Year of the Healthy Gut
Hay Daizee Loves!
If you follow me on Snapchat, you know I’ve declared 2018 the year of the healthy gut. My goal is to experience OPTIMAL gut/digestive health this year. Not only experience it, but develop gut friendly habits that will help maintain the proper functioning of my intestines. Lol
I’ve had stomach issues pretty much my whole life. However, they became noticeably worse in high school. I definitely blame stress and my diet. Then again in college, they became even more awful. I am definitely someone whose anxiety and nerves get the BEST of their stomach. Hello ulcers. Literally the worst pain ever. Additionally, I realized that the years of taking antibiotics so often growing up, ran its toll on my digestive health.
Now, I have never actually been officially diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) but I was prescribed medication for it because of my symptoms but I didn’t take it. Why? Because I actually hate medicine and my personal opinion is that IBS is not real. I mean yeah, the symptoms are real but if you AVOID your problem foods, you won’t experience symptoms. #DietIsEverything When I say problem foods, I mean any food that you notice your body has an intolerance to. This will be a separate blog post. So, not only that, but when I am taking my probiotics (Activia yogurt or actual supplements), my intolerances don’t bother me as much. Why? Because I am putting good bacteria back into my stomach so things are operating more smoothly.
I have been referred to a gastrointestinal specialist and will be getting everything checked out. Like y’ all don’t understand. Ya girl be out for the count a lot of the time and just cannot eat because my stomach isn’t having it. I will also add that things became that much worse AFTER we cruised to the Bahamas last year. I caught something on that nasty ship and my stomach has been struggling ever since. The “virus” (potentially parasite) had my stomach so messed up. My immune system was pretty much non-existent (I also blame all of the alcohol I was drinking… separate blog post lol). My white blood cell count was noticeably lower in my blood work because I was fighting a viral infection from hell (I may never cruise again). I was on antibiotics for a whole 30 days… which messed up my stomach even more. It was ALL BAD. I just started feeling somewhat normal after my Daniel Fast. I wasn’t experiencing any stomach problems. NONE. Because I had a CLEAN AND HEALTHY grip on my diet. Again… #DietIsEverything I was so thankful because MISERABLE can’t even begin to describe how I felt the last half of 2017. My quality of life was diminishing. I was either nauseous or in pain. And ALWAYS sad because I was hungry and could not eat.
Anyways, moving forward in a POSITIVE AND HEALTHY WAY…. the plan of action this year is to reduce inflammation, CLEANSE, and increase good bacteria. So far, the best things have been pineapple water and SUJA apple cider vinegar juice (peach ginger). Listen to me when I say pineapple water is a GAME CHANGER. Studies show it helps rid the intestines and liver of nastiness (parasites, heavy metals, all things toxic) which is why I started drinking it. I love natural/ inexpensive remedies. When I tell y’ all I feel “clean” after drinking it… I feel AMAZING. I think I am going to do an entire blog post on pineapple water alone. Then those SUJA juices… boy oh boy. First of all… EWW. BUT once I got use to them… GAME CHANGER. They are filled with BILLIONS of LIVE probiotics. Like yessss… go kick the bad bacteria’s butt. Reestablish all of that GOOD BACTERIA in my gut. It only takes a few sips of it and my stomach starts making all types of noises. So I KNOW it’s doing its job.
Next on the list of things to incorporate into my diet is KOMBUCHA. Notice how I love DRINKING my remedies lol… it’s easier on my stomach. Then, there are definitely plans to clean this diet up AGAIN because my food selection has just been feeding the bad bacteria and making it harder to get rid of. Additionally, I have no plans to take antibiotics ever again in my life... unless my life depends on it. Why don't they tell you that these medications completely devastate your gut health BEFORE prescribing them to you?!?
If you have any type of gastrointestinal issues (really any health issues), I am encouraging you to do tons of RESEARCH. Figure out the causes and natural remedies. Go talk to your doctor. Like, just take care of you. Our immune system is in our gut. If your gut is messed up, you are not going to experience optimal health. My ultimate goal is to be HEALTHY. I can’t let my stomach hold me back. And I am definitely not going to keep holding myself back by not keeping a healthy grip on my diet.
What health issues are you struggling with? What are some of your health goals this year?
Thanks for reading.
Love, ALWAYS
Megan