I love sweets. Cookies, cakes, pies, candies. You name it, I love it. But I have found over the years that eating sweets does not always agree with me. And certain sweets will trigger a reactive hypoglycemia spell where my heart races, I am shaky and confused, and end up in some sort of drugged like state on the couch or in bed. Gluten causes a whole other set of GI issues for me. Often these things will contribute to a flare up of my fibromyalgia, so I find it’s best if I just avoid them altogether.
Continue reading “Clean Eating: Oatmeal Cranberry Walnut Cookies”Tag: clean eating
Clean Eating: Red, White and Blueberry Smoothie
Triple Berry Smoothie Bowl Recipe
In America, this is the weekend that we celebrate Independence Day, typically with cookouts and fireworks. In the days of Coronavirus, our family won’t be celebrating in the traditional ways. Since late March, we have been doing our best to #StayAtHome. This year that means no BBQs with friends or watching fireworks with big crowds. It will be a simple BBQ at home for the family.
During quarantine I have been practicing self-care with proper eating and extra walks with the dog to get out of the house. These habits also help me to keep the fibromyalgia flare-ups to a minimum. The neighborhood has gotten a bit boring, so this past week I discovered some lovely nearby walking trails. After a particularly long walk this morning, I made this Red-White-and-Blue Triple-Berry-Coconut smoothie bowl that I thought would make a nice 4th of July treat!
6 Ways to Cope with Stress when you Have a Chronic Illness
Chronic stress can cause extreme duress on the fibro body and your adrenal system.
Managing my fibromyalgia is a careful balancing act of self-care. This involves eating healthy, getting adequate sleep, working out, and taking time for me. Living with fibromyalgia means that normal, every day stressors can place an additional hardship on the fibro body. So when you are faced with an extended period of stress – bad flare or other health crisis, work deadlines, family emergencies, or simply just getting through the holidays – you can place an extreme amount of duress on your body and your adrenal system.
“Adrenaline is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress, increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and preparing muscles for exertion.”
You can feel this when your heart starts to race or your hands or body sweats. Adrenaline is also responsible for that fight-or-flight mechanism that can give people extraordinary strength in times of crisis. And an over-exposure to the stress hormones can tamper with your overall well-being.
Continue reading “6 Ways to Cope with Stress when you Have a Chronic Illness”Clean Eating: Smoothie Round-Up
Fight fibromyalgia with your diet
I have long managed my fibromyalgia with healthy life-style choices including diet and exercise. My best fibro-fighting weapons? Starting my day with yoga and a healthy smoothie.
“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.”
La Rouchefoucauld
The concept of eating “clean” just encourages you to consume more whole foods — such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and healthy fats — and limit highly processed snack foods, sweets and other packaged foods. Yes, it’s a difficult concept to wrap your brain around during the holidays when we often indulge on extra calories in the form of holiday meals and baked goodies.
Oftentimes we equate healthy foods with tasteless foods. But done right smoothies are the perfect combination of both nutritious and flavorful foods. I have posted some recipes and pics on the blog and my Instagram of smoothies and smoothie bowls, so I thought I would grab my favorites in one post. Smoothies take about 5 minutes to put together in a blender, and then you have the perfect meal on the go!
Continue reading “Clean Eating: Smoothie Round-Up”
My Inspired Fibro Life 