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The other night I got together with my book club girls (well, let’s just be real what it really is – wine club). It consists of 14 awesome ladies who all married into the same group of friends that started in a KU frat way back when. We’ve had our little club now for over 10 years. But, as much as I always enjoy our nights of pizza or sometimes a special dinner and wine, it is no secret in the group that I have had my fair share of reactions to certain pizzas or food. It usually hits me out of nowhere—and all of sudden I’m keeled over in a ball because of severe abdominal cramping.
Sometimes it is so painful it puts me to tears, which is a little embarrassing, but actually more frustrating as it happens very sporadic and inconsistent! But, whenever it does, I do a breakdown of exactly what I ate and drank for both the day and night. To this day I still don’t have it completely nailed down, but I believe it tends to happen when I’ve had different cheeses that I’m not used to in some fancier pizzas.
Warning TMI! – For whatever reason, something I ate last night cleaned out my system this morning, eek! All I had was pork tenderloin, green beans and a salad. But, I also had not one, but two cookies left over from this weekend’s soccer party with a glass of milk. Stinkin’ cookies!! It even started in the middle of the night!! I felt fine otherwise, so when these episodes happen, I know 99% of the time for me it is a connection with food or drinks and I need to get busy on my detective work.
I share this with you not to gross you out, but as a reminder to pay attention to what your body is telling you and be mindful of not only what and how you are eating, but also how you are digesting and absorbing your foods.
If you are not absorbing or digesting your foods properly, here are some problems that may be occurring in your body and the signs to lead you to dig further.
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine said, “All disease begins in the gut.” Nearly 2500 years ago, this wisdom continues to stand the test of time. Today, there is overwhelming evidence that many chronic metabolic diseases, do, in fact, begin in the gut. One digestive problem that can happen is actually called Leaky Gut Syndrome.
According to Dr. Andrew Weil, “the theory is that leaky gut syndrome is the result of damage to the intestinal lining, making it less able to protect the internal environment as well as to filter needed nutrients and other biological substances. As a consequence, some bacteria and their toxins, incompletely digested proteins and fats, and waste not normally absorbed may “leak” out of the intestines into the blood stream. This triggers an autoimmune reaction, which can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal bloating, excessive gas and cramps, fatigue, food sensitivities, joint pain, skin rashes, and autoimmunity.”
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common problem that causes chronic inflammation in the large intestine or colon. Symptoms may include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation.
Other issues that you may be more familiar with are food allergies and food intolerances. Food allergies can occur in foods like eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat are more, and with a true allergy they could cause a severe reaction like troubled breathing or even death. Food intolerances may cause symptoms that are less severe, such as headaches, rashes, hives, and bloating or upset stomach soon after eating the food culprit.
The bottom line is that if you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, it is time to take control.
Be an Inner Fire Investigator. Start by tracking these symptoms in a dated journal. Monitor what foods and beverages you had and what your body’s reaction was. Also track your stress and energy levels when they happen.
Be a Mindful Eater. Eat slowly and only until you are 80% full.
Make Small Changes. Replace as many of the processed foods you eat with whole foods. If you are eating foods with a label, make sure that they have as few ingredients as possible.
Get Moving. Regular exercise, even if it is a daily walk, helps to keep your GI track healthy.
Call the Doc. If you are cleaning up your diet and things don’t get better, it is always a good idea to get checked out by a doctor or specifically a gastroenterologist.
A poor diet, chronic stress, toxins, inflammation, and an overabundance of bad bacteria, can all be the cause of digestive problems. Just do your best to get to the bottom of it and take the action needed to help. If you need help breaking things down to live a healthy lifestyle, please feel free to reach out to me for a complimentary consultation. I don’t want anyone to go at this alone.
Let’s get FIRED UPP,
Nat
