Yippee for healthy foods!As I posted recently, I'm becoming more and more interested in healthy, healing foods. I've been struggling for several months now with some really yucky postpartum mood stuff--feeling anxious and nervous, having repetitive thoughts, feeling down and sad. Months ago, I told myself that there was some sort of nutritional deficiency going on but how do you pin point something like that? On top of all the mood stuff, I've been exhausted with little to no energy, feeling irritable and edgy all at the same time.
I've tried a lot of different things to help me, but so far I'm seeing the greatest impact through changes in my diet. Here's what I've done so far:
- Eliminated white sugar
- Eliminated white flour
- Eliminated caffeine
- Started eating more fruits and veggies
- Started taking Omega 3's, Vitamin D and Calcium
- Started taking time for myself
- Started spending time doing fun things every week
- Started an elimination diet--no dairy or gluten for 3-6 weeks
I began the elimination diet on Sunday of this week. It might be awhile before I see results, but I swear (and maybe this is just the placebo effect) that I've had more energy in the past couple of days. I highly recommend reading, the Ultramind Solution. This is the same great book I just posted about. I wish everyone would read it! I think it's full of important information. I'm also learning that Dr. Hyman isn't the first to make this mind/body connection as far as nutrition is concerned. Now, I'm excited to read "The Maker's Diet" and "Quantum Wellness" which a friend recently recommended to me. If you know of others, please share the titles with me.
No, I'm still not 100 percent myself yet. I have days when I feel down and blue, or tired. But overall I'm noticing a HUGE decrease in these feelings. I feel excited about life again, and all that there is to still accomplish! I feel happy and motivated most of the time, and hopeful that things will continue to get better and better. My jeans are a little looser, and my nearly constant cravings for sweets are nearly gone.
I hope that others will share their own nutritional healing stories. I'd love to hear more about them.
To healthy living...
3 comments:
Looking Good Joy!!
-Pam
So happy that these diet changes are working for you. When you say "eliminate" how far do you go? I try to eliminate white flour, white sugar, white rice, pasta, potatoes but I'm not fanatical. Do you think it helps just to "cut back" or do you need to really eliminate? Keep up your good work, and keep feeling better!
Thanks, Pam. This is actually a really old picture that I took for an art project I was working on. I'll have to finish the complete project some time, so that it makes more sense!
Peggy, as far as eliminating--I've completely eliminated white sugar (except if it's in something like ketchup--but even then I'm trying to have just a very small amount) and am using maple syrup, honey and agave nectar instead (again, sparingly). I've also eliminated dairy and gluten for the 3-6 week period as part of a test to see if I'm sensitive to these foods.
As far as other white foods go, for me it had to be cold turkey. My body is really sensitive to sugar and eating white stuff (simple carbs which break down quickly into sugar in the body) really makes me CRAVE more and more of the same unhealthy stuff. If you aren't keen on cutting out everything white from your diet, I would suggest at least trying to eliminate white sugar (that means High Fructose Corn Syrup and artificial sweeteners which mimic sugar in the body) and see if you notice a difference. I have SO much more energy than usual (even though I'm still getting up twice a night with the little guy) and my cravings are nearly gone. This from the girl who used to have chocolate every single day, no matter what! Let me know if you try it, what you think!
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