Digesting Fructose Malabsorption

     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!  

Gluten-free Pasta and Spinach

Valentine's Day Dessert

     In His Joys,

     Hannah E. Abbott

You Are an Endangered Species

           Yesterday, we spent our family day at the Omaha Zoo!  We delighted in the warm sunshine that felt refreshingly tropical and enjoyed meeting friendly creatures that were vibrant and full of life.  We caught a glimpse for a few hours of what God designed in the beginning of earth.  From extremely tiny insects to tall giraffes, each were phenomenal.  Did you know that God made you a rare an endangered species?  Our friend's the Otto's, who create Christian music told us that once and it stuck with me ever since.  You have been designed with a purpose and are bursting with potential.  God loves you just the way you are, but too much to leave you that way.  Looking at how caterpillars turn into butterflies is an example our hearts should follow....

Noah and John giving the Aloha Shaka sign as they ascend for an air safari

Agape Feasts

          Agape is the highest of the four types of of love in the Bible.  The Greek word Agape completely describes Jesus' love for God and His followers.  This is a selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love.  Recently the Holland and Northside Seventh-day Adventist Churches hosted Agape Feasts.  Together we feasted by candlelight, washed each other's feet, and shared the emblems of Communion.  Our tables formed a cross and in the center was a crown of thorns.  The thorns poked some of my friends as they were fashioning it, reminding us of the pain Christ boldly took for our freedom.  This was a spiritually renewing and refreshing experience.  Worshipping God through joyful songs of praise echoed throughout the Agape Feasts.  Following the Agape Feast we went door to door to our neighbors surrounding the Church, offering friendliness, a smile, thankfulness for being our neighbor, and gifts of uniquely decorated pots with Bible verses, blossoming with flowers.  If we can understand God's love in this beautiful way on earth, just think about how much more we will understand Him in Heaven...

          Acts 2:46-47 "They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God.  People in general liked what they saw.  Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved."

Treasure of Truth

         

          I have truly learned that worrying is wrong and does not replenish peace.  I struggle with worrying about too many things that it makes me feel uneasy and gives me a headache.  Two weeks ago, I turned in my final research essay for my writing class.  Repeatedly, my teacher told my class that if we plagiarize we will fail the class.  Of course I know I didn't plagiarize, but I worried that I unintentionally plagiarized and was fearful that I had a chance of failing.  Last night I knew that my results were going to be in today and I told God, "Worrying did not help my grade one bit.  If You get me an A, I will have to write about how You are so right about focusing on You and not silly thoughts.  No matter what the outcome is I will praise You.  Thank You for teaching me this valuable lesson."  Today was the day I received my binder filled with my semesters work.  I stepped outside the classroom and said, "Ok God this is it."  I opened it and saw an A.  I kneeled quietly and praised God for blessing my studies and am joyful to say goodbye to worry and trust God that truly He will help me with all I must do at each specific time.  Matthew 6:34 is a treasure of truth!

Precious Promises

          The only lasting hope I have is Jesus.  He is the One to calm my storms.  His love paints a picture of perfect protection.  I often claim His powerful promise in Psalm 91.  I still remember the first time I heard this passage.  My location was in a valley on the island of Oahu.  Fresh rain had fallen outside and I was comfortably sitting inside our home during family worship.  Together, we memorized a few verses that evening and continued to do so till we memorized the entire passage.  I am so thankful that my dad chose to share this specific news with us!  Isn't it wonderful to know that when we claim God’s promises, truth is shown and our hearts link onto His? :)  

          It was a hot Summer day on the island of Oahu.  I was trailing down Koko Head Crater exercising my physical body and connecting spiritually with God.  For a moment I stopped and held out my hands towards the Heavens.  I prayed this prayer, "Wow, God, You made all of this so beautiful.  The ocean, mountains, clear skies, fresh air, Hawaii.  I claim Your promise, ask and you receive.  You receive not because you did not ask.  So God, I come before You and ask You to move me, and my family from the island of Oahu to Lincoln, Nebraska.  My mom desires to be able to move me into the dorm and I want all of our plane tickets paid for and for my dad to get a Pastoring job in Lincoln.  I want you to help me get a scholarship.  I am going to Union College and am enrolling into their Pre-Physician Assistant Program.  I am going through with this and if You don't want me to, then You will have to stop me."  Immediately as I was praying I felt my hands get warm and tingly.  An overwhelming amount of peace enveloped my body.  I turned around in time to see my mother climbing the mountain behind me.  She witnessed my smile of sweet dependence on God.  I calmly told her, "Everything is going to be fine, it just is."

          A few weeks later, my dad got a call from Lincoln, NE.  The Kansas-Nebraska Conference of Seventh-day Adventists wanted my dad to have an online interview and he took it.  The bottom line is that he got the job of Pastoring two churches here in Lincoln, my mom moved me into the dorm, our plane tickets were paid for, I enrolled into the Pre-PA program, I received a large scholarship, we are all in Lincoln, and sure enough, God showed me that He has a different plan for my life than being a Physician Assistant.  Thank you God, for my Heavenly Hawaiian experience and my Heavenly Nebraskan experiences too!  :)