My Gut Journey....Part 1

After explaining my "why" I am well and truly on the good gut journey now and it will be a long one. My next appointment for a check-up isn't until January, so for the next two and bit months I am doing the following....

Quitting Sugar

I have switched out the gluten free snacks and cereals that I used to buy at the supermarket which are full to the brim with sugar and replaced them with sugar-free home-made snacks. My current snack favourites are Raspberry Ripe Bites.

Instead of cereal for breakfast I am having a piece of toast with avocado, egg and some smoked salmon or a Chia Pudding (seriously addicted).

Probiotics etc

Even with all the gut issues that I have had I have never taken a probiotic - I know, bad right! No wonder my guts are miserable. Dr Lee also has me taking antibiotics to get rid of the Streptococcus on a week on, week off situation with the probiotic over 4 weeks (e.g. wk 1 probiotic, wk 2 antibiotic, wk 3 probiotic, wk 4 and onwards probiotic).

The probiotic contains Lactobacillus Acidophilus Bifidobacterium Bifidum, Streptococcus Thermophilus - all such long, unpronounceable words.

She also prescribed Mutaflor, which is another probiotic that comprises a viable non-pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli (E.coli). It was first isolated in 1917 from the faeces of a soldier during the First World War who did not suffer dysentery or any other intestinal diseases (gross, yet also extremely fascinating).

In the morning I take Digestaid before I eat to aid my digestion and assist in maintaining healthy digestive function. 

At night I also drink a glass of CytoPro Repair which is a combination of herbal extracts and nutrients with high dose Glutamine to support the structural integrity and function of the gastrointestinal tract. 

Kombucha

I have started drinking Kombucha and really really like it! I mean I love cups of tea so why I thought I wouldn't like Kombucha I just don't know. Kombucha is known to have gut healing properties - well let's hope so.

Bone Broth

Dr Lee suggested I drink Bone Broth, I thought why the hell not! At this stage I am willing to give anything a big fat go. Apparently it is very good for gut healing - watch this space. 

Gelatin Gummies

This one has been prescribed by Sarah Wilson, she's close to a Dr, isn't she??

Anyhoo, I am going to make some gelatin gummies, which have 18 amino acids and will also assist in reducing the inflammation in my gut. 

Yoghurt

Gotta eat more yoghurt. I recently discovered Coconut Yoghurt and I love it! I am also using Jalna BioDynamic Organic Yoghurt whenever and wherever I can. 

Do you have any gut loving foods that you eat?

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I Quit Sugar....again

According to people everywhere, sugar is bad for you. The dentist tells me, the Dr tells me, the Internet tells me and Sarah Wilson is constantly telling me.

Pack full of calories with no nutrients, it also feeds the bad bacteria in your mouth causing tooth decay. It is high in fructose which can overload your liver causing non-alcoholic fatty liver - delightful (not really).

It can cause insulin resistance which can lead to diabetes. Not to mention it's fat-promoting effects leading to obesity mixed with it's ability to be highly addictive. Throw in some high cholesterol and heart disease and maybe people everywhere have a serious point!

I'm also throwing into the "sugar is shite" bucket the fact sugar is feeding the bad stuff in my already whacked out gut biome - not something I need to be feeding right now.

So....I am quitting sugar - again. You see I have tried before and failed miserably. Not this time. I am girl crushing on Sarah Wilson, her website iquitsugar.com.au and her book, Simpilicious in the hope some of her non-sugarness will rub off on me.

This week we have enjoyed the following recipes:
https://iquitsugar.com/recipe/surf-n-turf-tacos/ 
https://iquitsugar.com/recipe/slow-cooked-korean-pulled-pork/
https://iquitsugar.com/recipe/pan-fried-whiting/

I wonder what next week will bring?

Have you quit sugar? Easy, Hard? Any tips to share?

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#iquitsugar Choc-zilla Smoothie

As part of my eating better, wholesome lifestyle I have been trying out some new lunchtime smoothies.

The latest was Sarah Wilson's "I quit sugar" Choc-zilla Smoothie.....but I didn't have Chocolate Protein Powder so I improvised.

Mine looked like this for an individual serve....

1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 avocado
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 tbsp almond spread
2 tsp organic cacao powder (Sarah had "a serve of Chocolate protein powder" instead)

I basically put it all in my smoothie maker - a cheaper version of a Mix'n'Go - and blitzed it.

I had to add some water as mine was a bit thick...probably due to the avocado, as I halved all the other ingredients but kept the 1/4 avocado.

My verdict - extremely nutty, perhaps I should have added more cacao or actually used the Chocolate Protein Powder because Sarah Wilson's definitely looks a lot more chocolatey than mine.

Tried this smoothie? Would you?