We all know of that Uncle or Grandma who lived to be a hundred despite eating white bread, fried chicken, and candy bars chased by ten cups of coffee a day. But let's face it, it seems like auto-immune diseases are at an all time high. I can't explain how diets relate to health but it sure seems logical, doesn't it? I've tried several "MS diets." These days, the most popular one seems to be the Wahls paleo diet. I first watched Dr. Terry Wahls Ted Talk almost four years ago. I've probably watched that 18 minute video twenty times. I've read her books and I've tried following her diet. I'm 100% convinced that anyone who eats her diet will be healthier. Let's see, I'll try to sum it up: don't eat anything you enjoyed while growing up, eat a lot of organic meats including organ meats, and eat a truck load or organic vegetables per day. Don't forget the seaweed. Oh, and if you can, grow the food in your backyard. Even if I had the energy to grow and prepare this much food a day, I certainly don't have the energy to EAT this much food.
If you haven't heard of the paleo diets, well, you might be living in the paleolithic age (ha, ha). The basic idea is to get back to eating real foods and avoiding foods that may cause inflammation or adverse reactions in the body (which could include gluten, dairy, grains, processed foods, sugar and more). Most "paleo diets" touch on the importance of eating organ meats. Um, let's just say I have my limits. I'll never forget the first time I tried to make liver. Yuck! Don't get me wrong, if there was a 100% guarantee I would walk again, I would eat liver every day. But there isn't a guarantee and I haven't experienced significant enough results to justify eating what I consider a "Fear Factor" diet. I also have a sweet tooth. The first time I made Dr. Wahls' paleo fudge, I was so excited. Fudge! After the first bite, I seriously cried. I thought, ugh! my life is over. I'm either sentenced to a life in a wheelchair or of eating this stuff she's calling fudge. Here's the recipe from memory: stir a bunch of coconut oil with a tad of really expensive Bulletproof pure cocoa and add some mushed up dates for sweetener. Put in the fridge to harden. Try not to gag after taking the first bite.
Truth is, you really are what you eat. I believe that. We should all be more aware of what we put into our bodies, especially if we struggle with our health. I knew a sweet elderly lady who once said, "if I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself." Hmm. Interesting take. I "get" the Wahls diet. I really do. But I've learned, I simply can't do it. I even had to stop "following" her on Facebook because I was constantly reminded of how I fall short. So, I removed the pressure and guilt of falling short and I strive to simply do my best. If you struggle with health challenges, I encourage you to do the same and see what kind of changes you notice.
Some people have reported miraculous results managing their MS with diets. MS or not, we're all managing our health. While my results haven't been mind blowing, I do notice a difference. There's a lot going around these days regarding the connection between our gut and our health. Maybe you have a gut of steel but for me, this is the main reason I focus on a healthier diet. I had GI problems for years. Now, I don't. You may notice some changes immediately and some may take a while. I still have MS. I'm still in a wheelchair. But I never get sick (knock on wood) and other than MS (isn't that enough?), I'm pretty healthy.
So, here is my 10 step "Do What You Can" Diet:
1. Try to avoid gluten
2. Try to avoid dairy
3. Try to avoid caffeine
4. Try to avoid processed foods
5. Try to stay hydrated (I drink filtered water, kombucha (acquired taste), homemade smoothies (great way to sneak in veggies) and herbal teas.
6. Try to eat healthy proteins every day. Preferably organic meats.
7. Try to eat plenty of veggies. Preferably organic.
8. Try to eat a little fruit (don't overdue).
9. Try to limit sugar
10. Show yourself grace when you fall short (which for me is pretty much every day)
This is the cliff note version of what I strive for in my diet. It's a bit more complex than this but the bottom line is, do your best to make healthy changes in your diet. Your body will thank you.
Also, pay attention to how you respond to food. If I eat some gluten, I may find my gut hurling insults at me. If my "cheat" item is organic popcorn or a healthier potato chip, I may notice immediate numbing in my right hand. If I eat some organic gluten free cookies or coconut ice cream, I might notice nerve pain in my toes or a sore popping up in my mouth. When I can't resist organic butter on my baked potato or blue cheese on my salad, I may go through a handful of tissues blowing my nose. And my "no, no" foods often lead to jumpy spastic legs (painful). Logically, you might then avoid these items but there's little explanation why I can't always do that. I chalk it up to being human. Do the best you can and don't beat yourself up.
I also make up for some of my diet shortfalls through whole food nutritional supplements. I have worked closely for several years with my chiropractor who specializes in nutrition. Find someone you trust to help with your nutrition and to help you make better health choices.
I think part of enjoying life is enjoying food. If my diet feels oppressive, than life is NO fun! I have a favorite local bakery called Gluten Free Cutie and I LOVE their cupcakes. They make me happy! They don't use gluten, dairy, eggs or artificial dyes and still manage to taste delicious. Oh, and I never diet to lose weight. That's not my health challenge. My mother was obese and died at age 74 of a heart attack. But she seemed to enjoy her life and she didn't want to change her diet. I respect that. Sometimes it's exhausting putting so much thought into what I eat but I don't want to go back to where I was before making peace with my unhappy gut.
If you struggle with health issues, I highly recommend making adjustments to your diet. And although I'm totally overwhelmed by the Wahls diet, I recommend reading her books. They are full of interesting information. You have to be super-human to follow her protocol but give yourself permission to take baby steps, to do your best, give it your best shot and then pay attention to how your body responds.
So get out there and well, do your best!
