Are you tired all the time? Overweight? Craving foods? Depressed? Arthritic? Or just having poor digestion, like bloating, constipation, etc.? This blog might be of help to you!
MEDICAL INTUITIVE WEIGHS IN
Recently I attended a conference, and one of the speakers, Caroline Sutherland, was Louise Hay’s former nutritionist (she passed away a few years ago at age 91 after overcoming cancer at a young age). Louise is famous for her Hay House publishing company (also radio online) and she published many books worth reading. Caroline spoke about why many Americans are overweight and some reasons and ways that might help. She was overweight herself in younger days (now 75), worked in an allergy clinic, and is also a medical intuitive and read for many of us.
I felt the information was very worth sharing. I also ordered a few of her books (used on Amazon) and have been reading them (see the end of blog). What she said makes sense to me after trying many diets and reading about others. I am trying to follow her advice, though not 100% yet, and already dropping some pounds and feeling good. I think if people knew this information it could prevent many gastric bypass procedures, and many heartaches of diets-gone-bad.
FOOD IS NOT THE SAME AS IT WAS 100 YEARS AGO
First, please know that our food system is not the same NOW as it was when many of us were children, especially for our parent’s generation where many lived on farms and ate fresh foods. Our processed, salt-laden fast foods are very bad for us of course. Also, the wheat we eat isn’t the same wheat as it was 100 years ago, and therefore, our dairy (as cows eat grass, if you buy grass-fed meat/dairy) is also different. The soil is deprived of nutrients, most foods are over-processed and sprayed with pesticides. Many cows are fed corn rather than the grass they were intended to eat; therefore, our bodies are feeling the ill affects of those dietary changes. And the harmful pesticide glyphosate is found in many of our foods, especially packaged ones like cereal, derived from wheat.
COULD FOOD ALLERGIES BE THE CAUSE OF SYMPTOMS, BEING OVERWEIGHT?
According to Caroline and her books, the reason many are overweight is due to allergies to foods such as wheat, dairy, corn, and soy. It’s no wonder since they are not the natural grains that were available to our ancestors. Also, we eat way too much sugar, which is addictive and can be linked to cancer. The foods we crave are often the ones that are causing the most harm to our bodies. Even if you don’t feel an immediate reaction, you may still have allergies that are causing other issues within your body, some you may be addressing with prescription meds.
HOW DO YOU FEEL AFTER YOU EAT?
Think about how you feel after you eat some of these foods. I know I feel stuffy after eating dairy. Do you sometimes have headaches, stomach aches, gas, bloating, or produce mucous? Pay attention to what your body is saying to you. Maybe keep a diary of what you’ve eaten and any reaction you experienced? Did you realize when you eat more carbs, you only crave more of them, as they change to sugar. Or if you are suffering with severe symptoms, try eliminating all these foods for a week, and then gradually introduce one at a time back in and see how you feel after eating one item. She also recommends 6-8 glasses of water daily, and cutting out caffeine, which is a drug. And often digestive enzymes can be of help to you!
OTHER HEALTH FACTORS TO CONSIDER
Other factors that can explain being overweight are thyroid malfunctions, candida yeast, or hormonal imbalances. Memory issues such as Alzheimer’s (70% are women), heart health, arthritis, high cholesterol, depression and anxiety can often be linked to an allergy, hormones, or candida. I am being very simplistic as this is a huge topic, and you obviously need to work with a naturopathic doctor, or be firm with medical doctors (who often want to give you a prescription, when a natural change in diet or hormones can fix the issue). If you take prescriptions, many cause other side effects, and changing your diet might reduce your dependence on them, or a reduction in the amount you are taking!
DIET PLANS PROS AND CONS
After hearing this seminar, I bought some books to read more about this topic, and began cutting back on carbs, sugar, wheat and dairy and I can tell a difference already as well as some weight loss, so I will continue. Unfortunately, many popular fad diets push calorie counting, or recommend foods that contain the very food groups that you could be allergic to, not giving you the results, you are seeking. I was once on a 500-calorie day diet and yes, I lost weight, but it didn’t really address the other components, and I felt deprived. It really is more than just losing weight, though that has multiple benefits, you want to feel great! No pain, being able to participate in the activities you wish with the people you love. Before taking a bite, ask yourself it that food will give you more energy and make you feel good? (my next blog will be about magnesium)
RECOMMENDED BOOKS/RESOURCES
Books Recommend to read (can get used copies online in many cases):
The Body “Knows” How to Tune in to Your Body and Improve your Health, Caroline M. Sutherland
The Body “Knows” Diet Cracking the Weight Loss Code by Caroline Sutherland
The Yeast Connection, a medical breakthrough if you feel sick all over, this book could change your life, William G. Crook, M.D.