For the past few days, I have been experimenting with some of the natural health remedies. Part of the change has been with diet. Over the past year or so, I have developed a hacking cough. It doesn't occur when I'm up in the mountains, but when I am down at the cottage it returns like clockwork. I realized that it's my body's way of expelling mucous. I sound like an eighty year old man who has smoked for decades. Why? I remember how I stopped having aches and pains when I eliminated lattes. Hmmm...
I analyzed how my diet has changed. I never used to eat ice cream. My ballet teacher, Rosemary Valaire taught me that Dr. Bieler, (who wrote, Food is Your Best Medicine,) believed that it was the cause of disease in many children. He said that eating a frozen protein is completely unnatural. If I remember correctly, he linked it to the polio outbreak. Anyway, I had been treating myself to a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream each night topped with fudge sauce. Why not? Such a nice treat before bedtime...
I also realized that I started having a small glass of wine each evening during the pandemic. Although I enjoy it, I'm not sure it's the wisest decision. I am going to experiment and see if I feel better without it.
The naturopaths teach the importance of daily sunlight, fresh air, hydrotherapy, exercise, and eating mostly fruits and vegetables. How many of us have rewarded ourselves for staying home by stocking up on all kinds of packaged treats from the grocery store? I realized something else: I had started adding mozzarella cheese to my daily salads that I've eaten without it for decades. That could also be connected to the hacking cough. It wouldn't hurt to use less cheese. That's easy to do.
Have you developed any weaknesses with age that you could change through your diet and habits?
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I think it's always a worthwhile idea to see if tweaking diet leads to any changes in health. I think it's about tuning in to the body and how it responds to different foods.
ReplyDeleteMegXx
I agree. Meg. It's amazing to me how our diet can create health or disease. My body definitely does better without certain foods and beverages.
DeleteDairy is linked to excessive mucus production, isn't it. I know some singers/choirs avoid dairy before a performance.
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy for these little habits to creep in and rather take over without us noticing, I think. Well done for a critical appraisal of it all. Hopefully, it will make a big difference.
xx
That's true, Joy. I didn't even realize how much dairy I was consuming each day, with a cheese sandwich or two and the nightly ice cream. It's already making a difference, thanks.
DeleteI have developed sensitivities, dairy and gluten as well as corn and any fried food. I stay away from all of them and I feel better, not great but better. I am not big on processed food so that is easy to eliminate. Good luck, Peppermint oil is great to breath in, it really helps to clear your sinuses. Reall peppermint oil, not cheep versions.
ReplyDeleteYum, I love peppermint, Mereknits. I just picked some from my garden for a cup of tea. I plan to get eucalyptus oil for the sauna, too. The foods you mentioned are ones I do better without, too. It's a relief when you can pinpoint the problem, and not get worse.
DeleteI have read that dairy is a common cause of mucous in humans. The belief is that bovine milk is meant only for baby cows and not for humans and humans really cannot digest it. I don't know if that is really true or not. Since I have always detested the taste and smell of milk it was not a big sacrifice to give it up once I was out of my mother's control (haha). I am eager to see if your experiments with foods works for you. We eat very little processed food here, but I do love my wee glass of wine with dinner.
ReplyDeleteI noticed your Polish pottery pieces in the picture. I visited the wonderful Gettysburg Polish Pottery Shop a few years ago. Such lovely things.
I love that pottery, Anita, thanks. I hated drinking milk as a child, but my mom made us finish a mug of it with dinner. I didn't even like many cheeses as a child. Now that I'm older, I love them. I will think of gelato and ice cream as once in a while treats. I love a small glass of wine with dinner, too, but it seems to kill my motivation.
DeleteSince cutting out carbs I have felt so much brighter and fitter. I can really tell by the aches and pains if I have had carbs now. Thank goodness I am able to grow all my own veg and pick it fresh when I need it. It's nice to know that it hasn't been sprayed with goodness knows what.
ReplyDeleteCherie, I agree. Home grown fruits and vegetables are ideal. Like you, I found if I avoid baked goods, my knees don't hurt. I used to love to bake, but the trade off is worth it.
DeleteI haven't noticed any weaknesses just yet, but I am very aware of how my body reacts when I don't take the care to eat well. X
ReplyDeleteYes, I know what you mean, Jules. We are fortunate to be able to eat so well. It makes all the difference in our health.
DeleteI love your blue and white dishes! I notice I do not feel good when I eat processed foods. I try to cook from scratch and use fresh ingredients as much as possible. I think you’re right about fresh air and sunshine. The other day I was feeling quite down, and a nature walk on our trails made all the difference!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Courtney. I got those dishes, piece by piece, at T.J. Maxx. They are hand painted in Poland. I love them, too. I totally agree with you about fresh air and sunshine. I love sitting under my oaks and pines up in the mountains. Their energy feels so protective.
DeleteI think the older I get, the more care I have to take with my diet. I have cut down on cheese consumption because it seems to upset me if I have too much. The occasional glass of wine is OK but I know from my tummy ache if I need to abstain for a while. Too many carbs make me feel bloated and heavy too. Sigh....I didn't have a problem with any of this when I was younger :/
ReplyDeleteI am mindful with those same foods, PP. It's good that we know what to subtract. I think the body and hormones really change after fifty. We have to be more disciplined.
DeleteI am surprised that I am not aging better. I eat well, with lots of fruit and vegetables exercise, sleep well, etc. yet as I'm aging my skin is getting loose saggy and crepe like , maybe it's inevitable with age.
ReplyDeleteHi judee, Thanks for reading and for commenting. Have you tried reducing or cutting out sugar? It seems to affect the skin and how we age. I've noticed tha women who still look beautiful when they are older often don't each much sugar, if any.
ReplyDeleteI'm following a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet and haven't had sugar ( except fruit ) in over 6 months. I don't even crave it on this diet.
DeleteExcellent, judee. I have been able to cut down on sugar, too. I think if I cut it out completely, I would feel deprived, but I've definitely reduced my intake.
DeleteI was so delighted to read this post! I have been teaching the importance of a natural diet for great health for nearly 40 years. Most suffering due to health issues is completely un-necessary. Unfortunately doctors do not study nutrition in medical school and keep people in a cycle of sickness, medication, side-effects and more medication.
ReplyDeleteI have been distressed to see that the covid discussion in Australia has moved from the importance of addressing co-morbidities to prevent serious illness when the pandemic started to vaccination as a magic bullet. This lulls people into a false sense of security and also minimises the importance of taking responsibility for our own health rather than relying on someone or something 'out there' to fix it for us. You only have to consider the rate of obesity and the attendant health issues around the world today to realise that there is so much we can do to create healthy bodies that resist disease, and if they succumb, recover well.
As a colleague of mine says, 'if you don't take care of your body where will you live?'
Thank you, Madelieine. I enjoyed your post on home grown greens, as well. I agree with you about that cycle, my mom was a prime example. I have seen the same attitude here towards the vaccine. It reminds me of the people who want a pill to help them lose weight. I think it would be more helpful to study the people who have fought off Covid successfully.
ReplyDeletemy family members who had Covid and didn't require a ventilator was to get vaccinated.
DeleteHi susan, I hope your family is doing well now.
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