The Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Hey everyone and welcome back for another informative blog post. Today we are going to be talking about the anti-inflammatory diet and some of the many benefits it holds. As always consult with your doctor or trusted physician before making any major changes in your diet and always as questions if you have a preexisting condition.

To learn more about inflammation please check out https://humblesoullifeofajuicer.wordpress.com/2022/10/28/how-to-live-an-anti-inflammatory-lifestyle/

Jumping right in some of the many benefits of the anti-inflammatory diet include:

help with managing stress, may balance blood sugar, may help lower blood pressure, and it’s high in antioxidants

Stay away from ultra-processed foods, which include just about anything that comes in a package like microwaveable dinners, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, dehydrated soups, baked goods, sugary cereals, processed meats, biscuits, and sauces.

Healthy eating tips:

Avoid dietary triggers: gluten, nightshades, dairy etc

Eat breakfast everyday: Eat something before 10 am and always include protein and healthy fats

Push carbs / Grains: During lunch and dinner is the best time rush carbs too much sugar early in the day will raise your blood sugar faster

Diet and Serving Sizes: (Serving sizes may vary with persons weight, height, and previous health issues)

Vegetables – 4 to 8 servings per day

Lightly cooked leafy greens ( spinach, collard greens, kale, Swiss chard) cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower) carrots, beets, onions, peas, squashes, sea vegetables, and washed raw salad greens

Fruits – 3 to 4 servings per day

Raspberries, blueberries, figs, strawberries, peaches, oranges, pink grapefruit, red grapes, pears, apples, kiwis, mango, pineapple, plums

Whole and Cracked Grains/ Pasta (al dente)- Eat later in the day ( Always pair your grains with protein and / or fat)

Brown rice, basmati rice, wild rice, buckwheat, groats, barley, quinoa, steel-cut oats, amaranth, organic pasta, rice noodles, and part whole wheat and buckwheat noodles (udon and soba)

Sources of Protein- 3x a day

Organic cheese and yogurt or plant based, free range eggs, wild fish, free range grass fed beef, wild game, tofu, tempeh, and edamame. soy products such as tofu, tempeh, edamame, lentils, chickpeas, peanuts, almonds, spirulina ( avoid soy milk )

Fish & Seafood- 2 to 6 servings per week

Wild alaskan salmon, herring, sardines, black cod

Healthy Fats

While cooking use extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil. Ghee in place of butter. Nuts (walnuts), avocados and seeds (hemp, chia, ground flax), sunflower)

Cooked Mushrooms

Shiitake, maitake, oyster mushrooms, portobello

Herbs & Spices – Abundant

Turmeric + black pepper, ginger, garlic, chili peppers, basil, cinnamon, rosemary, thyme, fenugreek, fennel, garam, masala, and other curry blends

Supplements– Daily

Multi vitamin, Vitamin C, Molecularly distilled fish oil, Vitamin D3, Spirulina, Turmeric

Healthy Sweets- In moderation

Fresh fruit, unsweetened fried fruit, dark chocolate (70% cacao), fruit sorbet

Sample Menu:

Option 1:

Breakfast- Green smoothie ( 1 large banana, 1 cup of kale, 1 cup almond milk, 1/4 ripe avocado, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 2 tbsp honey, 1 cup of ice)

Lunch- Hummus + greek salad

Dinner- Garlic butter roasted salmon with potatoes and asparagus

Snacks- Walnuts / Pears

Option 2:

Breakfast- 1 cup low fat Greek yogurt with 1/4 cup fresh cherries and 3 tbsp chopped walnuts

Lunch- Peanut zucchini noodle salad with chicken – 1 clementine

Dinner- Stuffed sweet potato with hummus dressing

Snacks- Apples / Roasted Almonds

Check back later for more information. If you have any questions please let me know.

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Phytonutrients The Micronutrient You Need To Know

With over 5000 known phytonutrients it always amazes me that they aren’t talked about more and today we are going to change that. Plant foods contain thousands of natural chemicals which help the body as a whole.

Phytonutrients:Micronutrients (Phyto) meaning plant of nutrient substances.

Phytonutrients are natural compounds found in plant foods such as vegetables, fruit, whole grain products and legumes. Many phytochemicals give the foods their color or smell. Foods containing phytochemicals are often very colorful, but white foods such as onions, garlic, and even olive oil are high in these nutrients.

Some of the most common phytonutrients are:

carotenoids/ellagic acid/resveratrol/flavonoids/phytoestrogens/glucosinolates

Six Phytonutrients Examples:

1.Red (Lycopene)One of the 600 Carotenoids (any of a class of mainly yellow, orange, or red fat-soluble pigments, including carotene, which give color to plant parts such as ripe tomatoes and autumn leaves)

Reduce the risk of prostate cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Fruits and Vegetables: Cherries, Cranberries, Mangos, Watermelon, Papaya, Beets, Red onions, Red potatoes, Red peppers

2.Orange and Yellow(Beta-Carotene) Reduce risk of breast cancer, colon and lung cancer, stroke and heart disease.

Helps to enhance immune function, and protects against premature again of cells

Fruits and Vegetables: Grapefruit, Mango, Oranges, Peaches, Carrots, Yellow corn, Yams, Sweet potatoes

3.Blue(Anthocyanidins) Promotes artery health, protection from blood clots, cancer, DNA damage.

Supports urinary tract health and memory

Fruits and Vegetables: Blackberries, Elderberries, Plums, Eggplant, Raisins, Black cherries, Beets, Blueberries, Purple tomatoes

4.Green( Lutein) Protects DNA by neutralizing free radicals and oxidation. May reduce numerous cancers, heart disease and Alzheimers.

Fruits and Vegetables: Collard greens, Mustard greens, Spinach, Brussels sprouts, Kiwis, Green grapes, Green pears, Honeydew, Melons

5. Blue/Green(Indole) Protects against estrogen-induced cancer cell growth, stimulates bone growth, promotes muscle growth and joint health

Vegetables: Bok choy, Collard greens, Radish, Mustard greens, Wasabi, Cauliflower, Watercress, Kale

6.White/Tan (Allicin) Anti-cancer properties, immune support, reduce risk of heart disease, and microbiome

Fruits and Vegetables: Bananas, Brown pear, White Peaches, Turnips, White corn, White potatoes, Parsnips

Always consult with your doctor or a trusted physician if you have any concerns before changing your regular diet or taking new supplements.

Check back for another post later this week! If you have any questions let me know!

Financial Wellness

Wellness is becoming more aware of the choices you make for a balanced life. Wellness is the pursuit of continued growth and balance in the seven dimensions of wellness. Today we are learning about Financial Wellness.

If you are new here check out the series! Don’t forget to subscribe, comment and like.

https://humblesoullifeofajuicer.wordpress.com/2021/06/02/health-and-wellness/

https://humblesoullifeofajuicer.wordpress.com/2021/07/02/learning-about-health-wellness/

https://humblesoullifeofajuicer.wordpress.com/2021/07/17/spiritual-wellness/

https://humblesoullifeofajuicer.wordpress.com/2021/08/01/environmental-wellness/

https://humblesoullifeofajuicer.wordpress.com/2022/09/23/social-wellness/

https://humblesoullifeofajuicer.wordpress.com/2022/09/25/occupational-wellness/

Financial Wellness  is a state of being in which you can meet current and future financial obligations, feel secure in your financial future and make choices that let you enjoy life. It is being in a situation where you control your day today or month to month finances while having the freedom and security to deal with financial emergencies and still stay on track to meet your longterm financial goals.

The four elements of financial wellness

Steps to Achieving Financial Wellness:

Develop a plan to live within your means

Creating an emergency cash reserve (and creating – in advance – your household definition of “emergency”)

Eliminating debt and build good credit

Understand the basics of debt, investing, risk retirement planning and taxes

Use a budget and stick with it / Use a spending tracker

Check your credit report annually for errors

Consider using cash to help with any budgeting issues

Keep credit usage below 30%

Rebalance your investment portfolio each year

Financial wellness at work

Click to access 201408_cfpb_report_financial-wellness-at-work.pdf

To examine your financial wellness, start with these considerations: 

Are you prepared for an emergency? 

What’s your attitude towards money? How does talking or thinking about money make you feel? 

Do you have short-term and long-term financial goals? 

Do you have a budget? Do you stick to it? 

What’s your retirement plan? 

What’s important and not important?

The benefits of financial wellness:

Less stress

Increased innovation and creativity

Harmony between work and life

Better performance at work

For more information

https://www.opploans.com/oppu/articles/what-is-financial-wellness/

Weight Watchers Fact or Fiction

Hey everyone, today we are learning about weight watchers. Weight watchers is a points system weight loss program that calculates your personal nutrition needs based on your height, weight, age, and activity level. Your assigned daily points are designed with the goal of tracking what you eat. Every food as a point value members are instructed to use the allotted points per day, without going over or under.

When I was growing up weight watchers was everywhere from tv shows to movies everyone knew about it. Known as a wellness brand but do they really cover all the bases. Some would like to think that deep down its just another diet that sucks people dry. In 2018 weight watchers rebranded as WW International with a new moto wellness that works.

With over 4.7 million people subscribed and a spokesperson like Auntie Oprah it would seem like they have some secret to success. In my opinion with benefits like online support in the form of dietary advice, dieting tools, a database of food/recipes, fitness videos and workout routines keeps people coming back. Weight watchers has also made a partnership with Headspace to provide guided meditations and provide more mental health content. In my opinion most of the hype comes from the celebrities they sign these deals with but the question to ask is are they really following the diet?

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Weight watchers does not restrict the types of food a person can eat

Community based program may be helpful if you need support during lifestyle change ( meetings happen in person/online)

Weight watchers provides meal planning, recipes, and workout suggestions on its app

Cons:

Plans offering support are more expensive

Members must keep track of every item they eat or drink ( counting may seem tiring)

It’s easy to put back on the weight

Food can become a number, which can lead to a disordered relationship with food / Can encourage binge eating

Bad foods have higher foods

Frequently asked questions about Weight Watchers

How much weight can you lose weight on weight watchers?

Members can expect to lose 1-2 lb per week. A person’s success with Weight Watchers can vary depending on how closely they follow their plan, how often they attend WW meetings, and whether they stick to their plan during the maintenance period after reaching their weight loss goal.

The cost?

The Digital plan starts at $3.38/week ($13.52 per month). This plan is for people who basically want to do the program on their own. 

The Digital 360 plan starts at $4.61/week ($18.44 per month). This plan contains all of the features of the Digital plan, and is for those who want more guided support. 

These prices were documented back in 2021 but prices have said to change according to there website.

https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/compare-ww-memberships-plans?g_network=g&g_adid=623755038453&g_keyword=weight%20watchers%20cost&g_acctid=243-229-0722&g_adgroupid=137053538102&g_keywordid=kwd-1155505288&g_campaign=GGL_Exact_Aud-Prospecting_Brand_General+%28Consolidated+Pros+Exact_HT_Similar%29&g_adtype=search&g_campaignid=17947159912&cid%3DsemGGL_Exact_Brand_Information_Costs%26Pricing_qdstw_qobjc_qbudc_qaudp_qrtgn_qpma_qostz_qdevz_qlobr_qgeon_qkwbweight+watchers+cost%26account%3DWWUS%26tracker%3D43700072442961009$$=&gclid=CjwKCAjwhNWZBhB_EiwAPzlhNsoe6WudIRmUh6Dy1rxvWZUjyNx7mzc5UKtN-8RMfDvoT92vdrzpRBoCAGcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Post to checkout ?

The Keto Diet

Hey everyone, happy Monday! Today we are learning about the famous keto diet. The ketogenic diet is a very low carb, high fat diet that shares many similarities with the Atkins and low carb diets.

What foods can you eat?

You can eat nuts, seeds, full-fat cheese and other dairy products, plain Greek yogurt, non starchy and fibrous vegetables, oils, along with smaller amounts of meats, eggs and fish, become keto diet mainstays.

You’ll need to sharply limit carbohydrates, including bread and baked goods, sweets, pasta, breakfast cereals, starchy vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn and peas, beans, fruit, and beer.

Thirsty? Reach for the water bottle, or enjoy some sparking water. Unsweetened coffee and tea also are allowed. Minimize alcohol intake; if you do drink, choose low-carb options (vodka, tequila) and soda water as a mixer.

Dose it work for weight loss?

In simpler terms the answer is yes but there are a few things you should know first.Many people have said that adhering to low- or very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets helps people lose weight. However, long term there is little difference between a keto diet and a higher carbohydrate diet.

The negative side

The keto diet could cause lower blood pressure, constipation, nutrient deficiencies, and gout. Keto is not safe for those with any conditions involving their pancreas, liver, thyroid or gallbladder.

Other potential risks of a high fat, high protein diet include:

kidney stones

hepatic steatosis (fatty liver)

hypoproteinemia, or low levels of protein in the blood

People can reduce the potential risks of the keto diet by:

ensuring that they get enough vitamins and minerals from their food

eating more healthful fats, such as olive oil, oily fish, and avocados, than saturated fats 

avoiding processed foods that contain saturated fat

reintroducing some carbohydrates slowly once they reach a moderate weight, if weight loss is their goal

🌻Keto Snacks

Seaweed

Green olives 

Moon cheese

Cucumber 

Celery

String cheese

Nut packs

Whey protein 

🌻Keto Breakfast 

Eggs

Bacon

Sausage 

Avocado 

Yogurt parfait 

Chia pudding 

Bulletproof coffee 

Keto pancakes / waffles 

Always talk to a doctor or dietitian before significantly restricting their diet in any way.

Occupational Wellness

hey everyone, welcome back happy saturday today we learning about Occupational Wellness. Occupational Wellness is having the ability to achieve a balance between work and leisure time, addressing workplace stress and building relationships with co-workers.

Occupational Wellness is important because it’s important make sure you enjoy doing your job and have a healthy environment. Set goals as a team and work on them daily.

Set boundaries and clearly to insure you are protecting your mental state.  Learn to turn work off! This includes making time for hobbies, social activities, and vacations. Don’t settle, keep motivated, and work towards what you want. Look for something new and/or talk to a career counselor if you feel stuck or unhappy.

Signs of Occupational Wellness

Doing work that you find motivating and interesting

Understanding how to balance leisure with work

Working in a way that fits into your personal learning style 

Communicating and collaborating with others

Working independently and with others

Feeling inspired and challenged 

Feeling good at the end of the day about the work you accomplished 

Are you engaged in the process of Occupational Wellness?

Do I enjoy going to work most days?

Do I have a manageable workload at work?

Do I feel that I can talk to my boss and co-workers with problems arise?

Check back tomorrow for another great post.

The Mediterranean diet and What you need to know?

Hey everyone, and welcome back for another informational post. Today we are learning about The Mediterranean diet. As always consult with your doctor about any changes you plan on making to your diet and be sure to tell them about any concerns you may have.

The Mediterranean diet is a generic term based on the traditional eating habits in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. There’s not one standard Mediterranean diet. At least 16 countries border the Mediterranean. In 1993 Old ways created The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid in partnership with the Harvard School of Public Health and the WHO as a healthier alternative to the USDA’s original food pyramid. 

A Mediterranean-style diet typically includes:

plenty of fruits, vegetables, bread and other grains, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds;

olive oil as a primary fat source;

dairy products, eggs, fish and poultry in low to moderate amounts; ( served only twice weekly)

infrequent servings of red meats and sweets;

How to get started?

Eat lots of vegetables ; From a simple plate of sliced fresh tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and crumbled feta cheese to stunning salads.

Change how you see meat; Have small strips of beef and smaller portions of other meats

Use good fats; Include sources of healthy fats in daily meals, especially extra-virgin olive oil, nuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, olives, and avocados.

Switch to whole grain; Whole grains are naturally rich in many important nutrients; their fuller, nuttier taste and extra fiber keep you satisfied for hours.

For dessert, eat fresh fruit; Choose from a wide range of delicious fresh fruits from fresh figs and oranges to pomegranates, grapes and apples. Instead of daily ice cream or cookies, save sweets for a special treat or celebration.

For more information and health studies check out the link below

https://oldwayspt.org/health-studies/search?keys&field_diet_target_id_entityreference_filter%5B0%5D=96&items_per_page=12

List of common foods below

https://oldwayspt.org/system/files/atoms/files/MED-CommonFoods_0619.pdf

Now I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t tell you about some negative reviews and effects that have been documented.

Negatives

You may gain weight from eating fats in olive oil and nuts.

You may have lower levels of iron.

You may have calcium loss from eating fewer dairy products.

Wine is a common part of a Mediterranean eating style but some people should not drink alcohol.

It’s important to always use your own judgement always. You know your body the best and what you need. Be open about your health and goals with your doctor about which diet works best for you.

Check back later to learn something new!

Social Wellness

Hey everyone, it dawned on me today that I never finished my health and wellness series and I apologize for that so here we go! Today we are going to be learning about social wellness.

A Quick Recap

https://humblesoullifeofajuicer.wordpress.com/2021/06/02/health-and-wellness/

Social Wellness

Social wellness refers to the relationships we have and how we interact with others. Our relationships can offer support during difficult times. Social wellness involves building healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships as well as fostering a genuine connection with those around you. It is important to remember to find your balance in life. Practicing self care embraces basic needs such as getting enough sleep, bathing and brushing your teeth, eating healthy, exercising regularly and avoiding negative coping mechanisms like smoking, not sleeping or over-drinking.

It is also good to remember to get to know yourself identify your needs, preferences and values and communicate them to the people around you. In every relationship, there are two people involved and each contributes to any situation that comes up, whether positive or negative. Take responsibility for yourself in disagreements or conflict by using “I” language and don’t push all the blame onto the other person. When an individual argues for the sake of being “right” rather than trying to understand the other side, the other person may feel invalidated or unheard. This can result in resentment, further conflict and the eventual end of the relationship. It is very important to set proper boundaries.

To learn more about boundaries: https://humblesoullifeofajuicer.wordpress.com/2022/05/12/boundaries/

How can you improve your social wellness?

Disconnect to connect make it a regular routine to disconnect from technology every day to spend time in face-to-face communication with yourself, friends family members and professional colleagues. ( If you have the space for it)

Be positive as you can! Put disappointments, complaints, and worries aside for a while and enjoy the present. ( Try daily affirmations)

Improve time management, give yourself time in the morning and evening before being “busy”. Say a morning prayer, have a glass of warm water with lime, meditate etc.

Take care of yourself first.

Build healthy relationships. As a child you learn the social skills you need to form and maintain relationships with others. For a lot of people I know including myself you may not have had your social and emotional needs met fully but it is your responsibility as an adult to not repeat the past.( Google shadow work )

You can learn ways to improve your relationships. It’s important to know what a healthy relationship looks like and how to keep your connections supportive. It is also very important to be honest with anyone you are building a relationship with about how you are feeling. If they respect your boundaries they will understand but again it is important you always respect your own.

Check In With Your Social Wellness

Reflect on yourself and your social needs. What aspects of your social life do you enjoy? What parts would you like to improve?

Make an effort to keep in touch with supportive friends and family

Are you able to communicate clearly when dealing with conflict?

Participate in group discussions and practice active listening

How are you at asking for help?

Do you surround yourself with people who you can trust and you know care about you?

Are you able to communicate clearly when dealing with conflict?

Do you have at least one good friend you can count on?

Are you okay being alone?

How do you express your emotions?

What do you use to cope?

Do you respect your own boundaries?

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a post! Thank you!

The Alkaline Diet and If it actually works

Hey everyone, welcome back to another day of learning. Today we are gonna be learning about the alkaline diet. Before we get started like always please consult with a trusted doctor, nutritionist etc before trying anything new or making drastic changes.

Back in 2020 I created a 4 part series on the alkaline diet and its many benefits. Two years later I’m realizing it’s some information that I have missed and would like to share now.

The Series: https://humblesoullifeofajuicer.wordpress.com/2022/08/04/alkalinity-vs-acidity/

https://humblesoullifeofajuicer.wordpress.com/2020/03/29/alkaline-diet-what-you-need-to-know-first-hand/

To do a quick review The average pH of the human body is 7.40. A diet is not defined as acidic or alkaline based on the actual pH content of the food but, rather, how foods may affect and impact the body’s pH level.

The pH scale is a tool that measures the amount of acid or base in something. 

On a scale from 0 to 14: 

7 is neutral

Less than 7 indicates acidity

Greater than 7 indicates a base (more alkalinity) 

The Alkaline Diet claims to improve your health, help you lose weight, and even fight cancer. The Diet is based on a theory that some foods cause your body to promote acid, which is harmful. They say if you eat certain foods or drink only certain things when you change the acid level in your body, your PH level will change as well.

What are some examples of acid-forming foods?

When digested and broken down in the body, the following foods are considered acidic: Meat (fresh and processed) / Poultry (chicken, turkey) / Fish / Dairy/ Eggs / Grains

The popular alkaline diet focuses on acid-forming (low-PRAL) foods and suggests avoiding them. But do the claims behind the alkaline diet hold up? Let’s take a look.

If you look at a high-PRAL foods like red meat and dairy depending on your body type, health, family history this may create increase risk of cancer, diabetes etc. Now of course cutting those foods out or cutting down on them may erase that risk, but please remember restrictive eating is not for anyone can lead to nutritional deficiencies if not one properly.

Rather than focusing on the acid-forming potential of a food, it’s best to focus on eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods. This can definitely include some high-PRAL foods, such as animal proteins and grains.

I will say now if someone were to adopt a strict alkaline diet with 80 percent alkaline foods and 20 percent acidic foods as some websites recommend, there can be an increased risk of certain vitamin or protein deficiencies. It is important to remember hat our overall health isn’t just dependent on what or how we eat. Optimal health includes maintaining a healthy body weight, regular physical activity, quality sleep, stress reduction and social connections. Health and wellness is more than 1 stop shop.

I encourage you to be gentle with yourself eat when you’re hungry and DO NOT let anyone shame you.

for more info https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3195546/#:~:text=Increased%20fruits%20and%20vegetables%20in,such%20as%20hypertension%20and%20strokes.

I am not my illness

I am not my illness

A series about “diseases” /“chronic illnesses” and everything in between. Today I had the honor of speaking with Kenzie who has a condition called Wilson’s disease. Wilson’s disease is a genetic mutation that affects copper metabolism. Copper isn’t eliminated properly and instead accumulates, possibly to a life-threatening level. Symptoms typically begin between the ages of 12 and 23.

Please remember I am not a doctor just a certified herbalist, juice specialist and death doula in training trying to help the world heal and bring awareness to the many different “illnesses” we have on this planet.

If you would like to be interviewed or know someone please feel free to send me a message.

Would you like to use your real or fake name?

You can use my name, kenzie (:

Where are you from?

I am from McKinney Texas

When were you diagnosed?

February of 2022 right after my 22nd birthday. The craziest part is I remember that whole month my family and I had prayed for a diagnosis as a birthday miracle.

how old were you?

I was 22 years old when I was diagnosed

How long did it take you to be diagnosed?

I had had symptoms almost my entire life and spent over a decade looking for answers. I was dismissed by many doctors and even had some make horribly unprofessional comments such as calling me a “hopeless case” to my face at only 12 years old. One Gastroenterologist told me to “come back when I gained weight”, when I had come to him complaining of nausea, vomiting and weight loss as my main symptoms. He then refused to let me come back to see him or anyone else in the (very large) gastroenterology practice he was a part of, forcing us to seek out a new doctor at an entirely different hospital with no referral. Another physician once suggested my symptoms may just be “a load of B.S.” All of these were cases where doctors made a judgment before I had hardly had time to utter a word. They saw a young female patient and heard the words “mystery illness” and that was all it took for them to make up their mind about me. After many years, I decided I had to my own research and was able to narrow it down to what I thought may be the problem. With the help of an exceptional neurologist I was able to confirm that I have a rare genetic disease.

Symptoms you’ve experienced

I have had chronic pain, headaches, problems with my joints, hyper-mobility, GI issues, seizures, full body dystonia (this is a type of movement disorder that causes involuntarily twisting movements and muscle contractions), serious vision and balance loss, cognitive issues, memory loss, hormonal disruption, POTs and dysautonomia

What do you take for pain/nausea etc?

Currently I don’t take anything because I have found that for me personally, a lot of pain and nausea meds make my GI symptoms worse and I feel like it just perpetuates the problem

How has endometriosis / pcos/adenomyosis impacted your personal life?

If you do not see your diagnosis listed above please write it below!

I have a condition called Wilson’s disease. It’s a genetic mutation that affects copper metabolism. Basically I am not able to eliminate copper from my body so it accumulates, becomes toxic, and damages my organs. It can affect different people in different ways but my case has most severely impacted my brain and spine, so many of my symptoms are neurological.

My symptoms, like the dystonia, can be very noticeable and I’ve struggled with feeling embarrassed or like I should be trying to hide it. It’s been very hard to find a sense of community and I have yet to find anyone else who has experienced something similar. I’ve gotten a lot of weird looks and people have even laughed out loud at me before. I sometimes use an ID cane because of my vision loss, which also draws a lot of unwanted attention. Even though it helps me a lot, I avoid using it as much as I can get away with out of fear. I have found that I get approached much more often by predators when I have my cane because they see it as a sign of vulnerability. Because of all of this, I don’t go out a lot and have ended up pretty isolated.

What type of diet do you follow?

I eat a high protein vegetarian diet that’s low in copper

What’s a taboo that you wish was talked about more?

Depression/anxiety caused by medical problems. I feel like when people suspect that a person with medical challenges may be struggling emotionally they are more likely to assume the physical symptoms are a result of psychological problems. Its not uncommon to be accused of being dramatic or faking your suffering for attention. But, far from being “dramatic” I have put so much time and energy into trying to hide the fact that I’m disabled. I downplay it as much as possible. I only go out on the days my symptoms are at their least noticeable. I want very badly to just be normal and blend in.  

I wish people understood that depression and anxiety are often a byproduct of chronic illness. Medical problems can be severely life disrupting and factors such as constant pain, isolation, rejection, and lack of freedom are bound to cause emotional distress. It’s a natural response to a terrible situation that no one should ever have to experience. Regardless of the cause though, mental health challenges shouldn’t be anything shameful and are never the person suffering’s fault. I wish people with chronic illness were free to talk about the emotional impact of living with a health condition or disability without people using that to try to invalidate their pain.

Any other comments or questions. What would like the world to know ?

I spent over ten years being told by doctors that I should give up, or that it was “all in my head”. I couldn’t believe that doctors, the people who were supposed to be on my side fighting for me, would say these things. It was so discouraging, I eventually started wondering if maybe they were right and I really was crazy. After all, how would you know for sure? It left me feeling terrified about my future and I lost hope that I would ever recover. But despite that I kept going, I kept searching, and it saved my life. It turns out the condition I have is just incredibly rare. It was a long and grueling road but I will be eternally grateful that I stuck with it and my advice to anyone experiencing something similar is to KEEP GOING no matter what happens and no matter what anyone says to you. Your life and health are worth it.

Thank you!

Kenzie E.