Tags
allergies, diet, digestion, eggs, food, healthy, intolerances, lactose, pistachio, stomach, vegan, veganism, vegeterian, walnuts
I’m currently vegetarian, severely lactose intolerant, and allergic to egg whites, walnuts and pistachios. Although I realize that there are people out there with many more dietary restrictions, I’m constantly running into problems with my digestive system and struggle with its boundaries.
Now, it wasn’t always like this! In fact, I used to feel so lucky as a kid. I was basically a bottomless pit with a stomach made of steel. However, I was indeed quite picky. Milk, butter, margarine, cream cheese, or any white sauces in general were a no-no… they still are, actually. Totally gross me out! I hated fish and seafood (which I still stand by) and wasn’t really adventurous.
While this sounds perfect considering my current eating situation, I’ve gotta tell you, being forced to live without ice cream, yoghurt, cheese or any products that contain dairy or eggs (which is anything from most breads to all sweets) is torture for me. You see, before finding out about my allergies and intolerances, I was strongly encouraged by my doctor to really integrate more dairy and eggs into my diet. So, that’s exactly what I did. I became completely dependent on these foods, which only worsened my internal state.
I found out about the lactose issue a year ago, and the allergies two weeks ago. Somewhere deep down I always knew that something I was eating was destroying my stomach and causing my mouth and throat to burn, but I couldn’t put my finger on it until the tests came back. Why not take the Lactaid pill and continue to enjoy your precious dairy, you may ask? Well, for some reason, no matter how many I take, they never work. While it may be scientifically improbable for that to be the case, I know that no matter what I do, if I want to consume dairy, there will be dire consequences for me.
So, here are the choices I’m left with: continue to eat dairy and live with the symptoms, leaving my digestive system in a continuous cycle of turmoil AND turn a blind eye to my allergies, living with those symptoms as well, leaving me susceptible to acquiring more intolerances, allergies and worse problems. Or… I make a change, and stick to it. Hence veganism! I’ve cut dairy out before, but since then I’ve been slipping back into my old ways. SO, I’ve finally decided that it has got to stop, for the sake of my health and of being free from a life of being constantly uncomfortable. One week, and still going strong!
I’m currently trying out new recipes, reading up on veganism and learning from other people’s experiences. I’ll post about this journey as often as I can, so stay posted!
Love, fashion, and life,
Willow Loves Jade
© Arielle Supino and WillowLovesJade, 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts may not be used either.