Firstly, let me say I totally believe food intolerances are real. I have experienced them for many years myself. Grown up with family with food intolerances and even used to teach classes. So for those who want to debate, I know where you are coming from.
Secondly, I do want to greatly acknowledge all the wonderful people I have learned from with regards to gut health and how food affects the mind. When I was struggling with depression again and my son was still young, I made a key decision to change our whole way of eating. We went off all the processed food and went mainly a clean paleo type diet. This greatly assisted my moods and also inadvertently also my hormones, headaches and weight.
So for me to write this post, comes with over 10 years of first hand experiences and learning. My main aim is simply to make you come to a pause. Not to stop your elimination diets or nutritional advise. But to pause with regards to what you have come to believe about food intolerances. Pause, then be open to explore yet another way.
My first and profound experience with healing from a food intolerance has been my nightshade intolerance (ie. Tomatoes, Chilli, paprika, eggplant, capsicum etc). This was written up on an old site, so for a summary…
It was a chance meeting and discussion with an intuitive who opened my soul up to hear some key words. Unconditional love was at the root of my nightshade intolerance. It took many many years later for me to wonder more and open up to exploring this concept.
Both another chance appointment with a healer friend and I was bought onto my soul path. Unravelling what was really at the root of my nightshade intolerance. A conflict between the beliefs my subconscious mind held about love vs my soul’s belief in unconditional love. It was tearing at my body in an attempt to be heard. For nothing will come to the surface if we are not ready.
My nightshade intolerance seemed to get worse, I was even sensitive to nightshade weeds if they started growing in our yard. Or a random piece of chilli in a meal. So when i wasn’t too careful I could still end up with a big sinus headache. As that is how it manifested in my body.
Fast forward and after a few sessions with my friend I was simply aware that I would be ok with a bowl of curry. Something I had had to only serve up to my boys, not myself. I tested with just a small amount and I was ok. So as I tentatively went forward I increased the amount. All good. Now i enjoy the Thai spiced curries and sweet chilli sauce. Hallelujah!
My experience is not the only food intolerance I have managed to get to the root cause of and heal. Also my gluten intolerance.
This one took a lot longer as it was very ingrained. Beliefs had formed from my food changes and they were strong. The amazing results I had in going gluten-free was so strong that it was a lot of good beliefs to deprogram as well. Yes often good beliefs can be backwards. For it was more the reduction in carbohydrates and artificial ingredients that help me. Yes many gluten dishes did affect me, so it wasn’t not gluten. But my beliefs were also formed around what didn’t actually happen. As I said, my individual case was complex.
I did manage to go back into the world of enjoying some things with gluten. Without any of my old symptoms of foggy brain, low moods, headaches, hormones issues. But after a few months, it appeared I still had some work. My body started to say it’s not quite finished, via a persistent skin irritation, something I had never had before.
As I easily know how to be gluten-free, I went back. I want for this to be an honest post. So you can track my journey. I will still be looking for the final missing piece as it was fun to have some freshly made bread again. Or to look at the whole of a menu when eating out, not just the (GF) dishes. I am patient, and the answer will come.
