What is a doula anyway?

Yesterday, I attended a class about having a doula assist with childbirth.  I had heard of doulas before, but I wasn't clear on what they actually did. Basically, they are professional childbirth coaches.  They are different from midwives because they don't do medical interventions and the don't replace the doctor.  They work with doctors and nurses.  Their main concern is helping the mother during the birth by calming her and keeping her as comfortable as possible. ("Mothering the mother")

Natural Childbirth:
Yes, I am one of those people who thinks natural childbirth is probably the best.  I mean, our bodies are designed to do this, right?  Sure, it's not the most comfortable thing in the world but the pain isn't life threatening and the recovery is so much better if you don't have an epidural or a c-section.  HOWEVER,  I have never had a baby before so I have  no idea of what the pain will be like.  I may get in there and decide I can't deal with the pain and demand an epidural ASAP.  A doula can help by suggesting comfort measures like breathing exercises, various positions, heat, massage, acupressure, and a variety of other techniques.  I think my best chance of actually having a natural childbirth is if I have a doula cheering me on.   

Doulas Offer:

• assistance with preparation of a birth plan
• information, encouragement, and support during the last weeks of pregnancy
• emotional and physical support for mom and partner during labor and birth
• explanation of medical procedures and choices
• techniques and hands-on help with comfort measures
• support for the father/partner
• continuous one-on-one support during the entire birth
• support during the early postpartum period

Why I want one:

The doula who was teaching the class I attended did a demonstration with a model of a pelvis and a baby doll.  She showed how the "flat on your back" position (that the hospitals normally force you to be in) can actually prevent the baby from getting into the correct position.  Gravity works against you.  She then showed various positions that can use gravity on your side to assist the body in getting that baby into the best possible position for delivery.  Once she was done with that demo I thought, "I want a doula and I want her!"

Things I did not know:

• The early labor contractions are not supposed to get the baby out.  They are supposed to get it into the correct position.  If the baby can't get there, the labor is long and drawn out and doesn't progress.
• Most problems resulting in neccessary c-sections happen because the baby can't get into the correct position in the pelvis.
• A chiropractor can help make the labor go faster by adjusting the pelvis and making sure it's in alignment.  (BEFORE labor starts, of course!) The doula recommended that I go see a specific chiropractor and have one pelvis adjustment now, then another one a few weeks before the due date.  Having the pelvis in alignment will help that baby go through more quickly and smoothly. 
• Many hospitals have birthing tubs these days.  The hospital where I'm going to deliver does not do water births, but they do have birthing tubs for use during labor.  (They are not automatically offered and you have to specifically ask for them.)  Apparently, getting into a tub of hot water can reduce labor pains by as much as 50%!  The doula can act as an agent and will call the hospital in advance to have the room set up with the tub, birthing ball, pull-up bar, and "all the toys".
• A doula can act as a "bouncer" if there are people in the room that start to stress you out.  That way, the doula is the "bad guy" and not you!   
• A doula can help calm the husband.  This is great especially if this is the first baby, and he has no idea what's going on.  She can also suggest techniques for him to help in the process.
• The doula is hired by you.  She works for YOU and not the hospital.  Unlike a nurse, who may have 2 or 3 other patients at a time, you are the only patient for a doula at one time.  She stays with you during the whole birth process.  This alone comforts me a lot.
• The doula will NOT get in the way if you do decide to have an epidural or if you have to have a c-section. 

The cost isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  (I'm sure it varies depending on where you live.)  Just to give you a ballpark figure though, my doula is going to cost a $600 flat rate.  It includes a meeting prior to the birth and the entire birth.  If  it lasts 2 hours, it's $600.  If it's 38 hours, it's $600.  I think this is a good deal.

I'm convinced that having a doula is the right choice for me.  Anyone out there ever work with one?  I'd be curious to hear about your experiences.

Intrigued?  For more info, check out the International Doula site:  http://www.dona.org/

Hot Shots

Here's a hot topic:  shots!  As in immunization vaccines for your baby.  The question is to shoot or not to shoot, or use an alternative shot schedule?  My baby is due in June 7th, so this is a topic I am very interested in. 

Why not use the recommended shot schedule the way it is?
You read all kind of scary stuff about shots, mainly the link between the MMR shot and autism.  People in the medical profession swear up and down that there's no scientific proof that the MMR shot leads to autism in any way.  However, there are SO many accounts from parents who take their baby to get the MMR shot, then they "are different" immediately, and develop autism very soon after.  I know there's no scientific proof to back up these claims, but I really don't think these people are making it up.   A mother knows her baby best, and she would know exactly when a change like that would occur.

In addition to autism, there are claims that all these shots are responsible for the increase we're seeing in autoimmune diseases in children.  (Like athsma, MS, etc.)   Also, there are claims that the increase in behavior problems and ADHD are linked with the mercury levels in shots.  Luckily, this isn't a problem anymore because all shots for babies are now thimerasol-free.  (Thimerasol is the preserving agent that contains ethyl mercury.)  The problem I'm worried about is: what do they use for preservatives in shots now, and are those as or more harmful than the thimerasol?  I've heard they use aluminum and other bad things now.    

Also, the pharmaceutical companies would be out a LOT of money if there were proof that their shots were harmful.  I believe that if it's in someone's financial interest to not find something, then it won't be found!  Who do you think funds the research on these shots anyway?  Of course they're not going to find anything.

....but you still need to get your baby the shots! 
Now, I'm not saying I'm going to be like those crazy people who just don't give their baby any shots at all.  I feel  like that's just irresponsible.  First of all, the diseases that these shots immunize against are horrible diseases that can kill.  Some are making a comeback, like whooping cough.  Whooping cough used to barely even exist, and now there are more and more cases showing up because so many people are choosing not to immunize.  This is a dangerous disease where the babies can't breathe and can die.  Second of all, by not giving your child any shots at all, you are relying on "herd immunization".  This means that your baby benefits from all the other ones getting shots.  This strikes me as very unfair.

Alternative shot schedule 
What I think I'm going to do is an alternative shot schedule.  This seems to be a good "middle of the road" option.  My baby will still get all of her shots by the time she's 5 years old, but we'll start a little later (4 months instead of  2), and we'll spread out the shots (so she won't receive 17 immunizations in one day).  Currently, I'm reading Dr. Stephanie Cave's book on the subject.  It must be said however, that I spoke with 3 pediatricians and they all disagree with her.  They will, however, do Dr. Cave's shot schedule if I sign a waiver.

MMR Separation and evil pharmaceutical companies:
Since the MMR shot is the big bad one, many people want to separate it into 3 shots.  However, the pharmaceutical companies have taken away this choice.  (!)  They no longer make it in separate doses.  The triple combined MMR is the only one they make in the US any more.  They do make it in Europe, but the FDA has not approved it from Europe and your doctor cannot immunize your baby with shots from there.  This makes me so mad!  I don't like big companies making that choice for me.

I have heard some promising news that Merck will be making the separate shots again in 2012.  I hope I can put off the MMR for my baby until then.

What do you think?
This is a really controversial issue and I would really be curious to know your insights in this topic.  Also, if you have any websites or books to recommend on the issue, I would be really interested to hear about them. 

Losing weight the baby-friendly way

Okay, so I weighed myself this weekend and I'm back up to 181.5.  Boooo!   At least I'm not back up to my weight of 195, but I don't like the direction I'm going.  (I had gotten down to 165.)  I had been doing so well, but for the past 2 months I've been doing fertility treatments after a year's hiatus from the last time.  Those hormones really mess you up!  I'm positive they had something to do with the weight gain.  :-/

Anyway, the new diet starts tomorrow.  I was going to do the whole low carb thing that worked so well before, but eating a lot of meat is not good for fertility.  SO, here's what I'm going to do:

Eating - 
1.  Eat lots of salads with a lot of mixed veggies.  (Like grape tomatoes, arugula, spinach, radishes, broccoli slaw, etc.)  and dress it with lemon juice and Canola oil.  (Canola oil has omega 3's in it, which olive oil doesn't.)

2.  Put a half cup of beans on the salad for protein.  Beans are supposed to increase fertility and it helps to limit meat.

3.  Only one serving of fruit per day.  (To reduce sugar.)  I will start the morning with my rice-protein powder shake and include blueberries in it.

4.  NO sugar, honey, artificial sweetners, etc.  (Sweets are my big weakness.  It's so much easier to keep the calories down if I just give them up altogether.)

5.  Eat one serving of full-fat dairy per day.  (Amazingly enough, this has been proven to increase fertility.)  I will make my yogurt with whole milk this week.  This way, I won't go for the ice-cream with all the sugar in it.

Work-out - 
1.  Two afternoons per week:  Curves gym (interval training) - 30 minutes

2.  One night per week:  Zumba! - 1 hour - (Gonna check it out for the first time tomorrow.)

3.  One night per week:  Indian Dance - 1.5 hours - (my latest passion!)

I have been bad about working out lately.  It's so hard to feel like working out when the fertility hormones make you feel horrible and bloaty.  My boobs are insanely sore and I feel like a stuffed sausage.  I've decided I don't have PMS, I have PMMS (Permanent Mexican Meal Syndrome).  You feel as if you have eaten a big disgusting Mexican meal.....all the time!  Even when you first wake up and haven't eaten anything.  I'm sick of it!  I'm going to take a break from it for the next few months and try to get my weight and health under control before I undertake IVF.  

The 6 Fertility Robbers. Beware!

In the book, "Getting Pregnant:  The New Fertility Diet Guide" by Niels H. Lauerson, M.D., Ph.D & Colette Bouchez, they list some foods to avoid if you're trying to get pregnant.  I'm going to list them for you here. 

The Six Fertility Robbers:

1.  Alcohol - (Although I thought alcohol HELPED a lot of women get pregnant.  Not so!)  In a British study, even one glass of beer or wine per day decreased the chances for conception by 50%.

2.  Caffeine - In a Yale study, those who drank more than 3 cups of coffee a day had a 176% rise in infertility in just one year.  Even as little as 1 cup of coffee per day had a 55% higher infertility rate.  (Exception:  green tea.  The caffeine content is lower than coffee and it has other compounds which aid in fertility.)

3.  Peas! - Who knew there is a natural chemical found in peas called m-xylohydroquinone that reduces sperm production by 50% and pregnancy rates by 60%.  They are actually testing this as a potential natural contraceptive!  I hate peas anyway so this is a good reason for me to avoid them.  Hooray!

4.  Diet Soda and Artificial Sweeteners - Is this a surprise?  They're just bad for you.

5.  Sugar & High Fructose Corn Syrup - also not surprising!

6.  Food Preservatives - The two mentioned were MSG and BHA.  MSG also goes by other names like hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), autolyzed plant protein (APP), autolyzed yeast, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate.  BHA is found in a lot of baked goods and snack foods.  Read labels and avoid these!

Six Foods that Boost Fertility

I'm currently reading two books about how you can improve your chances of conceiving by changing your diet.  One of these books is called "Getting Pregnant:  The New Fertility Diet Guide" by Niels H. Lauerson, M.D., Ph.D & Colette Bouchez.  (Click here for their website.)  In this book they list foods that can help increase your fertility.  I'm listing them here for you.


The Six Super Fertility Food Boosters:

1.  Wild Organic Blueberries - half a cup per day can help fertility, plus lower cholesteral, fight high blood pressure, and help protect you from cancer.  Remember, what's good for your body is also good for fertility!

2.  Cruciferous Vegetables - broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, bok choy, etc.  Also good for men's fertility!

3.  Onions and Garlic - also leeks, scallions, chives, etc.  Can help to repair damaged DNA and lowers inflammation.  Can help particularly those women diagnosed with endometriosis or PCOS.

4.  Green Tea - This is another paradox because caffeine is said to decrease fertility.  However, the compound known as EGCG which is found in green tea helps increase the number of eggs available for fertilization.  Effective when combined with IVF.  The book says not to drink more than 7 cups per week though.  (Probably b/c of the caffeine thing.)

5. Nuts!  Almonds, cashews, walnuts, and more - The good fats and antioxidants contained in nuts are why these are good for fertility.   Exception:  Peanuts!  They are BAD for fertility because of the plant estrogens which can affect hormone levels in women and slow down sperm production and motility in men.

6.  Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, and Wheat Germ - I'm gluten-intolerant so I'm going to avoid the wheat germ but I eat pumpkin and sunflower seeds regularly.  Apparently, it's the good fats, vitamin E, zinc, and B6 which make these fertility super foods.

Do any of you know about the fertility diet?  I'm just getting started reading about it.  Eat up and good luck to all!

The Fertility Sundae

I am currently reading two books on "The Fertility Diet".  Apparently, there are foods that can help (or prevent) you from becoming pregnant.  Who knows if it actually will make any difference, but I'm willing to try.  (At this point, if someone told me that my fertility would improve if I stood outside and recited the alphabet backwards whilst standing  on one leg by the light of the full moon, I'd totally do it!)  At least it makes me feel like I have control over SOMETHING to do with the whole process.

Most of the information I've come across so far isn't surprising.  Eat more veggies and fruit, stay away from refined carbs and sugars, eat good fats, etc.  BUT - I did come across something that was pleasantly surprising.   The ice-cream paradox! 

The Ice-Cream Paradox:

Even though saturated fat in general can negatively affect fertility, eating full fat ice-cream increases fertility in women!  It has to be full fat though.  Low fat ice-cream was shown to  be detrimental to fertility.  Both books I have say the same thing so it must be true, right?  Apparently, there was a Nurses Health Study at the Harvard School of Public Health that confirms this.  The following was discovered:

• The more low-fat dairy products in a woman's diet, the more likely she was to have had trouble getting pregnant.
• The more full-fat dairy products in a woman's diet, the less likely she was to have had problems getting pregnant.

Crazy, right? Currently, I'm not eating any dairy at all because I feel better when I avoid it.  However, if the potential life of my future baby depends on it.....well, I guess I'll have to make the sacrifice and eat some ice-cream!  I mean, who am I to argue with Science, right?

My book says that only about a half pint of ice-cream per week is advisable.  You don't want to just eat as much ice-cream as you want because that will cause to gain weight and excess weight is BAD for fertility.  SO - once a week, only on the weekends, I'm adding this "Fertility Sundae" to my diet:

1/2 pint of ice-cream (I used vanilla this week)
2 T Chocolate sauce (the polyphenols in chocolate boost fertility)
walnuts (the omega 3 content and fiber make them good for fertility as well)

Yay!  This the best news I've heard all week.  Yum!

Cleaning the bathroom the healthy way

I don't know about you, but conventional cleaning products make me sick.  (Especially mold-killer bathroom sprays.)  I used to always get an insane headache and have to go lie down after cleaning the bathroom.   No more!  I have found a healthy way to do it with natural cleaners.  Yay!

The book "Clean Home Green Home" by Kim Delaney has really helped me.  It tells you how to make your own cleaning products, not just for the bathroom, but for the whole house!  Today, I'll be sharing with you my new bathroom cleaning method that I learned from this book.

Shower, bath, and sink:
1.  Mix some baking soda with some regular dish soap to make a paste.  (Start with about a handful of baking soda, then add a little dish soap at time while stirring.)  Only make as much as you need because it does not store well.  (It just dries up.) Note: the book says to use "castille soap", which is vegetable-based soap, but I haven't been able to find any.  Dish soap is mild so I use that instead.

2.  Using a microfiber cleaning cloth (like the kind you get at Bed, Bath, and Beyond or Target), rub the paste all over the tub, tiles, shower head, faucets, etc.  Use an old toothbrush to get at the hard-to-reach places.  (The baking soda paste will scrub off grime, but is mild enough not to scratch any surfaces.)

3.  Turn on the shower and rinse.  Then, wipe with a another wet microfiber cloth.

4.  In order to shine metal faucets, rub with a dry microfiber cloth.

Note:  I know this sounds like a lot of microfiber cloths, but I only own 3 and I use them every week.  Then, I just chuck 'em in the wash with the towels.  It's better to use washable cloths than endless paper towels.  (...and cheaper in the long run!)

5.  In order to prevent clogs in the drains, boil a kettle-full of water and pour it down the drain.  (Once every 2 weeks or so.)  The boiling water will loosen any fatty soap deposits and help it slide down the drain.  If you already have a clog, don't get drano!  Pour some baking soda and vinegar down the drain.  It will fizz up.  Put a cloth over the drain and let it fizz for 5 minutes or so; then pour the boiling water.  I was amazed at how well this worked!  The best part is that there's no harmful chemicals going down and it won't eat your pipes. 


Natural Mold Killers:
1.  Plain old vinegar.  Just put it in a spray bottle and spray on the area where you want to kill/prevent mold.  It smells a bit funny, but once it dries the smell is totally gone.  Warning:  Do NOT use vinegar on tile grout, marble, or any porous surface!  It will eat into it.

2.  Tea tree oil spray:  Mix 2 cups of water with 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil (available at Whole Foods or most health food stores).  This is safe to use on tile grout and pretty much any surface.  I spray this mixture all over my shower and tub when I'm done cleaning it.  Then, you just leave it there.  It will kill and prevent mold.  Plus - it smells great!

Shower Curtain:
After each use, draw it across the shower rod.  (close it)  This way, it dries out better and mold won't grow as easily.  Once a week, I spray it down with tea tree oil spray. 

Toilets:
 Okay so this is the only area where I cheat and use a conventional cleaner.  Soft Scrub just works really well and I haven't found a natural product to match it.  I figure, using a little of it once a week isn't so bad.  Plus, it doesn't seem to give me headaches like other cleaners do.
 
If any of you out there have any natural cleaning tips, I'm all ears.  Happy (and healthy) cleaning! 

Detoxing

After a month of traveling (during which I totally strayed from my diet), I felt the need to get back to healthy eating.  I just feel better when I stick to my diet.  Detoxing can give you a kick-start in the right direction and rid your system of all the bad things you've ingested.  They say that if the digestive system is polluted, then it will pollute your bloodstream, and indirectly, your whole body.  Cleansing your digestive system if one of the best things you can do for your health.

     To this end, I have found the book The Gut Flush Plan by Ann Louis Gittleman very helpful.  (It's not quite what it sounds like.  This is the same author as The Fat Flush Plan.)  This book suggests many of the same things I'm already doing.  (giving up wheat and dairy, taking fish oil and probiotics, etc.)  It kind of validated everything in my mind.  She outlines a 3-week cleansing diet, which I have been following.  (more or less)  I'm in week two, but I did cheat and have cheese fries with a friend one day.  :-(  Oh well....more to cleanse, right?
Week 1 = fortifying - before the detox part, it helps your body if you fortify first.  This will make it less jarring to your system.  Dr. Gittleman suggests eating probiotic foods, healthy oils, drinking teas like honeybush and dandelion root, etc.
Week 2 = flush - clearing out all the bad things in your gut.
Week 3 = feed - feeding the good bacteria in your gut and starving all the bad bacteria will ensure good health in the future. 

If you suffer from the following, this book can help you:  bloating, gas, irregularity, recurring diarrhea, IBS, food allergies, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, depression, Hypoglycemia, constant headaches

I especially liked chapter 14 - "Gut Flush at Home" because she tells you how to cleanse your home so that it can support your health.  She tells you how to get rid of mold, bacteria, parasites, and other dangerous things that could be lurking in your home.  Good to know!

Green Cleaning

I have been thinking about green cleaning products lately.  There are several that I use now, but I don't really know what I'm doing and I haven't been using them consistently.  They say that regular cleaning products can make the air in your house more toxic to breathe than outside air!  I know I feel sick when I use certain products.  Anyway, I was excited to find this post about how to create your own green cleaners and how to use them.  I want to pass this info on!  If you are like me, this will help shed some light on the situation:

http://www.greenamericatoday.org/pubs/realgreen/articles/greencleaners.cfm   

This post tells you how to make your own cleaning solutions out of natural things like vinegar, borax, club soda, corn meal, lemon juice, baking soda, etc.  Not only are these things healthier for you and your environment, they are cheaper than the cleaners you have been buying.  It's win-win!

I especially like their advice on how to clean carpets:
       "Carpet cleaner: To clean and disinfect your carpet, the CHEC recommends blending 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup cornmeal. Sprinkle mixture over rug and rub with a cloth. Let rest for several hours or overnight, then vacuum. To remove stains from your carpet, Logan advises mixing 1/4 cup liquid castile soap and 1/3 cup water in a blender until foamy. Spread the mixture on the carpet and let sit for a few minutes, then scrub the stain with a brush or clean rag. Also, club soda will remove many acidic stains, like coffee, wine, or juice. To deal with big carpet spills, pour cornmeal on the spill, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum."

I'm going to try this today and I'll let you know how it works.  Has anyone out there had experience with  natural cleaning solutions and methods?  I'd love to hear about any other good tips out there. 

The First Big Step

In my opinion, the biggest thing you can do for your health is to stop eating processed food.  As chef Jamie Oliver said on his recent show, "It's not what the food is, it's what's IN the food".  He is so right.  You know those unpronounceable ingredients that we have all come to ignore?  They are killing us and are making us fat!

Dr. Mark Hyman says that our bodies don't know what to do with all the man-made chemicals in food these days.  For example, transfats are actually worse for you than animal fat.  If you eat a bit of animal fat you're body says, "I know what this is, and I know exactly what to do with it!"  (Of course, we shouldn't eat too much b/c it's still bad, but at least your body can handle it.)  With transfats (and by transfats, I mean any hydrogenated oils),  your body does not recognize it and does not know what to do with it.  It is designed not to break down (so food doesn't spoil) and so the body can't get rid of it easily.  Some of it ends up lining our arteries and some of it ends up begin stored as fat on our bodies.  Transfat is just one example.  There are literally hundreds of manufactored ingredients that don't exist in nature in processed food.  Our fat is actually saving us in some cases because the body uses it to store the toxic soup that we force it to deal with all the time.  

Most of these diabolical (as in from el diablo!) ingredients are derived from corn.  There is a plague of cheap corn in our country.  Why?  Because of government subsidies!  (Don't get me started on this.  If you want to know more, read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollen.  If you only read chapter 6, it's worth it.)  We have to do something with all this corn so basically, the food companies are slipping corn into our food without us knowing it.  We all know about high fructose corn syrup, but did you know the following ingredients can also come from corn?  citric and lactic acid, glucose, maltodextrin, xanthan gum, modified and unmodified starches, dextrins, cyclodextrins, and MSG.  (To name only a few!)  Even though these things are derived from corn, there is nothing natural about them because of the processing they go through.  By the way, corn derived ingredients started being used in processed food right about the time we all started having a rise in obesity in this country.  Coincidence?  I think not!

The good news:
The good news is that you can still have delicious food and be healthy.  I love Audrey Hepburn's quote, "I don't eat health food, I eat healthy food."  Have that hamburger or fries or milkshake, BUT - make sure they are made from real, natural ingredients.  This usually means you have to make it yourself but these days more and more places are starting to use fresh, non-processed ingredients.  (Sadly, not fast food or most restaurant chains.)  I can tell you that eating real food is not only healthier, but MUCH more tasty!  Sure it costs more time and money, but it's an investment in your health. 

Detox Bath

One thing I do every night which makes me feel awesome is the "Ultrabath"  (as described by Dr. Hyman in his book, "The Ultramind Solution").

Directions:
Add the following to your bath at night:
- 4 handfuls of Epsom salts (about 2 cups)
- 2 handfuls of baking soda (about 1 cup)
- 10 drops of lavendar oil

Soak for at least 20 minutes in water as hot as you can stand (to encourage sweating). 

Benefits:
This ultrabath will pull toxins out of your body through your skin.  (It is the largest organ of your body, after all!)  Also, the magnesium content of the soda relaxes your muscles and helps you to sleep better.  The lavendar oil is optional, but I find it relaxing.  (I suppose you could use a different kind of essential oil if you like.)


Why I do it:
-My shoulders are always tight and I feel like they are "up in my ears" all the time.  Soaking in this solution relaxes my shoulders and brings them down to earth. 
-I'm one of these people that always feels cold and this bath helps me feel warm for several hours afterwards. 
-Dr. Cooper told me to take an ultrabath once a week, but I do it every night.  If I don't take an ultrabath at night, I feel it the next morning!  I guess the toxins build up and make me feel sluggish and tired and headachy.  It's enough of a difference that I have made this my nightly ritual.
-I fall asleep more easily and have more restful sleep after I have my ultrabath.

Try it!  You'll like it!

Wheat, dairy, and sugar

After giving up the "bad stuff", and adding in the "good stuff", the next step on my journey was to figure out if I had any allegies or food sensitivities.  There's a difference between an accute allergy, in which you have immediate symptoms, and a sensitivity in which the symptoms may appear later on.  (As much as 3 days later sometimes.) You may not be able to pinpoint certain foods, especially if you eat them every day.  It is estimated that 75% of the population may have a gluten and/or dairy intolerance and not even know it!  The most common allergens are:  wheat, dairy, eggs, citrus, nightshades (tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers). 

What's the best way to find out if you have these intolerances?  Give all of them up for 2 weeks.  Also, you must get off of all the substances you're addicted to (in my case, sugar and caffiene).  Then, eat a lot of wheat on one day.  Wait 3 days.  You'll be able to tell if you have a problem with wheat.  Then, do the same thing with dairy, then eggs, then citrus, and so on.  It seems like a daunting task, but I did it even while I was working full-time.  It just takes some advance planning and you have to buy all of your food on the weekends.

How I did it:
After you get used to cooking your own food, it's much easier to replace dairy and wheat containing foods with alternative ingredients.  I would plan my whole week's worth of food.  That way, there was no second-guessing and I didn't have to think about it when I got busy during the week.

I did NOT give up all of these at once!  There's no way I could've stayed on it if I had. 

1.  First, I gave up dairy.  This wasn't that hard because I don't drink much milk anyway and I like the taste of soymilk or almond milk on my cereal.  (Cheese, yogurt, and ice-cream were harder, but they have such good alternatives these days!  Soy cheese, coconut milk yogurt and ice-cream, etc.)

2.  After 3 days, I gave up wheat (and all gluten-containing products).  Wheat also wasn't that hard because they make perfectly good rice bread and other gluten-free things.  I found some super yummy gluten-free ginger snaps!  (I was still eating sugar at this point.)

3.  Eggs, citrus, and nightshades were a little harder, but I found ways around them.

4.  After another 3 days, I gave up caffiene.  I got some decaf green tea and had it with soymilk in the morning.  This actually grew on me and now it is my drink of choice!  Caffiene wasn't as hard to give up as I thought it would be.  I only had a slight headache for 1 day and then I was fine.

5.  Sugar was the LAST thing I gave up, and by far was the hardest.  For 3 whole days, I felt like I had the flu!  I even had to take 2 days off of work I felt so bad.  (severe headache, sweats followed by chills, achy joints, crazy nightmares, nausea, depression, etc.)  I had no idea that sugar could do all this!  I am certain that sugar is an addictive substance for me.  These were withdrawal symptoms.  Before, I never could get through a whole day without sugar in some form (especially in the afternoons).

After staying off all of these for two weeks, I added them back in one at a time to see where I had problems.  (Not the sugar though.  I did not want to go through those withdrawal symptoms again!)

My Food Sensitivities:
1.  Wheat - wheat makes me SUPER sleepy!  I used to have to have a nap in the afternoons.  Sometimes, I literally could not keep my eyes open.  (Then, I'd have to have a Coke to wake up.)  When I don't eat wheat, I do not get sleepy during the day, I do not require a nap, and I don't crave Coke or sweets.

2.  Dairy - If I slip up and eat it, I get digestive issues and feel bloaty and fat.  While in Greece this past Christmas, I ate some Saganaki and had a terrible migraine within an hour after eating it.  (Saganaki is cheese, usually Haloumi, fried in olive oil until it gets crusty.  It's probably the best tasting thing on the planet so of course I strayed and ate it!)  Cheese is definitely off-limits for me.

3.  Sugar - I need to stay off of it.  I'm like an alcoholic, but with sugar.  If I have even a little, it unleashes the cookie monster inside of me and I cannot stop!  Also, I absolutely cannot lose weight as long as I eat sugar, even if I eat very few calories.  These days, I eat a lot more calories than I did when I was on Weight Watchers, but none of them are from sugar.  (I lost maybe 5 pounds with WW and gained them right back even though I never went above my allotted points!)

4.  Nightshades - I feel bad after eating tomatoes (they give me canker sores), eggplant (makes me feels sick and tired), and peppers (give me digestive issues).  Sometimes, I treat myself and have sauteed eggplant, but I take enzymes first which help my body deal with it.

I hope this has inspired you to do this for yourself and has helped to convince you that it IS possible!  (If I had told myself I'd be doing this before I started, I would've absolutely rolled my eyes at myself!)