Eat Better Feel Better

In life, we sometimes reach a point of no-return, where we are forced to abandon our old and comfortable ways for something totally new and unfamiliar to us. This can be very difficult, even when this change is wholly beneficial and necessary for us to thrive. Making changes to our diets, be it minor or major, is one such example, whether for health purposes or simply to lose some weight. There are so many types of food that can harm us either in the short or long but because of their taste, our emotions take the lead and we find ourselves reaching for the foods we should avoid. We then feel guilty and blame our own lack of willpower.

But is it solely about willpower?

Not exactly! More than just our emotions acting on their own, it may actually be the bacteria in our guts sending signals in the form of sugar cravings to our brain and compelling us to reach for that chocolate chip cookie. These bacteria feed on sugar and white flour, and when we decrease these foods in our diets, in the process of dying off, they send signals of craving for these foods. In a healthy microbiome, beneficial bacteria are balanced with adverse bacteria.  However when our microbiome is in dysbiosis (imbalance), the beneficial ones become vastly outnumbered by the bad ones.

We do want to correct dysbiosis as soon as possible and regain our health. The journey may seem daunting or even impossible in the beginning; – some people describe this as an addiction-type response.

So what can we do?

There is a whole other world of healthy alternatives that taste very good (if not better) than the foods that are contributing to inflammation and disease. And once you go there, you won’t see the need to turn back. Here are some foods to consider:

	Almond flour Replaces the usual white refined flour used in cooking and baking. Almond flour is high in vegetable protein, has beneficial fatty acids, and is quite filling with a fair number of calories.
	Frozen bananas Believe it or not, they are a great replacement for ice cream when blended and frozen! Add a bit of maple extract and cinnamon, blend with avocado for a creamy treat!
	Oat groats A wonderful substitute for rice. Contains lots of fiber and antioxidants on top of other nutrients – these groats really pack a punch.  They are a prebiotic, they help with heart disease and diabetes, and with feeling “full”.  They are lovely as both a sweeter food, and one that can be made savory.
	Zucchini noodles “zoodles” Want noodles but can’t eat them? Simply use zucchini instead! All you need is a spiralizer, or you can do it by hand too.
	Lentil/black bean pasta These pastas are made using lentils or black beans rather than the regular flour. Your gut will be extremely thankful!

Many recipes around these can be found in the IBD-Aid website: https://www.umassmed.edu/nutrition/ibd-aid/ but this list is not exhaustive at all. Many great things are out and about waiting to be discovered by you. All is not lost just because the conventional diets are not friendly to your gut.