Category Archives for Digestion
Is overwhelm holding you back from starting the Specific Carbohydrate Diet? Let’s change that today!
Have you thought about using a more natural approach to quiet your gut challenges?
Have you been dragging your heels on starting the SCD because you just don’t have the support you need to be successful?
Have your gut symptoms got to the point where you feel like you’ve run out of options?
If you’re shouting YES! to one or more of these questions, I’ve got a new video I made with you in mind. It’s all about helping you decide if the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is the eating plan for you.If you’re just starting out on the SCD or if you’re on the SCD fence, this is going to help you move forward on your gut healing journey.
SCD Veterans Spill the Beans: What Every Mom Should Know Before Starting the Specific Carbohydrate Diet
Why do we scour the internet when we want to know how to do something?
We search for things like “heal IBD naturally” or “what is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet”…
Or “how to remove turmeric from my carpet”—Yep, just searched for this one yesterday after an unfortunate spilling incident of my simply delicious morning detox drink… and no, I still haven’t gotten it out so if you have any ideas, send them my way.
We search the internet to find answers for the same reason we seek out the advice of wise friends and confidants.
We seek out information like this because we want to learn from people who’ve come before us. We want to soak in their knowledge and benefit from their experience, right?
I’m a HUGE fan of all the unsung heros in my life. Most of them don’t even know I exist, but their insights and knowledge have affected me greatly. In all honesty, if it wasn’t for these wise and wonderful teachers, I don’t know where I’d be.
Getting the benefit of someone who’s come before you can cut down on–
- Wasted time trying to figure out your next steps.
- All the errors we make along the way.
- Feeling lost and stressed and alone.
Win. Win. Win.
If you were to ask me what I want more than anything for you, I’d tell you it’s this. I want to cut out all the hassle and wasted time for you. I want to cut out the stress and heartache that comes with taking 20 years to find your way. Trust me, I know this all too well. I’d tell you that I want you to get to the finish line that much quicker than I did.
So– with your speedy and stress-less healing in mind, I recently went straight to the SCD source.
Afraid to Travel: You Don’t Have to Ditch Your Travel Plans When You Have IBD
Sometimes I want to curl up in a ball and head to bed when the word “travel” comes up.
Have you ever felt this way?
It’s just such a headache no matter which stage of IBD you’re in.
I remember back to my first 20 years with Crohn’s when I didn’t want to travel because I knew that no matter where we went, I’d spend more time in the bathroom than looking at the sights. And now, even 10 years into using food, lifestyle and supplements to quiet my symptoms, I still get the occasional uugghhh feeling when it comes to travel because I know all that goes into making travel a successful experience. But now, instead of all that dread about finding bathrooms, my dread is all about…
- Where can I buy the food I need away from home?
- Where do I stay that has a place for me to refrigerate and cook my food?
- Do I have all my food packed for the trip?
- What will I do if I get there and I forgot something or can’t get the food I need at a local grocery store?
But here’s the thing—I never want you to think you can’t commit to an IBD eating plan (like gluten free, dairy free or even grain free like the SCD) because you won’t be able to travel anymore.
Hell to the no, girlfriend!
You can still travel.
You can still live out your bucket list of dream destinations.
I’m proof positive that it can work. I’ve done it many times over the years and I know you can too.
And best of all, you’ll be healthy, happy and bathroom free (at least as much as everyone else) while you’re away.
Sound good? Awesome, let’s start this convo—
Crohn’s, Colitis and Comfort Food: The #1 Food You’re Only Eating Once a Year, but Should be Eating Year-Round
*Hey busy mama? Want the audio version of the blog intro? Click HERE to listen on-the-go. Then go straight to the video.*
Comfort Food.
What feelings come to mind when you hear this phrase Comfort Food?
- Warmth
- Happiness
- Feeling good all over
- Cozy
- Relaxed
- Sinfully delicious
- Blissful food coma
And of course… comfort.
Comfort food is, well in a word—comfortable. It’s like that old, but much-loved sweater. It just feels good when you put it on.
I used to be addicted to the standard American diet comfort food. French bread, my nana’s pasta, white rice, mashed potatoes with gravy, mac and cheese… I thought these foods were comforting my belly when my IBD flared. And the truth is, they did feel awfully good going down. They’re rich and gooey, creamy and delicious. But what I didn’t find out until 20 years into my struggle with Crohn’s is that all these supposed comfort foods are ENORMOUS gut disruptors, not gut comforters.
As these starchy delights digest in your achy belly, they create a sugar-filled environment. And guess what all those lovely bacterial, creepy, crawly, critters in your gut love to feed on to multiply?
The Crohn’s/Colitis Vitamin D Connection: The What, Why and How of This Gut Healthy Vitamin
Why should Vitamin D matter to you, dear mom friend?
Sure, Vitamin D is the “it” vitamin these days. Many practitioners are talking about the link between vitamin D and pretty much everything from colds to cancer.
But besides the general health benefits of Vitamin D, why do we—moms with Crohn’s and colitis—need to sit up and take close notice of this powerful vitamin?
Well, it turns out that “everything from colds to cancer” includes a HUGE effect on our Crohn’s and colitis.
If you’ve been around our free and fabulous Gut Love Community for a while, you know I love to bury my nose in research to sift through the goodness and the crap (and there are a lot of crappy studies out there paid for by big pharma and special interest groups) to come out the other side with solid, real, unbiased facts.
Because of this love affair our medical community is having with Vitamin D, I decided it was time to dig into the research to find out for myself if there’s a connection between our illness and our D levels.
In Sickness and Health: The Impact of Crohn’s and Colitis on Our Kids
Have you ever wondered how your kid’s life might be different if you didn’t have a chronic illness?
- Would they be better adjusted?
- Would they be happier?
- Would their life be easier?
I wonder these same things all the time, but the truth is, an unaffected childhood isn’t my kids lot in life and it isn’t your kids either.
I’d venture to say that if your child had a choice, they wouldn’t have raised their hand to say, “Yes, please, please, can my mom have an incurable chronic illness?” What kid would?
5 Eating Plans Worth Trying to Help Quiet Your Crohn’s and Colitis
Who has the magic pill?
The one that cures Crohn’s and colitis.
If you’re out there with it, please, pretty please, send it my way. There really isn’t much I wouldn’t do for a cure. How about you?
Want to Conquer your Crohn’s and Colitis Symptoms Naturally? Here’s your ONE and ONLY starting place
How many times have you said to yourself, “I’m ready for a natural approach to help quiet my Crohn’s or colitis, but I just don’t know where to start.”
If I had a nickel for every time I said that to myself, I think I’d be a millionaire. I probably said it for close to 10 years before I finally did something about my debilitating Crohn’s Disease.
Or how about these obstacles:
There’s just WAY too many options.
What if they don’t work?
What if I get worse?
And the confusion goes on and on and on…
But what if I told you that no matter what eating plan you choose, like going gluten free or Paleo or the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, or supplements you decide to take, or meditation, yoga, Pilates or whatever the next big healing treatment is out there…
Whatever natural approach you choose, there’s really only ONE place to start. Only one full-proof method and if you use it right, it will take away all the confusion, fear and guesswork out of the “where do I start” syndrome we are all too familiar with.
Check out my latest gut healing video to find out all about how you have the power to take your health back. And I’ve got your first, fool-proof step right here.
Quick Gut Healing Wins for Crohn’s and Colitis
Oh, the New Year’s resolutions! They’re flying around everywhere. Can you see them?
- Lose Weight
- Gain Weight
- Manage Stress
- Be Mindful
- Exercise More
- Relax More
- Eat Less
It’s a yo-yo of more or less isn’t it?
And if you’ve got Crohn’s or Colitis, I bet at least one of those resolutions you made is to quiet your gut struggles.
But gut healing takes time. It takes patience. It takes perseverance and lots and lots of trial and error. Yes, true gut healing takes time. We’ll get there mom friend. I promise you. Don’t forget, 2018 is your year of healing.
But here’s the thing and I know it to be true because I’ve been there too…
You want to feel better NOW.
I want you to feel better now.
That’s why even though I know you’re going to be working enormously hard this year on true and lasting healing, I still want to give you some “out of the gate” feel better right now tools.
I’ve come up with 7 things you can start today to give your gut some much needed relief.
Ditch the Holiday Flare-Up: 9 Weird Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress
Why do we always accept that a flare-up is inevitable during the holiday season? We rush and we stress and we give up sleep and we hurry to get everything done. A holiday Crohn’s or Colitis flare-up is just par for the course, right?
Like all good moms, we read books, spend countless hours online searching for answers and talk to our friends about how to get through the holidays with an ounce of sanity and a healthy gut. We hear the answers loud and clear…take up yoga, learn to meditate, use stress management techniques.
But what if you’re like most moms and you don’t have time to learn a new coping skill during the holiday hustle and bustle?
Well, get ready to enjoy the holidays without the inevitable flare-up because I’ve got you covered.
I’m going to share with you some unusual tips and techniques that will actually do a number on the stress circuit going round and round in your body and it has nothing to do with meditation or yoga. In fact, you don’t have to learn a new skill at all AND I’m going to show you that it doesn’t even take a ton of time to say goodbye to the holiday stress flare-up.
So, what’s the secret to getting rid of the holiday manic-panic attack that always makes our gut struggles flare? Read on to find out.
5 Reasons Why Gluten Free Doesn’t Work and What to do Instead
Have you given the gluten free eating plan your best effort and still feel like you’ve come up short?
- Maybe your gut pain is still there.
- Maybe your diarrhea hasn’t gone away.
- Maybe there’s just something off, but you can’t figure out what it is.
You’re not alone.
This happens much more than most of us realize. It might seem like everyone’s jumping on the gluten free bandwagon and it’s going like gangbusters for them, but the truth is, there’s a lot of confused mamas out there wondering if the gluten free bandwagon is for everyone but them.
Well, listen up because I’ve got some good news for you.
I know why gluten free isn’t working like you’d hoped and today, I’m going to share with you why. Continue reading
What the Heck is Dry Curd Cottage Cheese and What Do I Do With It?
Dry Curd Cottage Cheese.
What?
If you are just starting out on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet or you are thinking of trying this eating plan to help quiet your Crohn’s or Colitis, you’ve likely heard of Dry Curd Cottage Cheese. It’s an important part of the SCD, but it’s probably one of the most confusing parts as well.
What the heck is DCCC and what do I do with it? That’s probably the #1 question I get when it comes to the SCD.
In this Gut Love Live Sesh, we continue our SCD Made Simple: Cooking for Summer Series by not only answering this question, but also showing you how to bake an SCD staple: DCCC
In this video, we cover:
- What is Dry Curd Cottage Cheese?
- Why is it on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet?
- Where do I buy it?
- What do I do with it?
- Plus, we’ll make one of my favorite DCCC recipes from start to finish
Grab a cup of tea, take a break from the kids and join me as we get some mom time to laugh, cry and support each other on our gut struggle journey.
Q and A Book Giveaway: Your Top IBD Questions Answered
IBD is confusing.
And there’s just not enough time in the doctor’s office to get all your questions answered. So, you sit and wait and wonder and more questions come and more confusion sets in.
That’s why I created an opportunity for you to get some of those questions answered. It’s called Q and A Book Giveaway and I am so excited to share our first Q and A sesh with you.
I reached out on Facebook and Instagram and asked you, “What are your top questions about IBD?”
Wow, your Q’s really surprised me.
They were raw and insightful and super juicy.
Best of all, they were questions that everyone has. I know because I’ve had the same ones in my 30 years with Crohn’s disease.
Plus, as a bonus on this video, I gave away one of my favorite books: Managing IBD: A Balanced Guide to Inflammatory Bowel Disease by Jenna Farmer. She wrote a fantastic book on IBD and I just had to give it to one lucky Gut Lovin’ Mama.
Check out this latest Gut Love Live Video Sesh. We cover a lot of ground.
Here’s what we talk about:
- How do I talk to my significant other about my bathroom issues?
- What’s the #1 thing, besides diet, that you recommend for a healthy gut?
- How does IBD affect your mood through anxiety and depression?
- What are the best foods to eat to help your gut and your immune system?
- Plus, we also talk about the power of sleep in healing your gut
- And my Health Psychologist hubby joins us as we get to the bottom on the emotional side of IBD
Grab a cup of tea, take a break from the kids and join me as we get some mom time to laugh, cry and support each other on our gut struggle journey.
Did you like this video? If these gut healing tips were valuable for you, why not make it a habit?
Join other moms working to balance motherhood with gut struggles in our Gut Love Community for Moms.
http://www.glutenfreedomformoms.com/gutlovecommunity/
It’s a private and priceless (free free free) place for you mom friend, when you’re ready to move beyond medicine and get support and encouragement on your journey to be the mom you always dreamed you’d be!
The Gut Love Community offers a place for you to:
- Share with other moms who actually get what it’s like to be a mom with gut struggles
- Get access to free master classes and specials only offered in our community
- Discover gut healing recipes that the whole family will enjoy
- Get your burning questions answered on how to best heal naturally from chronic gut issues like Crohn’s, Colitis and IBS.
http://www.glutenfreedomformoms.com/gutlovecommunity/
See you in the community!!
7 Must-Do Steps to End Your Gut Struggles: Part III
It’s Part III in my 3-part video series: 7 Must-Do Steps to End your Gut Struggles.
Didn’t watch Part I and Part II? No worries! These are stand alone videos. BUT, you’ll definitely want to go back and check out Part I and II when you have some mom time. It will give you even more great tips to quiet your gut issues like Crohn’s, Colitis, IBS , chronic diarrhea or constipation.
Grab a cup of tea or a glass of wine and take a load off with me as we discuss all things GUT HEALTH.
In this video, we’ll cover:
- The best way to form a new gut healing habit
- Why gut healing tips you’ve heard before are not rocket science, but still hard to make stick
- How knowledge and willpower are just the tip of the behavior change iceberg
- What teaching your kids gratitude has to to with your own gut health
- How to use your thoughts and feelings to manifest your healthy future
- Why jumping on the gluten freedom train will be the best trip you ever took
- How baby steps are actually tailor-made for mamas
Did you like this video? If these gut healing tips were valuable for you, why not make it a habit?
Join other moms working to balance motherhood with gut struggles in our Gut Love Community for Moms.
http://www.glutenfreedomformoms.com/gutlovecommunity/
It’s a private and priceless (free free free) place for you mom friend, when you’re ready to move beyond medicine and get support and encouragement on your journey to be the mom you always dreamed you’d be!
The Gut Love Community offers a place for you to:
- Share with other moms who actually get what it’s like to be a mom with gut struggles
- Get access to free master classes and specials only offered in our community
- Discover gut healing recipes that the whole family will enjoy
- Get your burning questions answered on how to best heal naturally from chronic gut issues like Crohn’s, Colitis and IBS.
http://www.glutenfreedomformoms.com/gutlovecommunity/
See you in the community!!
7 Must-Do Steps to End Your Gut Struggles: Part II
It’s Part II in my 3-part video series: 7 Must-Do Steps to End your Gut Struggles.
Didn’t watch Part I? No worries! These are stand alone videos. BUT, you’ll definitely want to go back and check out Part I when you have some “mom time”. It will give you even more great tips to quiet your gut issues like Crohn’s, Colitis, IBS , chronic diarrhea or constipation.
Grab a cup of tea and take a load off with me as we discuss all things GUT HEALTH.
In this video, we’ll cover:
- why we have to give ourselves a break when we are making big changes
- how a food journal can be your ultimate guide to gut healing
- why the saying “you are what you eat” is so wrong, wrong, wrong
- how to “Do it Like a Mom” when it comes to gut health
- why 5th graders may be the key to knowing what’s healthy and what’s not
- why I’m cringing and you’ll also get to meet my new little furry friend!
Did you like this video? If these gut healing tips were valuable for you, why not make it a habit?
Join other moms working to balance motherhood with gut struggles in our Gut Love Community for Moms.
http://www.glutenfreedomformoms.com/gutlovecommunity/
It’s a private and priceless (free free free) place for you mom friend, when you’re ready to move beyond medicine and get support and encouragement on your journey to be the mom you always dreamed you’d be!
The Gut Love Community offers a place for you to:
- Share with other moms who actually get what it’s like to be a mom with gut struggles
- Get access to free master classes and specials only offered in our community
- Discover gut healing recipes that the whole family will enjoy
- Get your burning questions answered on how to best heal naturally from chronic gut issues like Crohn’s, Colitis and IBS.
http://www.glutenfreedomformoms.com/gutlovecommunity/
See you in the community!!
How to Make SCD Legal Yogurt: Your Quick and Easy Guide to Get Started Today
Are you ready to try SCD or GAPS to help heal your chronic gut struggles like Crohn’s, Colitis, chronic diarrhea or constipation?
It’s time to learn how to make the most important food in the diet—the fermented homemade yogurt.
In this video, we’ll cover:
- how to keep yogurt making simple and painless
- your step by step guide so you’ll know exactly what to do even if it’s your first time
- the best kind of milk to buy to make your yogurt
- your SCD Legal options to use as a starter for your yogurt
- the simple tip I use to cool my yogurt quickly
- my #1 recommendation for a yogurt maker
- why it’s worth it to invest in a glass yogurt container
Did you like this video? If these gut healing tips were valuable for you, why not make it a habit?
Join other moms working to balance motherhood with gut struggles in our Gut Love Community for Moms.
http://www.glutenfreedomformoms.com/gutlovecommunity/
It’s a private and priceless (free free free) place for you mom friend, when you’re ready to move beyond medicine and get support and encouragement on your journey to be the mom you always dreamed you’d be!
The Gut Love Community offers a place for you to:
- Share with other moms who actually get what it’s like to be a mom with gut struggles
- Get access to free master classes and specials only offered in our community
- Discover gut healing recipes that the whole family will enjoy
- Get your burning questions answered on how to best heal naturally from chronic gut issues like Crohn’s, Colitis and IBS.
http://www.glutenfreedomformoms.com/gutlovecommunity/
See you in the community!!
7 Must-Do Steps to End Your Gut Struggles Part 1
So, you’ve made the decision.
You know you want to heal. Your ready to quiet your gut struggles and be the mom you always dreamed you’d be!
Now what?
This video is going to walk you through it all. By the end of this video, you will put an end to the confusion of “how do I get started” today.
Here’s your 7 “Must Do” steps when you’re ready to get started on healing your gut naturally.
This is Part 1 is a 3-part series and it isn’t just going to give you the WHAT to do, this series is all about the HOW you can make it happen in your super busy mom life.
It’s hard being a mom when we struggle with chronic gut issues like Crohn’s or Colitis. We don’t have time to figure all the pieces out
Well, I can’t wait for you to watch Part 1 in this 3-part series on your first and best gut healing steps (easy ones you can start today) because it’s going to be the nudge and the knowledge you need to get you moving in a healing direction.
Grab a cup of tea and take a load off with me as we discuss all things GUT HEALTH.
Are you IN yet?
Join other moms working to balance motherhood with gut struggles in our Gut Love Community for Moms.
Here’s the link for the Gut Love Community
http://www.glutenfreedomformoms.com/gutlovecommunity/
It’s a FREE AND FABULOUS place for you mom friend, when you’re ready to move beyond medicine and get support and encouragement on your journey to be the mom you always dreamed you’d be!
The Gut Love Community offers a place for you to:
- Share with other moms who actually get what it’s like to be a mom with gut struggles
- Get access to free master classes and specials only offered in our community
- Discover gut healing recipes that the whole family will enjoy
- Get your burning questions answered on how to best heal naturally from chronic gut issues like Crohn’s, Colitis and IBS.
And here’s the link one more time:
5 Mindset Hacks to Help With The Overwhelm That Comes When You’re a Mom With Gut Struggles
*Click Here to Get Your Top 12 Mindset Hacks to Ease Our Emotional Overwhelm Cheat Sheet
The 5 Best Gut Healing Diets Worth Trying
Click Here to Get Your 5 Gut Healing Diets Explained Cheat Sheet From This Video
The Best On-the-Go Snacks for Moms Healing Gut Struggles With Food
*Click Here to Get Your On-the-Go Snacks Cheat Sheet for This Video*
