Depending on where you are in the world, you will find different textures, smells, tastes and nutrients combined in food. Many people are familiar with eating disorders, but many are not informed about digestive disorders. People can be plagued by celiac disease, crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, fructose malabsorption or an enormous variety of allergies to food. I am ready to share my journey with you.
For nine months I felt absolutely awful. As in fatigue, upset stomach, bloating, irritableness, cramping, nausea, pain, and exhaustion. I regularly ate really delicious healthy food such as sauteed onions, garlic, and asparagus with homemade tomato sauce and whole wheat spaghetti. For several months I went gluten-free and added rice and quinoa to my meals. Cashews, mango, honey, sweet potatoes, apples, celery, cauliflower, and snow peas were handy. I could not understand why I felt so sick after eating such wholesome nutrient-rich food!
That is when I finally decided to go see a Gastroenterologist in Lincoln, Nebraska. My doctor thought that the best way to figure out what was happening was to perform a colonoscopy. My response to him was, "Please give me all the other tests first and make the colonoscopy a last resort!" He agreed and off I went home with two Hydrogen Breath Tests. For two days I followed the test's directions and only ate white bread, pears, eggs, peeled apples and white rice. The first test was to see if I was lactose intolerant and the second breath test was to see if I had fructose malabsorption. Each test required me to drink a powder mixed with water and every 1/2 hour give a sample of my breath in a tube. I turned in my tubes full of my breath and waited for the results.
I was so happy when the nurse assistant called me and informed me that both tests were negative! I was devastated when I got a letter in the mail, signed by my doctor that the test results showed that indeed I had fructose malabsorption! I called my nurse to verify and sure enough I have fructose malabsorption. According to the Mayo Clinic, "fructose is a sugar found naturally in fruits, fruit juices, some vegetables and honey. Fructose is also a basic component in table sugar (sucrose), and high-fructose corn syrup is used to sweeten many processed foods and beverages. When your digestive system doesn't absorb fructose properly it can cause abdominal pain..."
Shopping for food was overwhelming and emotional! I wasn't sure exactly what foods my body could digest and quickly found out that fructose seems to be everywhere! Someone shared with me the FODMAPs diet and that is what I faithfully have been following for the past 9 months. FODMAP stands for Fermentable, Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, And, Polyols. I bought an app called the Monash University LOW FODMAP diet and I use it daily. It allows me to filter my sensitivities and easily see what foods to stay away from and more importantly, what foods my body will enjoy digesting! I truly feel wonderful now that I know how to treat my body. I had to eliminate the foods that I lived off of for 19 years and totally change my diet, but it is well worth it! I have lost 40 pounds, my energy levels are up, and I am excited to try new foods that I never would have thought to try if I wasn't diagnosed with fructose malabsorption.
I am so thankful that I did not have to have a colonoscopy. If your doctor encourages you to take that route, I hope that you listen to their advice. I know people who listened and because of their colonoscopy, they know that they have crohn's disease and others found polyps that needed to be removed. I think that everyone's body is finely tuned and it is very important to listen to what your body is telling you. I am also thankful to attend Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The cafeteria staff have been phenomenal with accommodating my needs! I had a meeting with them about my fructose malabsorption and they agreed to follow the FODMAPs diet with what they feed me. Here are some pictures of the food they have made me and the FODMAPs list we go by. Even though some foods are FODMAP friendly, I do not consume them. Such as, alcohol and aspartame.
I encourage you to eat foods that promote health and vitality to your body. If you know that you struggle with an eating disorder, body image, allergy, intolerance, or digestive disorder, treat yourself with kindness and find someone to help encourage you towards optimum health. It is important to talk about your struggles and listen to the wisdom of people who have been where you are at! I only wish that I had spoken up sooner about the feelings I was going through. To those that have mastered the art of eating and to those who are just beginning, know that you are so precious. Treat your body well and be well!
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| Gluten-free Pasta and Spinach |
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| Valentine's Day Dessert |
In His Joys,
Hannah E. Abbott
