I've been making changes to what and how I eat in order to support my health and deal with recently diagnosed food intolerance issues. I began to suspect that I had food intolerances, or allergies, when I noticed several physical symptoms. One of them was that my sleep seemed to be getting worse. This was in spite of taking supplemental support (tryptophan and vitamin B6) as well as the use of essential oils like lavender and serenity.
Don't get me wrong, I was sleeping. But it wasn't as restful as I was used to, I was waking more frequently, and I was noticing that my dreams had changed.
Food intolerances can create a cascading effect on the system due to the increased inflammation. This inflammation can:
- increase mucous production causing stuffy noses, full sinus, and post nasal drip
- impact cortisol levels which in turn can cause a shift in hormonal levels affecting sleep
- cause itching, rashes, and other skin irritations which can make for restless sleep
- affect gut health which impacts the whole body and, again, can cause discomfort which can interrupt sleep
- inflammation from food intolerances may also impact joint health or cause swollen tissues
Any and all of which can add up to less than optimal sleep. And without sleep, well, many of us don't function well. I know this is especially true for me.
When we are dealing with health and wellness we sometimes forget to pay close attention to our bodies. To listen, if you will, to what they are telling us. The small, creeping clues of “not feeling well” can be indicators of a larger problem. If there's a pattern or consistency to that we need to pay attention. Food journaling can be a great way to stay on top of this. Most of us think that we will remember what we ate and how we felt. But, as I frequently joke with others when I ask them to food journal, ‘I can't remember what I had for breakfast on Tuesday how am I supposed to remember everything I ate and how I felt for an entire week?' I knew I wasn't sleeping well, I knew I was having more mucosal production, but I wasn't paying attention. Until I journaled myself and realized that there was a pattern. That lead to testing which lead to answers. Very simply, very straightforward.
How do I know I'm on the right track? Because it's getting better. I confess, even though I've been doing this for years with other people, even though I've personally seen the benefits of changing what and how I eat to meet the needs of my bio-individual body, I'm always amazed when simple changes can have such a profound effect. Within two weeks of modest changes I've started to sleep so much better. The third night that I woke up realizing that I had “zonked out” I knew I was on the right path.
It's not easy sometimes, but it is simple. Getting better quality sleep is making me feel better. I wake up refreshed and ready to hop out of bed and get started with my day. It's fabulous how much great sleep can help you feel so much better overall. And feeling better is both it's own reward and the motivation.
Want to know more? Contact me for a free Food Journal page and find out if you have food related health patterns.
More info: giving up dairy
photo: PhotogLife