Nobody can prepare for a severe health condition. A person can do everything right, from exercise to healthy eating, and still end up being diagnosed with a health problem.
Some certain illnesses and diseases would force you to make some major diet changes. Some foods that you previously enjoyed may not be good for you now. One example is those with Crohn’s disease. They have to eliminate certain foods because it triggers their flare-ups. This can be quite hard for someone who is an avid food enthusiast.
If you’re struggling to adjust your diet to your recent condition, you can still find a way to enjoy your passion for food while still eating healthy.
Take it one day at a time.
Abrupt changes in any aspect of your life can be overwhelming and stressful. The best advice for any situation is to take it slow and make small steps to change. For some, the added pressure alone can further worsen their conditions and deteriorate their bodies. That’s why it is important to transition both your mind and body to help make it accustomed to the changes.
If you’re not sure which aspect of your new diet you should prioritize, it’s better always to consult your doctor. Some changes may need to be implemented sooner than others, so it’s important to take note of that as well.
Once your body is used to eliminating certain foods, then you can move onto the next steps. Studies show that it takes around two to three months for a person to break a habit. During this time, you can inform your family and friends to help you better adapt to the changes. They can do their part by limiting your exposure to the food you are being restricted so as not to trigger your emotions.
Be open-minded to change.
Eliminating certain types of food would mean having to adjust your cooking as well. Instead of completely removing certain dishes from your diet, you can try to adjust it to make it fit your own dietary needs. This would require you to be more open about other alternatives that you may not have considered before.
For instance, those with Celiac disease need to cut off a lot of food items with gluten, which includes things like pasta and most grains. That means their starches have to be replaced with approved ingredients like rice, tapioca, and soya beans. Traditional pasta and bread have to be replaced with gluten-free variations such as multigrain pasta or bread made with cassava flour.
You might also need to consider changing your cooking habits, depending on the diagnosis. Baking or air-frying food can be a good replacement for regular frying if you need to reduce oil and fats in your diet.
Learn from real-life experiences
Many times, it would feel like your situation is hopeless and hard to overcome. One thing that can help you is to find good resource materials with similar situations and conditions that you can learn. Reading about those with firsthand experience can help you feel motivated and hopeful about your condition.
Sometimes, the way people approach the road to their recovery may not be the best strategy. In this case, experiences from other people can offer you a new perspective. For instance, those that had fibromyalgia often focused too much on food that triggered their condition and not about what diets helped them stay healthy. Some people seek information and help from the internet, from sites like ourcfsunravelled.com. This is acceptable as long as you look for sites that provide clear and scientifically-backed information, so you’re sure you’re receiving the best care.
Another option that you can look into is special cookbooks—finding out the best alternative ingredients to make tasty dishes may seem hard at first. That’s why there are chefs and professionals today that make cookbooks specifically to help those with certain conditions. These contain tried and tested recipes that can taste just as good, or even better, than the original!
Avoid miracle diets.
Some people can be desperate in their journey to recovery and might end up turning to fad diets that miraculously cure them. If it’s not something recommended by your own personal doctor, take this with a grain of salt. There are a lot of people who claim to be health experts, but it’s hard to verify them.
Understand that even though you have similar health problems, that doesn’t necessarily mean their methods would work with yours. Always consult with your doctor if these methods are backed by medical experts and scientists. Your body would also have its own needs, and this is something that your doctor would take into account when recommending diets.
These are tough times for you, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up great food! It just takes a few adjustments and time. Who knows, this could be a chance for you to discover a whole new side of food that you would never have before.