How A Whole-Food Diet Saved My Life

From chronic illness to remission and optimal health

In 2014 I was convinced that my body was giving up on me. I was in constant internal and external, physical pain.

Any time I ate, I either threw up or was in debilitating pain for hours after. My body and muscles ached like I had the flu, and my energy levels were frighteningly low.

After seeing several specialists and enduring a multitude of tests, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s diseases and Celiac disease.

My gastroenterologist prescribed me a cocktail of medications (including ongoing-daily antibiotics and oral steroids), all of which came with an overwhelming amount of side effects.

He also warned me that I was on the edge of needing emergency surgery to remove a portion of my lower intestine from Crohn’s damage.

Needless to say, I was less than enthusiastic about flooding my already damaged body with invasive prescription drugs.

I was determined to heal my body by establishing and maintaining a whole-food, ‘clean eating’ diet, and blasting my physiology with an undeniable, overabundance of natural elements.

I was raised in a family that practiced, and had a deep understanding and respect for Ayurvedic medicine. I also held a basic understanding of naturopathy, homeopathy, and phytotherapy.

So, where did I start, and what did I do?

Understanding ‘Clean Eating’ & What To Eliminate From Your Diet

(You do not need to be sick or struggling with a chronic illness to benefit from a whole-food diet)

First and foremost, I had to eliminate gluten from my diet, to start the elimination and healing process of celiac disease.

I researched the depths of a whole-food diet to fully understand what to eat and what to stay away from.

I created a ‘guideline list’ that I taped to my refrigerator in my kitchen to refer to whenever I reached for something to eat.

My list and restrictions were strict and rigid; however, anyone trying and dedicating their efforts to ‘clean eating’, can make their own ‘rules’ as to what they want to add or eliminate from their diet.

Whole-Food Guideline List:

EAT: (organic) Vegetables Fruits Roots Nuts Seeds Legumes Whole Grains (gluten free)

DON’T EAT: Refined sugar Preservatives Meat Dairy (I cheat and eat ghee) Eggs Oils

Forks Over Knives and The Medical Medium became my dietary bibles. These two incredible resources helped me tremendously with ‘clean eating’ recipes, understanding the benefits of juicing, and ideas for protein packed smoothies.

They also provided me with extensive knowledge on which gut-healing supplements to take.

Putting The Whole-Foods Diet To The Test

I created a One-Year-Plan for ‘clean eating’, and adding in daily exercise and spiritual practice. Each morning and evening I set aside 20 minutes for meditation.

Four days a week I was at the yoga studio as both a student and teacher. Two days a week I went for a two-four mile walk, and one day was for resting.

I am a firm believer that connecting deeply inward with your body is essential for any kind of healing.

Any time I ate, I made sure it followed the whole-food guidelines. I focused on foods that held optimal vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, good-fats, and phytochemical’s.

I eliminated any food that would add to inflammation, and saturated my body with alkalizing, immune boosting foods.

The Results

After one year of complete determination and focus on my internal healing, I booked an appointment with my gastroenterologist. He ran the same tests he had a year prior, and I anxiously awaited the results.

When he came back in the room, he walked over to his computer to double check my file. With an almost confused look on his face, he stated, “There is a remarkable night and day difference between last years images (test results) and now. It’s almost unreal.” He continued, “Your celiac numbers are great, and you not only are in remission from Crohn’s, it seems that your body has healed and reversed scaring in your lower intestine.”

It was in that moment my faith in ‘clean eating’ was solidified.

Six years later, I am still eating a whole-food diet. Six years later and I am still in remission from Crohn’s disease. Six years later, I am in the best health of my life.