If you’ve been following my adventures on Instagram, you’ll know I’ve been frolicking in France for the past month. Spending my days walking for miles and eating my body weight in French food.
Now I’m back.
Well, my physical body is anyway.
I set out on this latest holiday with an open mind (and heart), knowing that France does not lead the world in gluten, sugar and dairy free food options (baguettes, French butter and fromage…hello!). Surprisingly, they are definitely growing in this area, something I had never noticed on my past visits.
Changing your diet can be overwhelming and seem like an impossible task. I’ve been there. I know it.
Reading about doing it and actually doing it are two completely different activities.
So when I was told to “ditch the grain”, I’ll be honest with you …. I had a panic attack. Even though I no longer ate wheat and gluten, I didn’t realise how reliant I was on grains, including rice, polenta, quinoa and corn, and not to forget quinoa flour, cornflour, sorghum and teff which I use in baking.
So I’m sharing with you some of my tips that helped (and are still helping) me to transition, and I hope they’re as helpful for you….
I truly believe that healing your body requires more than simply taking a few pills or herbs. I believe it requires a complete overhaul of your body, mind and spirit.
When it was first discovered that I had a thyroid issue, I was automatically put on conventional pharmaceutical thyroid medication by my doctor, and at the time, I felt sooo much better. The swelling in my thyroid went down and the symptoms disappeared. To be honest with you, at the time, I thought that was it. Done and dusted. I was fine.
And then a year later the symptoms all came back. Tenfold!
Did you know that raw organic cacao is the highest plant-based source of iron?
Did you also know that it contains more calcium than cow’s milk?
Say what?!
However, as the iron found in raw organic cacao is non-heme (as is all plant-based iron), you’ll body will get maximum benefit if you combine eating it with vitamin C.
Perhaps you’re already acquainted with the Boris’ but know them by their more common names of Dientamoeba Fragilis and Blastocystis Hominis. Two microscopic parasites that are found in the intestinal tract of humans. And right at this very minute, they’re paying me a very unwelcomed visit.
I’m not happy!
Although as I say those 3 words, I also have to admit to you that a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. This icky news has actually given me an answer AND with it, an opportunity to finally fix the problems I'm having .
These parasites could potentially be the root cause of my developing Hashimoto’s. Holy cow!
It's not a new concept, and it's definitely not my concept, but I'm a lover and wanted to share how mind-blowingly easy and delicious Cauliflower Rice is.
Whilst I'm currently off grains while my tummy heals (yep, even the gluten free grains), and whilst it's at its peak and in season, cauliflower rice has been a staple in my home. Not only is it sooo good for our bodies (see here) it's been a wonderful addition to mid-week stir-frys or served alongside a slow cooked casserole made on the weekend.
However you want to eat it, it takes only two steps.
No problemo. I've been off gluten for over a year now and kicked refined sugar to the curb over 2 years ago. Grains and legumes. Easy peasy.
And then I thought about it.
I thought about the brown rice I have cooked and frozen in my freezer for emergency meals. I thought about the simple mid-week meal I often whip up of roasted pumpkin and chickpeas. I thought about how I use white beans as a simple quick "mash" instead of cooking up potatoes. And I also thought about the lentil salads I loved, especially when using my favourite legume of all...du puy lentils.
Holy cow! To say I'm now overwhelmed is an understatement.
The Quality Of Being Thankful; Readiness To Show Appreciation For And To Return Kindness.
So my journey with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis to date has been to put it frankly, a f**king pain in the arse!
It’s affected EVERY single part of my life.
It’s changed the way I cook, eat and stock my pantry. It’s changed my social life and it has COMPLETELY changed my catering business. The biggest change, however, has been within me.
And even though I would not wish the symptoms that come hand-in-hand with Hashimoto’s on anyone, developing this Autoimmune disease has actually been a blessing in disguise.
In my past life I was what you’d call a lolly-oholic. I could inhale bags of jelly frogs and snakes in a heartbeat, and would you believe that I thought this was the healthier choice….because I wasn’t eating fat! Jeez Louise!
Now in my current life, I’ve turned to chocolate. But not just any chocolate. You’ll find none of those sugar laden supermarket brands in my trolley. No siree. All you’ll find are 4 simple, no-fuss, organic ingredients:
Cauliflower. Oh so rich in antioxidants and immune-strengthening nutrients, this humble white (and often overlooked) should never be underestimated. Chock full of Vitamins C, K and folate as well as protein, magnesium and potassium, this veggie can actually help prevent various kinds of infections in our body as well as strengthen our defense mechanisms.
Such a smart little veggie to be in at its peak and in season just when we need it the most…during the cold and flu months of Winter.
One of my personal goals when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s was to try and sooth all the symptoms I was experiencing as naturally as possible through using whole organic foods. If this is something you’re also wanting to try, then perhaps cauliflower could be your first step? It’s such a brilliant source of dietary fiber (helping aid our digestion and our bodies to eliminate toxins), and as it protects the lining of our stomach, this miracle veggie has been shown to prevent the risk of various tummy disorders, from indigestion, hypertension and stomach ulcers right through to colon cancer.
I don’t know the facts behind this little statement, but I’m assuming this was before we bastardised raw cacao and processed it into the cocoa we know and consume today. I could be wrong!
What I DO know, however is that this quick, nourishing and clean hot chocolate recipe, IS super good for you and your body.
In my past life when a recipe called for stock I would simply reach into the dark depths of my pantry and pull out a stock cube. Often a nice organic one, but a dried up little stock cube all the same. Occasionally when feeling a little posh I would reach for the box of liquid stock. Oh la la.
Oh how times have changed.
Now my pantry door stays firmly shut and I simply reach into my freezer and pull out a freezer bag filled with homemade organic stock. Filled to the brim with nutrition and none of those pesky other things like preservatives, MSG, sugar and salt.
It’s super cheap to make (as I keep the bones from any roast I’ve made stored in the freezer) and I utilise whatever veggies and spices I have in my lying around in my fridge at the time. I never have to shop for ingredients to make stock which means no stock made in my kitchen is ever a repeat of the last, and I kinda like it like that.
Suffering the horrible effects of thyroiditis? I hear ya sista!
For me it varies, from a swollen/sore thyroid, a splitting headache and extreme lethargy to dry skin, mood swings and the desperate wanting to curl up in a ball and not interact with anyone!
Chatting about these symptoms with my everyday GP last year, I was told there was nothing I could do – this was just “how it was”.Seriously????
So you guessed it, I started to research this fact for myself.
I turned to whole, organic foods and I listened to my body…very closely. Straight away I implemented 3 simple everyday steps into my daily routine as an experiment. So far, I haven’t looked back. Perhaps you may also like to experiment with them? I figure, anything is worth a shot when trying to support your healthy thyroid.
Wonder no longer people as I have the answer you’ve been waiting with baited breath for. These little beauties are wonderfully rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals and are brilliant for your heart, nervous system and overall digestive health.
Don’t believe me? Here’s a little snapshot of just how good they are:
Did you know that eating gluten is the number one cause of a leaky gut?
We all know that gluten is a trigger for Celiac disease, but I never knew its connection with a leaky gut. Even in a person without any gluten sensitivity, this difficult to digest protein can still cause leaky gut.
Apart from gluten, other inflammatory foods leading to leaky gut can also include dairy, sugar and processed foods as well as an over consumption of alcohol.
I discovered this information whilst trying to figure out my own underlying triggers for Hashimoto’s, as I, like a large number of you, have been suffering constant bloating and irritable bowel syndrome.
Vitamin A. Afatsoluble vitamin, which means itMUSTbe consumedwith fatin order to have optimal absorption.
A vitamin I am sadly deficient in, as revealed by my naturopath.
Vitamin A is essential for our vision, for boosting our immune function and for giving us healthy glowing skin. It is also needed in the production of T3 (thyroid hormone) – which is just one of the many reasons I suffer hypothyroidism symptoms (and perhaps you too?)
Did you know that without this essential vitamin, our thyroid levels can suffer?
Did you also know that there is a strong connection between vitamin A deficiency and hypothyroidism?
A pain in the arse to bake with, but when you get the combination right....oh my!
One of the first struggles I encountered when I took gluten from my diet was the vast array of "gluten-free" alternatives out there. The supermarket shelves these days are packed to the brim with them and I found it hard to decipher between those that were actually nourishing and helpful to my body, and those that are synthetic, processed, bleached and potentially contain gut irritating soy products. Clever marketing can be very persuasive.
I don't know about your story or reasons for going gluten free, however removing gluten from my diet was for health reasons, so I certainly didn't want to then start adding all that crap into my body, just because it didn't contain gluten.
Turmeric. A powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant containing a mix of manganese, iron, vitamin B6, fiber, copper and potassium.
It's what gives curry both its flavour and yellow colour, but did you know it has also been used for thousands of years to help with numerous health conditions?
Studies suggest that this super root helps with inflammation in our bodies, reduces tumour growth and aids in liver detox. It helps protect our bodies against heavy metal toxicity and can also potentially benefit those of us with autoimmune thyroid conditions as a happy liver is crucial for proper thyroid hormone conversion.
