For the past month I've worked to incorporate anti-inflammatory foods into my diet. I decided to adjust my diet after hearing about inflammation from a couple people. I had never heard of an anti-inflammatory diet but after getting this message twice in a short period of time, I saw it as a sign that I needed to see what this was about! Once I started researching inflammation, I was shocked and intrigued by the problems that occur from inflammation in your body. I see why they call it a silent killer and that is scary. Personally, I have issues with digestion, swollen ankles at times, especially when flying and borderline high blood pressure which started in my early 30's. I can't help but to wonder if my diet of high-sugar, processed foods including refined flour and wheat, and very little fruits and vegetables are the culprit and what else is brewing in my body.
I am not a fan of restrictive diets, I believe life is to be enjoyed and a big enjoyment in life for me is eating GOOD FOOD. I would not be able to realistically maintain a strict diet long-term. A lesson that I've been trying to learn in my life in general through the years is to have balance. So rather than completely overhaul my diet, I am introducing anti-inflammatory foods and reducing inflammatory foods. I started by introducing foods such as turmeric (which I sprinkle on anything savory), kale, lemon, hummus and dark chocolate. I reduced my sugar intake by eating less sweets. I note, I did not remove dessert from my diet but instead of having two cupcakes, I had one. I also had gluten-free pizza and pasta instead of the traditional flour based pizza/pasta. The rest of my diet stayed the same, I had my usual apple cider donut for breakfast and a handful of chips during the day. At the end of that 1st week, I felt a difference. I was not bloated or gassy at all. I had accepted bloating and gassiness as normal for my body and as a part of aging (I will turn 40 this year). Those small diet changes made a large difference in how I felt.
I was nervous by Sunday about how I would maintain these diet changes while traveling for work, which I do each week. At home, I do not cook, I eat at restaurants or have carryout every day but I live in the Washington DC area and I have access to all kinds of foods. I was worried about traveling to a city, even a major city, where I do not readily know where to go for kale or gluten free foods. I also had limited transportation since my co-workers and I share cars in the city we travel to. I tried to maintain a Mediterranean diet consisting of chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and feta cheese. I figure I can get this off of most salad bars. I am fortunate to work at a client site that is near Wegmans. For those who are familiar with Wegmans, you know I hit the jackpot when it comes to food options. I was able to add hummus and brown rice to my meals. I still felt good, even after indulging in mac n cheese and a cupcake that week. Again, for me, it's about balance.
Weeks 3 and 4 were a little more challenging. After travel fatigue and a stressful work environment, I slipped back into my old eating habits with more and more sugar and processed foods and little anti-inflammatory foods. I immediately felt the digestive issues return and I was tired and miserable. I find it interesting how I was used to feeling bad, tired, bloated and gassy and after 2 weeks of feeling good, returning back to that bad feeling seemed so miserable. I still have in the back of my mind, how is inflammation impacting my body that I cannot physically feel at the moment? This weekend I have tried to renew my better eating habits, in addition to having a sinus infection, I needed to be more kind to my body. I've had lots of warm water with lemon, raw honey and cayenne pepper, in addition to, rice based meals and guacamole made with yogurt, all sprinkled with turmeric and cayenne pepper for added benefit. I've even gluten-free cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake, which is my fav. Wish me luck this week as I hit the road again Monday and hope to make choices that my body will be pleased with.
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