I’ve been working to restore my gut. It “leaked”. Leaky guts, aka gut permeability, exacerbate inflammation in the body. And although not good for anyone, is extremely challenging for those of us with auto immune issues. I spent several month on an auto immune protocol elimination diet and and although I’ve seen measurable improvement my gut has a ways to go. Nonetheless I am beginning to add things back to my diet. I got the go ahead from my functional medicine practitioner. Nothing risky like dairy, soy and gluten. But citrus, nuts and seeds…black tea and coffee down the road. It’ll take several more months before I’m done.
I had a phone appointment with the doc this past week to confirm the gut status and discuss the adjusted protocol to reach a healed state in my stomach. I had a couple points to discuss. First, I had decided to pull back on the winter squash (remember my delicata addiction?) and I shared that I felt I was lacking satiation with my meals due to sweet cravings and I noticed I was overcompensating by eating more protein which seemed to bloat me… so I was leaning back into my greens, and secondly was interested in adding resistant starches a few times each week to help heal my gut the rest of the way. Resistant starches are unique and do not behave in the body as standard starches do. Lets discuss…..My example is white rice. Boil up some good old fashioned white rice (which I used to eat by the bowlful covered in butter and salt and pepper) and upon eating immediately board the glucose roller coaster. A glycemic spike and thus crash is experienced. But let that rice get cold…and eat a bit (I’m talking 1/4 cup to a 1/2 cup- maybe even less if your gut is very out of whack) and it bypasses the digestive path and lands in your tummy to be fed on by the good bacteria. No glucose spike. And if you want stronger results, eat a lit of fermented food with it. Organic is best. And when you reheat the starch and let it cool again, it gets even better! Doc was thrilled I came upon the info as the intent was to advise me to do this very thing & was impressed with my intuitiveness to my bodies needs. Then proceeded to tell me exactly what I had just said to him. So, that’s everything I just said- glad we’re on the same page.
I went on to say I was paying particular attention to increasing my healthy fats as well so I can find a steadiness in nutritional ketosis so I can further advance my healing. And this is when he said it…. “I think Keto is a fad and I don’t see it as sustainable for the long term.” …Ummm, I’m sorry, did I hear you right? Are you, a functional practitioner saying that a nutrient dense diet, void of rancid fats, limiting sugar (if not avoiding altogether) is not sustainable? Do your research doc. You’re speaking out of the wrong end of your person.
Let me say that “dirty keto” which I feel is largely the “fad” aspect he must have been speaking to, where the meal plan is about all the bacon and cream cheese you can swallow, and little to no carbs, is likely not sustainable for all but a super small portion of the population….That keto is NOT my keto.
My ketogenic eating is heavy with a variety of veggies, brain supportive fats of olive oil and avocado oil, and meats that are heritage bred and grass fed and grass finished (having never been fed a grain)….and organic on all counts. I drink healthy teas with little to no caffeine (supportive for healing my adrenals). I use adaptogenic herbs to support my immune system. I have low glycemic sugars if I have them at all. My body composition is changing and my sleep continues to improve. My focus when meditating is measurably improved. I’m back in the yoga studio and have felt strength in my body for the first time in ages…and I’m back on the treadmill. And yes, I have a prescription that is supporting me too….but I saw improvements before I found a medicine that benefited me. And study after study is showing that nutritional ketosis is an ideal environment for a body to heal. It originated as a dietary style for seizure support back when my great grandmother was a child… nutritional ketosis is not new. And I suspect that those who ate in such a manner to stay off epileptic seizures kept with it for the long haul.
As a functional practitioner with the intent to get to the root of all issues and find genuine healing… hopefully to eliminate the need for allopathic prescriptions, I would expect that seeing the whole food, nutrient dense true ketogenic approach to eating would be a lifestyle to believe in and see the benefits of, for the long term. But I am my own advocate. I will supplement my studies with his knowledge and get my testing through him. Doc still has a place at the table…even though we clearly have different viewpoints on nutrition.
For now my fats are high.The more I heal, the more I’ll be able to move my body. And when that happens I’ll probably find myself reducing my fat a bit here and there and eating more carbohydrates now and then..and they’ll be from my beloved veggies and winter squash.. the healthiest method I can think of. Grains (unless used for resistant starch benefit) will forever take a back seat in my kitchen. The bonus to healing is that it’s slow. It affords you the opportunity to learn how to intuit your bodies needs. Do I need a lot of food today? A little? Fat? Protein? Your body will crave the nutrients you need. Your job is to listen.
Inner Calm 