There's a current "funny" going around on facebook -- "i hesitate to ask anymore how dumb people can be, because some seem to see it as a challenge" or words to that effect. But it's still a valid question!
I'm reading a very intelligent treatise on the role of food intolerance on CFS/ME, and after implying that the more perfectly people follow a diet designed to minimize known food intolerances, the better they feel, the article goes on to say that they hesitate to recommend this kind of avoidance technique! It seems that patients consider this healthful practice onerous, difficult and burdensome -- awwwww, poor things.... You CAN get significant improvement of life-limiting illness, but you're actually going to have to give up your favorite toxin!
What's the deal, here??? Is it THAT traumatic to dump wheat, or dairy, or chocolate, or whatever, in order to GET YOUR LIFE BACK?
This viewpoint points out some really screwed-up priorities! YES, you're going to have to think and plan ahead. Yes, you'll have to forgo some goodies MOST OF THE TIME (experience seems to point out that, once identified, trouble foods can be used on an extremely rare basis once the body has done some healing and the reaction threshold is lower). Yes, you WILL have to exercise a certain amount of "won't-power."
There is no free lunch when it comes to wellness. A few people (especially the young) can eat, drink and do whatever they want without noticing deleterious effects, but that doesn't apply to the majority of us, especially aging women. I'm willing to trade regular high-histamine foods in my diet (yes, even wine) for increased well-being! I'd rather be OFF misery-inducing treats than ON side-effect-producing pharmaceuticals! ... How about you?
Yep, I meet this stuff all the time...people will say, " I'll just die without my bread!" I say, "I'll die with it."
ReplyDeleteIncredible.
it sure is! but i'm additionally surprised that medical advisors would say, "we don't recommend you change your diet just because it could help you feel better" ... HUH? :-)
DeleteIt can be tricky to do an elimination diet, especially if there's a whole group of foods you can't tolerate. But it's not so tricky you can't do it yourself, especially if you follow a plan designed by professionals who treat people with food intolerances.
ReplyDeleteIt's just my observation, but it seems that people who struggle with giving up certain foods have a strong need to follow the crowd. "But the whole family wants to eat bread!" "Our friends get together and we all eat a big bowl of pasta every weekend!" Raging individualists and people who think for themselves seem to just give it up and get on with it.
a lot of people still want to SELL their elimination plans, but i don't think that mindset can last much longer....
Deletei suspect that the people who indulge in groupthink about their carb addictions are mostly looking for an excuse to continue! once their families and friends go wheatless (or whatever) they'll come up with a different rationale. ;-)
It took me three tries to quit bread. It was hard. But well worth it.
ReplyDeleteif bread didn't give me pain, it would have been harder to quit. :-) every once in a blue moon, i allow myself a little (especially rye) ... but i'm just not attached.
DeleteI spent all my childhood and youth on a strict diet because of an eczema and inflamed gallbladder,it was not fan, but it prepared me to feel comfortable while not eating some foods benign for people without health issues. As time goes by, more and more people I know for years show the signs of metabolic syndrome, develop allergies, and it is difficult for them to accept that their life-style is in the need of change, while for me limiting food choices for health reasons is the normal thing to do. I attended a wedding while in Russia of younger brother of my former husband. Most of that family members (actually all of them) had some autoimmune condition (psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma , staffed sinuses, pollen allergy, fibromialgia) now, not mentioning obvious metabolic issues. It was not the case 25 years ago, when it was my in-law family. They remember how much I used to suffer from the eczema, and now I have completely clear skin. I explained to them my diet because they were really interested. The wheat and bread avoidance looked too unpractical for them, severe limitation of alcohol to rare occasions was the bummer#2, no spicy food , strawberries and oranges was ok. At least I informed them what to do when they choose not to suffer any longer.
ReplyDeletemay you have given them encouragement to do something they wouldn't have had the guts to try otherwise -- i hope for their sakes they go for it!
Delete:-) actually, this makes me think of wearing glasses.... i've needed them since i was 8. within the last few years my husband has had to start doing so, and he's CONSTANTLY forgetting to take them places, and leaves them where he can't remember ... things like that. me, i ALWAYS know where mine are. a lot of people get to be our age, and whine and cry that they can't see anymore. could be worse!
Yes, glasses is a good example. When you do something most of yor life you don't feel disabled by it, it is what enables you to be like everybody else.
ReplyDeleteYes, I left detailed instructions about food, vitamin D,magnesium supplements, avoidance of O6 oils, how to handle a flu or cold, how to manage crisis. There are also some calcium-contained medicine in Russia, which works almost as well as cortisol, but without side-effects (10% calcium chloride in water)exept it is most horribly tasting, revolting thing to take into your mouth, and calcium gluconate injections. My former mother-in-law who is at the end of her rope with RA started to follow, but her case is too bad.
It might take your MIL some years to heal. Just eliminating wheat might help; it's helped my best friend. My mom doesn't have RA, but regular arthritis, and krill oil has helped her.
DeleteWhat might have helped me adopt a LC, mostly paleo diet is that I didn't have any comfort foods. I have no fond memories of my mother's cooking.
It's always great to read others thoughts and comments.
ReplyDeleteMy dad only said to me this morning "this sure is a strange world we live in", he is 89yrs and in great health, and always starts the day with bacon, sausage and tomato. He was talking about the number of cereals for sale and the emphasis that is put on the 'younger generation' to consume them, he was questioning the number of extra vitamins etc that are added and asked the question. Why if a good balanced diet is available, why should extra be needed. As you can imagine we had quite an in depth conversation.
But thank goodness there are those who do talk about the positives and how we can help our health. Thank goodness we have the views that others share "on line". Of course it still does come down to willpower. Others may not agree but surely it is our choice what we eat, and what we drink, what we do?
All the best Jan
he sounds like a wise man. :-)
Deletei don't mind AT ALL that a lot of people want to eat differently from what i consider a healthy diet -- what i mind is when ignorance or self-interest leads seekers astray. having once heard the expression "god's sheep-dogs" used to describe those who try to help keep "god's sheep" safe, i got enthusiastic about the role....
Tess, you are so right, there is no free lunch.
ReplyDelete"You CAN get significant improvement of life-limiting illness, but you're actually going to have to give up your favorite toxin!"
It's sad that the SAD has become so normal that people cannot connect the dots.
Society has been telling us we "can have it ALL," and some people actually believe it. ;-)
DeleteTess your statement, makes perfect sense to me...
ReplyDelete"I'd rather be OFF misery-inducing treats than ON side-effect-producing pharmaceuticals! " ...
All the best Jan
At some point i realized i had to make a trade-off. Every time i fall off the wagon i suffer for it. :-) that makes it easier to stick to what i know i should do.
DeleteThe thing for me is; if I eat something and have an immediate, definite reaction (hives, anaphylaxis, nausea) I'm likely to not eat it again (at least for a very long time)...but, if I eat things that are gradually, subtlely making me fatigued, brain-fog, etc., I'm less likely to make the connection...especially if I react inconsistently, or the reaction is dependent on dose. Herein lies my current dilema. I'm trying to figure out how to do a useful elimination diet. A little fearful because, by definition, an elimination diet is going to be restrictive and that can trigger ED issues for me. I've already eliminated grains, sugar, most dairy, vegetable/seed oils, processed foods, fruits. Currently I'm sick of eggs and beef. :) wah, wah, wah! I'm determined to figure it out though.
ReplyDelete