Diet

 

My diet is the foundation of all I do.  In the beginning, I tried a host of diets: GAPS, The Wahls Protocol, Autoimmune, the Cause, the Cure, The Maker's Diet, Weston Price.......  I eventually pulled everything together to create a diet that works for me.  I recommend reading these books to learn the basics as well as the science behind their approach.  Each person is different, so it takes some trial and error to find the right balance.  Basically, I don't eat anything my grandma couldn't have had as a child.  Here's a basic outline of the rules I follow:

1.  I don't eat any gluten.

2.  I don't eat peanuts - these are HIGHLY inflammatory for me.  This was a tough one to give up, but I am now addicted to almond butter instead.

3. I avoid all artificial food.

4.  I drink raw milk and get my eggs from the farm.

5.  I make my own kefir and kombucha (had to quit kombucha due to issues with tooth decay, but I felt better on it)

6.  I eat a lot of homemade bone broth.

7.  When possible, I choose organic fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef, and free range chicken.

8.  I try to juice a lot (I use a blender rather than an extractor.  Easier to clean and keeps the fiber.)

9.  I avoid added sugar.  I do make my own chocolate to help with cravings.  (I don't do the molds, I just keep it in a bowl and scoop some out to put on a banana or strawberry)  I'm also starting to experiment with monk fruit.