Uncategorized – Page 44 – in thriver words

Travel Tip #7 – Ship it!

Planning a trip, want to make sure you have your favorite gluten-free snacks on hand, but don’t want to pay for extra baggage – ship it!

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you probably already know that for me to feel my best, I have to eat at very regular intervals. In order to make sure I have something gluten-free available on the road, I have to prepare in advance.

I’m planning a more lengthy trip than usual and I just don’t want to deal with the hassle of calling every health food store in the area in advance to see if they carry my favorite snacks. I certainly don’t want to carry a week’s worth of food and have to wrestle heavy bags through the airport and into my rental car.

I tried talking myself into the idea that I can always eat the salty, oily peanuts available at every convenience store, but I’d really rather have raw almonds. More gas stations now have bananas or apples available, but it’s never guaranteed. And, of course, I’ll be meeting up with some other folks on totally different schedules. The required timing of a 10-mile trip to the grocery store may prove to be inconvenient either for them or for me.

So, I’m going to do the easy thing. When I do my regular shopping, I’m going to grab an extra bag of raw almonds, some gluten-free pretzels, some dates or golden raisins, and ingredients for orange chocolate or carrot muffins. I may also grab some protein bars.

At home, I’ll make the muffins and package everything in small, easy to carry containers that I can grab and throw in a backpack each morning while I’m traveling. Of course, I’ll carry some of these on the plane for immediate consumption, but I’m going to pack the bulk of these snacks in a box and ship them in advance to arrive just before I do.

While I’m at it, I’ll probably ship some extras shoes so that I’m prepared for all the possibilities that may arise.

Whew! I don’t know about you, but I always feel better when I have a plan in place that makes my life seem easier. From now on, when destination resources are in doubt, I think I’ll just ship it!

Gratitude Is My Best Defense

Today I’m going to share my gratitude list. Yes, next week is Thanksgiving, but don’t be fooled, this post is only inadvertently timely. I am struggling. I can see that I’m not functioning as well as I usually do.

In an attempt to stay focused on a healthy routine, I headed for the lap pool yesterday. When I got in the shower at the gym, I discovered my swimsuit was on backward. I KNOW. I’m not sure how you can put a swimsuit on backward either, but I did it! How distracted am I? Leaving, I forgot to change out of my pool shoes, and then I almost hit a pole in the parking lot.

What has me feeling so discombobulated? A perfect storm of L-I-F-E. We all have them. Mine happens to be accompanied by the worst dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) I’ve ever had. I’d say at least 3/4 of my body is covered in the unbearably itchy rash. It is wearing me out and driving me to distraction at a time when I feel like I need to be on top of my game.

I’m usually full of solutions, but right now I simply don’t know what to do. I feel vulnerable and alone. The best defense I have against becoming overwhelmed is to focus on something for which I’m grateful.

So…I am grateful…

That my mom was released from the hospital yesterday

That I took my truck in before the universal joint totally fell apart and left me stranded

That there is chili in the fridge so that I don’t have to cook dinner

For sea salt caramel gelato

That my plants haven’t died even though I’ve neglected them

That I have a back scratcher when I can’t stand to leave this rash alone

That my new walking shoes are finally feeling comfortable

For Nutella

For the smell of cinnamon rolls

For silver jewelry with filigree

For purple, and orange, and paisley

That it’s raining outside

For soft clothes

For funky eyeglasses

For crushed ice

For warm blankets

For laughter

For books

For the approaching holidays

For snow

Anyone else feel like this? Want to join me? What are you grateful for?

Does your doctor throw drugs at the problem?

Can I get a witness? Does your doctor throw drugs at the problem?

If you’re following a gluten-free diet, chances are that you’ve had quite a bit of experience with the doctor’s office. An undiagnosed hiatal hernia landed me there a couple of times recently leading to diagnostic procedures and then follow-up visits. One week, I’d had so many GI cocktails that I suggested to the nurse that they might want to offer Happy Hour.

I’m feeling better, but I continue to be perplexed by the practice of medicine. During the three week process, I’ve had 4 different drugs essentially thrown at me without discussion. I don’t know about you, but if my condition is not life threatening and can be improved or controlled with lifestyle changes, then I do not want drugs.

When I told the GI doctor this, he looked confused and asked me if my insurance wouldn’t pay for the PPI that I had been taking since my first visit. I think my response confused him even more. I told him I did not want to have to take a drug every day for the rest of my life.

Instead I wanted to know what I could do with diet and exercise. Then I wanted a wean-off plan so that I wouldn’t have the rebound acid problem created from suddenly stopping the drug. After telling me that 99% of the population was not successful in making the lifestyle changes required to control acid reflux associated with hiatal hernia, he reluctantly agreed to devise a plan to transfer me to an over the counter proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and slowly spread out the doses until I am again drug free.

Why is it that standard medical practice seems to be primarily based on treating or masking symptoms? Why do physicians start throwing prescriptions out like Santa throws candy in the Christmas parade? Why isn’t it standard practice to present the patient with test results and all the options available so that patient and doctor work as a team to develop a plan for optimum health? Why do doctors assume I won’t be successful?

By the end of a week of taking the sample prescription, the side effects were making me feel worse, not better. The side effect list on the 2nd drug deterred me from ever starting it. As I wean off the PPI, I am feeling better day by day. I’ve limited my caffeine, eaten smaller meals at regular intervals, increased my amount of exercise, and paid close attention to how I feel after I eat so I will know what irritates the situation.

I feel grateful that I am healthy, and I feel grateful for this episode of discomfort. I have come to recognize that acid reflux for me registered as pressure in my chest and as hunger, so I tended to feed myself to reduce the symptoms. This brought temporary relief, but also caused me to gain weight over the past few months. The additional weight made problems with acid reflux more likely. The disruption of my normal routine was a chance to recognize how I was contributing to the problem.

Yesterday, I learned that my state is one of 9 states that prescribe antibiotics to patients at a higher frequency than that of other states in the US. Now I’m wondering whether this tendency bleeds over into a tendency to overprescribe other drugs. What’s your experience with your doctor? Is he/she supportive of using diet and lifestyle changes to control disease when possible? Do you feel comfortable asking your doctor questions? Am I the only one who prefers to stay chemical free?

It is clear that today I have many more questions than answers. Sharing your experiences will help all of us gain perspective. Thanks!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Gluten-Free Pasta With No Calories! What?

Love to eat pasta, but want to avoid the calories and carbs? With Shirataki Noodles you can do both!

Sound too good to be true? I know, right. So I decided to do a little research to see just what these noodles are made of.

Shirataki noodles originated in Southeast Asia and are made of glucomannan derived from the tubular roots of the Konjac plant. This exotic plant is also known as Konnyaku, devil’s tongue, vodoo lily, and elephant yam.

Glucomannan is a polysaccharide (sugar) sometimes used as a thickener or gelling agent as well as a supplement for weight loss and blood sugar control. It is Gluten-Free, Kosher, Vegan, and Paleo Diet friendly, but because of its molecular structure, not compatible with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.

Noodles made from water, glucomannan, and pickling lime (calcium hydroxide) contain NO fat, NO cholesterol, NO sodium, NO sugars, and less than 1 gram of carbohydrates per 3 ounce serving. They also contain NO calories.

Keep in mind, that’s no calories for a 3 oz serving, which in labeling language means 5 calories or less per serving. If you eat numerous servings, you will be adding some calories and a significant amount of water-soluble fiber (not dietary fiber) to your diet.

This fiber can be difficult to digest, so it’s probably best not to rely on Shirataki Noodles as a primary part of your diet; however, it is a great pasta alternative that feels satisfying in spite of its lack of calories and contains more iron in a serving than one 130 calorie serving of golden raisins.

I know, I know. You’re more concerned about how they taste. Ever heard someone describe grits as that thing on your plate that tastes like whatever it’s next to? These noodles could be described in a similar way. They have virtually no taste on their own, but they do carry the flavor of seasoning or sauce.

If you’re sensitive to food odors, you’ll want to avoid smelling the pickling liquid as you drain it from the package. Once you’ve rinsed the noodles in water and then boiled them, there’s no remaining odd smell.

So, are Shirataki noodles too good to be true? Well, it’s hard to beat a pasta with no calories or carbs! I like the light texture of the fettuccini style noodles and I love it that they cook in one minute. There’s plenty of variety in the choices available: angel hair, ziti, and rice style plus spinach angel hair. The local price runs $3.29 per 7 or 8 oz package depending on the style of noodle. I think they’re a great alternative for gluten-free pasta dishes, but I’m curious what you think? Pick up a package of Shiratakis and let me know.