Posted on Friday 17 March 2006
Yesterday, I was lucky to have a consultation with Donna Gates, author of The Body Ecology Diet. Those of you who’ve been reading my blog entries know that The Body Ecology Diet (BED) is how I finally recovered from bulimia & binge eating – after 4 years on the path to recovery (and trying just about everything for longer than that). I am a big proponent for experimenting with things on the level of mind, body and spirit in recovery from addictions & eating disorders. The BED supports this because it honors the ability of the body to heal itself – step by step. That’s the key, it’s a process of taking actions, no matter how small, toward your health.
Donna addresses bulimia in her book and in our consultation yesterday, we talked about anorexia and binge eating as well. Of all the research and pieces of the puzzle I was putting together over the years, speaking to Donna was like someone finally understood what my intuition was telling me. From an early age, way before bulimia, I KNEW something was wrong with my digestion. Donna could spot the issues just from reading my consultation form, which I filled out before meeting her. She confirmed the things that I suspected, but no doctor ever really grasped.
A Visionary In Treating The Body As A System
Donna is a visionary in treating the body as a system – connected inextricably with the mind. She calls this the inner ecosystem, just like you’d read about if you studied ecology. This basically means that our body-mind continuum is made up of elements that work together to create balance, or steady state – within ourselves and with our environment. This idea brings us back to how connected we are with the Earth and all of life.
If you think about the spiritual explanation of addiction and eating disorders, some would say we have lost our connection to the whole. In this way, you can sum up addiction and the body-mind & spirit loss of connection or balance in the ecosystem. Healing means coming back into balance.
I live in a place where there are hurricanes – some of them very devastating. And yet, within 3 months, plants start coming back, trees start growing, insects and animals start to repopulate the area. The underwater life starts to repopulate. Above and below the water, everything starts to repair itself. Since science doesn’t have a drug to cure the after-affects of hurricanes, the Earth’s natural ecosystem is allowed to heal itself. Our bodies can do the same, with the proper care.
What I Learned
(Keep in mind that everyone is different — what works for me, might not work for you. I highly recommend you read The Body Ecology Diet, if you are curious about how it might apply in your situation. I’d also recommend that you get support from a health professional. If you choose to follow the Body Ecology Diet, you can check Donna’s website for professionals who can guide you through the process. )
Sugar
Donna could see that I had blood sugar issues. It was apparent based on a family history of grandparents on both sides with diabetes, the constant high & low moods I had as a teenager and some of the symptoms I described. She told me that I might always have trouble with sugar. Now this may not be true for everyone, but given my history, it is true for me. Luckily, since I’ve started the BED, I have no cravings or desire for sugar. Donna teaches us how to use stevia, the natural herbal sweetener that has no calories and regulates blood sugar. This has allowed me to still have sweet tastes in my life.
Beneficial Bacteria
These are the little critters that make vitamins, break down proteins & fats and balance our hormones. I am low in some beneficial bacteria, based on a Great Smokies test I had. This is part of the reason my digestion is bad – and part of the reason I was prone to low moods or depression. Once I started the BED, my moods improved tremendously – I am certain my body is starting to digest better – and I believe these beneficial bacteria are starting to repopulate. Donna gave me some suggestions to move me even further toward rebuilding them – fermented vegetables and kefir.
Cortisol
My cortisol levels were high — I had been told this before, but Donna helped clarify some of the reasons for me. Cortisol has been called the “death hormone.” Too much cortisol is responsible for early aging, including going gray early. Cortisol soars with stress and my corporate life, prior to becoming an entrepreneur and life coach, was extremely stressful. Over the past year, I have completely simplified my life by taking steps that are included in my free Actions for Recovery workbook. This allowed me to reduce the levels of cortisol in my body, which is helping me recover – it might feel more like a mind-side of recovery (less stress, more peace), but it’s being enabled by my body.
Donna mentioned that all of this cortisol would also raise my blood sugar level. Cells can only accept sugar at certain times, so when the window is closed, there’s all this excess sugar. Guess what happens to it? It gets absorbed as fat. If our inner ecosystem was healthy and we managed stress, got enough sleep – our bodies would tend to be slim more naturally. We wouldn’t have to feel like we had to fight so hard. The $46 billion diet industry would collapse. Keep this in mind as you think about body image. What Donna is telling me is based on research that I have read before – but I had to SCOUR and search for it. It is not backed by a $46B industry, pumping out propaganda. It’s quietly out there for people when they’ve tried everything and are ready to take the step-by-step approach.
Adrenals
My adrenals are stressed, but on the mend – if you have an eating disorder or addiction, yours are probably stressed too. How would you know? Look at your energy levels, including libido – because adrenals produce sex hormones. If you are engaged in addictive behavior, you get a spike of energy – this may last awhile or it may only be temporary. In recovery, often one of the things people notice is a drop in energy and maybe a decreased sex drive. Our adrenals are finally out there on their own, in a depleted state – with no spikes to help. Often, people switch addictions at this time in order to find another way to get an energy spike. Instead, you can start healing your adrenals. Adrenaline, a hormone produced by the adrenals is the first thing that surges during the “fight or flight” response to stress – then comes cortisol – which can last in the body for days. The combination leads to aging and loss of energy. The longer we do this to ourselves, the more we believe that it’s normal to “fall apart at 40” or whatever other aging messages you’ve heard. Healthy adrenals can contribute to radiant energy.
Thyroid
The other component of energy. An under active thyroid may be an issue for people with eating disorders. You might notice constipation – or the inability to eliminate completely – a common component of IBS, which those of us with ED are often diagnosed with. You might also notice getting cold easily, hair falling out, etc. Some people are prescribed thyroid medication for this. You can actually repair your thyroid as well.
Both the adrenals and thyroid, as energy producers, can be repaired with vitamins and minerals. The thyroid also needs healthy fats, like coconut oil and flax seed oil. They also need a healthy dose of self-care: going to bed early, getting plenty of sleep, reducing your stress, eating healthy vitamin & mineral rich foods. It doesn’t work to supplement an ED with vitamins & minerals. I can tell you that from experience. I’ve had all my vitamin & mineral levels tested – no matter how much I supplemented, I am still deficient in some important vitamins. I am going to get tested again after being on BED longer and repairing my inner ecosystem – I’ll let you know what I find out. I’m confident that my body will heal itself and I can stop taking these expensive vitamins, given the success I’ve had on BED so far.
I Need More Proteins & Healthy Fats
As a blood type O, I was not getting enough protein. I had some fish a few days a week, but I found myself constantly wanting to eat spoonfuls of almond butter. If you read the fat and calories in almond butter, you may cringe in horror. I used to – for about 15 years I ate a low fat diet and was afraid of fat. However, in my experience, I actually look — and more importantly, FEEL better with more fat in my diet. Since I am eating healthy fats (almonds, olive oil, coconut oil, egg yolks, ghee, etc.), they support my body.
When I eat what supports my body, guess what? No bingeing & I can eat a rather healthy amount of food – that I’d previously been terrified by – and still be slim. My weight has not changed, but with the bloating gone, I look a lot slimmer. In fact, I think this is the normal body I was supposed to have – but it was always exaggeratedly bloated. If you’re bulimic, you probably look at your stomach to see how flat — or not — it is everyday (a behavior, like weighing yourself constantly, that I highly recommend stopping — it frees the mind). The bloating blows it all out of proportion. So every day, it looks different. The fearful mind steps in and says, I must be getting fat. Not true. The body, when out of balance, can do a lot of weird things.
Today, I tried the breakfast and lunch suggestions that Donna gave me — and guess what? No giant spoonfuls of almond butter were necessary. I added the protein and cooked it in the way she suggested and voila, my energy feels great.
Final Words
Donna’s final words to me were not to forget the important STEP-by-STEP process. Our bodies heal step by step. If you look at my list above, I have a lot of actions to take to heal my body. There are more that Donna gave me, but I just put down the highlights here. Just like with your recovery, you can take healing your inner ecosystem in baby steps, at a pace that works for you.
The Step-By-Step Principle Says:
- Create energy – heal thyroid, adrenals, reduce stress, engage in self-care, eat healthy foods that work for your situation.
- Correct Digestion – I’ll be adding fermented vegetables and kefir to build up my microflora or beneficial bacteria.
- Conquer Infection
- Cleanse – this is covered in Donna’s book and is a very important concept.
I am very thankful that I found Donna’s book and had a chance to speak with her. I am hoping to attend her Certified Body Ecologist training coming up next month so that I can become part of a network of professionals who help others heal. I’d like to contribute work to the field of eating disorders around digestive health and its impact on mind, body and spirit. I know that for me, my mind was free when my digestion healed. This has been of tremendous value in allowing me to choose what I wanted to focus on and bring true joy into my life. It is proof to me that the two are connected. And in balance, they set the spirit free – once again, connected to the whole.
Heather
This was great reading and education
Now I cant wait to read her book and then we can discuss it
Call me when you get back to the states
KAren
Hi Karen, I will definitely call you — I think we have a lot to discuss and I really look forward to it!
With love,
Heather
Heather,
Thank you for sharing all your research! I look forward to picking up Donna’s book soon! It sounds like it’s right down my alley. My diet has changed drastically since I moved to California and with everything I’ve learned since starting Chinese Medicine school. One of the most important things I’ve learned is to make sure to have protein at every meal, including breakfast. In the past, I would eat toast and jam or cereal in the morning and be hunrgy again in no time. Now, I often have a poached or soft-boiled egg, bread made from sprouted grain, which is high in protein and easier to digest, and almond butter. By the way, I’m with you on eating almond butter by the spoon! It’s one of my favorite indulgences! I prefer the raw almond butter (it’s pricy, but worth it!), and a bit of raw honey with that. Hmm!
I’m excited about the coaching group you’ll be starting and look forward to applying to it.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
much love,
Emily
Hi Emily, It would be so interesting to hear what you are learning about Chinese Medicine and health. I’m sure you’ll relate to The Body Ecology Diet because Donna brings her experience with Chinese medicine into the book — and there are principles of expansion/contraction from macrobiotics, which I’ve found very helpful. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
I’m really glad you’re interested in the coaching group — I’ll have some details soon! This weekend was wonderful — I hope yours was as well.
With love,
Heather
Hi Heather,
A book I recommend, which talks about diet according to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and is a wonderful introduction to TCM for the layperson, is called “The Five-Element Wellness Plan”, by Barbara Temelie. She’s a German lady from Munich, and I very much enjoyed her book.
I have to admit that I kind of pick and choose from various nutritional approaches and take those things that feel good for me. According to Chinese Medicine, for example, one should avoid all raw foods, as they are difficult to digest and will lead to “Cold” and “Dampness” in the digestive system, which will in turn cause edema, bloating, loose stools, fatigue… In TCM, it is recommended to eat only cooked veggies and grains, which can be assimilated much more easily. Iced drinks and ice cream can also cause major problems if consumed on a regular basis. In fact, there is a theory that the overconsumption of iced drinks is a major contributing factor to obesity in our society, as it slows down the digestion drastically. (Completely opposite of some Western theories that drinking lots of iced water will increase your metabolism and make your burn more calories!)
Personally, I still do eat salads and raw foods, but I try to avoid them on cold days, and, if I do have them, I usually have some hot tea (or even just hot water, which is what I usually order when I go to a restaurant) to help warm my digestive tract. In fact, the reason the Japanese have pickled ginger and hot tea with their sushi is for that very reason - to help digest and assimilate the cold and raw food!
Glad to hear you had a good weekend! Mine was great as well! It’s been so nice since I’m done with my exam! I still can’t quite believe the luxury of having time to do all these other things I haven’t had time for in months!
Have a great Monday!
love,
Emily
Hi Emily, thanks for the book suggestion, I’m going to check it out on Amazon right away — it sounds great! The fact that you are experimenting with different nutritional approaches is awesome — that’s how Donna Gates created The Body Ecology Diet. There is wisdom in so many different approaches — at some point, taking from a variety probably allows us to find what works for our particular situation.
The avoidance of cold foods & ice water is similar in Ayurvedics — I’ve felt a lot better since I stopped drinking ice water. I like your idea of having tea with cold foods like salad — I’ll have to try that!
With love,
Heather
Hi ya’ll,
Just stumbled upon this page from the monthly e mails from Donna Gates. I have her book and really got into it about 6 months ago but I found it too constricting and it actually made me binge more. Now I follow some of her principles but also eat the way I want and can in order to fight my disease. Any comments or advice is appreciated as I am still and probably always will be fighting bulemia on some level.
Hi Shannon, thank you for your comments. I have been all over the Body Ecology Diet forum on curezone (not an official BED forum) reading about people who have had success and others who have not (not necessarily eating disorder related). Most of what I noticed is that a lot of the people are not following the diet’s guidelines that well (a lot of misunderstanding) or that they have not learned to adjust it to their specific circumstances. My guess is that you really understand the BED, but could benefit from some adjustments.
Additionally, I’d love to talk with you about some of the body-mind-spirit aligment strategies that helped me — and worked wonders in conjunction with the BED — for recovery.
From a nutritional perspective, I believe that some of the reasons people binge when chaning to the BED is for 2 reasons. And I can only speak here from my experience with bulimia & binge eating. At the end of the month, I’ll be attending Donna’s Certified Body Ecologist training, so I will find out more there & respond back.
1. The body goes through a “shock” in a way — because it is not being fed with the substances creating digestive issues. Detoxing starts to happen, which can often lead to cleansing of junk in the intestines & digestive system. Now you are starting to feel really hungry because your body is not masking the hunger anymore (through bloating, consitpation, etc.) — and yet, you may find yourself losing weight. This can lead to bingeing, unless you know how to counteract it with Body Ecology Diet guidelines. Talking to Donna really helped me fix this.
2. Energy levels - during the detox process you may feel a drop in energy. Many people that start the BED have depleted adrenals for various health reasons, so without sugar, caffeine and other addictive substances (alcohol, drugs, etc.), the resultant spike in adrenaline does not happen. This means there’s nothing to raise our energy levels. This can also be helped through diet (fermented vegetables, eating right for your blood type, etc.).
In the beginning of following the BED, I experienced a weird feeling — when I had that “full” intestines feeling, I felt like I had more energy than when my intestines had an “empty” feeling. And yet, I felt better with the empty feeling — my body felt light and things felt like they were working properly. The BED gave me that light, “empty intestines” feeling, which was great — but what about my energy? After I modified my eating based on Donna’s recommendations, that resolved. Now I get to experience a light feeling of healthy digestion — and plenty of energy too.
I will contact you via e-mail to discuss more of your situation, if that would be of help. By May 1st, I’ll have my BED certification and can be in a very good position to help you modify the diet for your situation — and for ED recovery. Thank you again for your question!
With love,
Heather
HI Heather,
I truly appreciate you coming forward and sharing about having health issues and an eating disorder. I am also recovering from an eating disorder, have systemic yeast, mold, and fungus issues, an autoimmune thyroid condition, high estrogen levels and many food allergies. My digestive system is compromised and I am sure my adrenals are out in left field. I have pretty severe insomnia.
I have read Donna’s book several times, worked with Donna, and gone to a couple of her retreats years ago. I have never been able to stick to the basic candida food plan. I am on it then off it…part of my disease has been to change my food plan constantly. I have been involved with Overeaters Anonymous(a 12 step program) for many years. For the past 14 months I have followed a food plan designed many years ago in OA. This food plan has given me freedom and serenity and yet I am eating proteins the exaserbate my health issues. It is a weigh and measured plan and we do it no matter what…so every meal I have eaten for the last 14 months is weighed and measured. This works for me personally.
But, it is not a candida free food plan. I am thinking there must be people out there who
have candida, work a 12 step program, and who are healing on all levels, emotional, spiritual and physical. I need both a food plan that is healing, a spiritual plan that heals my emotions and spirit… I need help with a plan that is weighed and measured for my sanity and
I need someone who can sponsor me on it. I am putting this out in the universe. I have no
idea if someone will read this and know where I can get help. I am tired of bloating, gas,
sore throats, stomach aches, mucus, headaches, itchy ears and other areas of my skin,
fatigue, insomnia, stuffy nose and head, major constipation…….need I go on.
I do not know about anyone else, but, I can not do this alone! I truly believe in what Donna
says and her way of eating, but, again, as a food addicted person, I will not stay on the straight and narrow on my own.
Thanks for listening..
Turtle
Hi Turtle, thank you for sharing — what I see is that you are doing what works best for you — and I applaud you for that! At the same time, it sounds like the candida is a big issue — I understand becuase I had candida as well. I have not been tested recently to see if it’s all cleared up after being on the BED, but I am guessing it has at least improved.
I also understand how challenging it can be to stick to any eating plan, especially one that requires a lot of work and creates many changes in your body. Two things, one is that you are interested in the free coaching group I’m starting — that’s great! In this group, we’ll be working on a mind-body-spirit approach to healing — including tips to support body repair in the way that works best for each individual. Also, I’d be happy to talk with you either via e-mail or on the phone to explore what’s happening in your current situation. I think this will especially be valuable after I return from the Certified Body Ecologist training at the end of this month.
If anyone else reading this has had candida and is recovering from an addiction with a mind, body and spirit approach, please share what is working for you! We can all learn so much from each other!
With love,
Heather
Hi Heather,
great work you are doing, and great healing. i am interested in your coaching groups, having just read through your blog. my needs are two fold: for myself, a recoverd bulimic (sober for 2 years and just stopping cold turkey after 30+ years of dedicated “practice”– i know abot BED and have known how it is by far the smarest eating guide on the planet; and for my son, who iis 3.5 years old recovering form being on the autistic spectrum and still having leaky guy, bloating, digestive distubances and viral conditions. so i am wanting to organize my house around the principles of BED for both he and I. and i am a total sugar junkie: and my son is very very picky about what he eats– i can count on my hands that foods he does eat. he is on a very rigorous vitamin regime that has worked wonders for him given to him by a nuritionist collegue/ friend of Donna Gates, Pete Cohen, but i have yet to include myself in the care loop. any beginning suggestions?
Robin Janis
Hi Robin, thank you for writing in — I appreciate your comments! I would like to e-mail you so that I can ask you a few questions & respond to your question about ways to begin. Also, I am a bit behind in posting the application for my free coaching group — it is coming! I plan to start the group at the end of May.
You obviously have great commitment, given your recovery — and I admire what you are doing for yourself and your son!
With love,
Heather
Hi Heather,
Thank you so much for responding to my post. I am enjoying the postings of others and your
reponses… There is so much to share and wisdom to gather from each other. I was hoping to go to Donna’s training as well, but, with a new job and another planned training, I had to let it go, but, plan to take it in the future. It will be neat to have your support and to learn from you.
Even though I consider myself “abstinent” from compulsive overeating, I also see that I am still eating foods that do not serve me….foods that I am addicted to and am allergic to. This is because I decided to follow a food plan that I only have 3 choices for proteins on. Dairy, which I am allergic to, soy, which is not good for me because of a thyroid condition and because I have high estrogen…( may not be good for yeast growth) and animal protein, which I have tried to eat, but, which I can not digest…emotionally, spiritually or physically.
I do not have the enzymes to break it down. I find it terribly constipating. I am bloated, gassy, have skin rashes, sore throat, itchy ears etc…headaches, stomach and digestive issues and insomnia. I am fatigued…which is worse after eating. I know that these forms of protein do not work for me, and yet, I have not wanted to leave the tight ED community, who all eat this food plan no matter what. On one hand it has been freedom
& serenity around the food and on the other hand, my physical health is not being supported. I have always believed I can not be trusted to make choices around my food. And yet, I do believe there is a place inside me that has the answers. I want to be able to make choices according to my emotional, spiritural, and physical well being. I would prefer to be a 100% raw vegan. Does this support me… I am not sure. I also know that because my digesitve system is compromised,( I have been told by alternative practitioners) that I need cooked food. For me, I know I need a food plan that is along the lines of BED because of my health issues and one that is weighed and measured, because, this is the only way I have peace with eating my food. Those two things are for me equally important. Weighing and measuring my food is like brushing my teeth. I have decided I can not go on with the way I have been eating. It is scary for me to do something different even though this is not working. I will not feel part of the group in the same way. But, my body-mind- spirit are most important to me. I would really like some advice on how to do the BED as a vegan..though I may be willing to do eggs from time to time. I know I can not eat any other animal protein. I have given it a go many times and need to accept my true conviction which is it is not a fit for me.
I look forward to working with you and the group…I can imagine it will be a very rich experience for all of us. Thank you for doing this service….
Geesh, sorry this is so long!
Thanks
Turtle
Hi Turtle, I’ve been traveling for the past couple of weeks and just got to read your comment. A lot of good information you shared. I have a couple of comments and perhaps you and I can talk after I get back from the certified body ecologist training this week (I leave tomorrow).
1. I felt the same way about animal protein — didn’t digest it well and didn’t feel right about eating it. I ate fish only occasionally. As a blood type O, I learned I really need animal protein every now and then. Donna told me we tend not to cook it right — we overcook it or cook it with inappropriate methods, which makes it indigestible. We can talk about that when I get back. I decided that if my body needed animal protein, I’d choose free range, grass fed, humanely treated, hormone-free animal protein. If our society was not so out of balance with how animals are treated, we probably wouldn’t need to protest through our food choices. We’d just eat what was necessary for our bodies. If you look at Native American and tribal cultures, they tend to have a more spiritual relationship with animals & plants that they eat. They ask permission to take from the Earth’s living things & gratefully use everything they have. This is part of the cycle of life. Most of society has disconnected from this cycle by letting profits and ideas drive our spiritual connection with the cycle of life. Doing what you feel is right is the most important.
2. Following what works for you is the best — all diets or eating plans are made for the masses, not taking into account our unique needs. This is where your intuiton comes in. And experimenting. We can talk about modifying some things to make it work for you, if you’d like. I have some ideas — particulary becuase many of the symptoms you describe are exactly what I was going through.
3. I felt terrible after eating raw vegetables, taking vitamins, etc. Until I started combining my foods properly on the BED (and soaking nuts & grains before eating). Then suddenly, the nausea and digestive pain stopped. Now I eat raw vegetables all the time. I thought I needed to cook veggies before eating too, but not so. This doesn’t mean everyone will have my experience — it can be helpful to try small steps at first to see what happens.
4. Many raw foodists with a lot of experience will tell you that 80% - 90% raw might be a better target. The raw food diet can make it difficult if you have candida (fruit is where you get a lot of your raw meals) and many people end up bingeing due to constant hunger. This doesn’t mean you will — I think it’s more complex because it depends on what’s going on when you start. A person with strong, healthy digestion may be fine, while a person with difficult digestion may have trouble. You might consider trying baby steps here to see how your system deals with it.
I’ll send you an e-mail when I get back after the training and we can talk more. I’m glad to hear that you know your inner voice is ready to guide you! That was the first indication for me that I was truly recovering!
With love,
Heather
Welcome back, Heather- you’ve been missed! I can’t tell you how much I value this site, your words and those of your commenters as a daily haven of support. It’s so easy to feel isolated, overwhelmed, exhausted and hopeless in recovery, and it helps so much to have others sharing their journey and their encouragement. Thank you.
Maya
Hi Maya, thank you — I’ve missed being here and interacting with all of you! I have so much to share and hope to get some entries in while in Atlanta this week.
I completely understand what you mean about feeling isolated, overwhelmed, etc. in recovery. Especially if we don’t have someone to share our thoughts, concerns, breakthroughs and fears with. I know that this blog and readers like you are part of why I feel so joyful and committed in this stage of recovery!
With love,
Heather
Hi Heather,
I am most appreciative of your very well thoughtout e-mail and I am looking forward to working with you on this issue of what to eat. I appreciate your wisdom and self knowledge of what works for you. I would like to get to that place of trust, faith, and healing. I would like to heal..
my physical body and my spiritual one…I do not want to be ill or obsessed!
I have tried over and over the free range chicken, organic free range eggs, grass fed beef,
fish etc and I can not do it. It pains me too much…not only physically, but, emotionally. I can not force myself to eat something I really really don’t want to eat. I have been doing that on and off for the past several years. Eating raw has felt the most natural to me…but, I don’t have to eat 100 % raw. I am a blood type A. I can eat a lot of great cultured veggie mixtures. I know I have to be willing to make some compromises.
At any rate, again thank you and I hope that you are having an incredible experience with
Donna Gates.
Namaste
Turtle
Hi Turtle, I applaud your commitment to following your heart! Ahhh, a blood type A. Donna talked a lot about blood type A’s in the certified body ecologist (CBE) training — which was wonderful, by the way.
One of the things Donna said is that blood type A is very sensitive in costitution — and in fact, almost all of the well-known people in the field of nutrition are blood type A! She suggests calm activities and careers that are lower in stress. Blood type A is very similar to a type A personality. And although today’s world has made many people type A personalities, some blood types are designed to handle higher levels of stress than others.
We also learned ways to build the inner ecosystem, so that you can start digesting better. Sounds like you can eat fermented veggies, which I highly recommend. They will rebuild your system with healthy microflora — which is key to improving digestion and ending an ED. I’m not sure if you have been eating them yet — be careful because they cause gas and bloating at first. If this triggers any ED feelings too much, back off on eating it so much. Introduce it slowly into your diet. Also, young coconut keifer is excellent for adding B vitamins (and microflora), which you will need as a vegan. We talked a lot about vegan diets, so I’ll send you a note about what I learned.
More soon!
With love,
Heather
Heather,
You are an angel. Thank you for getting back to me once again. Yes, I am the very senitive
blood A type,which I know Donna is too. I do eat cultured veggies. I have got to get back into
making them. I used to do it all the time. I would love to get the notes on vegan and body ecology diet. This is what I know would work the best for me. I have not made the coconut
kefir in awhile because I went on this food plan which comes from OA. I know it doesn’t serve me, but, I have been scared to let go…as I have said to you before. I also need to have a plan
that is weighed and measured…because at this point, I go nuts with out that structure!
Hope you can help with that.
I also know that healing is not just about the right food, it is but, one tool. I need to use some
spiritual tools as well. I am still obsessed with the food part of recovery!
Thanks so much Heather!!!!
Turtle
PS ..Heather,
I think that comment you made about most of the people who are in the field of nutrition are
blood type “A”s as that has been an interest since I was a teen, when I became a vegetarian.
I now work in a health food store, which sells supplements. I love helping people, especially around nutrition. I am trying to come up with a way to do this on a more lucritive and self supporting way. I have thought about becoming a colon hydrotherapist, but, not sure that is the
right fit.
Thanks again for all you share here with us.
Turtle
heather,
thank you for shariing so much of your experience and for all the words of wisdom. i am wondering if you know anyone or if donna spoke of anyone who has gotten off anti-depressants using the body ecology diet.
i too have a history of severe binging and found relief from that painful pattern following the same food plan that i suspect turtle was following. in a lot of ways it worked for me. the structure, the community, the freedom from obsession with food. however, i was still in major clinical depression and it only got worse. i have taken anti-depressants twice (currently on) and it’s the only thing i’ve found thus far that has helped me to function each day. i have striven to eat all raw/vegan, but have not been successful.
i have been searching for years for an answer to this depression - diets, network chiropractic, acupuncture, emotional work/journaling, emdr, acupuncture, and on and on.
i would love to get off these drugs, but truthfully, if it is a choice between putting something that i know is toxic into my body/risking shortening my life or having no quality of life, i will choose the drugs. what’s the point of living if i want to die, right? i’m being flip, but i’m also serious.
anyway (wow - this e-mail got long), i am wondering if you’ve heard of anyone who was on anti-depressants and was helped by this diet? i feel the need to qualify - not people who were depressed - that word means different things to different people - but people who were/are taking medication for depression.
thanks so much. you are an inspiration. i celebrate your recovery and know i will find/ am finding the same.
love,
heather (also)
oh, i’m also a type o.
Hi Heather, You ask a really good question. I’ll have to ask Donna about taking people off anti-depressants in her experience. I know she’s worked with people on the Body Ecology Diet who’ve gone off all kinds of medication successfully — and since she works to help women in pregnancy, she has a protocol for avoiding post-partum depression. I’m pretty certain Donna would be able to create a protocol for depression medication as well. For example, she knows the work of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD — who has done this before.
Dr. Campbell-McBride wrote a great book called Gut & Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Dyspraxia, Autism, ADD, ADHD, Depression & Schizophrenia. In this book, she talks about depression, bipolar and schizophrenia having a great deal of overlap. She says that patients can successfully be brought off medication — BUT, it’s important to build them up nutritionally first and slowly, with supervision, bring them off medication.
Her findings show the studies into these patients — all have some nutritional deficiency, especially B vitamains (B3, B6, B12, B1and folic acid) and vitamin C, along with many important minerals (Magensium, zinc, magnese, etc.).
Her book has some really compelling information and she also suggests a diet to follow. It is very similar to Body Ecology Diet, with some differences. Consider picking it up — it’s not that easy to get, but you may be able to find it on Amazon. Donna also sells it on her website: bodyecology.com.
I wish you all the best in your journey and I acknowledge you for understanding that the medication you are taking is helping you…while at the same time, seeking new knowledge. The path you are taking is simultaneously self-caring and empowering — it’s beautiful!
With love,
Heather
heather,
thank you so much for responding to my message. i will definitely look for the book you mentioned on amazon.
i am also seriously considering scheduling a consultation with donna. i must save some money first. i have spent so muc money trying to solve this problem and have yet to find a solution (other than the medication for the depression). still, the binging continues on and off. anyway, i am reluctant to spnd more money, but who knows? this could be it. i am still so hopeful, despite all that hasn’t worked.
thanks again for responding. i think it would be wise to start the BED first and then hopefully ween off medication, rather than going off medication first, as i’ve done in the past without success.
are you still feeling well? could there actually be an answer to my binge eating?
take good care.
much love,
heather
Heather, Where did you come from? Thanks so much for creating this discussion.
Wow, I bought Donna’s book a few weeks ago and have been implementing some of the suggestions. Felt great 2 out of 3 meals today. I guess I still have to go through the pain of finding what works and what doesn’t and be willing to let them go.
Searching through the BED website I found your site and am almost speechless right now as I am reading my story in all the comments.
I too have been trying to find a food plan that is healthy and nourishing for me. The OA plan worked for a time but is no longer. I find peace with weighing and measuring too. Because of the anorexia piece to my Bulimia and ED I am having a hard time eating enough on the BED. Which eventually sets me up starving, leads to overeat or take innappropiate foods, making the whole cycle worse.
I am feeling hopeful there may be help as others also struggle with these issues.
Would love to keep in contact and support each other.
Blessings, Eileen
Hi Eileen, Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind words! I believe we all find one another and the information we need at just the right time. I would be interested to hear how things go for you on the Body Ecology Diet.
Keep in mind that in the beginning, you may be more hungry than usual on BED. It’s normal. You’ll find that you can eat more food because your digestion is starting to work better. This is not the kind of eating that we once believed causes weight gain — even though you may experience some bloating in the first 2 weeks or so. It’s typical for the bloating to be there in recovery, then go away. If your kidneys are out of whack, you may experience bloating periodically. Trust your body. It will support you as you support it.
It’s great that you are taking steps toward your healing — and that you feel hopeful. Hope is like optimism, which can lead to positive thinking. The more positive you are, the more law of attraction works in your favor. Being in harmony with your body and in harmony with all things tends to show up on this journey. I’m sending you light and love as you continue to explore what works best for you!
With love,
Heather