Allergic to Practically Everything :)

Ever since I was little, I was a difficult eater: I hated nuts; soy disgusted me; I wouldn't eat meat until I was 8; no fish until I was 17; honestly, I grew up eating nothing but Ramen noodles (chicken flavor only please), Mac&Cheese, and Cold Cereal.

Tree Nuts, Soy, Wheat, Dairy, and Red Meat . . . Allergies that make into
a game full of limitations but also full of exciting creations.

Well, upon turning 17 I started getting sick. My PCP recommend I see an Allergist who conducted all those crazy scratch tests. My goodness! No wonder I was so picky. I was allergic to nuts and soy. I had naturally avoided them as a child because my subconscious knew they were bad. However, small amounts (especially soy) are still hiding in things. First dietary change happened -- eczema went away immediately.

When I was 20, severe dysplasia was found on my cervix. I had it surgically removed. 3 months later I had my follow up exam. The results came back that the cells had grown back! We surgically removed them again!!! Guess what? This happened 2 more times!!!! Finally I said, "Hey Doc, can I do something to help my body fight this?" Doc said . . . "Take more B vitamins to help your immune system." I thought, hmm, not very helpful, but this could be the right direction. 

I started doing a lot of research of women who had recovered from Severe Cervical Dysplasia as well as Cervical Cancer through natural dietary changes...because their bodies were healthier and able to fight the HPV that cause the cells to form into cancer.

For 9 months I ate a Raw Vegan diet. It was hard. It was difficult . . . but I did look damn hot! Perfect skin. Perfect body. Great energy. And, when we did a check up, the abnormal cells were gone! Finito. None were left at all. . . well, I celebrated with Steak. lol.

Strangely, I quickly fell out of Raw Vegan eating habits really quickly, and very quickly (8 months) I gained 50 pounds. But, the only difference was that I was now eating dairy, occasionally wheat, and meat. I still ate tons of fruit and vegetables, healthy grains like quinoa, and sweets only rarely. I kept food journals and honestly my doctor was perplexed.

Last May I decided to do that whole Gluten Free diet thing to lose weight. Well, in 6 weeks, I lost 15 pounds. I then spent the first week of July with my family in New York and fell off the "band wagon", I felt ill. When I came home I went to my OB-GYN. The pain I was feeling was sooo intense it was waking me up at night. I thought the cervical dysplasia had come back. $300 in tests later, my doctor said everything was fine and asked me about my diet. Together, we realized it was Gluten, and that I was intolerant. 2 days after I removed all wheat, the pain went away. (I've had only one issue since . . . blasted Potluck got me in February . . . most embarrassing night of my life.)

From the food journal, I also realized that any time I ate red meat (which I only did 2x a month), I would feel really sick for 4 days. Turns out I don't have the digestive enzymes to break them down.

Oh yeah, it keeps coming.

So from July 2012 - June 2013 I have happily been a Gluten-Free Vegetarian who eats Fish . . . well, this week I had to go to the doctor, because the July 2012 issue has started again. What on earth could be causing this still!?!?! Well, the only pleasure I could have left. Milk. Cheese. Ice Cream.

Starting today, I am "NOT PICKY BY CHOICE". I'm going to share my recipes, because, you know what? I think there are probably other people out there like me. Also, the things I make are generally quick and easy because I am involved in WAY TOO MANY THINGS! Volunteering, church, church groups, discussion groups, marketing for new start-up societies, dating, playing with my dog, exercising. Trust me, They'll be pretty easy :)