“Your body will tell you what’s wrong if you are willing to listen”

Rose suffered from numerous medical conditions like fibromyalgia, ulcerative colitis, depression, loss of REM sleep, high blood pressure and obesity. Although she consulted many doctors and tried various medications, she was not able to resolve her problems.

In 2012 she vastly improved her sleep issues, fibromyalgia and lost 40 lbs (18 kg) with the help of a rice-based supplement. But she still suffered from a few small but bothersome symptoms like dry eyes and an inability to stay hydrated. “I was doing OK but was not as healthy as I was supposed to be.”

Rose’s light-bulb moment came when she stumbled upon The Plant Paradox by Dr. Steven Gundry in January this year. This might get rid of the remaining symptoms, she thought, and went on a ketogenic elimination diet.

Within a short time she had resolved all of her issues and lost an additional 10 lbs (5 kg).

How did she do it?

She simply cut out gluten, dairy, nightshades, corn, peanuts and cashews from her diet. “All of my food sensitivities were preventing my body from healing” Rose says. When she stopped consuming foods that she didn’t tolerate, she got better fast.

She recommends people who are currently in a similar situation to start listening to their bodies. “Your body will tell you what’s wrong if you are willing to listen to it. It will show you.”

Rose specifically recalls a social situation where she ate popcorn (which she doesn’t tolerate). Afterwards her stomach became very upset and she “felt like garbage physically and mentally”, despite her being a naturally upbeat person.

Other than that, Rose believes that it is important to understand that everyone’s body is different. It can be a good idea to use a food diary if you are trying to figure out what your body is reacting to.

A typical day of eating

On most days, Rose eats a salad with some of the following vegetables: spinach, garlic, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts or asparagus. She eats 4-8 ounces (100-200 g) of chicken with the skin, pork chops or fish. A bit of fat will keep you full, so she also adds guacamole or goat cheese for some extra fat, or puts coconut oil in her coffee.

Rose fasts daily and eats within a 2-4-hour window. Saturdays, however, are her feed days so she eats during a longer period.

Even though Rose doesn’t think that exercise is necessary, she believes that it can be a powerful strategy for becoming more healthy, boost the immune system and stay in shape as you age. “The more I exercise the better I feel.” She exercises for thirty minutes at least 4-6 times per week, and does both cardio (elliptical and treadmill) and strength training.

Later in Spring this year she went back on a low-dose medication for her blood pressure, since it was a bit elevated. She hopes that she will understand what causes the elevation, and get off the medication once more. Given the success she has reached thus far, it sounds very likely that she will reach her goal.

Comment

Hi Rose. Thanks for sharing your story and congratulations on finding your own personal path to health. I appreciate your comment that many times our bodies will tell us what we need to know. We just have to listen! Thanks for the reminder and keep up the great work.

Best,
/ Dr. Bret Scher, MD

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