Since my emersion into the Hashimoto's community, I have been overwhelmed by its helpfulness and generosity. One person, in particular, that I have been impressed with is Stacey Robbins. Her book, You are Not Crazy and You are Not Alone really set the stage for my journey into alternative healing. I ordered the kindle version of the book and read most of it that same night. The brutal honesty with which Stacey writes is surprisingly candid and refreshingly authentic, especially for being a local here in Orange County. After reading her book, I felt like I knew her and was compelled to try out a few of her recommendations.
The first thing I did was schedule an appointment with one of her integrative medical doctors. The earliest appointment I could get was in April, so I had some down time to do other stuff. The next thing I had to do was to get a hold of a jar of the quantum infused Spirulina she wrote about. I know, right? No, I really don't know, but here's what it says on the website:
"Probably the oldest and certainly the most nutritious food on the planet, BIOLUMINA SPIRULINA provides you with the broadest spectrum, most concentrated and bioavailable nutrition that you can get from a single food. This amazing blue green algae superfood has a uniquely high phytonutrient content that includes 3 to 4 times more Phycocyanin. Along with BIOLUMINA’S other vital nutrients, this very rare, powerful antioxidant, provides the greatest radiation-protecting and immune system-enhancing benefits available to us from any food or other substance."
So, I have no idea what it does, but I had to get some. (I'm trying everything here, folks. If it's herby and organic and infused with unicorn rainbow farts, I'm in.) So, a quick message to Stacey on Facebook and we were meeting up at Target to make the covert exchange. I come to find out Stacey is a distributor, so I can get a fix whenever I need one. And I will! Everyone in my house is using it, even the dog! It does give you a little boost after drinking it in a smoothie. Here's an easy, customizable recipe from nutritionist Tami Broderick with whom I consulted a while back:
1 Cup liquid (Water, Rice Milk, Coconut Water, etc.)
3/4 Cup Fruit
1 scoop protein powder (I use Warrior Blend because it's Gluten, soy, dairy free)
Fat (a few almonds, some oil, a bit of an avocado...)
2 Teaspoons (to start) of Spirulina
This is how I start every day! It keeps me energized and feeling swell. And the dog is not complaining either!
I love classical music for its evocative and visually inspiring qualities. And the bodies of work that have been compiled over the centuries is staggering! Many works are entitled, "Variations on a Theme by Haydn"or "... by Mozart", or by some other mad genius. Composers would take a melody written by a fellow composer and add their own flavor, if you will, transforming a piece of music that they most likely admired, to a piece of music even more to their liking. I am taking this approach in holistically treating my Hashimoto's.
We all are at different stages of the disease, and its presentation is always unique, so a variety of treatments is necessary. It would seem from the literature I have read that going gluten free is a major theme. Just as classical music composers take a good theme created by another composer and make it their own, so too can we make a gluten free diet a foundation on which to build our very own healthy lifestyle, one that suits our own personal needs and tastes.
As I said, I am not ready to go hardcore AIP and give up all grains and legumes at this juncture, so I have found gluten free replacements for some of my favorite staples. Udi's makes an entire line of pretty okay breads to use. They are not like normal bread, so don't get all excited. They are hard and sticky and not moist like bread with gluten, and you have to keep them in the refrigerator, but I FEEL better eating them and I make them work. I spread on Coconut oil to make yummy grilled chicken, turkey or goat cheese sandwiches or toast for tuna. And for breakfast, I use Food for Life's gluten free English muffins with a bowl of fruit or a smoothy.
Again, this is just my variation. A lot of Hashimoto's folks have found it necessary to eliminate ALL grains, and I may very well have to at some point, but for now, these products are helping me preventively treat my Hashimito's (hopefully), so that I do not have to be on thyroid hormone replacement therapy for the rest of my life, (not that there is anything wrong with that). But if you can avoid it, why not try, right?
