Feed Your Illness, or Feed Your Health
The Power of Food on RA and Other Health Issues
Do you feel tired, and run down, no matter how much you sleep?
Do you have constant illnesses, infections, and or health issues?
Do you have stomach, bowel or digestive issues?
Do your joints or body ache without injury?
You might need a diet change.
2011 was a hell of a year. They diagnosed me with rheumatoid arthritis. On top of that, I had an unknown issue with my stomach, which caused me to vomit uncontrollably. For weeks on end.
I lost weight.
I was exhausted.
I was run down.
And I was pretty much on my deathbed, at a whopping 84 pounds.
At 34, I was wearing children’s clothing, because that’s what fit me.
I went to so many doctors that I had lost count. Not one doctor could tell me what was wrong. Some even implied that I should see a therapist because there was nothing physically wrong with me.
During all the chaos of medical issues my, already in turmoil marriage, completely fell apart. Looking back, it wasn’t a healthy relationship, so it was a blessing in disguise. I didn’t realize it at the time, so the demise of my marriage just added more stress, which in turn, made me even sicker.
It was an endless circle for several years.
Eventually, the timing lined up, and my illness flared up during a doctor’s appointment. It was only then that I received an official diagnosis.
They diagnosed me with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), via blood work. Someone FINALLY diagnosed my joint pain after years of random pain. Pain that i have lived with since at least high school.
But that still didn’t solve the problems with my stomach. Not one doctor could solve that puzzle. They diagnosed me with cyclic vomiting syndrome, because they did not know why I was throwing up like I was.
Basically, I was given anti nausea medications, and told to dal with it.
That didn’t work for me.
I didn’t want to live with it.
I did not want to wear children’s clothing.
I did not want to feel like my bones were ripping through my skin, all the time. (Because when you have no fat, and I mean ZERO, your bones feel like knives trying to slice through your skin when you sit down or bump them.
Being too skinny is actually quite painful.
And the people… People are so obnoxious. Most people will not go up to a random stranger in a store and tell them they need to lose weight. Because everyone knows that’s rude.
BUT apparently, people have no issues with telling a complete stranger that they need to eat. I was approached so many times by complete strangers, and told to eat or gain weight. It was actually quite ridiculous.
P.S. if you have ever done that… don’t do it again. It’s rude.
Don’t assume skinny people don’t eat. Don’t assume they do drugs. Just mind your business.
In case you don’t know this… it is NEVER appropriate to comment on someone’s weight. You do not know what they are battling or why their weight is high or low.
Back to my battle.
I tackled RA, just like I do anything that I don’t understand, or that want to know more about. Research.
I began with copious amounts of research. I started with RA, because I had a blood work confirmation of that diagnosis.
The more research that I did, the more information that I found regarding diet and health. Food is medicine, and fuel for your health, when you eat a healthy well balanced diet.
Its a fuel for illness when you eat processed crap.
Autoimmune protocol diet was what most recommended for RA. I tried it and failed miserably. It is very restrictive, and while I definitely see how it could help; it was just a source of frustration for me. I had always been the super skinny girl, so having to “diet” was hard.
So I chose a different approach. I started a food journal. In that journal, I track every health issue that I had/have, from headaches to joint pain. I also track everything that I eat or drink every day. After six months there was very clear food/flare patterns. I cut those foods completely. I continue to journal daily because trigger foods can change.
Instead of doing AIP, I started clean eating. More fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. I cut out most processed food, and junk foods. Although I don’t deny myself goodies, I really limit myself.
If my family has fast food, and it’s something that I like, I will OCCASIONALLY have fast food. Or chips. Or cookies. Instead of completely cutting off shit foods, I limit myself. Things I used to eat daily, I now have once a month or once every few months.
To avoid excess pesticides, chemicals, and unknowns, in my food, I have started growing my own. At least as much as I possibly can. We live in town, and have a small yard, but I compensate by having a huge indoor garden system, that I run year around. In that, I grow 5 types of lettuce, three kinds of tomatoes, all my herbs, red/green/ jalapeno peppers, strawberries, chives, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, and potatoes indoors.
I have started canning, dehydrating, and preserving my summer garden for winter use, instead of giving it away. In order to eliminate as many chemical filled foods as possible. (Saving money on produce, in the off season, doesn't hurt either.)
It’s been almost a decade since diagnosis. And diet changes have made a vast difference in my quality of life. I still have RA, and still have flares. But they are few, and far between.
And the times when I slack on clean eating, by body defiantly tells me. It does not like it when I eat junk food and processed foods. One meal or one snack usually isn’t too big of an issue because I have been clean eating for so long. But for some, any bad foods at all will make them flare. It depends on your body. But when I start eating junk food regularly, my body rebels and I have serious and debilitating pain.
Food is Fuel.
Food is medicine.
Use it appropriately.
Illness loves junk food, processed foods, sugar, alcohol and excess anything.
Health loves a rainbow of vegetables/fruits, and lean meats.
You have the choice to feed your health, or feed your illness.
Dear Doctors, Nurses, and Medical Staff: | by Rowen Quinn | RESONATES | Aug, 2021 | Medium
Skinny Shaming is a Thing. And You Probably do it. | by Rowen Quinn | Be Open | Medium
Rowen is a mother, Wife, Domestic Violence Victims Advocate, community volunteer, and nature lover. Most of her time is spent with her family or volunteering in her community. Rowen has a degree in Psychology, with a concentration in Family Counseling and Minoring in criminal justice. Writing has been her passion since high school, and she enjoys using it to help others.
