The Core of it All: Our Story
This post is long over due but I've been formulating my thoughts for a while now and feel compelled to write. For the past year my husband and I have been on a "walk-about" of sorts, a journey towards health, one which I must share with you today.
It was ten years ago when my husband was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, an auto immune disorder that affects the colon. As an adult he has had relatively minor symptoms and flare ups, most of which went undetected. Despite his lack of symptoms, a routine colonoscopy last year revealed a significant amount inflammation in his colon and large intestine. At this time we were eating very healthy, all organic, whole grains and little to none processed foods or sugars. Jordan's doctor assured us that food had nothing to do with this ailment and that changes in the diet would not alter anything. We disagreed and asked for a recommendation for a doctor who took a more holistic approach to health. We were given the contact information for a naturopath here in Seattle who specializes in auto immune and digestive disorders. After our initial visit I knew he was an answer to prayer, someone who truly cared about Jordan and his healing. And so it began...
He put Jordan (and myself) on the specific carbohydrate diet. Pioneered by author and biochemist, Elaine Gottschall, this particular diet focuses on the foods that promote restoration in the gut and cut out all foods that encourage inflammation and are difficult to digest. Elaine's book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle, is a must read for anyone suffering from Crohn's, colitis, IBS, or celiac disease. After reading the guidelines of the diet we threw out all grains, gluten, starches, dairy (except for a few allowed cheeses), sugar (except honey), most legumes and hauled in an insane amount of fresh fruit, vegetables, leans meats, raw goats milk cheeses, eggs and a load of raw nuts, nut butters and nut flours.
I will never forget the day we purged our kitchen. My head was spinning. What are we going to eat, how do I prepare our meals, can we afford this diet? We were young and newly married and I felt I had finally gotten the hang of preparing meals for two, now I had to learn a whole new way of cooking AND eating. All of the conventional wisdom about eating whole grains was tossed out the window. All these questions and thoughts were swimming in my head, but with a lot of prayer we submitted ourselves to a healthier lifestyle and agreed that we are not just doing this for ourselves, but for our children that we hope to have one day.
Each day grew easier, working from home enabled me the time to research recipes, gather inspiration and test original creations on my very patient husband. Believe me, I had SEVERAL grain free blunders in the kitchen and despite my desire to toss the whole thing, Jordan would eat it with a grateful heart.
Later in the summer we started incorporating more raw dishes (since so much of the summer bounty should be enjoyed raw anyway). We splurged on a dehydrator and high speed blender to make most of our treats and snacks and what an absolute necessity these tools are in our kitchen! We experimented with nut flours, introduced ghee and coconut oil into our diet and brought in a slew of supplements from L-Glutamine to digestive enzymes. Our friends were so gracious and catered to our crazy eating habits. Our family accommodated all of our needs and every restaurant we went to made each dish special. We finally got to a point where we stopped referring to this as a diet and just accepted it as a new way of life. We were both feeling great, had lost those "early marriage" pounds, and prayed that all of this would pay off in the end.
This past December(2010) marked 6 months on the diet. We were told the earliest to see if the diet had helped Jordan's colon would be 6 months. So we scheduled a colonoscopy and prayed. All of the work and high grocery bills.....was it all worth it? What if the diet didn't change anything? What if it made things worse? What if Jordan can't get off of his medicine (which is a main goal with this diet)? What if the doctor is right, food can't help heal this type of disease? All of these questions went rampant in my head for days as we prepared for the outcome.
The day had come, and we were now subject to one doctor and his little camera.....the suspense nearly drove me crazy as I waited for the two hour procedure to finish.
I picked Jordan up and was handed a handful of papers that said EVERYTHING IS MUCH IMPROVED!!! His inflammation had improved by 85% and that was just with 6 months of this diet under his belt. Imagine what a year would do, or two years or ten?! I immediately started crying and praised the Lord for such good news. 85% improved by diet alone. That has to tell you something!!
So this brings us to present day, we remain on the SCD diet and Jordan has been given the green light to get off the medicine he has been taking for the last ten years. My own naturopath has seen a remarkable difference in my overall health as well and we are looking forward to starting a family one day soon!
I share all of this with you as a powerful testimony of the healing power of food and the benefits of submitting your body and preconceived notions about health to God. Although I wish so badly my husband had never been diagnosed with Crohn's, I am so thankful to be dependent on the Lord and trust that He is the ultimate healer. I firmly believe that what was created for bad can be redeemed for good. We will not allow this disease to rob us of joy, we welcome it as a catalyst to grow as individuals, as a couple and ultimately share the good news that we are witness to something said to be incurable cured.
If any of you are struggling with an ailment whether it be digestive disorders, cancer, or a common cold I challenge you set aside some time to research and learn about how the foods you are eating affect your health. We have gotten so wrapped up in what tastes good and what comforts us that we have abused one of the few remaining freedoms we have....the freedom to chose what we put in our bodies. Now, Im not saying I have everything figured out, because I definitely do not. We just want to give hope and encouragement to those who struggle...just as we have.
To our friends, family and the thoughtful women who have intentionally encouraged me here on Roost...thank you for your support and continuous affirmation. The outpour has been overwhelming and for anyone out there who struggles with Crohn's please be encouraged that there are alternatives and you have our full support and love.
If anyone has any questions or insight about our journey or your own please send me a note! I would really love to hear from you.
Home & Family
Reader Comments (76)
Thanks a huge lot, the more we are to say in public and prove by our improved health that food affects us, the better that world will be for so many of us!
btw, i tried your delicious "cheesecake" with the blueberry topping...mine didn't come out quite as pretty as yours, but it had a lovely lemony flavor. i'll keep trying! thank you and best of luck with your impending move.
Your post gives me a ton of inspiration to eat better. I am not diagnosed with anything, but I do know that the food I eat definitely affects how I feel. Oh, how I wish we could just get rid of fast food and processed foods everywhere!
We did some research and found that some inflammation can be caused by food sensitivities. My husband had an extensive blood test to see what food substances he was sensitive to. The list came back with more than 100. We had to eliminate garlic, lemon, wheat, chicken, beef, most fish, some vegetables...so many foods from our diet for six months. In addition, we had to place the allowable foods on a 48-hour rotation, all the way down to what type of oil we used. It was just like you described-- a totally new way of making food and thinking about eating for two newlyweds! After six months on the elimination diet, he wasn't seeing much change in his symptoms and we gradually added our favorite meats and vegetables back into our diet. But we kept our new awareness of how we ate and still have a very clean, mostly organic diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and natural foods.
Recently my husband bought Breaking the Vicious Cycle to re-explore changes to our diet. We still think keeping a natural, healthful diet is one of the best things we can do for him no matter what, so we, too, continue to be very mindful of what we eat. (Although I'm guilty of still making brownies. I can't help myself.)
Your faith and testimony to the power of the Lord are so helpful, too. Thank you for being open and honest.
Joanna
Be encouraged! God is good, so good!
I have been living with Type 1 Diabetes for 22 years and found out a few years ago that I am sensitive to wheat/gluten.
It's been a journey, but I too have found that changing my diet and focusing on really eating healthy has made a huge difference.
Thanks for sharing your story.
I love reading your blog!!!
ps. two other really great books I recommend are The pH Miracle and The pH Miracle for Diabetes-life changing information!
Would please contact me at my email. I need to get a hold of the doctor you are talking about. I have been looking high and low for any doc who may have seen and treated the same autoimmune disease my daughter was just diagnosed with. It is very rare, and I have yet to find one. They have all treated "auto-immune" diseases as a whole, but this one is very different.
Any help would be hugely appreciated.
thx
I fully stand by the wonders of knowing more about the food you eat, and about how opting for natural solutions to health problems is a wise option. I too had an experience regarding the food that I eat, which was a 6 month process.
I moved out of my family home and wound up living on a farm where I learned to cook creatively with procude I was taught to grow in my own organic garden. The switch to this way of life was actually very easy and unnoticable, but the results were unbelievable. Within 6 months, I had almost effortlessly transformed from a clothing size "triple extra large" to a "medium" and pleasantly conquered what was an increasingly dangerous obesity problem and risk of diabetes. I now not only feel in great health, but I have discovered an obsessive love of educating myself about and experimenting with tasty, healthy food!
Healing the gut is HUGE not just for digestive disease but for so many other things! I wish more people knew that! Blessings to you and Jordan!
you all you have a long road ahead but it can be done with a positive attitude and medication. I have had 6- bowel resections -last one in
1989 with 2 -fistulas that were worse than the crohn's itself. I have taken predisone off and on , I have taken remacade (great stuff )
if you can take it , I have taken 6-MP for 5 years (horrible ) but worked and now only amoxicillan every day 500 mg. to keep things
at bay and moving . I do get tired alot but make a list of all the things I want to do everyday and I get them done I do alot of walking
and that is good for you if you can't do that go to a pool and water jog .
Live your life the best you can and rest when you need rest drink lots of water , and use a heating pad for pain in the gut.
My husband is very understanding so thats helps .
God Bless and Prayers out there to everyone.
He has accomplished so much...but after reading your post I am inspired to see if there are ways that I can help him to continue to accompish his dreams by altering the food that I make. Thank you for sharing about your journey!
I love knowing that our diet can provide optimal health and am delighted for your husband and for you with the amazing results.
I love eating raw, and fresh. My parents are 80 plus years and eat still the same - lots of fresh ingredients.
pve
I hope that by sharing your story more people will learn about the SCD diet and the amazing effects that it can have!
thanks again
I hope you and your husband live a happy and healthy life together.
All my love
Jx