After I created the vlog 'What I Ate on Vacation,' I thought what kind of health coach vlogs about eating creamy pastas, buffalo wings and desserts with a beer in hand??? LOL....ME! Let me explain why.
Before I developed a systemic metal allergy, I was extremely health conscious. I ate a mostly organic diet that was rich in whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens. I was obsessed with the quality of my food and eating clean.
When I developed a systemic cobalt allergy and realized I had to cut out most of the nutrient-dense food I was accustomed to eating, I was devastated. I thought I would never be healthy again, which is ironic because I was feeling so sick from eating all of those 'healthy' foods. (Whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans/legumes, chocolate and dark leafy greens are rich in nickel and cobalt).
It took me a while to accept this allergy. I was in denial and desperate to find a cure. I ended up over restricting in hopes to 'heal my liver' or 'repair my gut.' I tried an array of supplements and fad diets (GAPs, AIP, Medical Medium to name a few) desperate to make myself feel better.
I enrolled in two programs to further my knowledge and become a health coach, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Program. Both programs helped me accept my bio-individuality and redefine what it means to be healthy for me.
At IIN, I learned the difference between primary food and secondary food. Primary foods are areas of our life like our relationships, home life, career, physical activity, and spirituality that nourish us. Secondary foods are the actual foods we eat.
Since learning the valuable lesson about how primary foods affect our health, I have focused on creating balance in my life and being less rigid when it comes to secondary foods. I prioritize things like nurturing relationships, dancing, playing in nature, meditating, and developing my spirituality.
I'm also exploring a new way of eating. After reading the book, Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole, I've felt inspired to relax my diet even more. Now, I try to eat the foods I crave and find satisfying rather than what I think I 'should' eat.
Although a lot of people with a systemic metal allergy react to highly processed foods and it is best to eat foods made from real ingredients, I hope I'm inspiring some of you to relax about the low nickel diet and enjoy some of the many comfort foods that are available to us - especially while you are on vacation!
Everyone's journey is different. This is where I am today and that may change in the future but I have to say I've never felt better!
If you have systemic contact dermatitis to cobalt or nickel or systemic nickel allergy syndrome and you need a coach, check out my services page or email me at info@kristinadavidwellness.com.
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