INFLAMMATION – PART 2 – PHASED OUT
Image by John Hain from Pixabay
Our
diets can’t help us with all inflammation related ailments like a burn, a cut
or a sprain but even then some of the good foods do help alleviate the pain a
bit e.g. Apples.
Diet is instead very helpful in the inflammation that I have
experienced - gut inflammation or
inflammation caused by food.
The aliens are many and in some cases like
mine they might also be a combination - Bacteria, Fungal,
Parasitic infection, a diet rich in refined and processed foods or even a leaky
gut to name but a few.
Though
the causes are many, strangely what we need to Phase Out from our diets are
often common for all.
The first and foremost thing that we need
to reduce from our diet, always makes me think of this popular song by the
music group The Archies.
“Sugar, ah honey honey, you are my candy girl”
Yessss you guessed it – SUGAR.
And
by George this is not easy to do. How do you give up glorious desserts and
chocolate?
Image by pencil parker from Pixabay
SELF-CONTROL,
an enormous amount of it. I think what has helped me is that I was able to feel
a direct correlation between the pain and inflammation in my tummy and sugar
very fast. Sugar Rush took on a very
different meaning for me. The PH balance
in my gut was so off that I developed Candida,
and that I could see.
So
for the last 4 years I have sugar only in my tea and until last year had no desserts
at all. I could only do this because I saw how my symptoms would increase after
I had desserts. (Slight confession here – I couldn’t say no to the most yummy
cake a friend made for me at my house with my home ingredients, after all, I am
human too.)
But
alas sugar is not found just as simple sugar it is also found all around us in
products that either have added sugar or get converted to sugar in our tummies.
Not all are bad, some like fruit are really very good but some of the bad ones
are found in refined products like Maida (all purpose flour), Bread, Alcohol (groan,
not this too), Cola (the most difficult thing for me to stop. I have relapsed
twice but am now cola free for more than a year) and Aspartame – the artificial
sweetener to name a few.
The
list of what else to reduce eating is pretty small as rather than food items it
is mostly food groups. The others that I try to reduce in my diet are:
Gluten – found mostly in Wheat, Barley and Rye
- reducing this has helped me. I feel we do not need to remove this from our
diet unless we are allergic or intolerant to it.
Refined and Processed Foods – yes I know I have
repeated this but it is that important to reduce. I have nearly removed all
processed foods and have reduced the refined too.
Full Fat Dairy – like Cheese, Cottage
Cheese (Paneer) and other full-fat dairy products. These actually are people
specific, they suit some and don’t suit some (like me), trust your gut instinct.
(I have removed cheese and Paneer from my diet but that is because of my Allergies)
There
are some more foods that might also be
recommended. Since all of our ailments may vary
I would suggest talking to your doctor/nutritionist before undergoing
any drastic changes in your diet as they will recommend it as per your ailment /
body type. I did!
My
doc’s advised me on a complete shut out of all “outside” food – not just
restaurant but also packaged. Only homemade – in my home with my ingredients.
In fact when I go travelling I have my very own spice and ingredient bag which
can lead to a lot of comical situations, maybe I will write a fun post on that
some day too.
So
don’t lose heart, the list of foods that are good for us is long. Check out my
following post Phased In to know more.
Associated Posts:
DISCLAIMER: This blog is about my health experiences.The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with their doctor.
Comments
Post a Comment