Guest post by Pippa Kendrick
I recently connected with an amazing writer & blogger who is passionate about eating well with food sensitivities. Since I’m always looking for new ways to improve my eating and still enjoy food, I asked Pippa to do a guest post (my first one on annesamoilov.com). LEAVE HER A COMMENT BELOW!
Imagine feeling as though your body were your enemy.
For those of us who suffer from food intolerance and allergies, and all the ill-effects that they can bring, feeling at war with your body is often the norm. If you then consider that dealing with food allergies can be a lifelong journey, you can see the importance, when diagnosed, of finding ways to come to terms with a whole new mode of living.
Living with food sensitivities (the umbrella term for allergies and intolerances) is something you have to consciously think about, each and every day.
It is a lifestyle that places feeling connected with your body, physical awareness and emotional control as the highest of priorities.
Food sensitivities are of an ever increasing prevalence in modern society.
Statistics suggest that one in four of us will suffer from some form of intolerance or allergy at some point in our lives. There is a wealth of information to be found on the causes, symptoms and diagnosis of food sensitivities, yet very few resources deal with the daily demands, and the continuous self-monitoring required, to get back to good health and then to maintain it.
Living with food sensitivities leads to a greater awareness.
Living with food sensitivities leads to a greater awareness of how your body functions.
Just as you have to think carefully about what foods you feed yourself, you also become more conscious of how your body reacts, what it wants, and what it actually needs in order to be well.
It is these day-to-day experiences of living with food sensitivities, more than any other, that give us the greatest insight as to how to regain good health, move forward and lead a balanced life.
For me, my sense of wellbeing (both physical and emotional) can be gauged by how connected I feel to my body. When everything is well I can literally feel the positive flow that runs through me.
If that sounds a little too new age for you then think of it this way: when I feel in good health and connected, I feel truly comfortable in my own body; I never feel too full or too empty, my skin is clear and smooth, my mind feels alert and engaged, I feel calm and focused and I sleep like a baby.
Reconnection Brings Deeper Understanding
This is how our bodies and minds are meant to feel. Yet for some, feeling sick and tired is just another accepted part of their lives and a problem that they just have to bear. Not so.
There are so many ways of reconnecting with your body and helping yourself along the path to health. The first and foremost being the food that you eat. If you feed yourself fresh, intolerance-friendly, wholesome, seasonal and most importantly, delicious food, your body and mind will show the results.
Ask your body what it wants you to eat. Take your time. Think carefully.
Don’t just mindlessly finish off whatever is in the fridge, choose your food, cook it and savour it. Instant gratification is part of our modern society but it is not actually a necessity.
Cooking is important – it’s soothing, grounding, meditative and relaxes you before you eat.
Aromas are key too – they stimulate your digestive system, readying it for what it is about to receive.
Bad food choices robs you of any of the real pleasures and benefits of eating, making life a struggle not only for your digestive system, but also for you.
What Happens When You Add Exercise To The Mix?
Just as food can affect your overall wellbeing, so too can exercise. That is why the physical habits you cultivate can be used to strengthen the bond between your mind and body.
Pilates, yoga, meditation and positive exercise all help to synchronise your system so that when you are well you feel it in every part of you. Fundamental to these activities are their ability to significantly lower your stress levels, free your mind and take you outside of yourself, if only for a short period of time.
It has been said that the three greatest components to a happy and healthy life are laughter, physical exercise and sex. It is not a coincidence that a sense of union is needed to maintain all three, nor is it a surprise that each activity can be created by you.
We have the choice and ability to make, or regain, a physical connection with ourselves, whatever stage of health we may be at. You can then develop a relationship that means you can learn to recognise your individual natural levels of energy and health; you can then develop ways of sustaining them and, when needed, find the power to increase them.
The result is an understanding of yourself, an unconditional bond between your mind and body, and a sense of peace (rather than war) with your being that means that you can live well for both now, and the future.
For more information on living with food sensitivities I recommend visiting the following sites:
Foods Matter
Food Intolerance Awareness FIA
Allergy UK
The Intolerant Gourmet
Pippa is the creator of The Intolerant Gourmet, a wonderful resource for original, allergy friendly recipes, helpful tips, reviews and news about products suitable for anyone living with a food tolerance or allergy. Visit The Intolerant Gourmet and start making amazing, allergy friendly foods for all to enjoy today.
Stay tuned tomorrow for a fun chocolot-y treat from Pippa! (yes…I know….but c’mon…who doesn’t need a little bit of chocolate goodness in their lives)!
