texture! For a cake, this is amazingly guilt free and nutritious!

Berry and poppyseed cake

125ml vegetable oil or coconut oil
3 lemons
125ml rice syrup
9tbsp water
400g almond meal
3tbsp poppy seeds
1/2tsp sea salt
1tsp gluten free baking powder
1/2tsp baking soda
3tbsp chia seeds
300g blueberries or raspberries

Powdered dextrose
Vanilla extract
Water


**Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.**

1. Combine the chia seeds and water in a bowl, and let sit for 15 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix the almond meal, poppy seeds, salt, baking power and baking soda.
3. On a very low heat, warm the oil and rice syrup in a sauce pan until combined.
4. Add the zest from two lemons into the oil and syrup mixture.
5. Squeeze the juice of one and a half lemons into the mixture.
6. Add the mixture to the dry ingredients.
7. Fold in the soaked chia seeds. Add in half the berries and combine.
8. Grease a cake tin and pour in the batter.
9. Bake for about 40-50 minutes or until golden and an inserted skewer comes out dry.
10. Let the cake cool before removing from tin.
11. In a small bowl, combine the dextrose with water, lemon juice and a splash of vanilla extract until a runny but slightly thick consistency, to the taste that you like.
12. While the cake is still warm, make holes with a skewer through the cake, and pour the glaze over the top.
13. Decorate with the fresh berries.


This was even my birthday cake a few weeks ago, because it is so yummy; courtesy of my mum!
 It just goes to prove, you can have multiple food intolerances and eat your cake too!

Glimpse into your requests

Please let me know if there is anything you want to know or learn, and I will do my best to do a relevant post! I have been making tweaks to my other blogs, so check them out via the links at the top of this page, share them with friends, and let me know if you want to see anything new or different! Comment on this post with your thoughts and ideas :-)

Thanks everyone for reading!

Glimpse into remedies for reactions to food

Having food intolerances can be debilitating and disheartening. I have had symptoms for the past 10 years, but went misdiagnosed til 2 years ago. I have been hospitalised. I have had days and days off work. I have had so much pain that I have been told I will be prepared for child birth when that day comes! I have had humiliating experiences. I have lost weight when I didn't need to. I have been undernourished to the point of becoming weak and faint. I have developed an autoimmune condition and brain fog which may be attributed to the intolerances. I have experimented and learnt which foods I react to, which foods that I can tolerate in certain amounts, and which foods that I can eat freely. I feel the disappointment when I want to go to a lovely restaurant, but can't eat a thing on the menu, and the frustration when it means friends and family feel pressured by where we can eat. I deal with the awkwardness of the situation when at friends' or family's houses and they struggle to come up with something for me to eat. 






(This describes me perfectly, except that I do eat meat!)
          










That said, after two years, I have come to know what I can eat, and how to jazz those foods up, and I now eat well presented, delicious and healthy meals. I know a few places where I can dine, and try to enjoy the ability to eat out, even if it is in the same restaurants each time. I keep to my diet as well as I can, and I get bad symptoms once or twice a month at the most, as opposed to every day, which I had done prior to my diagnosis. I do get nauseous fairly often still, but as far as I know, that is more connected to my autoimmune condition, and the medication I take.

I have been in so much pain when reacting to foods that I have been doubled over in the street, not able to move. I have paced up and down my room, rolled around the bed, shuffled up and down the couch, stood up, bent down, stood up, bent down, desperately trying to find that desirable but unattainable comfortable position. I've laid crumpled on the shower floor, when the pain has come on unexpectedly and suddenly mid shower. I have missed social events. I have become fearful of certain foods, and eating meals prepared by others.

When I am in this type of pain, I am hesitant to use pain killers, in case it is going to hide something I should know about. If the pain keeps me awake or I am at work, I will sometimes use paracetamol or codeine though, which can slightly take the edge off. As a patient in the hospital, a good dose of oxycodone or morphine has always helped!
There are tablets that can help stomach cramps and upset (like someone used to say to me, gravy thickeners!!), but ironically, most of them are not fructose friendly. I do not like to use these anyway, as you might end one problem by using them, but you can begin another!

I try to use more natural, soothing options when I can. I find tea can help for milder pain. The warmth can soothe it, and it also helps with nausea (though I find if I am too nauseous, swallowing anything makes it worse, so I have to wait for an opportune moment between the waves!). I find the best teas to use are the ones with ginger, or mint in them, or chamomile, white or green teas. Try to only use decaffeinated teas, as drinking a stimulant is just adding another element to your situation that you don't need. Also fruity or spicy teas are best avoided at this time.

Placing some warmth on your stomach and back can help too; it will at least distract you from some of the discomfort. Sometimes I can tolerate this, sometimes I can not. When my symptoms were frequent and ongoing, I could not stand anything touching my stomach. Even when I was not in actual pain, my abdomen was so sensitive that just a well meaning, gentle hug would be unpleasant. I remember being in a crowd once, and a stranger poked me in my side because he wanted me to move; I nearly collapsed on the ground! Friends and loved ones seem to like to squeeze the sides of my abdomen (clearly meant as a loving, playful gesture) and then they wonder why I jump a mile and growl and glare at them!! So if you're like me on this one, maybe try a warm bath!

Distraction is also a good remedy. It is not always going to be effective, but sometimes a movie or an audiobook can give you something else to think about. Hugs are great too! Try to sleep if you can.

When people around you get anxious or irritable with you, or are unsure of how to help, it makes an already horrible situation very difficult. When you are in so much pain that you are lying on the bathroom floor sobbing, you are probably not in a condition to explain to someone what is going on, or what you need! I hate when people get seemingly annoyed at you, as if your pain, nausea and subsequent thrashing, moaning and pacing is a major inconvenience or embarrassment to them; as if you're just doing this for effect and drama! I also hate being asked what I thought caused this episode! When you feel that unwell, the last thing you want to do is think about the food that caused it! I am learning that it is wishful thinking to assume that all people will be compassionate and understanding in this situation. I do have to remember though, that some people are just unsure of how to react, and that maybe, coming from a health care background, I unfairly expect them to understand the situation better. Possibly the best way to avoid this, is to make sure the people around you are aware of what your symptoms can be, and what are the remedies are that can help you.

When I've had a bad episode, I find it can take days to get back to normal. Make sure you keep up your water intake. I also drink Lucozade. This is made with glucose, so is perfect for people with fructose malabsorption. I find that I usually can only comfortably drink one glass of it in a sitting, but that is enough (it is also a great addition when you want something sweet on your good days). Glucose helps people with fructose malabsorption absorb fructose, so drinking Lucozade, or eating glucose tablets (both found in most chemists or supermarkets) can help when eating some fructose containing foods. It can also give you some energy when you're weak from minimal food intake.

Eat when you can - simple, plain foods are best. Try rice crackers and Vegemite, plain hot potato chips, soup, plain pasta, or plain chicken. Introduce fibre when you can to get back on track. I find blueberries are surprisingly good for this!

Of course, ultimately prevention is better than cure. Try your best to be aware of what is causing the reaction. This is much easier said than done. I went years with progressively worsening symptoms, and always brushed aside the idea that food was the cause. That might seem ridiculous, and like I was in severe denial! However, it is quite feasible. My symptoms began showing themselves at 4am on an occasional morning here and there; hours after I had eaten. Why would I think that it was caused by food? It took years to get to a stage where I was reacting badly most days, and even at that stage, when doctors asked if it could be food, I'd say no, because I reacted in different ways and frequently. I now know that that was because I am intolerant to so many foods, and everything was setting me off. I also find it very frustrating to know that so many doctors just accepted my belief that it wasn't food, and it took years before one doctor suggested fructose malabsorption. And even then, I had to request to have a breath test done, after months of struggling through restrictive elimination tests. So make sure you read up and know your options. I also kept a food journal for 1.5 years. It was painful and monotonous, but it can help to show you what is the regular trend.
You also have to put on your big girl or boy pants and experiment! When you're intolerant to as many foods as I am, it pays to try out foods so that you can find as many as you can to eat; to nourish yourself with. This can be so scary when you are aware of what you could be inflicting on yourself. I go a long time between trials sometimes, but I know that the more I do, the more foods I can potentially open myself up to, and the more nutrients I can eat.
I have recently found a book which is quite useful. It is called 'The Virgin Diet", by J.J. Virgin (odd book name, I know!). It is targeted at weight loss, which is not currently an interest to me, but it is based on food intolerances. It looks at the main foods that are behind food intolerances, and gives explanations on why the foods can cause reactions in your body, why they can be harmful (even to people without intolerances or allergies), what damage they can do, and how to avoid and substitute them.  I have found this motivating and inspiring, giving me a new understanding of why I should avoid these foods; not just because it means I am symptom free, but also for better general health and well being.

The best remedy of all? Keep positive! It can hurt like billy-o, it can make you weak for days, it can turn you into a hermit; but don't let it make you into someone you are not! (the theory is all well and good; it is harder to put into practise!) Keep your chin up, and you will find food that your taste buds AND your body will enjoy!

Glimpse into Monday April 1st 2013

When I first saw the naturopath at the clinic where I get regular acupuncture and massage, I had an assessment done. She noticed that on the left side of my stomach, close to my belly button, there is a firm, sometimes raised area. I have been aware of this for years.
She explained that this was a clogging in my energy flow; that it indicated my liver energy was deficient.
A few days later, I was considering this idea. Then I burst out laughing.
I remembered that a gastroenterologist I saw a few years ago found that spot and explained that it is my aorta, which could be felt because I am slim.
So which is it; a blockage in my energy flow, or a vital part of my anatomy?!
                                                            Nature or science?!