End of the Road - The Gluten Free Diet

Throwing up was the only way to rid myself of the pain.
Christine and I had been at a friend's birthday party.  There was lot's of great food including barbecued chicken strips from my favorite local barbecue restaurant.
We were given a bunch of leftovers: potato salad, baked beans, and the chicken.
The next morning, I awoke and thought of that chicken.  Christine was just waking up also.  I went out to the kitchen, opened up the fridge, took out the chicken in the plastic Tupperware and gobbled down a strip. The chicken was dry and it felt like it was too big for my esophagus.  It was almost instantly painful.  I started burping and feeling very sick.  Stomach acid started coming up and the burning was incredibly painful.  I tried desperately not to throw up.  Christine was in the kitchen now.  I ran to the bathroom, lost it all, not only chicken, but burning acid.  Tears flowed freely from my eyes.  Relief and worry both came at the same time.
For years, I have dealt with acid reflux.  I have been taking Prilosec off and on, mostly on for at least a decade.  The last few months had gotten worse and I was in constant pain.  I fell asleep with a burning in my chest that was so strong that it would wake me up at night.  Prilosec was no longer doing anything to help.  Everything seemed to upset it.  I gave up drinking alcohol, tried giving up sugar, tried eating mostly vegetables, but it only got worse and worse.
In desperation, about a month ago, I sat down and meditated.  I asked the universe what I should do to help.  I got a reply:  Stop eating bread and pasta, eat more veggies and fruit, eat less sugar, keep abstaining from alcohol.
I listened, again out of complete desperation.  I stopped eating anything with gluten in it.  No bread, no pasta, nothing.  We had been juicing every morning for a few months so I kept doing that as well.  I cut back on sugar, but the biggest change was definitely cutting out the gluten.
At first, it seemed like nothing was changing, but after a few days, the pain in my upper chest started decreasing.  Then it disappeared.  Then the pain in my stomach started going away.  It felt like a slow wave of healing was going through my body.  After about a week and a half I was left with an intense pain under my xiphoid process (the ball-like bone at the bottom of the chest at the end of the ribcage) and an almost continuous feeling of nausea, like, if I thought about it for more than a minute, I could throw up.  It felt like there was a direct opening between my throat and the food below, like I could feel it churning.  At this point, I went to the Doctor.  He ordered an ultrasound to make sure nothing was amiss.
I was on the third week of eating no gluten and then intense pain went away along with the feeling of constant nausea.
My mood started to improve and I started being able to concentrate on tasks that previously I could barely hold on to for about 5 minutes.  Suddenly, I was sitting for hours doing my work, staying on task.
The way I feel now after a month of eating gluten free is drastically different than I felt a month ago.
I, am in no way saying that this will work for everyone, as I am sure it is not an issue for many people, but I am just reporting what happened to me.
My reflux is not completely cured.  Yesterday, I drank some caffeinated chai with soy milk and a gluten free chocolate cookie.  About an hour later, the signs were there again.  I think that caffeine also affects me even if it from a tea or a chai.  I still can't eat lot's of dry meat or potatoes without feeling it, but the overall difference is frankly incredible.
More on this later.
Bill

Guidelines to Eating Mediterranean

Guidelines to Eating Mediterranean

Majority of food is unprocessed.

Fruits or vegetables are eaten in quantity at every meal.

Whole grains are emphasized.

Beans, nuts and seeds are major sources of protein.

Lean red meat is eaten no more than once per week.

Choose lean meats and limit serving sizes to 3 ounces.

Fat sources are mainly monounsaturated. 

Diet is high in Omega-3 fatty acids (i.e.-fish, flax oil).

Low-fat cheese and yogurt are used in moderate amounts.

If alcohol is consumed, it is at mealtime and in moderation.

Desserts are mostly fruit based.

Activity is included daily with a combination of cardiovascular and weight bearing exercises.

Bill Bradley, R.D., L.D.N.

P.O. Box 682

Northampton, Ma  01061

413-522-4919

 E-Mail:   Bill.bradley@the-spa.com

Website:  www.bradleypresents.com

New Study shows that Mediterranean Diet can help with Sleep Apnea

The Mediterranean Diet has been shown to decrease rates of obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, and now sleep apnea!  Check out this latest study from Greece.  See link below.

Mediterranean Diet Decreases Sleep Apnea

Food and Sex and Love

Have we become so confused, so jaded that our purpose in life is to lose 20 pounds?  

We  go to any extreme, starving ourselves or stuffing our bodies with fatty sausage to reach our goal weight.  It becomes our obsession, haunts us when we’re out, becoming the main topic of conversation.  We buy books, listen to tapes, search for special diet foods to reach our dream.  We put on a disguise of the healthy person and we forget.  We forget the things that will actually help us lose weight, feel healthy and alive.  We ignore our real purpose as we hide behind food and liquor and television and movies and sex.  

In the name of "health", we forget ourselves.  If we were truly in our bodies would we drink a sugary chemical filled shake in the name of weight loss?  Would we take a diet pill that could give us a heart attack?  Would we eat at an all you can eat Chinese buffet, force feeding our bellies with barbecued spareribs, fried chicken fingers and soft serve ice cream?  Would we listen to the advice of self proclaimed gurus telling us what to eat instead of listening to the wisdom of our own unique bodies?  We have cast aside our truer purpose: loving, giving to others, living in nature for the addiction of the perpetual diet.  

What will they say?  What will they say at our funerals?  Will they speak of contributions, how we helped others, how we changed lives or will they draw a blank only remembering our obsessions with ourselves and our bodies?
 
It is never too late to begin.

Take some time away from computers, cell phones, cable television, friends and family and give yourself time to be in silence.  Become aware of your body.  Sit in silence long enough and you will begin to know what your body really needs, what foods and actions really nourish it.  Give yourself permission to experience what real hunger feels like instead of the psychological hunger of unfelt emotions or unrelieved stress.  Most importantly, let a new you emerge, one who not only knows and acts on what is best for themselves, but has a deeper purpose that has to do with healing and truly living the precious life we have been given.  This is the way out and the way in.  It is what I am practicing today.  Peace.

There is an adventure waiting

Many of you have probably watched the Todd Bieber videos about the lost film in Manhattan.  He starts off saying that he has been wanting an adventure and then one comes to him.  He makes choices along the way as to whether to continue or not (picking up the film, bringing it with him, getting it developed, making a video about it) and it truly does lead him on an amazing journey.  If you haven't watched these inspiring videos I have linked them below.  It is worth watching the whole series (about 8 minutes).   In each and every moment, we make decisions that can bring us to exciting new places if we choose to follow the inspirations within us.
May your day be filled with adventure and joy!

Video 1: Found:  Lost Pictures of New York Blizzard


Video2:  Found:  Lost Pictures of New York Blizzard:  Part 2


Video 3:  Found: Lost Pictures of New York Blizzard: Part 3

Creating a fun goal around health

I just finished a five mile walk.  It was easy, helped clear my head, and made my body feel better.  I have a goal to walk 20 miles in one day.  I will be doing it with 40,000 other people in Boston in an effort to raise money for the hungry in Massachusetts.  Last year they raised over 4 million dollars.  The thing about it is this:  I am getting myself in shape getting ready for something that is fun, inspiring, and helpful to others.  So often, we go to the gym with a dreariness because we don't really want to be there and the only purpose is to make ourselves healthier.  It is a good goal, but it isn't always enough to make us want to go.  If feels lifeless.
On the other hand, challenging yourself to do something that will help others, be fun, and be healthy for you, now that's a different thing altogether.

Find something that sings to you and join in.

For more info on the Walk for Hunger

Slow Eating and Weight Loss: Does the Science Support It?

Slow Eating and Weight Loss: Does the Science Support It?