Insert food. Chew thoroughly. Swallow. Our digestive systems will do the rest. Right?
Sure, if our health and digestion aren’t already compromised. For a while, at least.
During my long struggle with sinus and allergies, I have taken a windy path off the main road, hitting some dead ends and finding some little gems, holding them close for the future.
On several occasions, I silently asked myself, “What am I doing on this wayward journey that’s helping me get better, but at the rate of a lame turtle? Why am I doing this?”
Eventually, God answered.
One night I told my husband, “I think I’m supposed to write a book about all this shh-tuf I’ve been through and help others take the shorter path — to eat healthier starting sooner than I did.” He listened curiously and said, “I think you should do it.”
And so began my work on Digested – eating healthier made easier 3 ways. Writing it and what felt like a bazillion revisions was a walk in a flat, lush park compared to putting it together and getting it published. It has been a test of my patience and faith. But at last, it is done.
First, simmer a pot of trial and error
I’ve had sinus and allergy issues since I was in college, if not before. I never connected sinuses and allergies to my digestive system until I moved to St. Louis — #20 in this list of the worst U.S. cities for seasonal allergies to boot — and started investigating.
I’ve challenged many traditional and holistic doctors and tried various treatments, including homeopathy, enzyme treatment, acupuncture, emotional clearings, Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET) treatments, allergy shots, candida treatment and endonasal therapy, my least fave.
I’ve learned many lessons:
- There is not always a silver bullet solution or immediate results.
- What we eat can harm or help us, as much as or more than sleep, stress, relationships, environment and attitude can.
- It makes more sense to adjust our diets than to continually rely on treatments or medications to get us back on track.
- What we once ate may not work for us later, and may have even set our bodies up for failure.
When perfected, share the recipe for eating healthier in a book
I was that college student in the back of the room who raised my hand when I felt like I had to. I’m typically a rather private person. Definitely one who prefers to remain under the radar. But this is something I feel passionate about. It’s not about me. It’s about helping others — hopefully helping you — live healthier and happier.
Now that I’m older, I see more friends and family with more serious health issues. Now that I’m a mother, I have to ponder every choice I make and example I set. I answer many curious questions from my young boys each day. I know whatever I teach them now will be likely to stick with them for many years. And I know I can help them avoid some of the careless mistakes I made, and hopefully the allergy issues I have.
I see others struggling with health issues they have no idea could be helped by choosing healthier foods. I hear more people say they want to eat healthier but unsure how to start, especially with a lack of time or with kids who only want to eat carbs.
I know that we can alleviate many of our health issues simply by choosing to eat healthier. With Digested, I hope to inspire healthier eating and shorten the learning curve to do so. Consider it a crusade for happier folks and kids through healthier nutrition. I hope you’ll join it!
*This blog is intended for use as a source of information and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.
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