This year has been BIG for me. I started the autoimmune paleo diet in March and have been documenting my journey on Instagram. It looks healthy and fun, but there’s meaning behind my recipes for collagen smoothies and gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and nut-free brownies. I’ve been looking for some internal healing.
I’ve said it a million times before — I don’t believe in diets. I believe in lifestyle changes. I believe in creating habits. And I believe weight-loss shouldn’t be the only goal. Weight-loss is a benefit.
That being said, earlier this year I found out that eczema is an autoimmune disease. I’ve had it my entire life and I never knew that I could be doing more to help my body. I’ve struggled with medications, both oral and topical, that didn’t do anything for me. I itch when I’m sleeping to the point of bleeding on the sheets. I don’t consciously know that I do this and that’s the most frustrating part. My skin is patchy and dry. And it’s visible. I notice when people look at me. They’ll ask if I’m ok. And it’s been this way since I was a kid. Try telling 6-year-olds that you’re not contagious and they can’t “catch it.” Spoiler alert: they don’t want to take their chances.
I also learned that when I sweat, my body triggers a histamine response. Meaning I’m essentially allergic to exercise. And sweat only further exacerbates my eczema. Which would have been a great excuse to have in middle school!
Fast forward to shopping for a wedding dress. With hives. Dry, itchy skin. And being placed in front of 360 degree mirrors. Queue the anxiety and general discomfort. Now imagine walking down the aisle with 150 of your closest friends watching. Did I mention that stress makes eczema worse?!
I started following this book and it’s changed my entire relationship with my body. Within the first week of cutting out all inflammatory causing foods, my hives were gone. Within 2 weeks, my eczema was completely gone. COMPLETELY GONE. This felt like a miracle.
Words can’t express how hard it was as a kid to have raw aloe rubbed all over, skipping swimming in a pool because the chlorine would burn my skin and waking up in tears and covered in blood. It wasn’t easy, pretty or fun. It was hard. And it was hard on my family too. The food and medication was expensive, I hated eating different foods and having a different routine. My sister and I used to play tic-tac-toe in lotion on my legs because I had to put that much on every night.
And FINALLY. After 27 years, I found some relief. I’m still in phase one, and I’ve had good days and bad days. I (not-so-accidentally) ate chocolate cake at my uncle’s birthday party. I longingly stare at coffee and bread and cheese and pizza and donuts and everything that has brought me joy. But I also see my body in a whole new light. My experience with food needs to be different than the norm, because my body is different than the “norm.” And that’s ok.
An allergist told me that my eczema is my body’s external response to internal stimuli. And your skin is your body’s largest organ. And then that same allergist gave me more medication to throw at it. And same with my dermatologist.
I’m learning to control my external response with good, healthy stimuli. I haven’t had a cup of coffee since March, I’ve started cooking and experimenting with new flavors and foods and I’ve lost 20 pounds. Which is insane! It’s a nice added benefit to the lifestyle changes I’ve implemented.
So thank you for reading. Because you read this far, here’s that berry collagen smoothie recipe you need in your life:
Ingredients
- 2 scoops Vital Proteins – Collagen Peptides (unflavored)
- 1/2 C frozen strawberries
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 C coconut milk
- 1/4 C fresh blueberries
Directions
- Put it all in the blender and blend until thick and creamy
- Enjoy!
