Well, I recently went to the Doctor to get my annual check up and I had some blood work done to be certain all my systems were in check! As a vegetarian, I wanted to make sure my cholesterol, my protein, my iron, all of my nutritional systems were running up to par. Well, everything checked out perfectly, except one thing...My body is riddled with Candida..or YEAST, to be exact.
Candida is ever present in the body and everyone has it, but it often lays dormant and doesn't cause too many problems if you take really good care of yourself. But lately, as much as I hate to admit it, I've been lacking in the "good night's sleep" department, skimping on the yoga and honestly, just not taking the best care of myself outside of my eating! When we don't take care of ourselves and the Candida decides to invade the body it can cause a whole slew of problems; digestive issues, bloating, fatigue, weight gain, bad memory, spaciness, skin problems, eczema, bad breath, body odor, sugar cravings, athlete's foot, yeast infections...and the list goes on and on.
Being healthy isn't just about exercise and eating good. It's about your emotional, physical, spiritual and mental state too. I notice that when I let any one of these things get out of balance, that I suffer. Sometimes it's a challenge to keep it all in balance. I take every step I can to make sure that what I put in my mouth is clean, clean, clean. But sometimes I feel like I can get away with not sleeping enough, exercising, breathing deep, meditating, writing; anything that nourishes my soul and helps me to feel balanced and happy.
So, needless to say, I made a decision to do a Candida Cleanse and I am not jumping up and down about it. Some of you may know that I have suffered from a mild eating disorder most of my life and have taken many steps to tame this "monster" that lives inside of me. Lately the monster has been quiet and my weight has normalized and I feel good. I don't torture myself about what I put in my mouth, even though what I put in my mouth is really healthy! I don't torture myself about feeling or looking fat. I don't compare myself to others. But let me tell you, when the monster rears it's ugly head, he rules my every thought, action and deed.
About two years ago I did this same exact cleanse and it was the most challenging thing I ever did. I wasn't even sure if I actually had candida, but I had a few friends who did the cleanse and they had boundless energy, clear skin, didn't need much sleep and just felt really good and happy doing this cleanse. I wanted what they had. What I didn't account for was my "issue" with food and the never-ending conversation in my head about deprivation.
Depriving myself is NOT what I need to be doing. Especially since I am such a clean eater already and deprivation has been a way of life for me. But depriving myself of fresh strawberries, cherries, agave nectar, mushrooms, eggplants, tomatoes, yerba mate; foods that are good for me, yet are feeding my candida and making me sicker in a sense, did not bode well with this Health Addict Virgo.
I know that I need to do this cleanse for a healthier me. And I also know that this time will be different; and the reason I know is because I have support. Someone to walk through the fire with me and support me on my journey. Daniel (my other half) and I are going to walk this path together, and I must say that it feels a lot less scary to deprive myself when I know I am being loved through it all. When I know I have someone to cry to, or whine to, or just hug when I am feeling low, or feeling like I can't make it through.
Having a partner or friend in anything we do in life is important. Whether it's a cleanse, working out, going to a movie or whatever. We are human beings and we need support. We were built to be in community and to support one another on this journey in life. we weren't built to do it all alone!!!
So, for any of you that are considering doing a cleanse; two words of advice: get support! If you want to know more about this cleanse and learn more about Candida feel free to email me! You can also find out more by visiting Donna Gates' web site http://www.bodyecologydiet.com/. She is one of the top advisors on Candida and her book is amazing!!!
Here's to Happy Cleansing! check out my blog tomorrow for DAY 1 of Greens Plus Protein Bar Free Day!!!
PS ~ I already gave up the Yerba Mate' 3 days ago, and although I am tired and headachy from giving up the caffeine, I already feel better physically! I think Daniel might have a bit of a harder time...It's my duty in life to get him off the RED BULL!!!
PEACE & WELLNESS
Showing posts with label unhealthy vegetarian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unhealthy vegetarian. Show all posts
Monday, August 3, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Just Because You Are Vegetarian Doesn't Mean You're Healthy!!
To many of us, Vegetarianism is a mystery. Becoming a vegetarian is usually a choice that people make for health reasons, ethical reasons or environmental reasons. But most vegetarians and not particularly healthy, per se.
Being a vegetarian takes work. It takes commitment. It takes dedication and it also takes creativity and knowledge. It's easy to be an unhealthy vegetarian, but most people have no idea that they are being unhealthy. The reason is usually due to lack of knowledge. If you go to any grocery store today, there is an array of supposedly "healthy" vegetarian foods, but most of these foods are over processed and contain high amounts of soy, gluten, sodium and other ingredients that wreak havoc on our digestive system.
There are many types of vegetarians according to today's society. But I believe that a true & healthy vegetarian is a person who eats a diet consisting of unprocssed whole foods. Whole foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, healthy fats and the occasional egg. If you think you are doing your body good by becoming a vegetarian while still eating cheese, yogurt, any kind of dairy, white flour, white sugar and processed "vegetarian" foods, you aren't. You might as well still eat meat and chicken for that matter. Those choices are better than most of the heart clogging, high cholesterol cheeses and yogurts or the acidifying processed foods that will cause heart disease and a whole other ilk of health problems down the line.
If it's an ethical issue to you, and you don't care about health, than so be it. Yet anyone who does not care about their health and what they put in their mouth is looking for trouble in the long term. Your body is a temple and the only one you have while you are here. It's important that you treat it with respect so that it works optimally to assist you in a long, happy and healthy life.
Ok, let's talk about the different kinds of "vegetarians" (remember, a true vegetarian does not eat any animal flesh at all). A vegan on the other hand, eats absolutely NO animal products including eggs, honey, white sugar & dairy.
Vegetarian: Eats a plant based diet and does not eat red meat, chicken, pork or any other meat from an animal
Pescetarian: A vegetarian who eats fish
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: A vegetarian who eats dairy & eggs
Flexitarian (this is a newer type of Vegetarian): one who is a vegetarian but will occasionally eat fish or chicken
Total Vegetarian: does not eat any animal products including eggs, dairy, honey and sometime white sugar (some white sugar is processed with the ash of cow bones so it is not considered vegetarian)
Vegan: Eliminates all animal products from their life even clothing & shoes made from leather, wool or silk.
As I said earlier, many vegetarians can be extremely unhealthy and sometimes it takes a lot of planning to have this type of lifestyle. Eating pizza, nachos, or any other greasy foods that don't contain meat is not the path to being a healthy vegetarian. Yes, sometimes those foods are easy to grab on the go, but these foods will leave you feeling bloated & tired, along with an array of other possible health problems. And, you will not get the necessary nutrients you need for your body as you would from eating whole foods.
If you are thinking about becoming a vegetarian or already are one, please remember that what you put into your mouth is the most important thing you can do for your body other than exercise. Be mindful of your choices. Eat lots of fresh veggies and fruit. Eat minimal amounts of processed foods. Take baby steps. Cut out one unhealthy food per week and add in a healthy one. If you are used to the Soy chicken nuggets or the frozen pizza from the freezer section, I urge you to rethink those choices and choose foods that are minimally processed. Make time each week to plan your meals.
Remember, having a healthy lifestyle takes work. It's an investment in your health. You are worth the effort and commitment it takes to be healthy. Before you know it, it will become old hat and you will be feeling and looking better than you ever have in your life! The key to your success is Baby Steps! Have fun!!!
Being a vegetarian takes work. It takes commitment. It takes dedication and it also takes creativity and knowledge. It's easy to be an unhealthy vegetarian, but most people have no idea that they are being unhealthy. The reason is usually due to lack of knowledge. If you go to any grocery store today, there is an array of supposedly "healthy" vegetarian foods, but most of these foods are over processed and contain high amounts of soy, gluten, sodium and other ingredients that wreak havoc on our digestive system.
There are many types of vegetarians according to today's society. But I believe that a true & healthy vegetarian is a person who eats a diet consisting of unprocssed whole foods. Whole foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, healthy fats and the occasional egg. If you think you are doing your body good by becoming a vegetarian while still eating cheese, yogurt, any kind of dairy, white flour, white sugar and processed "vegetarian" foods, you aren't. You might as well still eat meat and chicken for that matter. Those choices are better than most of the heart clogging, high cholesterol cheeses and yogurts or the acidifying processed foods that will cause heart disease and a whole other ilk of health problems down the line.
If it's an ethical issue to you, and you don't care about health, than so be it. Yet anyone who does not care about their health and what they put in their mouth is looking for trouble in the long term. Your body is a temple and the only one you have while you are here. It's important that you treat it with respect so that it works optimally to assist you in a long, happy and healthy life.
Ok, let's talk about the different kinds of "vegetarians" (remember, a true vegetarian does not eat any animal flesh at all). A vegan on the other hand, eats absolutely NO animal products including eggs, honey, white sugar & dairy.
Vegetarian: Eats a plant based diet and does not eat red meat, chicken, pork or any other meat from an animal
Pescetarian: A vegetarian who eats fish
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: A vegetarian who eats dairy & eggs
Flexitarian (this is a newer type of Vegetarian): one who is a vegetarian but will occasionally eat fish or chicken
Total Vegetarian: does not eat any animal products including eggs, dairy, honey and sometime white sugar (some white sugar is processed with the ash of cow bones so it is not considered vegetarian)
Vegan: Eliminates all animal products from their life even clothing & shoes made from leather, wool or silk.
As I said earlier, many vegetarians can be extremely unhealthy and sometimes it takes a lot of planning to have this type of lifestyle. Eating pizza, nachos, or any other greasy foods that don't contain meat is not the path to being a healthy vegetarian. Yes, sometimes those foods are easy to grab on the go, but these foods will leave you feeling bloated & tired, along with an array of other possible health problems. And, you will not get the necessary nutrients you need for your body as you would from eating whole foods.
If you are thinking about becoming a vegetarian or already are one, please remember that what you put into your mouth is the most important thing you can do for your body other than exercise. Be mindful of your choices. Eat lots of fresh veggies and fruit. Eat minimal amounts of processed foods. Take baby steps. Cut out one unhealthy food per week and add in a healthy one. If you are used to the Soy chicken nuggets or the frozen pizza from the freezer section, I urge you to rethink those choices and choose foods that are minimally processed. Make time each week to plan your meals.
Remember, having a healthy lifestyle takes work. It's an investment in your health. You are worth the effort and commitment it takes to be healthy. Before you know it, it will become old hat and you will be feeling and looking better than you ever have in your life! The key to your success is Baby Steps! Have fun!!!
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