Allergy awareness week, is coming to an end. Though throughout the whole of May it is Allergy Awareness Month, along with Lymes Disease Awareness month - so a very busy month.
I just wanted to raise what I see as an issue in regards to allergies.
So many of us now have decided to remove gluten, dairy and wheat from our diets. Whether this is for health reasons or people it seems simply to do as they believe it is a trend which they should be a part of ( following the crowd ). Everyday, it seems the media put out a new diet that encourages cutting out a major food group that will give you amazing results because your fave celeb has done great off following this diet.
Those of us who have had to cut major food groups from our diets due to health reasons are always being judged as clean eaters, doing it for weight loss and just being fussy.
These people who have this mind-set although they are trying to put us down they are actually the ones who look a little bit silly. As they lack knowledge. These are the people who will put you down then follow this diet for weight loss reasons.
Well I just wanted to state the seriousness of food intolerances and allergies. People die, and suffer serious, painful consequences by having certain foods in their dishes & diets. When people pick fun they should really consider the fact that these allergens make our lives difficult! We can't just eat what we want, order what we want or pick something off the shelves and not have to check the label. Simple, day to day activities for many that are taken for granted but make life at times a nightmare for sufferers. So maybe you have cut gluten, dairy or wheat from your diet for weight loss and not health reasons meaning you don't suffer reactions and that's fine, that is your choice but do not accuse people who do suffer of being fussy or being strict/obsessed.
Quite frankly we don't want to be ill! Is that a crime?
I want to make people more aware of this weight loss trend towards gluten, wheat or/and dairy free diets is a load of rubbish. Like fat free products they aren't any better for you health wise because they fill them with other toxins / unhealthy ingredients.
Well I am sure you will all love the know that nearly all the gluten free pastas on the markets are higher in calories than your normal pastas. Dairy-free chocolates 🍫 also contain high calorie levels, gluten free crisps are just as high in calories, flours are higher in calories and much more. So if you are cutting these food groups out of your diet for weight loss or because it's the trend everyone is on it! Think again!
I feel it is a little disrespectful to people who do suffer badly and who's lives are deeply affected by intolerances and allergens for society and the media to make it seem trendy to almost have intolerances and remove food groups on purpose.
Due to this trend - I feel this could be the reason why chef's in restaurants don't take dietary requests seriously. As there are so many following the trend that when someone with an actual intolerance or allergen states they can't have the allergen in their dish their request isn't taken seriously and the dish isn't prepared or put together as carefully as it should have been, resulting in reactions. Only causing sufferers to begin stop eating out, isolating themselves and struggling to get their requests taken seriously!!
If you do have bad effects from these food groups - stomach cramps, headaches and so on. You most likely are intolerant and should cut them out to help you feel better and not unwell off food. If you want to do it for weight loss reasons, I don't recommend this 'trend' or 'diet' . There are many other healthier options. Simply exercising more or/and introducing more fresh ingredients into your diets; leaner meats, fruits, veggies, home cooking over take outs & ready meals. If you don't have to cut out major food groups don't ! Live is too short to miss out on your fave foods. Yes there are alternatives that are good and good and nurtrious but it's not the real deal. Remember diet has the word die within it. They make many of us unhappy because we miss out on the foods we love. Don't follow a diet, we are all different anyway! This is a perfect example we don't all get stomach cramps from eating wheat, so we aren't all going to become Miranda Kerr by cutting out dairy. Our bodies work differently and we have to listen to them and follow a lifestyle that works best with them.
Example - the plantbased, earth food, non-processed way of eating works best for my body! (Yes I have underlying health issues and things may differ in time but my body right now works best from eating this way!)
I can walk but not exercise fully. A short walk is enough for me and again that's all my body requires.
Bob down the road may thrive of a high protein, red meat based diet and may play squash three times a week to keep fit. That's what his body works best off and doing.
We are all different, don't compare yourself. Listen to your body and follow the lifestyle that best suits you!!
We all focus on quick fixes and don't have the patience to make real changes that are for long term benefits. It's not about cutting a food groups out completely and still being lazy not moving off the sofa. It is about enjoying the food you enjoy, feel good off and keeping your body moving for full overall health. Quick fixes may be amazing for the first week but you suffer from not having the patience by results not lasting.
Like life - it is a journey. Get on the road and in your own pace travel along it. Don't speed ahead then drive off the mountain because you were driving too fast to control the car.
My friend just yesterday was on the train, someone sat next to her was eating nuts. Causing Laura's face to go all blotchy and itchy. So please do not dismiss the seriousness of intolerances and allergies and how badly they affect our lives. Don't put our diets down or judge us as being fussy.
It's not a choice this is the way we have to live for our health.
If you choose to cut food groups out of your diet just because 'you want to', please be respectful to sufferers and don't act like it's an easy thing to do or treat it as a joke.
Intolerances and allergens are growing among our society. Most likely due to the high levels of toxins we are now exposed to! If you feel you are intolerant or have an allergy - please, please get tested. The test is quick and easy and only takes 10 minutes.
Be informed!
Don't take what the media or 'professionals' tell you as gospel as a lot of the time we aren't told the whole truth - research yourself.
Knowledge is power.
Thank you for reading and please take serious note.
Keep fighting 💪🏼
We all have a right to enjoy food and my God we all deserve the best bill of health.
Love and peace - S
Xoxo
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Xoxo
