Enjoying my Spaghetti Squash Boat. A new recipe I put together. Normally eat chicken, but used some left over, organic, grass-fed beef and mushrooms. Considering my diet has been so strict, it was nice to eat something different!
Trying My Hand at Making My Own Lacto-Fermented Foods
I have been using natural medicines (supplements, herbs and foods) since I became ill in 1991. However, many serious factors including childhood stomach issues, extreme overuse of antibiotics, Lyme Disease and genetic deficiencies caught up with me.
In 2008, I suddenly became allergic to most foods. By 2009, I was lethally allergic to all foods, except 4 foods I had to rotate. Eating, touching or smelling food sent me into a whirlwind of horrific pain and torture. The surge of IgE, IgG and cortisol, along with neurological responses and fight or flight, felt as if I was being stung by hornets, rolled in thorn bushes and set on fire. These symptoms continued throughout the day and night, even though I was only eating an average of 300-500 calories a day.
I literally starved for a year and a half before I started losing weight, due to the fact that I have the Lyme attacking my thyroid, as well as Hypothyroidism and an auto-immune thyroid disease called, Hoshimoto’s, Three different doctors told me I was starving to death. One said I should have been 50 pounds under-weight given my calorie intake. Yet, I had only lost 30 pounds total, which was a great weight for me, but not under weight.
After five years of living daily with this, things finally started to calm down a bit. Yet, I am still only able to eat a few more foods regularly and a few now and then. Not surprisingly, I am now allergic to all the foods I ate during that five years and gaining the weight back has been infuriating! And, I am not out of the woods yet. I still live with my toes in this rushing water and get swept in often.
As a result, although I have been using probiotics and prebiotics before most people even knew what they were, about 8 months ago I decided to be even more active in winning this battle with my stomach. So, I added into my diet, Coconut Water Kefir, Kombucha and Fermented Vegetables (live-food sauerkraut, kimche and other fermented vegetables).
Tom Malterre, MS, CN and co-author of the best-selling cookbook, The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook wrote:
Lacto-fermented vegetables provide a viable source of probiotics (at a cost well below most supplements) to heal and maintain a healthy gut. These beneficial microorganisms attach to receptors in our guts that send a signal to the immune system that says everything is okay, no need to overreact to foods and other things entering the gut, let’s keep everything calm. If you are dealing with multiple allergies, chances are your gut is out of balance and is in need of a daily dose of beneficial microorganisms (Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen).
Yesterday, I decided to try my hand at jarring my own vegetables. Now, I really didn’t need another project. My day is plenty full with trying to get my meals, go to doctor appointments, file insurance claims and/or getting a shower! Yet, honestly, I am tired of the three flavors of fermented vegetables I have been rotating into my diet.
It takes time to heal the gut; especially if you have years of damage, bad bacterias, antibiotics, Lyme and other components working against you. So, I am getting out the big guns and sticking this out! What other choice do I have, really? I can’t go back to the torture and starving!
RESOURCE:
How to Make Lacto-Fermented Vegetables without Whey (plus video). Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen. February 13, 2012.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
How Gut Bacteria Affects Your Weight, and Why CAFO Meats Promote Antibiotic-Resistant Disease
How to Easily and Inexpensively Ferment Your Own Vegetables
My Visit to Disneyland with Food Allergies
In 2011 I had to go to California for medical reasons. My husband and I had not been on a vacation in a very long time, so we decided to stay at Disneyland!
This was extremely overwhelming, not only because I have Multiple Sclerosis and Lyme Disease, but because I also have severe chemical sensitivities and food allergies. We had never taken a long road trip and we had no idea if I would even be able to stay in a hotel, because of all the chemicals commonly used to clean them. The hotel did a fabulous job with our room! Read more here.
As for addressing my food allergies, Disney was incredible! It turns out that they are very well educated about food allergies and sensitivities. Guests with Disabilities contacted Nick, the hotel’s main chef, to discuss my allergies. Nick contacted me for a list of concerns that we were able to discuss.
I have a very extensive list of food allergies, so we opted to discuss them ahead of time. However, in many cases, a guest can alert their server at the restaurant about allergies or sensitivities and a chef will come out to discuss their options. Of course, if you go to the restaurant, Goofy’s Kitchen, like we did, you will get to meet the one and only Chef Goofy!
Wow Disney! You really go above and beyond to help guests enjoy the whole Disney experience. Thank you!
Video of Sherri interviewing Chef Goofy and thanking Disney for the wonderful time!
RELATED STORIES
Cleaner Indoor Air Helps Disney Make Change for People with Environmental Illness
My Visit to Disneyland with Chemical Sensitivities
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES