When a pain strikes, it’s all too tempting to reach into the medicine cabinet and wait for the ailment to gradually seep away. But what if pills or capsules don’t do the trick? What can we do if a medication doesn’t help, and a complaint seemingly has no cure?
Roughly a year ago, I was diagnosed with IBS, a chronic condition which leads to extreme difficulties in digesting food, which in turn causes, at times, severe pain. I have been prescribed a multitude of medications, as well as undergoing a barrage of tests, none of which seemed to reveal how to live with the acutely painful cramps and spasms in my gut. After bouts of stomach ulcers and septicaemia, I had, as I’m sure fellow sufferers will identify with, just about had enough. The untreatable nature of IBS is arguably what caused the most distress. Was I going to have to live with this unpleasant condition forever? The doctor gave a long list of foods I should and shouldn’t be eating, all of which seemed to contradict the food types I found helped, and in turn, irritated my stomach. I was confused, angry and still no closer to feeling better.
Omega 3 Capsules
It was only after visiting an amazing nutritionist that I began to feel a sense of control over my condition. I have completely adapted my diet and lifestyle, and as a result, I feel better than ever. The first step? I cannot gush enough about the value of high doses of pure omega 3 capsules. This supplement has completely has completely rejuvenated my body.
The oil helps with internal inflammations, and as a result I can eat without experiencing discomfort. Omega 3 is also incredible at boosting energy. Sufferers of IBS often have a sluggish metabolism, and as a result don’t always process foods as they should, and therefore our energy rates can be a little, well, sluggish. However, after taking the omega 3 capsules two to three times a day, depending on how busy I know I will be, my vitality has never been better. (Ensure to get capsules which are not only very pure, and therefore not polluted, but doubled encapsulated in order to avoid that horrible fishy feedback normal tablets can leave you with). I also take multivitamins and probiotics, to help supplement any of the nutrients my poor digestion, unable to ingest fibre properly, does not absorb.
Best meal of the day
Now to the best bit, food. I try to eat a very healthy, clean diet. High in lean proteins, as well as fruit and vegetables and complex grains such as spelt and quinoa, these foods make up the majority of my meals. I tend to avoid high GI grains, such as white bread and rice, most dairy and red meats, as I have found for those with IBS, these are the hardest to digest. A normal day, food wise? For breakfast I may have an omelette with green vegetables in and some turkey, and perhaps an apple. I love apples. Give me a Pink Lady and I am one happy lady! Unfortunately, apples are high in acid, something my stomach does not enjoy digesting. I therefore limit myself to one apple a day, as well as trying to avoid too many other acidic foods.
For lunch I love a big salad, with lots of colourful veggies in it, with my homemade French dressing on top. I may add some protein through some cold chicken or a veggie sausage or have some soup to accompany it. On top I love to add soy infused seeds or some ripped up seaweed sheets to add some interest, and I always put a dash of flaxseed oil on my grub to increase my good fatty oil intake.
Delicious salmon and veggies
Dinner I will vary a little bit more. I love fish; salmon, fresh tuna, mackerel, you name it, if I comes from the sea, I love it. I may add to this some mashed butternut squash (my current obsession), some roasted kale, ribbons of carrots or courgette; experimenting with my meals has shown me eating healthily doesn’t mean sacrificing taste.
For me, exercise has also really helped, as it keeps the food moving through the digestive tract. I try and do something to get the body sweating a few times a week, and this, plus the addition of drinking a lot more water, has also vastly helped.
I don’t pretend to be perfect, I have a sweet tooth almost equalling the Cookie Monster’s. Desserts are my downfall, and I’m still exploring ways to make my beloved sweet food more stomach friendly. (The blog Deliciously Ella is great for this!) And take me to a good restaurant (my kryptonite) and all thoughts of my digestive system goes out the window. But for most of the time, I eat carefully and well, and amazingly, my stomach thanks me for it. I still get the odd complaint (mainly when that extra chocolate brownie looks too good to resist) but most of the time, by simply adapting my diet and lifestyle, my chronic pain has gone away. It’s something I still can’t quite believe. As I’m sure other IBS sufferers will agree with, to live without stomach cramps can seem like an implausible dream.
So am I a grown-up now? 