When I was a child I loved Saturday morning cartoon PSA’s. I can still remember “It’s Time for Timer” and the episode “You are what you eat!”.  I used to wonder what it meant and pictured little chickens inside my body and my bones being made of cheese. Certainly, I thought, we can’t really be made of what we eat. It wasn’t until many, many years later when my body failed that I realized food did indeed play a pivotal role in the way I felt both physically and mentally. As a nutritionist, I have witnessed thousands of people transform their health by taking control of their food.

Today, we cannot control COVID-19. We can’t decide when our offices will be open or when it will be safe to hug a friend or go to a party or just sit on a bench next to a stranger. The one thing we can control, even now, is what we choose to put into our mouths. This is a power not to be underestimated in any way. With your choice, you hold the potential to heal or trigger inflammation.  While you may believe you are making good choices, they may not be the best ones for your unique body.

When spending extra time at home as we all are, it can be very tempting to do a bit of mindless eating, especially when feeling stressed. Now more than ever, it’s imperative to support your body by giving it all of the raw materials it needs to function at a high level. This means eating nutrient dense, whole foods rather than prepackaged “pseudo foods” or products with very little nutritional value.  Typically, they are high in sugar, chemical additives, High Fructose Corn Syrup, salt, carbohydrate and unhealthy fat plus many other compounds that actually hurt our bodies, especially the health of the gut microbiome.

I challenge you to try a basic gut reset elimination diet for three weeks. On the home page of this website, you will find a free download that includes the diet outline plus guidance to help get you started. Follow the list for keeping a journal of how you feel and what changes take place in your body especially inflammation, pain, GI issues, skin conditions, weight and other challenges you may be facing. At the end of the 3 weeks, you will be directed to add foods back in one at a time to see if any symptoms become more pronounced. The elimination diet is a great tool as it allows the body to have a break from inflammatory substances and can help shed some clarity on the connection between food and how you feel.  If nothing changes, I recommend you consider a one on one consultation to discuss your condition and appropriate steps that can be taken as well as a more personalized dietary plan.

Now is the time to take back your health and take control of how you feel!