Glimpse into low FODMAP/fructose berries

I have always loved fruit. Having to avoid it was one of the major blows that came with a diagnosis of fructose malabsorption. Even more so than having to skip chocolate! Luckily, there are some of these yummy and nutritious treats that remain available to us Fruct Mals, or those avoiding fructose for other health benefits.
Bear in mind as always, that what works for me may not work for you, but this list of fruits that I still enjoy may give you an idea of what you can trial. This post will cover berries, another will cover other fruits, so stay tuned!

Glimpse into "The Art of Racing in the Rain" book review

**Book one of ten for Project 29.** (Delayed post as I was giving the book as a gift, and did not want to alert the receiver to the book before their birthday!!)






















                                           

Glimpse into the briefest of updates

The redo of my parathyroid hormone level came back on Friday super low again. However, the other levels that usually are effected with this problem were not as out of whack as you might expect. So today, after advice from my specialist, I had more bloods taken, and will test my parathyroid level again...third time is a charm! I have even stumped the endocrinologist specialist! More waiting...more tests...more unknowns...
On the upside, the test for arthritis of the spine came back negative, so that is a win right there.

Glimpse into Sardines

I might not be up to sharing extravagant low FODMAP and allergy friendly recipes with you just yet (as I mentioned here), but I can show you glimpses into the easy snacks and treats I have during the day!
Today's lunch? Sardines on toast! Super easy and quick, perfect on a wintery day, and I could even manage to throw it together myself while feeling achey and gross. I can feel the goodness and vitality from it oozing into my veins as I type! Definitely one to keep in the archives for days like these.

I toasted two slices of Country Life Bakery gluten and dairy free white bread. (I save gluten free bread for now and again treats, as it still has egg in it).

I toasted some pine nuts (I just placed them on the nearly cooked toast under the grill).

I used John West's Sardines in tomato sauce (in oil is also delcious) and smashed them over the warm toast.

Serve with spinach, or whatever you have around.

What is so good about eating Sardines?!....

They are packed with protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron,  and potassium. They are quite low in salt content, they are low in mercury and toxins for a fish, and are low in calories. They are cheap to buy, can be bought fresh or tinned, are simple to prepare, and they just taste so darn good!! Get them into you!!

Glimpse into future recipes

I am very excited about bringing you more and more healthy and delicious recipes. At the moment, I struggle to cook due to my chronic health issues, such as fatigue and light headedness, so I don't often have the opportunity to blog about meals (thanks to my fantastic family who have become my personal cooks for the moment!). I will bring this part of the blog to you with full enthusiasm however, when I am more healthy, and able to look after myself in the kitchen!

I have so many ideas to share with you, including exciting ingredients such as quiona, brown rice syrup, coconut oil, and almond meal! A restricted diet DOES NOT mean tasteless, bland food! I will show you what I have learned along the way, and how I turn simple, low allergen foods into delicious and healthy meals, snacks and desserts! Stay tuned!

Glimpse into the chronic illness rollercoaster

I have had another week riding the rollercoaster that is chronic illness and the hunt for answers and treatment.

 

Glimpse into insomnia

Lying in bed, exhausted but wide eyed. Tossing and turning. Waking at 4am and not returning to sleep. Rising in the morning feeling exhausted and unrefreshed.
 

Whichever way it is that you are effected, being unable to sleep properly is a horrendous experience for everyone.
And believe it or not, chronic fatigue and insomnia can coexist!

 

 Ironically, I have tried to write this post several times, and have been too tired and brain foggy to think about it properly, so have put it off!

 

Insomnia...why can't it start in the morning?

 

There can be several reasons why we can be so exhausted, yet fail to sleep.

Glimpse into Gembles; smiling from the inside

I have had postural hypotension for so long that for the majority of the time, I can be losing my vision or feeling dizzy and lightheaded, and people around me do not know! In the same sense, I am realising that I can be feeling nauseous, aching, and exhausted inside these days, but people will comment on how well I am managing a task, and that I am having such a good day! I give them a shocked reaction, thinking "what?! But I feel gross!"

Today, I am thinking that this may indicate:
1.) That I am getting a little better, slowly slowly! Yay!
2.) That I am dealing with what I am faced with, and learning how to manage my gentle activities without giving into the discomfort (because I am so lucky and have so much help and support throughout the day).
3.) That I am risking slipping back into my old thinking of pushing myself so that I can do the things I want to do, and so the things that will make others happy are done, and I could overdo it.
4.) That my positivity and attempt to keep my attitude strong and happy is starting to take effect.

Glimpse into Gembles; working on a good attitude for the week!

The past couple of weeks have been filled with more bad health days than good. I have, however, been able to meet a friend's gorgeous newborn son, managed to treat myself to a beautiful new dress, sat in the sun with a good friend who I have not seen in months, and had some relaxed girl time with the bestie, and Mum. These lovely events broke up the hours of nausea, stiffness, head aches, fatigue, brain fog, some personal sadness, and blood tests.

Glimpse into our driving forces

I have a post, about dealing with insomnia, ready to put up on my blog, but right now, as I lie on the couch feeling very unwell, and needing to distract myself from my body, I find myself writing another.
I am worried that I am not reacting well to the latest medication addition. I really hope not. It is hard to tell sometimes, whether I am just having a particularly bad week in the life of being in this body, or whether the symptoms are caused by something else! So it will be off to get blood tests done soon, to see if anything can be identified.

Days like these make me think about what gets us going. What pulls our eyelids open, enables us to swing our aching legs around to the side of the bed, and put one slow foot in front of another?