Feeling 'charged'
It's a year now since I 'went primal' and I've been on a gradual incline in terms of health. I'm pleased to report that I never have any stomach pain anymore, never feel nauseous or anxious and I've been sleeping so well. My headaches have gone, my energy is steady and lasts all day, my niggling aches pains, and plantar fasciitis have gone and well, the list is endless, but I've felt better than ever before.
I even felt really 'charged' a real connection. Every day has endless possibilities and I feel full of enthusiasm to greet each day, it's a truly wonderful way to exist, almost, like it's meant to be.
Would you like a drink?
Last week I had a particularly great week, just feeling great, all going well....and then I had a glass of red wine.
Now, this isn't a blog about the evils of alcohol. Alcohol is a grey area in the Paleo/Primal world. I reckon you should do what feels right for you. If I am honest I definitely do better without the alcoholic stuff, but it's such a part of our culture (how lame does that sound?) and anyway I don't want to be one of 'those' people that don't drink. Having said that my two good friends Nic and Kirsty don't drink and I don't think of them as 'those' people, so...?
Alcohol did me in
Alcohol was a major contributor to my gut ill health. Gluten and Alcohol are two if not THE two main causes of leaky gut. Alcohol consumption feeds gram-negative bacteria such as E. Coli to create bacterial overgrowths of these more toxic bacteria and therefore excess endotoxin production in the gut. I ended up with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) one of the main symptoms was nausea. I used to drink lots of wine, in fact I craved it, well the bad bacteria craved it, I would drink a bottle of wine all to myself and do that 3-4 nights a week.
Moderate
These days I drink between 2-4 drinks at one time and that's two to three nights a week. It's usually two, and it doesn't give me a hangover. It just makes my sleep a bit poor. I may drop off easier but I tend to wake in the night more, and have trouble getting back to sleep. Alcohol reduces REM (Rapid Eye Movement) which is the dream state and the restorative part of sleep.
The next day I am tired - my sleep being interrupted by the alcohol - this affects my hormone leptin (which tells me how hungry I am) and also affects my blood sugar, it's lower, so I crave sugar. A poor night's sleep also increases cortisol levels (the stress hormone) so I'm a bit on edge all of a sudden. I'm craving sugar so I have something, it will still be Paleo but it will be sweet, sweeter than I'd normally have. For example, I'd start the day with pancakes instead of eggs and avocado.
Before you know it, I'm hungry again, the high sugar brekky has increased my blood glucose, thus insulin and crash again and hello more cortisol. It's a bit of a viscous cycle for me at the weekend, when we usually have a wine, a dessert, pancakes etc.
I can't take deep relaxing breaths, it feels like I have a fat cat sat on my chest! My neck, shoulders and jaw tighten and I lose that connected feeling and go back to old 'means to an end' feelings.
I just find it so interesting how you notice how much food (and drink) affects you once you have peeled back layers of inflammation, bad bacteria and are working from a place of true health. I wanted to share this with you, in case you feel the same. So that, instead of lying in bed on a night wondering "what's wrong with me" ask "what's wrong with what I ate!".
Remedy?
I always breath a sigh of relief on a Monday! A whole week of no drinking! A calmer time with husband and kids out all day and I can focus again on ME! Walking on the beach, yoga, dancing, mediating, seeing friends and 'working'. I am usually still sugar hungry on Monday but try to avoid that last slice of chocolate cake from the weekend and stick to loads of veggies, especially leafy greens, good fats and grass fed protein. Then before I know it, I'm back on track, aligned with all that is again! Pheweeee.....
I'd also like to add that I think the sulphites in the wine affects me, and makes me more sensitive to caffeine in my dark chocolate and coffee than usual, anyone else experienced this?
For people who feel great eating and drinking anything - good luck to you. If it made me feel great I would be eating cake and drinking baileys coffee. But....
ReplyDeleteAlcohol does not love me - has an instant negative effect on my immune system. I can feel a sore throat creeping up after a few beverages! Also sulphites wreak havoc on my sinuses. Succumbed to the ambience of a lunch out recently, having fully intended not to drink, and came home with a stuffy head. Still love the taste just not how I feel. Still have a social drink now and then but usually makes me feel crap. Can be weeks between drinks (so maybe I am not very social!)
Sugar - had an interesting OVERLOAD on the weekend - got stuck into a little sugar treat (ice-cream) and paid the price all night. gurgling stomach all night and into the morning. Didn't feel right all day then backed up to Paleo pancakes for Mother's Day (made by well meaning son) which then exacerbated the stomach - coconut flour and maple syrup? I would have loved eggs but couldn't exactly send them back!!! Spent the day out fishing feel queasy ...ugh! No more bingeing on gourmet connoisseur !
Caffeine - have given away coffee after the "grinding" feeling in my guts when I drink it. Tried bullet coffee with butter - yummy but can't be bothered as feel so good without drinking it and not missing the ritual of coffee- have tea or chai! Not sure about the sleep...usually like a log but have had a few insomniac episodes...so will try to nut that out.
Overall, I am learning more and more about what does and doesn't agree with me. I am so much more in tune with how food makes me feel. I am so glad I have taken the steps to start living this way - I feel so good!