Okay, I haven't posted in a while, but I have some good news (for me, at least). After fussing around and going half way with dietary changes (my nutritionist had me tested for food allergies, then told me to eliminate those foods I tested positive for -- gluten, dairy, eggs -- and I did that), I decided to try something a little more decisive. I had eliminated the foods I wasn't supposed to eat, but I'd kind of found substitutes (gluten-free breads and sweets, soy milk/yogurt, etc.) and I wasn't seeing much improvement.
About a month ago, I stumbled across a book called the Paleo Diet, which talks all about how our modern foods screw up our bodies, and it's no surprise that we have everything from heartburn to heart disease to IBS to asthma and even acne.
In this diet, you're supposed to predominantly eat lean meats and fish, vegetables, and fruit. You can sprinkle in a few nuts and oils (healthy oils like olive, walnut, and flaxseed) here and there, but you don't eat any grains, processed foods, sweets, etc.
It's a very radical change, but it does make sense if you think about it. People evolved eating meats, fish, veggies, and fruit and very little else. It's what we're built to utilize.
Anyway, it's been hard changing my diet, and honestly I've only been doing it right for about two weeks, but I'm definitely noticing some changes. I've been sleeping very well at night, falling asleep almost right away (I used to lie awake, just waiting for the heartburn/acid reflux.) I also haven't had any of that traditional burning acid feeling that we associate with heartburn.
I'm not 100% yet (I still feel a little gas pressure in my chest, especially when I lie down), but I've seen positive enough results that I'm going to stick with this for a while. I'm sure it takes time to heal damage from years of poor dietary choices.
The diet is supposed to be a permanent lifestyle change (the hardest thing for me is giving up sweets and bread), but you are allowed a couple of cheat meals ("open meals") a week, so you can still have your favorites once in a while.
For those who want more information, the book is available from Amazon: The Paleo Diet: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Food You Were Designed to Eat
Hi, I just wanted to say that I totally agree with you! The Paleo is very difficult for me only because of the sugar and rice. I had already cut out diary because I was recently disgnosed with having casein whey allergy (not to be confused with intolerance). Also I already eliminated gluten. But giving up the gluten free cookies and natural brown sugar is hard. I'm off and on with that. The minute I started eating more of these two things, even being on nexium (i know), the heartburn came back.
Posted by: Alice | January 03, 2007 at 01:52 PM
I'm trying to figure out if my heartburn stems from allergic reactions....
It seems like some beers have more effect than others in that category. I wonder if yeasts or wheat is to blame there.
Posted by: ant1 | April 14, 2008 at 09:54 AM
What type of food allergy tests did you have done? eg. blood?
Thanks.
Posted by: abbey | January 19, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Hello,
I live in Australia and have chronic heartburn/acid everyday combined with other less chronic symptoms e.g. headaches, lethargy, mood swings. I couldn't relate this issue to any one food group so I have just started a detection diet and have cut out fructose but haven't seen any results yet. I am just wondering what type of allergy testing you had? Was it a blood test? Also does this test pick up food intolerance or just food allergies?
Thank you, any help would be much appreciated!
Posted by: Sarah | February 04, 2010 at 05:15 PM