On January 2, 2018, I began a healing journey back to honouring my body and paying attention to what it is trying to tell me. Historically, my digestive system was strong and did not complain other than the occasional bout of indigestion when it was pushed to the limits. It is easy to take the absence of unease in the body for granted and this is the folly of our youth. We never really appreciate what we have until it is gone. It wasn’t until menopause came knocking, that I had cause to reflect on exactly that.
Having had an interest in holistic nutrition from an early age, I spent the majority of my 30’s and 40’s popping supplements, eating clean, and aiming for the ultimate preventative lifestyle. My motto being – it is easier to prevent than to cure. So, in an ideal world, the plan was to nourish my endocrine system in hopes of preventing menopausal symptoms. I was certain that proper nutrition could facilitate a smooth transition. Silly, I now know, to think it was as simple as that. When menopause came calling, it was on the heals of a divorce, an empty nest, a move to a new community and enrollment in college after a 33 year absence in a classroom. How do you spell stress? My whole world was in flux, including my endocrine system which was extremely agitated! To think we are in control is one of our greatest illusions. I rode the roller coaster and hung on for dear life.
Eight years have since passed and while the hot flashes cooled, digestive discomfort, anxiety and the beginning of creeping weight gain have been a post menopausal conundrum. Ever so gradually, insomnia, food allergies, brain fog, painful joints, extreme heartburn and a feeling of bloated fullness between my rib cage became constant reminders that my robust health was fading. Thinking something was quite broken, I turned to my doctor for a diagnosis. My MD ran all the relevant tests and did the required ultra sounds, but nothing was obviously wrong. She suggested the usual anti-inflammatory aids, antacids, eating less and more exercise. Oh if only it were so easy! Be it a blessing or a curse, my inquiring mind has always been dissatisfied with treating symptoms without knowing the root cause. Thus, I began a journey of exploration and elimination. Knowing my body felt better when certain foods were avoided was a starting point. At least when I felt uncomfortable, I could connect the dots and own the action behind the reason. Then in early December 2017, the ahamoment hit. All of my symptoms directly correlated to an imbalance in my gut bacteria, specifically, Candida Albicans. It is not the first time Candida and I have met, so the fact that it took me so long to see it was testimony to how far off the self care path I had wandered.
With the dawning of this new year came a personal resolve to live each day with more intention and attention to finding peace and clarity. As I near my 60th birthday there is a temptation, or perhaps a tendency, to allow the body it’s grievances and chalk it all up to the inevitable aging process. However, I have never been one to go down without a fight so on January 2, 2018, I began a Candida Cleansing protocol. It was time to reboot my digestion and take back my gut! The basis of this protocol is to eliminate the foods that “feed” candida while adding in supplements and foods to support proliferation of healthy gut bacteria. The big red flags to avoid are foods with yeasts, molds, gluten, sugars, alcohol and caffeine. It is a diet that centres around plenty of non-starchy vegetables, healthy fats and quality protein sources. Depending on which book you read, caffeine is debatable, but due to my anxiety levels, I am committed to giving up my beloved coffee for a time. We are not breaking up forever…just taking a break.
While masking symptoms can have immediate benefits, deep healing takes time. In our fast paced, instant gratification society, we have lost connection to the pursuit of long term goals. The erosion of my digestive system took many years to reach a level where I could no longer ignore the discomfort. The journey back to health will be a gradual process embedded with daily mindfulness practices that nourish all aspects of body mind and spirit. If no other lesson learned, in hindsight, diet and nutritional supports are important but they cannot override the effects of other stressors.
24 days in today and I am feeling stronger, clearer and have had no heartburn to report. My anxiety levels are manageable and I am sleeping better. While the numbers on the scale cannot define me, I am curiously watching them move ever so slowly down. And it is oh so slow but instead of disappointment I remind myself that this is a quest for healing, and not a weight loss “diet”. One day at a time. One choice at a time. Once mindful thought at a time. This is the year to take back my robust health…
Live One Day at a Time and Make it a Masterpiece
Dalai Lama
Avoid negative sources, people, places, and habits.
Believe in yourself.
Consider things from every angle.
Don't give up and don't give in.
Everything you're looking lies behind the mask you wear.
Family and friends are hidden treasures, seek them and enjoy their riches.
Give more than you planned to.
Hang on to your dreams.
If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
Keep trying no matter how hard it seems.
Love yourself.
Make it happen.
Never lie, steal, or cheat.
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