Going Night-Shade Free...

...is HARD!

Who knew?

Pretty much ALL of my comfort foods are nightshades - pizza, chili, mashed potatoes, lasagna. And now I have to give them up.

That is the hardest part right now. I am 5 days away from taking the full plunge - and cutting my nightshades is terrifying. They are what I go to during stressful times - on busy days.

Just this week I have noticed a difference. My arthritis is not as bad the longer I go without tomatoes. I really feel a difference. Also my weight is dropping steadily already (about 1lb a week)- and its not even September 1st.

I am thankful for pinterest and food allergy blogs - I am getting some good ideas on what I can substitute. Look for more recipes on this blog as I get into it!

5 days!

Food Journal - July 30,2013

Food Journal
*still in the purge section of the journey - aka using up all the "bad"products in the house

Breakfast:

• 2 Eggs scrambled with Spinach (are eggs allowed on this diet? I have yet to find out) - used Almond Milk in eggs
• 2 Slices Turkey Bacon
• 1 Glass of water 

 Lunch:

• Mixed Greens Salad with 1/4 apple, cucumber, & walnuts
• 1 Tbs Cider Dressing 
• Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips  
• Baby Carrots and Red Pepper Hummus

Dinner:

• Cabbage & Onions sauteed in 1 Tbs Taco Seasoning with WHITE Flour Tortilla shells - with salsa, sour cream, and lettuce
• Handful of Grapes
• Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips  

Snacks:

• Apple with Peanut Butter
• Glass of OJ 
• Almonds & Pistachios 

Expectations & Plans

The way I am going to go about this lifestyle change is different that Dr. Pagano recommends.

I am nursing my 9 month old and not comfortable going on the Apple Diet right off the bat (3 days of only apples to cleanse system). Instead I am going to ease into eating right. Trying to eventually follow all the rules, like the 80/20 rule, more veggies and fruits, ease off the night shades, and cut my sugar intake. I eventually would like to go gluten-free and diary-free as well.

I cannot imagine going cold turkey on ketchup! Man do I love ketchup. 

Also I want to use up some of the "no" foods that I have - like tomatoes, peppers, white wheat products, pizza - and the like. So I will begin this gradually. I will be using this blog as a food Journal as well - hopefully showing how I get through each day with food. I am a snack-er - and I love carbs. Lord help me!

Here is what I am expecting to be hard about this Journey:

• Giving up Tomatoes 
• Giving up Ketchup 
• Most of my "go-to" meal are tomato based
• Eating out 
• Stopping stress eating 
• Being around family functions 

Here is what I expect to be good about this Journey:

• Clear skin (hopefully)
• Healthier body 
• More self-confidence
• Less joint pain 
• Less risk of developing Diabetes 
• Improving of my relationships 

 So here goes kicking Psoriasis in the butt! 

Begining

This Journey really began when I was 13. (Thank you Puberty!)

It all started on my scalp... and it runs in my family so we had a pretty good idea what it was. (Thank you Nana - for passing that gene down!)

At the time we tired all kinds of treatment - oral drugs (didn't work), topical (worked, sometime), and light box therapy (too expensive).  Finally we settled on topical steroids that I used on and off for about 10 years. You know, I had to switch to different ones all the time because my body would get used to the steroid.

About 3 years ago I started developing Psoriasiatic Arthritis. So now that plagues my joints every once in while.

Fast-forward to a year ago - I was pregnant and could no longer use steroids for my skin or glucosamine for my joints. Now what?

I settled for prayer and moisturizing cream (I used CeraVe - I liked it). Well that seemed to help while I was pregnant - it was under control with no bleeding and very few scales. I am very thankful that it didn't get worse as I  have heard of that happening to some women when they are pregnant.

So now, 9 months postpartum I have flared and its as bad as it ever was. Only this time, I am nursing and I am very uncomfortable with using steroid creams, tar shampoo, or biologicals. And in my area there is only one lightbox available and the place won't take my insurance.

So... thats why I am here. To heal my psoriasis - using as little drugs as possible.

I picked up "Healing Psoriasis" by Dr. John Pagano. 
 

I am working through it. This won't be easy. But one day at a time - maybe I can reverse this disease- and live itching and pain free.

(For more information on Psoriasis check out The National Psoriasis Organization)