Food Choices and Chronic Disease

There are so many reasons that our family seeks to eat "against the grain" so to speak (non processed, locally raised, pastured and hormone free meat, etc). Supporting local farmers, food security, wanting better living conditions for food animals, concern over GMOs and all the antibiotics and hormones, are all important reasons to seek out better food, as is superior taste and nutrient profile. However, one very compelling reason to seek out better food is the link between an industrial food diet and chronic disease.

I think I've mentioned before that my Mom has Alzheimer's disease. When we were confronted with the undeniable reality that something was not right with Mom, we sought out help from a neurologist. The medication given by this doctor has helped to slow down the progression of her disease, and for this we are very grateful. But as time has gone by, we've begun to really be struck by the fact that we were simply treating symptoms and not addressing the underlying causes of her disease. Since no one really knows what causes someone to get Alzheimer's disease, addressing the causes becomes a guessing game.

We decided to have Mom see (in addition to her neurologist) another doctor, who treats not only symptoms but also the whole person. This doctor ran many extensive (but not expensive) tests and discovered that Mom has many deficiencies, both vitamin and mineral, as well as the fact that her digestive system was not working properly. In addition to an intestinal yeast infection, Mom was not producing enough stomach acid to properly digest her food and was lacking intestinal flora which are necessary for proper digestion and nutrient absorption. She had been slowly losing weight for the last 6 years. That information from this doctor has helped explain the weight loss.

This doctor has Mom on some supplements and is treating her digestive issues with diet. They are ridding her of the yeast infection by cutting out sugar and bread (for now) and by adding probiotics, both in supplement form and through daily servings of unsweetened yogurt. The great thing is that she can do all of this while still taking the medication from her neurologist. One does not cancel out the other. She has been on the new diet/ supplements for a little over a month, and though we are not seeing a cognitive improvement, we are definitely seeing a digestive improvement. She saw her doctor last week and for the first time in 6 years, has not lost weight between appointments!!

We can't help but wonder if there is not some connection between Mom's lifelong processed food diet and her disease (she avoids vegetables as much as possible and loves processed carbs - She is happiest eating a packaged orange cranberry muffin and truly has always believed it to be health food). There seems to be evidence that Alzheimer's is at least in part associated with a lack of nutrition in the brain. In some circles it is called diabetes of the brain because these doctors believe the brain of Alzheimer's patients is actually starving much like the cells of a diabetic. We don't have delusions that Mom will somehow be cured by a better diet and supplements, but we do know that she will feel better with proper nutrition. And we also know that by us avoiding industrial food (even if that is not the cause of Mom's condition - though I believe it is) and seeking nutrient dense real food, we can stack the deck in our favor and hopefully avoid this horrible disease for us and for our children.

Coconut Oil Update

Lat week, I posted about how our family has added coconut oil to our diet and that we were beginning to see some of the purported benefits in our lives. In the week since that post, we've begun to see even more benefits to our health. These benefits include fewer food cravings, fewer mood swings, more energy and I even think it may be helping with allergies!!

Hubby and I put coconut oil in our coffee (did you see my pretty new cup?). Earlier this week, I just stopped putting sugar in my coffee, cold turkey, and I don't miss it one little bit :o) Yay!! Love, love, love coconut oil! For as long as I can remember, I've struggled with carb addiction, with all of the accompanying mood swings and food cravings. The coconut oil really has helped cut out the cravings and the mood swings. I still have to pay attention to what I'm doing or else I might find myself mindlessly eating, but as long as I catch it before I do it, avoiding unnecessary eating is not difficult, though it used to be very difficult.

Thanks to the coconut oil, I'm eating less and I feel great! I have more energy (I have the energy to do something physical every day, which I didn't just two weeks ago), less stress (I cannot get over how calm Bryan & I both feel), we are sleeping better at night and I think it is even preventing some allergy/ sinus issues. When we visit our hometown, we usually come home with sinus issues that are allergy related and that take about a week or so to clear up. We just got home yesterday and none of us have any congestion. The only thing that was different about this visit was the coconut oil. Could that really be what kept us from getting sick?

**Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor am I a nutritionist. I am just a mom who reads a lot, both on the internet and in books. Don't take my word for anything. Do your own research and talk to your health professional so that you can make smart, informed choices concerning your health and that of your family.