So...I know, you are impressed--2 post in 5 days and neither while on trips. ;)
I know I have not been really open on the blog about my health since my little trip to the hospital in India. So here is the latest--and what I am doing and why. Get excited... I am becoming a health fanatic!!!
Since that trip my exhaustion has improved dramatically (credit to having Emily and the fact that I have the first year under my belt and know what to expect), but my digestive issues, nausea, headaches, and random other problems still linger. The doctors have ran lots of test, but cannot pinpoint what it is that is causing everything. I've been to the best of the best in holistic medicine, infectious disease, and GI specialist so I assure you all I am not being stubborn and not trying.
Good news is--it is nothing that they can pinpoint or figure out so that means there are a lot of things that I know I do not have. YIPEE!! So what could it be?? Here is a little background..
When I was little I had TONS of food allergies: sugar(processed), corn, wheat, oats, peanuts, cola products, green beans/peas, trout, and beets. I had allergy induced asthma(it also caused digestive issues) and well, you can just call me Tom Cruise if you want because I have been as close to death as he has in Mission Impossible..well maybe not that often, but I spent my fair amount of time at the hospital when I "accidentally" ate something I was not supposed to. I actually did not mind the "diet"--I'm sure my mom told me that only the cool kids got to eat carrots and celery while everyone else had cake and ice cream. But then again--I was not the one preparing the food, buying the groceries, and having to ask a billion questions every time I consumed anything--Love you mom for dealing with that all for me. Well, by 6th or 7th grade I grew out of my allergies..or so I thought.
So I went to the GI specialist and explained everything that was going on and he ran some more test and just looked confused because nothing came back positive. We kept talking and he kept researching and then said he believes it could one of two things..or a combination of both.
1. Stress -----HHAHAHA you don't say? Duh. We talked about options and he does not want to put me on an anti-depressent so he gave me some other kind of meds to take that will help with my tummy if I know I will be in a stressful situation, I just can't take them daily. (I've had more medicine and antibiotics in me this past year and will not be taking those things unless I feel like I did in India because I don't want to be popping pills all the time.) Also, I am starting yoga once a week. :) The last time I did yoga, my friend Carley and I almost got kicked out of the class for laughing...im double-jointed and can easily do the flexible poses--just not the "right" way-it's funny. But I promise to take this serious and use it as a time to exercise, pray and relax.
2. FOOD ALLERGIES--HAHAHA..going in and out of so many different places could possibly trigger my allergies/my body does not have enough time to adjust well and I just get sick. So he told me to cut out as much of the things I was allergic to and see if I felt better. I have been gluten, sugar, corn, peanut, cola, etc. etc. etc. free for 1 month. I have only gotten sick twice, (instead of daily) but the nausea and cramping still linger. --but then again I was on antibiotics for something else, so that could explain that. --ohh who knows?? I do know that I do feel healthier over all.
But on the flip side. I do not know how my mother did this when I was younger, and I sympathize with ANYONE who has food allergies. It sounds silly---all you need to do is watch what you eat right? I mean how hard can that be. But with how the world is today it is very hard. It takes the ease and enjoyment out of eating/socializing to some extent. I spend triple the amount of time at the grocery store than I normally would and have to pay a lot more to get fresh/organic everything. --That part I am starting to accept. Going out to eat has been more tricky--I can call ahead, and thought that would work..but every time I get to the restaurant they have miraculously realized that I can't eat anything they told me they had. I know in time I will learn more and it will become easier--until then I will just keep asking a billion questions and feel extremely annoying. The true frustration that I am having is how UNHEALTHY we are. I have always been semi-healthy and in good physical condition(minus a few semesters in college when my face looked like a swollen tomato and I realize anything called "chicken on a stick" was not the best thing for me to be eating before going to bed...and living in a sorority house with an ice cream machine did not help much either) but you get the picture--I have always been more healthy than not.
However, the more I am doing this allergy free lifestyle the more I realize---we sure do put a ton of junk in our bodies..even when we think we are being healthy. What I am basically doing is the Paleo diet--give or take away a few things. It is called the caveman diet--and you only eat things that a caveman would--grass fed-meats, fish, poultry, fruits, veggies, and I do have some dairy--even though on Paleo you would not. No sauces, no gluten, no bread, no pasta, no sugars, etc. and very careful about oils you use to cook. After realizing how much bad is in everything we eat--I am excited about this! It requires a lot of planning ahead and way more cooking and going to the grocery store more frequently. But it is worth it to make sure I am not filling my body with junk. Trips are going to be tricky, but in some countries a lot easier. But I am excited!! The more I research the more I want everyone to do it---because I want everyone to be healthy.
So since I don't really do New Years resolutions--I guess this is mine..even though it really does not count because I have to do it but still..if you don't have one yet and want a good one..do this with me. But remember this is not a diet--it is a lifestyle.
If anyone does know of good recipes, blogs, cookbooks, restaurants, etc. --basically anything that would help me with this please send it my way. It has been great to research and learn, but I want to somehow make it easier for people--some future project of mine when I have some free time. :)
I will keep you all updated on my health and everything else I learn. If you want to do Paleo/gluten free/sugar free ---and need some help--PLEASE feel free to email me.
HAPPY 2012!! We are going to Haiti on Wednesday so be ready to read some blog post from that trip!!
XOXO,
Katie Lentile
I know I have not been really open on the blog about my health since my little trip to the hospital in India. So here is the latest--and what I am doing and why. Get excited... I am becoming a health fanatic!!!
Since that trip my exhaustion has improved dramatically (credit to having Emily and the fact that I have the first year under my belt and know what to expect), but my digestive issues, nausea, headaches, and random other problems still linger. The doctors have ran lots of test, but cannot pinpoint what it is that is causing everything. I've been to the best of the best in holistic medicine, infectious disease, and GI specialist so I assure you all I am not being stubborn and not trying.
Good news is--it is nothing that they can pinpoint or figure out so that means there are a lot of things that I know I do not have. YIPEE!! So what could it be?? Here is a little background..
When I was little I had TONS of food allergies: sugar(processed), corn, wheat, oats, peanuts, cola products, green beans/peas, trout, and beets. I had allergy induced asthma(it also caused digestive issues) and well, you can just call me Tom Cruise if you want because I have been as close to death as he has in Mission Impossible..well maybe not that often, but I spent my fair amount of time at the hospital when I "accidentally" ate something I was not supposed to. I actually did not mind the "diet"--I'm sure my mom told me that only the cool kids got to eat carrots and celery while everyone else had cake and ice cream. But then again--I was not the one preparing the food, buying the groceries, and having to ask a billion questions every time I consumed anything--Love you mom for dealing with that all for me. Well, by 6th or 7th grade I grew out of my allergies..or so I thought.
So I went to the GI specialist and explained everything that was going on and he ran some more test and just looked confused because nothing came back positive. We kept talking and he kept researching and then said he believes it could one of two things..or a combination of both.
1. Stress -----HHAHAHA you don't say? Duh. We talked about options and he does not want to put me on an anti-depressent so he gave me some other kind of meds to take that will help with my tummy if I know I will be in a stressful situation, I just can't take them daily. (I've had more medicine and antibiotics in me this past year and will not be taking those things unless I feel like I did in India because I don't want to be popping pills all the time.) Also, I am starting yoga once a week. :) The last time I did yoga, my friend Carley and I almost got kicked out of the class for laughing...im double-jointed and can easily do the flexible poses--just not the "right" way-it's funny. But I promise to take this serious and use it as a time to exercise, pray and relax.
2. FOOD ALLERGIES--HAHAHA..going in and out of so many different places could possibly trigger my allergies/my body does not have enough time to adjust well and I just get sick. So he told me to cut out as much of the things I was allergic to and see if I felt better. I have been gluten, sugar, corn, peanut, cola, etc. etc. etc. free for 1 month. I have only gotten sick twice, (instead of daily) but the nausea and cramping still linger. --but then again I was on antibiotics for something else, so that could explain that. --ohh who knows?? I do know that I do feel healthier over all.
But on the flip side. I do not know how my mother did this when I was younger, and I sympathize with ANYONE who has food allergies. It sounds silly---all you need to do is watch what you eat right? I mean how hard can that be. But with how the world is today it is very hard. It takes the ease and enjoyment out of eating/socializing to some extent. I spend triple the amount of time at the grocery store than I normally would and have to pay a lot more to get fresh/organic everything. --That part I am starting to accept. Going out to eat has been more tricky--I can call ahead, and thought that would work..but every time I get to the restaurant they have miraculously realized that I can't eat anything they told me they had. I know in time I will learn more and it will become easier--until then I will just keep asking a billion questions and feel extremely annoying. The true frustration that I am having is how UNHEALTHY we are. I have always been semi-healthy and in good physical condition(minus a few semesters in college when my face looked like a swollen tomato and I realize anything called "chicken on a stick" was not the best thing for me to be eating before going to bed...and living in a sorority house with an ice cream machine did not help much either) but you get the picture--I have always been more healthy than not.
However, the more I am doing this allergy free lifestyle the more I realize---we sure do put a ton of junk in our bodies..even when we think we are being healthy. What I am basically doing is the Paleo diet--give or take away a few things. It is called the caveman diet--and you only eat things that a caveman would--grass fed-meats, fish, poultry, fruits, veggies, and I do have some dairy--even though on Paleo you would not. No sauces, no gluten, no bread, no pasta, no sugars, etc. and very careful about oils you use to cook. After realizing how much bad is in everything we eat--I am excited about this! It requires a lot of planning ahead and way more cooking and going to the grocery store more frequently. But it is worth it to make sure I am not filling my body with junk. Trips are going to be tricky, but in some countries a lot easier. But I am excited!! The more I research the more I want everyone to do it---because I want everyone to be healthy.
So since I don't really do New Years resolutions--I guess this is mine..even though it really does not count because I have to do it but still..if you don't have one yet and want a good one..do this with me. But remember this is not a diet--it is a lifestyle.
If anyone does know of good recipes, blogs, cookbooks, restaurants, etc. --basically anything that would help me with this please send it my way. It has been great to research and learn, but I want to somehow make it easier for people--some future project of mine when I have some free time. :)
I will keep you all updated on my health and everything else I learn. If you want to do Paleo/gluten free/sugar free ---and need some help--PLEASE feel free to email me.
HAPPY 2012!! We are going to Haiti on Wednesday so be ready to read some blog post from that trip!!
XOXO,
Katie Lentile
So glad you're being proactive Katie- great way to see in the new year. I know how hard it is to check everything you eat- my sis has had to do it for years or she can't breathe. I seem to have a very hearty system and one of the things I learned from my dad was NOT to drink milk- he said only baby cows should drink cow's milk. Humans are the only species to drink milk after we're weaned. But I do admit to loving all the other dairy products.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite cookbooks is "Cooking in the Orchard," and if you'd like chicken with apples, Tahiti fish w/bananas, mango chicken, etc. let me know and I'll send you any recipe with your favorite fruit (oh, I hope you can eat fruit) and nuts other than peanuts.
Love, Torri