Unplanned Lifestyle Changes
We all know what is good for us and what is not, at least for the most part. Putting what we know is good for us into practice is another matter entirely. It is easy to fall into what is convenient rather than what is good for us. Our society enables this behavior by providing us with convenience everywhere we look.
Food is one of those areas where convenience abounds. When you shop for groceries the isles contain canned food, packaged ready to cook pasta, ready to eat bread products, ready to eat dinners …you get the idea. Most of us never read the labels on those products. We never read those words we can’t pronounce nor would we know what they meant if we did read them. Most of us are not aware of all the chemicals we are ingesting so we can enjoy the convenience of those foods. The FDA says that these chemicals are not harmful at the level contained in those products. They don’t tell us what happens to us if those chemicals decide to accumulate in our systems. They don’t want other countries, like China, adding nasty chemicals to our products, but they do it themselves consistently and without calling our attention to it.
I am not going to discuss fast food. No need…
Why am I focusing on this topic? Because I am experiencing some health issues for which they have yet to identify the cause. What I have found is that eating dairy, fat and oil are all bad news. This means no milk, butter, margarine, meat, or anything with fat or oil content. Anything that would aggravate a symptomatic gall bladder. The tests have indicated that the gall bladder is not at fault. So while it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s not a duck.
I am maintaining a diet mostly void of meat and dairy. I have discovered that non-meat products from MorningStar are actually not all that bad. While going entirely organic would be better, I am not there yet. To make a meal I am adding frozen vegetables that have no added sauce and I am heating them in the microwave, eating them plain – no butter or margarine.
I have known for some time now that I needed to make changes. This health issue is forcing my hand. I am giving up my favorite snack chips, something I should have done a long time ago. No chocolate. So much for that relationship. I still have fruit so I don’t miss having desert.
While I have used herbs for many years to address health issues, I have not faced this type of issue. One of the basic tenets of identifying an issue is to break it down to the most simple factors first. By taking the measures I am taking now, I can add a food to the mix and know if it is an offender by the way my body reacts to it. One step at a time. It takes longer to identify, but there is no doubt when you find it. Stop eating meat, then add a few ounces of fat free chicken and see how my body reacts.
So this health issue is taking me down the road of unplanned lifestyle changes. Yes. It will be lifestyle changes so I don’t end up taking this same path again in the future. It will be a much healthier lifestyle and that will be a good thing.
Filed in: Health
We've recently started eating wheat and gluten free: my husband's blood sugars (he's diabetic) are better, more stable and, my heartburn is gone. Gone. No need for me to get the prescription filled for that purple pill. We used to eat and enjoy Morningstar but, they use wheat and gluten so it's out for us. I will say, some of their foods are pretty tasty.
I may have to investigate gluten free further. My husband has just been diagnosed as diabetic so we are having to make changes for him as well.
I have had to make many dietary changes over the years simply because I could no longer tolerate the foods – lactose, coffee, fried foods etc etc. So I know how hard it is to make changes when you don't necessarily choose to do so. But because of my experience I've become much more aware of what is healthy and what is not. We are what we eat is so true, and yet it's difficult for many people to either accept or comprehend this. Frankly , I ultimately found that the things that didn't agree with me I craved less and less as they made me feel bad. That said, i do on occasion take some lactose tablets so I can have creme caramel or some other little treat. But moderation is always the key, boring as that may sound.
You make a very good point. Having a little treat now and then makes a 'good for you' diet much easier to stick with.
My latest change has been peanut butter. As much as I love it, my body doesn't respond well to it. It was a very sad day indeed when I said good bye.
Peanut Butter… yeah, not happening here either.
Like you, I have had to take a hard look at what I consume and make some serious adjustments. That doesn't mean that I won't eat the same things, it just means I will be easting far more sensibly. I have always been pretty conscious of what I should and shouldn't eat. I just need to be more aware then I have been the recent past. 🙂
I think you started making changes before I even came to visit. So much for plastering all the butter on my popcorn. 🙂
Hahaha, I remember that humungous bowl of butter popcorn. It was os fun though. 😀
It's always amazed me how the food we eat can have such positive and negative impacts on how we feel. I haven't had too many food issues yet, but do tend to get acid reflux from citrus-based drinks, but it's not like I have a hankering for OJ everyday, and the occasional margarita is fine. Even though I try to eat in moderation, I readily admit that my love affair with food knows no bounds. I like all the tasty things. I can't imagine not eating chocolate 🙁 In the end though, you'll find the combo that helps you feel your best. My next food goal is to get a food dehydrater to make apple and banana chips cuz eating a bag of Tostitos is never good thing 😉
Not that bad is a good way to describe the Morning Star products. Costly and getting more costly is another way. Check out the Engine Two Diet and other online veg resources for better, tastier, and MUCH better priced alternatives to meat. It is all over the internet, believe me.
Hi Cheryl: You are doing the right thing. Eliminating the offenders, and slowly introducing less harmful versions (as in the case of lean chicken breasts.) I'm sure those will be OK for you.
But what a shame to have to eliminate chocolate! May I suggest going to the health food store, Whole Foods, or a fine chocolatier and trying a high percentage pure organic chocolate with NO additives other than a small amount of pure organic cane sugar? Or trying organic cocoa nibs with your fruit and yogurt? You'll still get the delicious flavour without the additives. Good luck, and here's hoping you win the battle.
All the different labels on coffees can be really confusing. The FDA Organic label is very loosely regulated and enforced. How can they realistically be checking the organic practices of thousands of coffee growers in Colombia, Indonesia, etc.
Another concern is decaf coffee. Most coffee companies use chemicals to remove caffeine from coffee beans which can accumulate in our bodies over time.
Thank you for bringing attention to these problems and great to hear you have made the right changes in your diet.