I have been on this health and wellness journey “officially” since June 2014 when I introduced oils to our home for our physical and emotional health. I am grateful for this journey as I have found how to best support MY health and wellbeing nutritionally and also to support and strengthen our immune systems.
With each step, comes a bit of a stumbling block, which is completely ok!
In 2019 I shared on my blog about my enlarged spleen issue and seeing a specialist, learning about the FODMAP diet for IBS triggers and understanding better how to eat for my health and body to thrive.
Ive known for years if I was to drink Milk or eat Ice Cream, this wouldn’t go over well with my digestive system… I also figured out wheat from the FODMAP diet as well as some other things. I switched over to a gluten free diet and have felt SO much better – there truly is wonderful options now. However I was still having challenges.
To be completely honest, I was NOT mentally prepared for what I was told after my allergy/food sensitivity testing. If anything I know I can navigate through anything, however this rocked me. To the point of pulling over multiple times while literally bawling to my husband on the phone.
THANKFULLY… my husband and kids are so amazing and are open to whatever I need to do for my health. Ive never once restricted my family, even though I do the majority of the grocery shopping, however they have been introduced to things that I found worked better for my lifestyle and those things have stuck well with all of us!
So the bombshell…
- Wheat
- Cows Milk (Casein)
- Tomatoes
- Corn
- Peanuts
- Sulfites
- Food Colourants (Tartrazine) – Red, Yellow, Green, Blue
- Candida Species
- Tree/Grass Pollens
- House Dust/Mites
What hit me… hard was I switched over to alot of “corn” products, which now makes sense even more. Also cow’s milk in general, I had a feeling because I was buying lactose free yogurt and was having issues with feeling stuffed up and just awful, almost cold/flu like. Honestly, if I wasn’t in tune with my body, when going somewhere and being asked all these “questions” I would have to say yes BUT knowing my health and knowing my triggers… I honestly sincerely wish more people took the time to dive into their own health and figure this out!
I had to get this out of my head because its feeling like a LOT. It really is. I will navigate through this, however I am realizing even more how sneaky, yes thats a good word, our government allows major corporations to be… lets use corn for example and I wont tear up knowing popcorn was a friggin fav of mine…
Read food labels for some of the most common corn by-product names, including:
- Corn flour, cornmeal. corn gluten, cornflakes, etc.
- Cornstarch, also listed on labels as starch or vegetable starch
- Corn oil
- Corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup
- Dextrins
- Maltodextrins
- Dextrose
- Fructose or crystalline fructose
- Hydrol, treacle
- Ethanol
- Free fatty acids
- Maize
- Zein
- Sorbitol
(source – https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/nutrition/corn-free.aspx)
All those listed above are different names for corn used on ingredient labels… if anything this journey is pulling away the veil to show the truth behind what the government allows in our various foods, drinks etc… Its not only under handed its really sneaky AND damaging people’s health.
I am sharing because much of what I have shared on my journey, is that this is a lifelong health and wellness journey, there is no quick fix, no one pill that will make everything better or drop piles of weight. It takes work and now, for me the work is much of within my mind and cupboards to navigate through and figure out what works for me and my health. Many people may be surprised of the allergies and food sensitivities I do have, however that’s because I really didn’t speak up much. I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings telling them I couldn’t eat this or that because I didn’t or wouldn’t feel well or just didn’t want to attract attention or listen to people tell me I was “fine” and just eat it.
Its been a journey, with many sleepless nights – not from worrying. I truly do find it AMAZING how when I expanded our oil collection and began using the oils to cook with, at how gentle they were on my stomach AND tasted great. Or my one child voicing more so in the past few years not wanting or liking cheese, and us respecting that, I love that we can honor that and not just say eat it “because”. Thankfully I have an amazing spice girl now who has been such an incredible help for me to let me know what products have corn or dairy in them and that all are GF!
Im very much in the adjustment phase, Ive found a new protein powder that’s Gluten Free, Dairy Free AND Yeast Free… I will blog more about my journey as I know there are so many women out there like me who possibly have been suffering in silence. Know that its OK 100% to align in what YOUR truth is, which includes healthy eating as well!
The other night as my family enjoyed gluten free spaghetti for dinner, I enjoyed gluten and corn free pasta with some fresh veggies and a delish oil and vinegar dressing/sauce with hemp hearts and sunflower seeds.
The treats with tonight’s dinner… fresh strawberries and peas!!!
Although this felt very overwhelming the other day… Im HERE FOR THIS and Im here for LIVING a healthy lifestyle where my body, soul and mind can all THRIVE! ❤
Your Life As Art Essentials 