So, now you’ve gotten some basic knowledge under your belt about this thing called Endometriosis and you’re probably wondering, “What next?” The starting point is DIET.
I initially decided to “go natural” to fight Endometriosis. I had been on several drugs and had taken pharmaceutical approaches for nearly my entire life, but NONE of them worked long-term. Frustrated, in pain, and desperate for a REAL solution, I was finally convinced it was high time to do something I had never done before.
It has been one of the hardest things I have ever done, with many bumps, bruises, trials, and errors along the way. BUT, as one of my good friends often says, “It may cost, but it pays.” Switching to a plant-based, whole foods diet has been WORTH IT ALL because I’ve gotten the RESULTS OF A LIFETIME! I’m not simply speaking of symptoms management. I am talking about REAL HEALING AT ITS SOURCE.
I never knew how sick I truly was until I started to eat a healthy diet. Even beyond my usual period woes, I had sooo many other health issues at such a young age. Being sick and in pain became such a part of my daily norm that my family & friends were more aware of when I was not feeling well than when I was (often times, because I would get snappy and irritable for no apparent reason). Unfortunately, I know that I’m not the only one who’s had to mentally push aside chronic pain & discomfort just to function.
But, GOOD NEWS: there IS a NATURAL way to reverse Endometriosis (and most other diseases for that matter): by changing your diet. Discarding poisonous foods and getting proper nutrition is a huge piece of this puzzle. No matter what condition or illness you are battling it is necessary to start here first.
Once proper nutrition is achieved, THEN and only THEN can you get a clear picture of the true state of your health. Keep in mind that everyBODY is different. The human machinery has individual and specific needs. So, don’t just take my word for it. Learn to listen to YOUR body. It knows what is best for YOU. There is no silver bullet or magic pill to zap away Endometriosis. Instead, give your body the fuel it needs to heal itself.
What I know for a fact:
Sickness and disease is just a symptom of an unhealthy body. Focus on achieving overall health FIRST.
Now, most of us have some awareness that ALL FOOD AIN’T GOOD FOOD (excuse my grammar, but you get the point). Just like in school, I have given certain food groups a letter grade of A – F and listed just a few examples of each food group to provide some clarity. Each grade has been assigned based on the impact of that particular food group on the body.
The goal is to eat only Grade A foods as much as possible.
Food Grades
A
Whole Plant Foods:
Fruits; Vegetables like Kale, Collards, Chard, Greens, Spinach, Broccoli, Parsley, Bok Choy, Cabbage Cucumbers, Root Vegetables
Healthy Grains:
Quinoa, Teff, Amaranth, Millet, Sorghum,
Healthy Fats:
Avocados, Uncooked Organic Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil, Nuts and Seeds
B
Plant Based Processed:
Unrefined Grains like Brown Rice; Soy Milk, Rice Milk, Oil/Sugar-Free Sauces and Dressings
C
Plant Based Junk:
Soy Dogs, Soy Powder, “Health” Bars, Morning Star Veggie Burgers, Soy or Rice Ice Cream, Veggie Cheese
D
Processed Junk:
Chips, Cookies, Cake, Ice-cream, Candy, Chocolates
Oils:
Olive, Canola, Palm, Peanut, Flax, Vegetable Coconut, All Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Sodas, Caffeine, Coffee, Carbonated Drinks
Simple Carbohydrates:
White Potatoes
F
Fried Animal Products:
Fast Food, Burgers, French Fries, Hot Dogs, etc.
Animal Products:
Chicken, Beef, Pork, Turkey, Lamb, Eggs, All Dairy, etc.
Bad Grains:
Wheat, Barely, Rye, Oats, White Bread, White Rice, White flour, Cornmeal
Alcohol
Processed Sugar:
Cane Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup
So, I can imagine what you are thinking after reading all of this:
“Are you saying the food pyramid I was taught in school is wrong?”
Quick Answer: YES!
“What can I possibly eat ???”
Don’t worry! My very purpose is to help expose you to the wonderful world of REAL, WHOLESOME, TASTY, PLANT BASED FOOD so that you can begin your journey to better health!
I have implemented these changes in my own life to heal myself of an incurable disease. And these same guidelines can also help eliminate and reverse a host of other diseases and illness.
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. My charge to you is this: DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. You never know what you are missing out on until you TRY!
I do not believe in Yo-Yo Dieting. Instead, this should be considered a permanent LIFESTYLE CHANGE. Trust me, I get it. Learning new habits is always hard at first. It requires discipline and intention. But, once you get the hang of it, this will become second nature. And, who knows . . . you may even come to enjoy it!
Health is wealth! Giving up the temporary pleasures of indulging in unhealthy habits of eating and drinking has given me the freedom to be more PAIN-FREE, achieve my dreams, travel more, deepen my relationships and live more abundantly! Your “healthy” literally affects every aspect of your life. None of us can afford to gamble with it.
So, HOW WOULD YOU GRADE YOUR FOOD HABITS?