Healing Guidelines
What can you expect and what you must do:
Detox is essential. If you do this exactly, you can expect to have a few days of withdrawal reaction. You may actually feel worse. Strange as it may seem this is a good sign because it means you are getting better. After the withdrawal symptoms subside, you will have continued improvement if not complete resolution of your symptoms. You can expect to get better only if you COMPLETELY ELIMINATE the foods to which you are sensitive. There is no getting away from it. Your immune system knows if you are "cheating" with even the smallest amount. Do remember this is a change of lifestyle, not a fad diet. You want to be well and in good health don't you?
To Repeat: The offending foods, i.e. the red meat, dairy and so on, including alcohol, as in Barbs book, must be completely and rigorously removed from your diet.
IMPORTANT: With the limited diet you will be following during this period, it might be tempting to eat the same things day after day, permissible items that you enjoy. DON'T DO IT! You can actually cause your body to become sensitive to other foods if you eat them too much. ROTATE YOUR FOODS! Eat a wide variety of foods as permissible, with as little repetition as possible. You may safely repeat foods once every four or five days. Again there are suggested menus in Barbs books.
You are in charge of your own body, and your own health. ON YOUR OWN: We know you may say, "It's too hard; there's nothing for me to eat; it takes too much time!" Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! These are excuses that will keep you from getting better.
So, let's have a look at all the things you may say, or at least some of them.
Some say, "It's too hard!"
Change is hard, but not necessarily bad. It means doing the same thing you have always done, but doing it differently. You can start new shopping, cooking, and eating habits. Take it slowly. Plan one day at a time until you get the hang of it. After a few weeks it gets easier, and as you begin to heal, you will see the changes, feel better in yourself, and maybe lose some weight too. When you find that the lesions are becoming less and less apparent, and your days start to become pain free, then all that "HARD" feeling will go. You will be glad you are healing.
Some say, " I have no idea what to eat"
There will be a whole world of food out there that you've never tried. When we look at food diaries, we see the same patterns over and over again. Everyone has totally different patterns. Go to the grocery or health food store and really look at the variety of products available. Really look at the fruit and vegetable section. Once again, we have not only provided a list of what you can eat, but barb has a recipe book that has many great dishes in it that are not just good for you, they are all Natural as well, and so will not interfere with the Healing Process.
Many say, "It takes too much time"
In the first few weeks it will take extra time. Time to shop, time to figure out what to eat, and time to do extra cooking. As you get used to the new foods, you will find it becoming easier and easier.
To make yourself well, you really have to make a commitment to yourself. You must confront these excuses and overcome them in your head in order for you to move forward. Only you can do this for yourself.
Once you start, you will be experiencing withdrawal and some people feel worse before they feel better. This is normal. Once you are over the withdrawal from the foods, you will start to feel better. The better you feel, the more you'll want to stick with it.
Relax. The whole process is tricky for the first few weeks, but it soon becomes routine. You'll remember the items on the list, and cooking and shopping will become second nature. It gets easier as you go along. Really! You have made a decision to do something about your HS, and that is great! It is not easy; there will be times when you wonder if it is all worthwhile, especially during the early stages as your body rids itself of the toxins accumulated over the years. When you feel like that, go read some of the testimonies, or post how you feel on the group board. There are many here who have done or are doing what you have finally decided to do, and they will offer help and support. It is time the HS Community realized that there is a way to beat this disease.
©Barbara Collins, RH, INHA 2004 all rights reserved
Author Hugh McTavish
Co Author Barbara Collins
