Specialty Diets: going gluten-free, cutting out sugar, avoiding dairy
Overcome candida, heal your gut and give your immune system a reboot!
Chronic illness is a difficult thing to live with, and you are not alone! After suffering for years with fatigue, body pain, digestive disturbances, "brain fog," migraines, anxiety and depression it can be hard to know where to turn. Alternative treatments may have brought temporary relief but after trying countless remedies you have still not found a lasting solution. It is time to take a deep breath and try again - here are a few of the best diet-based programs I have come across to help get you organized and back on track; figure out the cause of your ailments; and finally help you feel better and achieve your best possible quality of life.
All kinds of gluten-free flour available online in Canada
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I have mentioned these specialty diets enough times that it seems worthy of devoting a whole page to the topic. As I review each program and the ingredients and supplies required I am happy to find that some of the specialty food products are easier to find now than when I first started. One thing that has not changed is the critical importance of having a healthy gut in order to heal numerous other health conditions, both mental and physical. One of the most surprising discoveries I've come across is that
serotonin - a major component in treating anxiety and depression - exists primarily not in our brain, but in our gut. Many of the other finds are more common sense: like if we are not able to digest and absorb nutrients, this will have ill effects at some point. I have known for some time that extended antibiotic use can cause major disruption in our digestive system, but hadn't realized that antacids can be very detrimental as well. |
My journey began more than 20 years ago when a doctor told me about IBS, and I realized I was lactose intolerant. Shortly thereafter I found my stomach was reacting to numerous other foods as well but it wasn't until years later that I went to a Naturopath for more extensive tests and discovered I was sensitive to white flour; dairy; all sugars; soy; and corn (all "the usual suspects," plus a few surprises like wine, chocolate and curry). More recently I requested a gluten test from my doctor and it confirmed the initial results - I am not celiac, however I still find I am sensitive to all kinds of bread products. While I realize there are people who scoff at the idea that avoiding gluten can benefit anyone other than those with an actual allergy or intolerance, I subscribe to the notion that GMOs are causing more harm than we realize, and that there is more to the equation than "just gluten." For this reason I promote the use of organic products whenever possible.
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As Dr. Susan Blum discusses in The Immune System Recovery Plan, some of us honestly seem to be like the 'canaries in a coal mine;" we are simply more sensitive than others and will be the first to show signs of distress when exposed to toxins. However, with the rise in autoimmune disorders, allergies and the like, I do believe that it may be a sign of things to come for an increasing percentage of the population.
Most recently, I have been exploring the work of Medical Medium Anthony William. As the name implies, Anthony has been receiving information about health and illness directly from Spirit since he was a child, so it's best that you are open to that kind of thing in order to benefit from these books. However, anyone suffering from chronic illness stands to benefit from his advice on healing the thyroid, liver, and much more, all using natural means. Yes, he is the source of all the fuss about celery juice that you've been hearing about :) I am particularly interested in his theories about the Epstein-Barr Virus and its link to many chronic ailments.
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Here are links to some of the natural remedies recommended by the Medical Medium - available online in Canada:
5-MTHF Turmeric B-Complex
Aloe Vera Vitamin B12 (adenosylcobalamin with methylcobalamin) Ashwagandha
Barley grass juice powder Vitamin C Chicory root
Chaga mushroom Zinc (liquid zinc sulfate) Hibiscus
Curcumin Cat's Claw Licorice Root
Lemon Balm Goldenseal Schisandra berry
L-lysine Mullein Leaf ALA
Magnesium Glycinate Nascent Iodine Glutathione
Nettle Leaf Red Clover MSM
Spirulina Amla Berry Selenium
Burdock Root Ginger Milk Thistle
Peppermint Raspberry leaf CoQ10
NAC Olive leaf Oregon grape root
Rose hips Vitamin D3 Eyebright
D-Mannose EPA and DHA (fish-free)
5-MTHF Turmeric B-Complex
Aloe Vera Vitamin B12 (adenosylcobalamin with methylcobalamin) Ashwagandha
Barley grass juice powder Vitamin C Chicory root
Chaga mushroom Zinc (liquid zinc sulfate) Hibiscus
Curcumin Cat's Claw Licorice Root
Lemon Balm Goldenseal Schisandra berry
L-lysine Mullein Leaf ALA
Magnesium Glycinate Nascent Iodine Glutathione
Nettle Leaf Red Clover MSM
Spirulina Amla Berry Selenium
Burdock Root Ginger Milk Thistle
Peppermint Raspberry leaf CoQ10
NAC Olive leaf Oregon grape root
Rose hips Vitamin D3 Eyebright
D-Mannose EPA and DHA (fish-free)
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The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates was one of the first major diet plans I tried. It focuses largely on controlling candida or yeast in the body and makes a lot of sense. Donna has developed an impressive amount of expertise through her own experience, trial and error, and has been a pioneer for healthy sugar-free sweeteners in North America. One of these, Lakanto, consists of Monk Fruit (or Luo Han Guo) and Erythritol and for the longest time I was unable to source it in Canada, so made do with Luo Han Guo powder purchased at Upaya Naturals and was pretty happy with it (I had tried Luo Han Guo many years before to help with chronic bronchitis at the suggestion of a Chinese shop keeper). However, Lakanto has now made an appearance at one of my favourites, well.ca (below). Body Ecology is a strict diet that involves food combining of the allowed foods (carbohydrate+veggies or protein+veggies but never carb+protein), in addition to avoiding a long list of things including virtually all fruits (and fruit juices), so it does take a lot of discipline, planning and organization. The book really helps break it all down however and includes a bunch of recipes to get you started.
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I believe this diet could benefit almost anyone; the avoidance of carbs naturally leads to weight loss and candida problems can be hidden (and in fact, quite invasive), i.e. this is not just for people experiencing yeast infections. My problems following this diet: I have not yet made my own sauerkraut, for reasons ranging from lifestyle (times when I did not have much money, a food processor, or a car to help me tote heavy cabbages) to comfort level with doing my own fermenting. I have experimented with kefir and kombucha however (during my time in a small town where these were not readily available to buy) and was successful with a batch of coconut milk kefir in addition to the other fizzy drinks. Donna does not recommend the sweetened beverages due to the avoidance of all sugars on this diet, but some organic sugar is required to get the kefir started if you are making your own (I used something like this). I have also not yet tried colonics as recommended in this program, but realize a lot of people do swear by them.
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The Body Ecology diet is a whole lifestyle, and there is a lot of wisdom here for anyone struggling with chronic health conditions including autoimmune disorders and food allergies. It is particularly important to learn about candida (and take probiotics) if you have a history of taking antibiotics. Learn more at: BodyEcology.com and return here to purchase products in Canada.
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Some online sources for Body Ecology recommended foods: Lo Han Guo (Monkfruit powder); Lakanto sweetener; organic sauerkraut; a fermentation crock for making your own sauerkraut; water kefir grains; culture starter for veggies
Below: another food group on the Body Ecology diet is sea veggies, available as snacks or seasonings.
Below: another food group on the Body Ecology diet is sea veggies, available as snacks or seasonings.
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Leaky Gut: my ongoing reading and research about digestive problems naturally led to Leaky Gut. I purchased the Leaky Gut Health & Diet Guide in part simply for the added variety to the dietary guidelines I was already following. One of the biggest finds here was L-Glutamine for helping to repair the gut lining (which can be taken as capsules; powder to make your own smoothies, or already contained in certain protein drink blends, including this particular Sun Warrior blend with pea protein, see right). Dr Axe has become something of a guru in this department, and you can purchase his special formula online, but it is pretty pricey especially when converted to CAD. I would recommend checking out some of his inspiring work in his books or online - you can read about his test for Leaky Gut here. It was while reading about leaky gut that I learned about the need to avoid carageenan, a common food additive (check labels on your almond milk!), if you have a sensitive gut. In the Leaky Gut Health & Diet Guide, your diet goes through 3 stages of calming, restoring and maintenance, starting with more extreme restrictions (including avoidance of cruciferous vegetables, onions and garlic) and slowly adding foods back as your system is healed and restored. Rice is allowed, and lacto-fermented foods are encouraged. A number of tasty recipes are included, as well as a lot of information about your gut and digestive processes. A few of the ingredients I had to pick up: sorghum flour, grapeseed oil, xanthum gum, quinoa flakes, millet, amaranth. |
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Although I learned a lot from both the Body Ecology diet and the Leaky Gut guide, I decided to go one step further into exploring my immune system problems when I once again found myself going through a prolonged period of digestive disturbance, along with some other troubling symptoms like swollen glands in my throat that persisted for several months. My regular doctor was not sure what to suggest, and my acupuncturist became concerned about autoimmune dysfunction. I purchased The Immune System Recovery Plan (along with Anti-Inflammatory Eating Made Easy) and have been learning even more about the vital importance of a healthy digestive system in reducing inflammatory conditions throughout the body. This book includes some helpful self-assessment tools to fine-tune your focus on your specific needs. Here is where I learned about the problems associated with having too little stomach acid - a possible missing link in my treatment plan to date. Having moved through the initial stages outlined in the book, I decided to try adding a daily dose of apple cider vinegar for this purpose (note: there are differences in opinion about taking apple cider vinegar, and after a time I switched to taking Betaine HCL tablets instead. Do some reading to make your own informed decision). As mentioned elsewhere, I have attained some measure of relief through the use of probiotics and digestive enzymes prior to now (in addition to avoiding trigger foods of course), but it still seems something is missing. The book touches on yeast overgrowth and leaky gut, and includes lots of helpful suggestions for supplements as well as doctor-prescribed medications and tests. For some of the issues discussed, including low stomach acid and hormonal issues, doctor intervention may be necessary, but Dr. Blum helps you do a lot of the initial homework yourself in order to decide which tests you should request. Again, a number of recipes are included, with variations - I appreciate the emphasis here on "no deprivation." ;)
A variety of organic beans are used in the Immune System Recovery Plan recipes (available online - please click image)
All three approaches to using diet to improve your health have certain elements in common, including the avoidance of gluten and sugar (this includes alcohol, though the Immune System Recovery Plan allows for moderation once your symptoms are under control). It can be challenging to make huge dietary changes, especially when eating out, but the experts have put a lot of thought into these diet plans to make it easier for you to succeed. These are health-focused diets, so weight loss is more of an afterthought in most cases, but it makes sense that by cutting out sugars and other carbs you are going to lose some weight regardless. Additional benefits will vary by person, but what I appreciate most about these special diets is the amount of knowledge you gain, and the amount of control you have over your health and recovery. I truly believe that we need to be our own best experts on our individual health and wellness, and am grateful for these tools to help us along the way. Using food as medicine is an ancient art, and these up-to-date guides contribute the latest in scientific understanding to a common sense method of healing our bodies and minds.
For more information on finding alternative foods and ingredients online for dietary restrictions, please see our Food page :)
For more information on finding alternative foods and ingredients online for dietary restrictions, please see our Food page :)
Keto
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Products ship from Canada, with free shipping on orders over $79.
While best-known for achieving weight loss, these Keto products are also:
- Gluten Free. Paleo & Vegetarian Friendly. With no added sugar, these low-carb treats can add variety to your healthy diet.
A snapshot of some of the tasty and colorful meals that I have prepared while following the above-mentioned diets.
Hint: yes, each diet includes quite a lot of quinoa! ;)
Body Ecology recipes: Ginger Fried Quinoa; Light Fresh and Lovely Green Smoothie; Chicken in Lettuce Leaf Wraps (a variation); Authentic Peruvian Quinoa Soup; Potato Corn Chowder
Immune System Recovery recipes: Buddha Rice Bowl With Tahini Dressing; Spicy Black Bean Quinoa Salad
Anti-Inflammatory Diet recipes: Poached White Fish With Mango Lime Chutney
Recipes discovered while browsing online: Whipped Coconut Cream
Hint: yes, each diet includes quite a lot of quinoa! ;)
Body Ecology recipes: Ginger Fried Quinoa; Light Fresh and Lovely Green Smoothie; Chicken in Lettuce Leaf Wraps (a variation); Authentic Peruvian Quinoa Soup; Potato Corn Chowder
Immune System Recovery recipes: Buddha Rice Bowl With Tahini Dressing; Spicy Black Bean Quinoa Salad
Anti-Inflammatory Diet recipes: Poached White Fish With Mango Lime Chutney
Recipes discovered while browsing online: Whipped Coconut Cream
As with everything we promote, we believe it is important to purchase organic, good quality herbs and spices for optimum health (and flavour!).
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Simply Organic
Garlic Powder |
Simply Organic
Ground Ginger Root |
Simply Organic
Ground Cumin |
Simply Organic
Oregano Leaf |
Simply Organic
Cayenne |
If you've been clicking through to see any of these recommended products, you may have noticed that I have switched a great many of my links to Amazon.ca. There are several reasons for this: 1. The natural and organic products and companies are the same ones that I've promoted on other websites; it seems everyone realizes that to remain competitive these days, you pretty much have to be on Amazon. 2. The affiliate programs I've tried juggling over many years tend to change and expire over time, leaving us with links that go nowhere, and sometimes reject me from reapplying to their new program because I am not a big enough influencer. It can become discouraging. 3. If you start buying more products on Amazon, you will likely find it's worth it to pay for Prime, and get your orders delivered much more quickly than from anywhere else. When you are dealing with health issues and need a refill fast, this can be extremely helpful. As always, I know this because I shop there myself. ;)
Please note: this page contains affiliate links which may result in my receiving a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking. As always, I only promote products and websites that I believe in, and that I feel meet the criteria of my website, taking steps toward healthier living in a kinder world ;)
