Eat, Pray, Love - My Journey Back to Health - Part 1

Life is beautiful and so fragile. Never take it for granted...

A couple of weeks ago, out of the blue, I started experiencing extreme muscle and joint pain. In a matter of a few hours I went from a healthy, very active individual to someone who could not walk or lift my head off my pillow. I had to rely on my husband for help--to pull me out of bed, help me go to the bathroom--everything (luckily, he was on vacation that week and I'm eternally grateful that he was!).  Anyway, after two days of excruciating pain, I called an ambulance and went to the ER of a nearby hospital.

My doctor said my symptoms are indicative of some type of rheumatism so he referred me to a rheumatologist.  I haven't seen the specialist yet, though.  They have to review my medical records to see if I'm a worthy candidate for treatment and if I am they might be able to give me an appointment sometime in September.  Here I sit almost three weeks later, having been subjected to a plethora of tests and prescription drugs, and still have no idea what is going on with my body. 

Meanwhile, my real life is waiting for me to get back to it so based on my symptoms and the feedback from my doctor so far, I have decided to take matters into my own hands! With the inspiration of Elizabeth Gilbert's story (and all the media momentum of the book and upcoming movie) I got the idea to try to Eat, Pray & Love myself back to health!  Unfortunately, one of the best parts of Elizabeth's journey included travel to Italy, India and Bali but that's not an option for me right now so I'll just have to use my amazing visualization abilities and visit those fabulous places in my mind.

Here's my plan to heal my body, mind and soul with food, prayer and love...

EAT:

There have been many scientific studies that show certain foods, fruits and herbs have healing properties and can help to restore health and vitality. So, I'm ramping up my diet with healing foods containing magnesium, calcium and potassium. Dark, leafy greens are a great source of these vital nutrients and it just so happens I love all types of greens--some of my favorites are kale, turnip, dandelion and Swiss chard. 

Other foods/spices rich in nutrients essential to healing/building muscles include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, celery, okra, artichokes, peas, sweet potatoes, avocados, bananas, blackberries, turmeric, ginger, lots of nuts, meats, fish and cheeses and for the next few weeks, I'll be incorporating many of these foods into my daily diet--starting with kale.

Please stop by tomorrow to read "Eat, Pray, Love - My Journey Back to Health" - Part II