Re: Medical Restrictions: Deprivation or Information???

[Guest guest]

Hi Styxia: I can only speak from my own experience with dietary restrictions

from celiac disease, 7 food allergies and a few foods that aggravate reflux or

other intolerances (like artificial sweeteners). HOWEVER, my diagnoses for CD

and food allergies gave me much needed information about which foods caused the

cramping pains, bloating, nausea and even tachycardia, which I experienced after

eating. Learning what caused my symptoms helped me choose foods which felt good

in my body both during and after eating as well as keep me unhungry for awhile.

I did NOT go into 'full-blown diet mode', because I did not consider 'gluten

free' or 'allergy free' eating a temporary diet, but a lifestyle to help me

recover from disease. (I can never return to eating gluten or my other

allergens.Rather than feel 'restricted' when I had to eliminate foods which

contained gluten, I focussed on substituting new versions of the foods I

formerly ate. Fortunately my allergies were often 'ingredients' (wheat, dairy,

eggs, cane sugar, soy, vanilla, nutmeg) in foods like breads, pastries, pasta,

milks, cheeses, etc. So I found and prepared my own allergy free versions of

those foods. I also looked for foods which were naturally free of my allergens

(meats, vegies, fruits, nuts, legumes, most oils, etc.). I explored cuisines

from different cultures where their foods did not include mostly wheat or dairy.

I tried vegan dishes which eliminated dairy and eggs. In other words, I used my

dietary 'restrictions' to discover a whole new world of foods I had previously

not tasted, rather than focus on what I could NOT eat, feel deprived and binge

on what I could eat.

I know there is lots of confusion among doctors (and patients) about what, when

and how much type 2 diabetics should eat to cope with their disease. However,

some diabetics on the LHIE board have successfully used some plans which helped

them lower their blood sugar and cholesterol. You'll have to read their posts on

that board to understand what they did.

Nevertheless, I know that some celiacs and people with food allergies view their

dietary restrictions as 'deprivation' and even 'cheat' (with painful results)

because they miss their old favorite foods. Rather than view their diagnoses as

information to help them choose foods which help them feel better, they feel

like 'victims' and focus on what they can't eat. So I suspect self-talk and

attitude influence whether a person with medical dietary restrictions will react

with rebellious binges or 'full blown diet mode'.

However, as someone who eats intuitively (according to hunger/fullness cues as

well as what feels good in my body) despite medical restrictions of gluten,

dairy, soy, eggs, cane sugar, vanilla and nutmeg, I'm uncertain what you mean by

'full blown diet mode'. I still eat breads, pastries, pastas, cereals, ice

cream, cheeses, milk (from nuts), allergy free mayonnaise, margarine, and many

other allergy free versions of what I ate before my diagnoses. I no longer binge

(which I did regularly before my diagnoses) and I seldom overeat.

BTW do you have type 2 diabetes or other medical restrictions? Did those 'throw

you into full-blown diet mode again'?

SUE

>

> > So if you have medical restrictions for coping with type 2 diabetes,

> > consider those 'restrictions' helpful information to help you choose foods

> > that your BODY likes, because it feels better after eating those foods,

> > rather than just foods that taste good, but damage your body.

>

> However, one will likely discover, that this isn't as easy as it sounds.

> The second thing is that the restrictions some dietician or doctor wants

> to place on a diabetic might not correlate with the numbers on the

> meter.

>

>

> > That will more easily help you decide 'what' to eat, while you learn when

> > (you're hungry) and how much (until you feel full) to eat.

>

> It may also throw you into full-blown diet mode again.

>

> Regards

> s.

>