In 2015 I became very sick with extreme inflammation in my body. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, degenerative disk disease (why I had shrunk two inches) and then fibromyalgia a few months later.
After going the medical route (anti-inflammatory medications and pain meds) and getting sicker, I took my healthcare into my own hands and decided to devote my time to researching how to prevent and treat inflammation in my body using food as my pharmacy (and learning what NOT to eat).
I experienced some unexpected and amazing results. Since 2017, I have been sharing what I’ve learned and my process of reclaiming my own health through speaking engagements at several large health and wellness expos in the Lower Mainland. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet is key.
“I used to be able to eat this.”
I hear this over an over from men and women in the age demographic that I belong to (over 50). And there are plenty of others who do not want to even acknowledge that the food they are eating (have always enjoyed) may be causing or contributing to their inflammatory condition.
We have two choices when we get sick: we can either go on medication or we can look at the causes of our inflammation and make changes to our diet and lifestyle. Sometimes the best option is a combination of both. I chose medication at first, and then switched to the holistic approach of using food instead.
There are some great meds on the market that supress inflammation and make one feel better (less pain) but they don’t fix the problem or address the cause, and often come with side effects that require other medication to control or supress. The meds I was initially prescribed caused some side effects including an ulcer and 30 pounds of weight gain. The weight has been the biggest long-term challenge to drop as it’s also due to hormonal (menopause) issues.
It made sense to me to investigate the reasons for my inflammation in the first place. Inflammation can often be our body’s way of saying “NO” to whatever we are doing to it (or neglecting to do). Lack of sleep, excessive stress, genetics, exposure to toxins, trauma, and the wrong diet are all factors that can all contribute to inflammation.
Inflammation can take the form of arthritis and other pain, skin rashes, weight gain, excess mucus, fatigue, cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, digestive issues, gout, nausea, allergies and even hangovers, just to name a few.
Once I decided that I didn’t want to pop pills anymore, I took a good look at my lifestyle: at what I was eating or drinking, my type and level of exercise, my sleep patterns, my stress levels… and found that many choices in several areas of my life were exacerbating my inflammation. I made some changes.
I severely cut down on inflammation causing foods such as sugar, salt, flour products (breads, pizza, bagels, baking…), alcohol, nightshade veggies, coffee, processed food, red meat, soft drinks, fried foods, hormone and antibiotic-laden animal products, synthetic sweeteners, artificial food additives, and chemical laden food (preservatives, additives, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides).
I started reading and understanding food labels and avoided those containing hydrogenated oils, too many additives, preservatives, or anything I couldn’t pronounce or didn’t understand. Our bodies don’t know how to metabolize many ingredients that are allowed to be added to food to extend shelf life and increase our cravings for them.
I started eating more anti-inflammatory foods, such as fresh veggies and salads, home-cooked meals, oatmeal and other whole grains, ginger and turmeric (organic roots only), smoothies, homemade soups, organic teas, fermented foods, etc. The result of the changes I made caused me to have more energy, better sleep, more balance mental health and more positive outlook on life, more confidence, very little pain in my body, and strength that I hadn’t felt for years.
If you feel old and feel like you are on a downhill slide, please stop and consider what you could do to shift this. What is within your power to change? Diet and exercise and state of mind are all things we can adjust without medication, and all will have a positive effect on our health, both physically and mentally.
Please feel empowered to make these positive changes. I am available to help coach people towards a healthier physical and mental wellbeing but there are many online resources and books also available on this topic. The hardest decision is the first decision – ‘to commit to what we can do to reclaim our health’.
If your body isn’t working, where else are you going to live?
Claire Nielsen is a health coach, author, public speaker and founder of www.elixirforlife.ca. The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional health and medical advice. Please consult a doctor, healthcare provider or mental health practitioner if you're seeking medical advice, diagnoses and/or treatment
