There are ideas in our society (often conflicting) about which
foods are healthy. The one thing that not enough people consider is that we are
all individuals. Just because the majority deems a food good for us does not
intrinsically make it beneficial. An increasing number of people are becoming
allergic or intolerant to a variety of foods, and for them these foods are
detrimental to their health and well-being.
You may be correct in assuming that it is a better choice to eat
organic or 'natural' food, but being either of these things doesn't necessarily
make something good for you. Would greasy fast food be nutritious if it was
made with organic ingredients? I hope I don't need to answer that! So if someone
answered "But it's organic", this is the equivalent of someone saying
to you "but it's healthy" when you decline a 'healthy' food that
doesn't agree with you. It's just not logical.
When our son Orlando thrived on a gluten-free diet I had an
array of well-educated and well-meaning health professionals concerned about
the nutrients he was missing out on as a result of avoiding gluten. They wanted
to reintroduce gluten for three months and then test him for coeliac disease in
case I was unnecessarily depriving him of gluten. The fact that on gluten his
growth rate had slowed dramatically (despite eating hugs amounts) and he was
failing to develop sufficient muscle tone, had explosive bowels and a range of
other extreme symptoms appeared to be secondary in importance. Is this really
good science when labeling a child is more important than their development?
With or without coeliac disease, gluten is detrimental to Orlando, full stop.
It’s important to note though that because he’s untested we must treat him like
he’s a coeliac in case he is (avoiding even tiny amounts of gluten in cross
contamination etc.).
It can take some time to work out which foods, if any, don't suit
your individual make up. When you do discover your bodies unique needs, you
will soon realise that no health giving properties of a food outweigh the
negative effects of a food that doesn't agree with you. Studies are conducted
on groups, and demonstrate statistically significant results that may relate to
most people, but rarely all. If your body tells you that something
"healthy" is hurting you, don't eat it, no matter how many
antioxidants or nutrients it contains or how wholesome it appears.
The result of an allergic or intolerant reaction can range from
anaphylaxis and coeliac disease to skin rashes or gut issues. Obviously few
people argue about the importance of avoiding allergens at the more serious end
of the spectrum. It's those food sensitivities that cause what may be deemed
merely annoying symptoms that are often ignored. In reality though even minor
complaints can negatively affect our quality of life and our health.
Gut issues can cause pain, fatigue, problems digesting and
absorbing nutrients and even impact us psychologically. Poor digestive health
can also contribute to leaky gut and inflammation, and should be taken
seriously. Other symptoms such as skin rashes, wheezing or fatigue might seem
like something you can live with, but they're irritating, can affect your daily
life, and are a signal from your body that it doesn't like what you're feeding
it. Please listen to your body; it's super intelligent and has your best
interests at heart!
May you be full of beans and wise enough to make food choices
that suit your body’s individual needs,
Carla.
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