Update on my arthritis: It has been since the first of December since I had a cortisone shot. It helped so much, and I have been going to physical therapy as well to help strengthen the muscles around my knee. I also got an off loading knee brace, which has helped somewhat. It's hard to know which number to put it on. I started with 1, and now I'm up to 4 because recently I have had a flare up. I have been in a lot of pain, and working at a hospital where I walk 12,000+ steps a day has been almost too much to take. Tomorrow I am going back to the doctor to see about a different kind of shot. The shot I'm looking into is made with chicken cartilage. Now I know what you are thinking. I'm vegan, how can I use that kind of shot. I'm a believer that animals were put here to help us. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we are taught that beasts and fowls of the air, I the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly. D&C 89:12. It is my belief that we shouldn't eat meat because of the saturated fat, but if the animal can help with a medical problem, then I feel good about it. I know it's a fine line.
There are also foods that we should stay away from because they are inflammatory, and arthritis is a inflammatory disease. I think that all my years of eating garbage foods has finally caught up with me. I hope that my message can reach the "younger" generation so that they can stay away from them. It's kind of irritating that these foods are still allowed in the U.S. as they cause so many diseases! That is another article for another day.
What foods should we stay away from? Which foods cause inflammation in our bodies? Well all the good tasting kinds of course! Ugh
1. Sugar:
This is my hardest thing to stay away from. It's addicting to say the least. It lights up a part of our brains, which helps us to want to eat more. Plus sugar is in everything! It's in ketchup, barbecue sauce etc, and it has many names, 61 names to be exact! We live by a sugar beet factory, and it amazes me how many sugar beets are taken to that
factory during the summer months! Learn the names, and read labels! It's scary!
2. Vegetable Oil:
Now since being on a vegan diet, I have given up oil a long time ago, at least cooking
with it! A person really needs to read labels to see that these ingredients are in
everything. Now how do you get your omega 3s you say? Ground flax seeds, and
chia seeds. Start with the whole seed and grind your own. Whole foods remember!
3. Fried Foods:
I recently got an air fryer, and that has helped a lot! It crisps things up, and they are
tasty! The one thing that is hard is going out to eat and staying away from the
french fries, but think about this if those foods didn't have salt on them they would
probably taste gross. Just good to stay away from it all.
4. Refined Flours:
This one can be a challenge as well. We love pizza in this house maybe once every
other week. Veggie of course, and no cheese. If you must have flour try to grind your
own. Refined flours is just another processed food.
5. Dairy:
There are so many reasons to stay away from dairy, and this just adds another reason.
6. Artificial Sweeteners:
I don't understand how people can eat this stuff, not only are they bad for you, but
they taste terrible!
7. Artificial Additives:
Anything that starts with artificial is going to not be good. Things that contain
artificial ingredients, your body has no way to process them. Again, read labels!
8. Saturated Fats:
From what I have been reading and studying, I have found out that saturated fats not
only cause problems with diabetes and heart disease, but they are horrible for
inflammation. Saturated fats trigger fat which triggers inflammation, and again
our bodies can't handle it.
9. Conventional Grain Fed meats:
I know it's not good to consume meat at all, but the article that I will link to this
post states that it is better to eat grass fed meats. Farmers feed their cattle a diet
that is unnatural to them, and then they have to administer antibiotics. I say just
stay away completely from animal products. The less saturated fats, the less
inflammation.
10. Processed Meats:
I shouldn't have to even tell you not to eat these. They are artificial, injected with
artificial colorings and artificial flavorings that attack our immune systems.
11. Gluten From Store Bought Bread:
I have a hard time with this one because I have read different things about gluten.
I know that our grains have changed over the years due to GMOs and pesticides,
but not everyone has a gluten sensitivity. I don't eat much store bought bread.
12. Alcohol:
I don't drink, so this isn't a hard one for me, but for others who do: the experts
say a little is best. Isn't that true with most things? Moderation in all things?
Alcohol is damaging to your liver. Our liver purifies substances from our bodies,
so if it's damaged it is not able to to do it's job anymore.
13. Transfats:
My youngest son, loves the peanut butter that is not the natural stuff. It contains
hydrogenated oils which are extremely hard on your body, and is not found naturally
on earth. Again a man made substance and highly processed.
14. Fast Foods:
When you think of fast food, think of chemical toxins. Have you ever heard of
phthalates? I hadn't. They are a substance that is used to make plastics!!! Good
Grief! The article goes on to say what exactly couldl happen if you continue to
eat fast food. READ THE ARTICLE!
http://www.eatthis.com/foods-that-cause-inflammation
So what are we supposed to eat? Whole Foods! Nothing processed! It's hard when you go to the grocery store and walk down the isles to find something to eat. My rule is to stay out of the isles! Use the parameter of the store, in other words the outsides. Stick to eating plant based foods. We, including myself have a lot to work on. I have a guilty pleasure now and again, but I have to decide if 2 minutes of pleasure is worth a lifetime of pain.
I really wish that I knew in my youth that the things that went into my mouth would cause a great deal of suffering later in life. I know I would have done things differently. I am grateful though that I have this knowledge now! Slowly and surely I'm changing the way we eat. It's a process and a journey!
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