I didn’t think I needed a reminder but apparently I did! Due to having a very full life while completing a big project (something I am still marvel at doing just 3 years after beginning the diet) I had about a week or two when I was out of my normal routines of eating. I began to eat more spelt products than usual because it was easy when I was on the go. As we have often said before, spelt flour recipes are in our book because spelt is low in gluten although still contains gluten. For folks who have little or no negative response to gluten, it is a good substitute for wheat in baking and baked goods.
But for me, increased spelt flour consumption (in pasta, wraps, sourdough bread) was not so good. I reacted very negatively to an early spring heat wave, including renewed weakness in my left leg, loss of balance, fatigue, inflammation in muscles of my lumbar region- an all too familiar memory of symptoms that I have not experienced for many months. Just three days later of eating no gluten and I am already feeling fine once again.
Knowing that I am in control of my own symptoms is fantastic. I am actually grateful for this reminder. So I pass it along to you.
A quick note to readers- in our emails, folks often are dismayed at an initial increase of symptoms when first beginning the diet. That is not uncommon and is not likely to last. We cannot know for sure what causes it but changing a lifestyle is stressful for any-body at first. We encourage you to have patience and hang in for a few more months to see if positive signs also begin to slowly accrue.
Also, for vegetarians- the question arose as to whether or not eating nuts, seeds, and avocados for protein could substitutes for legumes. The problem with those substitutes is that you’d have to eat a great many of them to get your protein needs met and to initiate healing. And those choices are all quite high in saturated fats, unlike the lean animal proteins we advise. Some people have eliminated their MS symptoms simply by eliminating all unnecessary saturated fats from their diets. (see Ann's latest blog) We cannot separate out one element of a given food from another.
So moderate and rotate! And enjoy the abundance and variety of fresh produce more readily available in the coming seasons.