1. Don’t think of it as a diet, but a positive lifestyle change.

Each small change is important when creating a healthy new lifestyle, even if it’s as little as learning a new healthy recipe. Remember that all these changes will eventually add up. It’s also important to keep improving your diet by making small changes based on new knowledge and research.

2. Be a qualitarian.

There are many different types of elimination diets, but unless you have an allergy or are attempting to repair a damaged gut, food quality should be your first priority. The better the quality the better the food is for your health, especially animal products. You will also need to cook more, since most processed food uses cheap ingredients to make a profit. Believe it or not, by cooking more you will save money even when buying organic produce and grass-fed meat. By taking care of your body, you will also save on healthcare costs. Another plus, good quality food tastes better too.

3. Keep it out of the kitchen.

We all have our favorite foods that we can’t resist, especially if they are in the kitchen. Mine are ice cream and chips. So if I want them I have to get dressed, go to Whole Foods for a healthy version, and spend a ridiculous amount of money, all of which are great deterrents for not eating this food. I also try to keep only unprocessed ingredients in my kitchen. So if I want something to eat, I need to make it from scratch or grab something like a fruit or vegetable that I don’t need to cook. When I mean unprocessed ingredients I refer to meat, fish, eggs, fruits, and vegetables. Raw dairy if you can tolerate it and nuts, seeds and dried beans if you prepare them properly. This is what most health circles refer to as Real Food.

4. It’s not all or nothing.

Unless you are on a strict elimination diet for a health problem, each meal is a new opportunity to do something good for your body. If you go off your diet, don’t get bummed out, just plan to do better the next time you eat. Don’t dwell on the past mistake, when you should be planning for the next healthy meal.

5. Be a foodie.

A lot of people associate dieting with deprivation, but that hardly needs to be the case. In fact, the more you enjoy your food the more likely you are to stick to your diet. So have fun in the kitchen with new healthy recipes. Enjoy shopping at the farmer’s market and health food stores. Healthy eating is not a cross to bear but a luxury we should appreciate and a trendy habit we should be proud of.

This post is on Healing with Food Friday.

Click here to purchase Harvest Your Health ebook Bundle.

So, I’ve gone through some of cookbooks in the Harvest Your Health ebook bundle and I’m totally inspired to try some new dishes. Paleo Recipes for Everyday has a recipe for cauliflower pizza crust which I have been wanting to make for a while. I’m half Italian and I miss my pizza! Well Fed has a recipe for paleo mayo made with olive oil that sounds delicious. I made a lot of tuna salad growing up and by making my own mayo I will be able to enjoy again classic picnic dishes such as tuna, chicken, egg, and broccoli salad. Instead of bread, I’ll use lettuce cups or cucumbers. For picky health nuts like myself, preparing food for a picnic in the park or at the beach is a great way to have fun while staying healthy. I suddenly have a craving for curried chicken salad now and I just ate dinner! Hopefully, I will have that recipe for you soon. Go forth and cook my fellow foodies!

My nerve pain doesn’t change very much, but my skin is extremely sensitive to what I eat and put on my face. When I was growing up, I never put face wash or creams on my face, and I played soccer all the time, which gave me great skin in my teenage years. As an adult, I’ve started using moisturizer and makeup, along with gong on and coming off birth control, all of which did a number on my skin. So, I oftentimes adjust my diet based on how my skin looks, as bad skin can be a indication of bad internal health. My stress hormones (cortisol) are high from being in pain, and I don’t take birth control to regulate hormones. So I started taking Chaste Tree Berry Extract (aka Vitex), an adrenal health herbal supplement, and Vitamin D3, which is actually not a vitamin but a hormone to regulate my hormones. I’ve only been on these for a few weeks, but so far I’ve had a lot less deep cystic pimples showing up around my chin and mouth. The Chaste Tree Berry Extract was recommended to my at the blog The Love Vitamin by Tracy Raftl.

I just finished Tracy’s book Ultimate Secrets to Acne, and her information of fixing your internal and external health to clear up acne is something that even non acne sufferers should read. I’ve read a lot of health books, and oftentimes disagree which something they write, but had no issues with her food recommendations. I also started making a manuka honey and hemp oil face wash that she mentioned in her book. (Her book recommended using jojoba oil, but links to her website which has some great information about different oils including hemp oil) I’m also reading Clear for Life by Seppo Puusa, which I also received in the ebook bundle Harvest Your Health. He goes into depth on supplements and dosage which I really liked, and like Tracy, he talks about how soaps (which are mostly alkaline) damage the natural acid barrier of the skin creating sensitivity and a better environment for bacteria.  Plus, they have harmful chemicals that can contribute or even cause hormonal health problems.

On October 7th, I will be offering the ebook bundle Harvest Your Health for a discount for one week, which includes several skincare books including Ultimate Secrects to Acne, Clear Skin for Life, The Holistic Mama’s Guide to Homemade Skin Care, and Homemade Health and Beauty. In the name of full disclosure, I am an affiliate and will get a small percentage if you link from my site. I personally love the ebooks I received, and would not endorse this event if I didn’t already plan to buy Tracy’s ebook. The bundle also includes some amazing gluten-free, vegan, and paleo cookbooks. If you don’t wish to spend money, Chris Kessler has a great article series on Skin Health on his blog that I highly recommend you check out.

I’ve recently found that many of the supplements recommended for acne help the formation of healthy collagen which is important for joint health and treating pain. Although I am still learning about the importance of healthy connective tissue when dealing with pain, I will share with you what I’ve discovered so far to increase collagen naturally. As an added benefit, consuming these nutrients will make your skin clearer and younger looking without all the expensive creams containing harmful ingredients.  

1. Make bone broth full of gelatin. You can also buy gelatin and collagen hydrolysate powder from Great Lakes.

2. Take Silica which is a mineral important for collagen production. I like Eideon Ionic Minerals.

3. A Chelated Zinc supplement will help in the formation of protein and collagen.

4. Vitamin C is more well know for promoting healthy collagen. Try a Buffered Vitamin C powder for added minerals which can be easier on the digestive system.

5. Vitamin A will help repair skin tissue by responding to environmental conditions within the body and signaling fibroblasts (the stem cells of connective tissue) to manufacture an appropriate collagen type.

Source:
Vitamins & Minerals That Aid in Collagen Formation
Liquid Silica Mineral Supplement
Top Ten Reasons to Drink Bone Broth
Nutrition for Healthy Skin Part 1 by Chris Kresser

1. My Morning Green Smoothie

The ingredients may change, but my routine for a healthy green smoothie will not. It’s easy to make and easy to clean.

2. Blended Soups and Mashed Vegetables

I love soup and mashed vegetables. For me, it’s comfort food. Plus, it’s an easy way to eat a ton of vegetables and add in different herbs. This is regularly my dinner even in the summer.

3. Salad Dressings and Condiments

Store bought salad dressings have tons of preservatives in them, so I like to make my own. I usually include citrus or apple cider vinegar with herbs. For my oil, I will either blend in nuts, avocado, or flax oil.

4. Fruit Sorbets and Ice Cream

A Vitamix can handle frozen fruit, so oftentimes I blend up a bunch of berries to make a sorbet, or I will combine berries and a banana to make ice cream. The banana will make it creamy.

5. Soaked Nut Milks

Store bought nut milks also have preservatives in them, so buy some cheesecloth instead. Simply blend nuts with water, add a sweetener such as maple syrup or honey if desired, then strain through a cheesecloth.