This summer, I experienced a slew of seemingly unrelated health problems that caused me to take a step back and start taking care of myself. I had migraines, chronic fatigue and exhaustion, gastrointestinal problems, general aches and pains, breakouts, mood swings, and irregular menstrual cycles. I went to countless doctor's appointments, trying to figure out why me, a usually energetic and driven 19-year-old was suddenly feeling like a sleep-deprived 80-year-old. I tried medications, I changed the type of toilet paper I was using, I even tried to consistently get at least 10 hours of sleep every night - nothing was making me feel more like myself.
In addition to the symptoms listed above, I was always hungry and constantly craved sugar. I had never been much of a sweet tooth, but suddenly I couldn't get enough chocolate, candy or anything that had sugar in it.
My wonderful hair dresser recognized some of my symptoms, and recommended that I visit a local Health and Wellness doctor, just to see what he had to say. I thought it would just be another doctor's visit with an inconclusive diagnosis.
Instead, the doctor took a great deal of time and effort to explain to me what was going on with my body. I'll spare readers the intricate details, but basically, I have been experience some hormonal irregularities and digestive inflammation that have spiraled into all of the different health issues I was experiencing.
The doctor recommended a strict elimination diet. When he gave me the list of foods I needed to avoid, my jaw dropped.
No sugars. No high glycemic fruits, like bananas and mangoes. No grains or gluten-containing compounds. No nuts and seeds, or dairy, or eggs. No soy, beans, legumes, nightshade foods (like tomatoes) or alcohol. Also, NO COFFEE!
I had no idea how I would actually be able to do this diet. What exactly was I supposed to eat? How was I supposed to survive without coffee? How was I not supposed to eat chocolate after every meal?
I didn't think I would be able to pull it off. But I just finished my first week, and I'm feeling great.
The first few days were rough. I felt like absolute crap - my body was detoxing, getting rid of all of the toxins I'd accumulated from eating processed sugar and GMOs (genetically modified organisms). But after a few days, I woke up with more energy than I've had in months. It was as if I'd suddenly caught up on all of the sleep I'd felt like I was lacking for the last six months. I was able to go through the day without feeling like I needed to nap or drink three cups of coffee. My skin has already started clearing up, and my stomach has started to feel less bloated and inflamed.
What exactly have I been eating? Lots of sweet potatoes - sweet potato stuffing and a sweet potato in the microwave with some coconut oil and cinnamon are two of my favorites. I've been learning how to cook my own meat, and snacking only on fruits and vegetables. I though this was going to be so difficult for me - I love my sugar and my bread. I'm not going to lie, I still crave sugar and bread, but eating clean isn't nearly as difficult or burdensome as I thought it was going to be.
I'm kind of enjoying it - learning how to make my own food and putting nutritious stuff into my body that makes me feel good has been a completely eye-opening experience and I'm really glad I've started this journey. At this point, anything is worth feeling better.
