I’ve been obsessed with food and it’s ability to kill or cure you for years.
My obsession with food and nutrition started with the movie Supersize Me. When I first saw the film I was eating fast food (and other junk) regularly. Watching Food Maters opened my eyes to a new world. I had to know more about food’s magical healing powers.
By the time I saw Fat Sick & Nearly Dead my eating habits had already changed considerably. Still, the film was a shock to my system. In my mind fruit juice had always been made from concentrate and was nothing miraculous or special. Suddenly real fruit and vegetable juice became much more valuable.
I must have watched every food documentary on the internet at one point, even a few with subtitles. Craving information, driven for answers to all of my countless questions. Hours upon hours watching, reading, and studying. I enjoyed learning about nutrition and how all the vitamins, minerals, and microbiome work in the human body.
All of my obsessive information diving (which typically includes reading scientific research papers) was pointing to a problem with the standard American diet. No one thing could be nailed down and many problems seemed to be popping up.
There also seemed to be a lot of evidence pointing to problems associated with contact with environmental toxins (pesticides, chemicals in cosmetics & household items).
Our bodies have amazing abilities to flush out toxins and heal themselves even against “incurable” conditions, but we can only harness this power if our machines are tuned to perfection.
Pople’s bodies and immune systems are out of balance – we are getting sick at alarming rates. The problems very often seem to be tied to either diet and or chemical exposure (assuming we forgo getting into environmental epigenetics and other genetic conditions).
Down to the molecule, these things have an impact in ways we cannot even understand yet. We are using people as lab rats and the test subjects are not doing very well. Cancer rates are shocking, diabetes is also on the rise. It’s a health crisis that not enough people are talking about.
Modern agricultural practices, foods soaked in pesticides, and groceries filled with ingredients nobody can pronounce, are a failure. Since their invention cancer and terminal illnesses have spiked in nearly all first world countries (especially America).
Each person’s body is different and unique. Another one of my obsessions over the years (since childhood) has been evolution, human, and animal. Without getting too off topic, it would be reasonable to believe that people all over the planet evolved to eat different foods dependent on what was available in their native culture.
Before GMO’s and the invention of year-round access to foods out of season, people were much more limited in their diets depending on local availability. In former times, predating modern migrations, indigenous peoples all over the world thrived on a variety of whole food diets limited based on local climate. Back then we were more in tune with the earth, all foods were whole foods, and nothing was processed.
I’ve had some mysterious health issues my entire life. Some of them smaller, (acne and water retention) others more obnoxious (severe PMS, chronic insomnia, headaches, & and IBS). Doctors have not been helpful. I’ve spent almost a lifetime searching for answers in a thirty-year mystery.
When they don’t know the answer apathetic MD’s dismiss you. It’s been difficult to get any doctor to take my complaints too seriously. The fact that I don’t want to take prescriptions unless as a last resort doesn’t seem to help. “Take this drug, you need more vitamins, drink more water, get more sleep, try more exercise.” All things I’ve done.
I truly believe in the body’s ability to heal itself. Having these health issues means something in the engine is not calibrated correctly and it’s time for a tuneup.
Over and over again I kept getting pointed back to the Ketogenic Diet so I’m making the change. Today is day two. I’m feeling great despite the knowledge that a detox flu may be just around the corner.
I feel like this could be a positive change to a diet that more closely reflects what my ancestors would have eaten – carbs and sugar would not have been on the menu.
My new diet may not be for you. The truth is we all have to pay careful attention to the whispers (and sometimes screams) of our bodies. We come from a variety of genetics there is really not just one “type” of human.
Genetic diversity is something we should value as a species but with that in mind, a one size fit’s all diet doesn’t seem logical.
You have to find the foods that work for you.
My husband and I are doing the keto diet as well. We’ve been on it for 4 weeks. I really like it. He’s lost 20 pounds, with about 15 more to go. I’m down 7, with about 20 more to lose! I also wanted to do it to try and feel better….I have odd things/feelings….and my drs have no clue as to why. Headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, brain fog….my list goes on really. I do have hypothyroidism, and take a pill once a day for it. So they just chalk it up to that. I hate it. And I hate taking pills. It causes my anxiety, and yup, I have a pill for that too! But good luck in your journey. I’ll be following along!
Thank you for sharing what you have seen so far as far as results. I’ve had much of the same experiences with the headaches / vertigo / funny spacy fog. It’s been awhile since the palpitations but I have had those TOO in the past. I am really hoping this helps. So far I have a good feeling I may finally be on the right track. (Fingers crossed because I’ve given up on doctors just about.)
Glad you’re going keto! Depending on what avenue you take (strict or progressive), keto can help all kinds of health problems. And yes, weight loss is a fantastic perk. 😉
I plan to be very strict with it while I get my body in order. Maybe down the line I may ease up to customize things. Don’t realy need weightloss but I hear that can happen.
#ketoforthewin
I hope so!
If you need any guidance let me know. You can always drop me a line on any of my posts at http://thebaconmonlogues.com
Sorry http://thebaconmonologues.com. I should proofread better. 😂
Thank you – I may take you up on that. For now I think I am good getting started at least but I am sure things will need to be tweaked here and there.
Omg yes!! I’m right there with you, girl 😊 I’ve seen those films as well, and they scared the heck out of me! I had already been eating healthy before that, but seeing them solidified my resolve to continue, and keep improving. Ketogenic sounds awesome!! I hope it works very well for you; please keep me posted, because I’m thinking about doing the same thing! You’re not alone in your journey – you’ve got good company 😊❤️
Cheers and best of luck!!
~The Silent Wave Blog writer
I’m glad other people are discovering the healing powers of foods. As a chronic illness sufferer I am determined to figure out what foods are best for me. I know Gluten is a big no already so why not try eliminating the other carbs as well? Sugar is not good for anyone so that seems like a no brainer to me. I’ll be sure to post updates. Thanks for reading and sharing!
wonderful reflection!
i used to show that supersize me
at community centers and schools
on the rez.
did get some folks attention
for a couple hours.
may you continue
being well and happy 🙂
That was a life changing moment for me. They tend to stick in our minds. I had to know WHY it happened and that kept me hooked.
Good luck! I am in a very similar position. It has been an amazing month.
Thank you for following!
Just remember that keto flu is NOT automatically coming to a house near you 🙂 Lots and lots of water, and truly paying attention to your macro balance can eliminate and/or minimize it.
Oh, did I mention water?
Best wishes on your journey taking care of YOU!
BTW, Craig over at Ruled.me has amaaazing, easily replicated recipes.
Oh it’s real and it is intense. Getting out of it now.
My brother and sister in law are going keto. I’m doing low carb. It’s a learning experience but we will be better for it! Glad you are off to a good start!
Inspiring post. Thanks.
I had similar issues and found and Integrative Medicine Specialist (ironically, a nurse practitioner) who helped immensely with conditions that the doctors didn’t believe existed. Treatment through supplements and diet has been very helpful, but not quite all the way. Next stop is a functional medicine specialist, which is a new specialty I’d never heard of before, that focuses on the root cause. Good luck with the keto, but if you need more than what diet can give, get the right kind of specialist.