I’ve talked about my transition from an IT Director to an unemployed student. The transition wasn’t easy, I can’t lie. And I know the struggles aren’t over yet. BUT. I had a choice; I could continue to hate my job and my life OR I could bite the bullet and dive into the unknown. I know I’ve said several times that I love change and I do. BUT. This was the scariest thing I’d ever done… well, almost. Some of our choices seem to be easy – you know? Like there really isn’t a choice to make. And then there are others, that while the appear to be quite straight forward, neither choice seems doable or acceptable. My choice was either to stay – and slowly (or quickly) kill myself or start completely fresh. The fear of failure, the unknown, and how I was going to make it work was real. As you know, I jumped.
During the past four years I have gone through several transitions. First from productive executive to depressed, overweight, overstressed, miserable human that couldn’t seem to find her way. To an angry frustrated woman that was done with being manipulated, controlled, overworked, and overstressed. To an unemployed student. To a business owner and freelance IT professional. These transitions were necessary to push me hard enough to change. I have always told my kids, “If you make a mistake, you are doomed to repeat it until you learn the lesson. The first time is a nudge, the second is a slap, the third is a hit to the gut, and the fourth is being kicked to the ground. How many repetitions do you need to learn the lesson?” Well… I guess I was in stage four. I never said I wasn’t hardheaded! LOL
I do have a message here.. I promise. Stay with me.
I have studied naturopathy for more than 20 years now. If there are times I make mistakes and have to be knocked on my ass to see what is right in front of me, it means I am human. It also means that anyone can make those mistakes.
The past two weeks, one phrase keeps hitting me in the face, “metabolic crisis.” I had never heard of this before and was intrigued by what it was. Last week I wrote a blog discussing what it is and why it is important for every woman over 35 to read. Last week I went to the local library and found some amazing books. This past weekend, I visited the local bookstore and found several really good books. So, knowing I’d have to wait on my Bestie until he was ready for lunch this week, I carried along several books to study as I waited. HERE is my Ah Ha Moment. More clarity on the metabolic crisis. How it functions and why.
One passage from It Starts with Food by Dallas & Melissa Hartwig struck me particularly hard. It is in a chapter talking about how it isn’t just one thing that is causing our unhealth. It is a combination of different things. For example, gluten may or may not affect you. If you are susceptible to a gluten intolerance and you are healthy – it would likely not affect you at all. However, if you are susceptible and your body isn’t healthy – It could crush you. Now add that certain foods that “may” affect you because your body is unhealthy, compound the issue. Once your immune system is compromised, it has a heightened sense of protection. Here is the passage.
“Molecular Mimicry. In celiac, disease, part of the wheat protein looks a lot like a particular virus, which looks a lot like a particular gut protein. The result of such mimicry is that when the wheat protein is eaten, the immune system is prompted to attach the gut. A similar mimicry among a protein found in grains and legumes, part of the Epstein-Barr virus, and part of the collagen in joints produces rheumatoid arthritis in genetically susceptible people, as the immune system attacks the joints. For type I diabetes, casein (milk protein) and other viral proteins mimic proteins found in beta cells of the pancreas, leading the immune cells to attack and destroy them leaving the body unable to produce enough insulin to manage blood sugar. “
Why did that hit me so hard? I’ve always known that food is the key… but what I hadn’t really connected was how many things were connected. Let me see if I can connect them for you. Your body is a self-healing organism. If we are healthy – mentally, physically, and dietarily – your body can handle anything you throw at it. However, we live in a society of fake food, processed food, artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, and who knows what else. We store those things in aluminum that is known to damage the brain causing Alzheimer’s, and plastic which is made from petroleum which is first a carcinogenic but also can cause reproductive harm. Without REAL food, our body can’t heal itself, it is in effect, killing itself because of the things we are feeding it.
With the metabolic crisis, women’s bodies begin to change at age 35, the sex hormones begin to reduce, and this throws our bodies out of whack. With the proper dietary changes, this can be fixed. If those changes aren’t made, we are tossed into chronic inflammation and this can cause other issues like high blood pressure, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, migraines, sinusitis, allergies, eczema, and other autoimmune diseases.
So, in effect, we continue to add insult to injury with what we feed our bodies. 90% of our immune system starts in the gut. If we destroy our good gut bacteria, if we continue to feed our bodies things that negatively impact our health, nothing good will come of it.
I have some studying to do. I’d like to do a series on several of the pieces that directly impact your daily wellbeing. The book from the Hartwigs is a fast read and very informative. Read it and let me know your thoughts.
Blessings – E