Nickle

As I mentioned before, I am concerned that if I am allergic to something, it might not be one of the more tolerable-to-lose culprits, but instead my beloved soy.Toby brought up another good point, that has me extremely worried.

I bought a ring a couple weeks a go that I am fairly in love with. It was from an East Indian gentleman who's shop on Capital Hill in Seattle was going out of business, and he was having a liquidation sale. He had a beautiful selection of rings, which I haven't treated myself to in a good long while. I decided it was time, but upon further inspection, I inquired as to if it was real silver and if that silver was Sterling. He relayed to me that it was.

Well, I now have a ring on my finger. And it's not the ring I bought. It's a red ring from my skin's reaction to the ring, suggesting that it is not in fact sterling silver, but perhaps if it is silver at all, it is merely dipped in it, which has worn through. Dipped in silver is not enough for me. I need it to be silver through and through. I am, after all, allergic to nickle.

Toby was observing the redness on my finger - which is on my left hand, and it is my right hand which is broken out. My right hand has been looking worse and worse. However, since my shifts are sporadic at the moment, I go through some days where I was my hands several times more than I would if I weren't working, and with a different kind of soap. This has caused my hands to dry out and break out before. I put it down to the soap.

But Toby made a very interesting suggestion, one that rather scares me, if I am being honest.

What about heavy metals in water? What if tap water has nickle in it, and that is actually what my skin reaction is to, and not a food allergy at all?

I considered this, then at first dismissed it. What about when I drink it? Surely I would have had a reaction to it then. I do only drink filtered water though, and have been spoiled on it for a long while. Could it be true?

I had a look online, and found what the World Health Organization (WHO) had to say on it: 

"The primary source of nickel in drinking-water is leaching from metals in contact with drinking-water, such as pipes and fittings. However, nickel may also be present in some ground waters as a consequence of dissolution from nickel ore-bearing rocks.

"...Increased nickel concentrations in groundwater and municipal tap water (100–2500 µg/litre) in polluted areas and areas in which natural nickel was mobilized have been reported (McNeely et al., 1972; Hopfer et al., 1989). Water left standing overnight in plumbing fittings plated with chromium on a base of nickel contained a nickel concentration of 490 µg/litre (Andersen et al., 1983). "

It states earlier that the maximum units/liter is 69. I haven't seen what Bellingham's water is like, but it cold be that concentrated, and if it is, perhaps it is causing a reaction in me. 

Although, later on in the information it WHO states:

"Overall, drinking-water appears to contribute only a minor proportion of daily intake, although exposure of some communities may be significant in specific circumstances where nickel levels in groundwater are unusually high."

Who knows (get it? Tee hee!)! Could just be paranoia flaring up, which it does from time to time.  

 

 

 

 

Soy

I'm concerned.
As a vegetarian, and a vegetarian for four years now, I consume a lot of soy. As mentioned before I went off milk a long while back, about the same time I went off meat. I made the switch to soy, and from there rice milk and almond milk and so on. I love miso soup, and I enjoy tofu as long as I'm not the one cooking it. I never did get that one down.
However, soy provides calcium and protein, to supplement what I don't get from animals or their milk, so it is quite beneficial too me, plus it's tasty and is thicker than rice or almond milk.
Since I've gone gluten and dairy free, I have been consuming soy sour cream, soy cheese, more soy milk as a whole as it's been on sale more, more tofu when I eat out (Pho, Japanese and Thai food are excellent for any restrictive diet, and are also plentiful with their soy-based foods that are offered).
My hand, which I am using to base my body's reaction to the dietary changes, has been getting worse. I am getting to have daily itching fits which I have no control over whatsoever, and it's more than once a day as well. If you will remember, that was one of the reasons I started this, was due to the rash which has broken out on my hand, the severe eczema it has morphed into and has not gone away since the first inklings of cold weather to come.
Now, this can be one of two things:
1. I am in fact eliminating the bad stuff from my diet and this is the last of the toxins pushing its way out, and that's why it's so bad - it's got to get worse before it gets better, the way of any detox.
2. I am allergic to soy, and soy is the culprit.
The former is what I am hoping for for many reasons - the obvious of course that I am getting better, and that my body is forgiving me for my cock-ups such as the wheat-seasoned tofu and the accidental beer incident. That would be nice. Plus - I love, love, love, LOVE soy. I don't know that I can give that up. I could be making this up but soy is in way more than dairy or gluten is in. There is a good chance that is incorrect, but I do see it an awful lot in ingredients, in some form or another.
I am too hippie to be allergic to tofu! I can give up wheat no problem, I give up milk - save the utters! But I cannot give up tofu! I shall not succumb to the likes of "fauxfu - for the tofu intolerant" (From King of the Hill, when Hank is constipated)! It shan't be borne!

Just as a side note about this entry, it's 5:30 in the morning and I haven't slept yet, since I am working an over night shift and am just killing some time between rounds. So, should this entry be just a little off, there is my excuse.

The other Goals

I've been trying to update for the last two days with no success! I have been attempting to use my iPad, but it just doesn't seem to want to work on this site. The Apple and Google wars, I'm sure.

The other benefits of cutting these things out, even if it proves that I am not allergic to them, is hopefully it will cause me to consume less fattening things and less carbs, helping me to lose weight. 

If I'm going to be honest here, I currently weigh 160 pounds. My BMI (body mass index) tells me I'm obese - I AM NOT OBESE, and this isn't coming from an obese person in denial either. 

I'm the chick in this picture (in case you hadn't picked up that this blogger is a lady yet). As you can see, not obese.

I just happen to be a bit larger in the bust area. This picture was taken I think in September or October. Granted, I gained some holiday weight, as every one does, but I still have a similar figure. That right there is why I do not agree with the BMI charts. 

So, to help along my healthier approach to eating, I of course need to exercise. I can eliminate as much as I want, but that's not going to make me healthy, even if I do drop the weight. Exercise will help my mentality, metabolism, my bones, and of course muscle and energy levels. 

We happened to be by Sears, which is closing down in Bellingham, and we stopped in to check out what they had left of their electronics. The only thing even pseudo useful were the SD memory cards, which were still over priced, even on sale. However, we meandered through, picking through suits, shoes, underwear - all the stuff that one needs to stock up on, but is generally costly. I happened to come across work-out wear and thought to myself, "Now is the time to buy sports bras." 

And I did. Three in fact. And a work out few work out shirts and some yoga pants. I am ready to hit the gym! Or run or something. 

A note on running: The bust thing makes running a huge discomfort. It hurts. I have a lot of weight on my chest, and it's not comfy. If I look down while running, I've been smack in the face. It is not my friend for this reason. 

Due to the chaos of the store and my general laziness, I didn't try anything on. 

When I did finally have a chance to try it all on at home, I was disappointed when my bras did not offer any of the desired support. In fact, they seemed to offer less support than my normal bras. I sighed, mostly expecting this. I have never had any luck with sports bras. However...layering them....

It took wearing all three bras to get anything near the desired support I needed. I think honestly I need just one more to make it perfect - But! I am to the point where I can run. I just hope that no one ever witnesses me only wearing the three bras because I know it looks down-right silly. 

I'm just missing trainers...didn't think that one through. Do Converse count?

I like to think myself fairly savvy on eliminating things from my diet. I cut back on dairy years ago, swapping from 2% milk in my cereal, coffees and what have you to soy/rice/almond/oat milk (depending one what's on sale when I buy it), and using soy butter when I lived in the UK (I haven't been able to find it here in Bellingham, which saddens me - it's delicious) or whatever else dairy-free butters, creamers, and so on. I have enjoyed it. I also don't eat meat, or at least land-walking meat. And I have cut out wheat in the past. I'm no stranger to being cautious about what I put into my diet. 

HOW DID I GET SO CARELESS???

Toby and I were filming a show and I decided to treat myself to a drink. There was nothing that sounded more delicious than a Brass Monkey (Pabst with a splash of orange juice in it. Make it taste like a Blue Moon and is usually way cheap). I thought for just a moment to scan what else they have on tap, and I happened to spy Angry Orchard. 

"Cider," I thought. "I need to have that." But there was more to it than that. Cider was ringing out to me as a must-find, but I couldn't quite place why. "Oh right! It's not wheat-based!" 

Then it dawned on me.

I had a Heineken the night before! How could I have missed that??? And how did I go a full 24 hours before I realized it? 

I need to get rid of the beer in my fridge. 

A list of grains and uses for coconut flour

A handy list of grains and foods that do not have gluten in them 
Also, I found this chart and thought it useful

From Gygi.com

Oops...

Today was a crazy rush. At the last minute, I was able to acquire a spare shift starting an hour after my last one ended. I used this time to rush home, grab rent checks, dash off to pay rent, get some food to eat in time to return to work. It worked. I went to the Co-op and got my favorite: Tofu Cutlet. They're delicious, and perfectly prepared, and it really is a treat as to when I can actually get to the Co-op to indulge.
I bit down and it was tasty and juicy, but not soft. It was the perfect firmness and everything I wanted in tofu...except these annoying crumbling bits which kept falling off and making a mess while I was trying to drive. What are these tiny nuggets of annoyance when I'm trying to focus on the road? Inconsiderate crumbs! Then it occurred to me that these crumbs represented the external seasoning. I began to wonder what it was which made them cake on to the outside in this crust-like manner. Then it dawned on me with a heartbreaking realization: It is probably wheat related.
When I was able to park - okay - when I was at a red light - I quickly sifted through the ingredients. Spelt and Barley flour were used in the making of this. I knew there were some sporadic grains which don't contain gluten, but are barley and spelt a part of that elite group? Unfortunately, I was one my way to work with a busier work load awaiting for me upon my arrival, so I could only attempt at divining that they were in fact a part of this secluded grain crew.
As soon as I entered the house and put down my bags, I searched the answer.
They did in fact contain gluten.
If I had large, animal-like ears, they would have drooped disappointingly, and perhaps a sign would have escaped, to add to the sad puppy experience.
I had done so well! Catching myself before the delicious scone! Being so attentive to everything I created and used as ingredients. I was so terribly let down by my hurried self which hadn't even bothered to inquire as to what made the tofu so perfectly flavorful.

This was the first upset in plans, and the last. No mistake is worth having if there was nothing to be learned from it. I learned vigilance with this mistake, and I plan on putting what I have learned to practice.

I enjoyed a girl's night out tonight. I however ran out of steam long before any one else, which was just as well as I need to work in the morning any how. As my very kind lift was smoking her cigarette, i interjected myself in a conversation which was happening on the corner of the block.
Now, a quick word about our location. We live in this truly amazing city by the name of Bellingham, in Washington State. Bellingham is a hippy town, and has been compared as a mini Portland, or a mini San Francisco. But of course, with all cities which grow in popularity, bad areas bloom. The corner which had the business we had decide to support this evening was known for bums sleeping on it, drunken folk, those which dabbled in the realms of harsher drugs and their additions which follow. They were harmless. Sure the cops were called on them from time to time, but out of all my many years in this town, not once have they caused me personally any problem or concern.
Now, back to this conversation I had inserted myself into. I heard a voice say my name, and I looked over to see a taller, matured, and sickeningly thin friend from my high school days, welcoming a hug from me. His face was distorted, and he couldn't sit still. He was tweaking.
I can't dismiss people due to their problems. If you have earned yourself into my good books, there you remain. I couldn't help myself, I pried as much as I could in my short time with him. He briefly mentioned he had problems which weren't the "fire water" as he jokingly put it as he passed a water bottle around to his friends. I could certainly see that. His problems boiled down to one: meth.
It was so heartbreaking to see some one so overtaken by this drug. I have known a fair few who had dabbled, been addicted, but fought their way out and have lived amazingly. But, until that moment, I had been charmed enough in my life to have avoided childhood friends and classmates succumbing to this state.
I didn't have time to go any further in discussion with him. As we parted ways I hugged him, took him by the shoulders, tried as best as I could to look him in the eye and say, "Be well friend, be well." Whether or not it got through to him is beyond me, though I can only hope.
It made me grateful, grateful and sad. The only problems I had to worry about today was if I was going to get enough hours at work this week to keep my qualifications for insurance, getting to pay rent on time, and that I accidentally consumed gluten from the extremely expensive local hippie grocery store down the road.
This experience put it all in perspective for me, made me realize how blessed of a life I have lead. It is so easy to forget that, and I am grateful for the opportunity to see that, though so deeply hurt by the experience at the same time.
Sometimes we just need to be humbled. It was my turn tonight.

Video from "Living Without"

I could totally do this, especially since I've been craving pizza. However, the other thing is finding dairy free cheese. I personally really enjoy almond cheese, but it doesn't melt very well. We got some soy mozzarella, which I've not really had the chance to enjoy. I had a little in my omelet yesterday, but I couldn't really taste it. However, it did melt, as the package promised.
By the way, I highly recommend to any one that is into baking, whether it's gluten-free or not, always weigh your ingredients instead of measuring. I lived in the UK which partly uses the metric system, and my goodies turned out way better.

I found the recipe to try!

I found the gluten-free dairy-free scone recipe! Well, it can be altered any way.
Gluten-Free High-Fiber Date Nut Scone

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups The Pure Pantry Buckwheat Flax Baking Mix1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons chilled butter or Earth Balance margarine
2/3 cup chopped pitted dates
1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
2/3 cup vanilla low-fat yogurt (or soy or coconut yogurt)
2 egg whites, lightly beaten (or egg replacer)....(Follow link above for full instructions)

I went gluten free at the beginning of the year for a while, and one of the problems I had with it was a lack of fiber. So when I was searching for my delicious scone recipe, I wanted to make sure I had things that were not only delicious, but would be beneficial to me. If I have a hearty, high-fiber, gluten-free, dairy-free nommy to eat every morning, I'll be a pretty happy panda, I tell you what.

Double Chocolate Chip Scones Recipe (Gluten-free, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free)
Raspberry Lemon Scones (Gluten Free and vegan)
Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Scone (This one amused me, at the end it says to serve with double cream)

I will try these, some day. One day. Every day....well, maybe just some day and one day.

But the Scones...

This morning I had to wake up early, like still dark early (though that's not saying much as it is the dead of winter). I am not complaining, I enjoy going to work early in the morning. Early to work, early off of work and with a full day remaining to do what I will.
However, due to the darkness and the lack of routine, I was in dire need of a coffee and perhaps a coffee goody. So I went to my favorite gluten-free scone providing coffee making joint, and bought my favorite gluten-free scone with raspberries in it along with the tallest caffeinated beverage I could find.
I rushed off to work, at this point famished. I clocked in, did all my first duties on the clock, and finally found my chance to enjoy my delicious scone. It is that moment in which the thought occurred...."Do scones have dairy in them?"
After some heartbreaking research I found that they generally require milk or cream or sour cream - never mind the butter which I hadn't even considered.
So now my scone sits in front of me...mocking me. Mean scone. I'm eagerly waiting for the next person to come to work to see if I can trade it, something reminiscent of elementary school play. Mean, mean, mean scones.
My goal for the month is to create a delicious dairy free and gluten free scone which I can enjoy and mock this solely gluten-free scone! I welcome suggestions.

Breakfast of the Foodless

This morning I woke up feeling bright and shiny and new. Well, I'd have felt better if I had woken up earlier.
I am generally an early morning person, but with Toby being a night owl and most of the shows that we film taking place between the hours of 9 pm and 2 am, it's hard for me to keep that schedule, even though it is definitely how I function best.
But this morning, I think I have the placebo effect of the new diet. I felt full of energy, mentally ready to go. Granted, I didn't want to leave the house because - hey! It's winter out there! Winter it may be, but sunny and cloudless it is also. My room is set on the third story of the house and I have large window on two of my walls, putting me at a look out point in the bare trees. I love this spot. I watch the squirrels, monitor the seasons from here, and my all time favorite: I watch the snow collect on the branches.
So today, when I got up, I just looked at the naked, snowless branches and enjoyed.
I made us some breakfast, which was a little bit easier than I had thought. Toby is a meatetarian. I am a pescetarian, meaning I only eat fish in the way of animal flesh. Not only is Toby a carnivore  but he is very American about it. He wants his burger with melted cheese and bacon. Chicken's a vegetable right? Okay, he's not that bad. But he definitely has the American diet in mind when he thinks of food: processed, meaty, creamy, bready.
So when I suggested an omelet this morning with onion and zucchini, I was very surprised when he agreed without wincing.
In all fairness, he has gotten better since we've been dating. He is a little bit more adventurous with his food, and is a little bit more willing to trust me. I don't think he's become accustomed to the complete lack of salt I add to anything, but give it time and he will.
This morning, like I said, I made omelets for us. I used coconut oil to slick the pans, then fried some white onion, garlic, leek and zucchini. In a bowl I mixed six eggs for us and added some dill, cumin, paprika, and garlic powder. In the second, smaller pan i dumped out half the season egg and waited for it to cook. I didn't cook the vegetables for as long as I normally would as I knew they'd continue to cook in the hot egg. We had some soy mozzarella which I added to give it the cheesiness that all omelets need.
It was good. I had mine with a dollop of soy sour cream (which I highly recommend. It's delicious). However, my egg was a little too runny on the inside for my liking, but Toby's came out just right. At least one of them did.
Omelets are fairly new to me. I'm not generally a fan of eggs. I'm learning to add seasoning to them to make them tastier, but generally I have a very British approach to eggs: I want them fried and on something. So not only making an omelet is new to me, but the entirety of the learning process has been interesting. I first started when I had a little bit of chili I didn't quite know what to do with. It wasn't enough for a meal but all I had otherwise was eggs. So I made a chili omelet - and by the way, I make the best non-spice vegetarian chili ever...Not to gloat or anything, mind you.

That is breakfast done. Well, breakfast at lunch time that is. By the time I'm ready to eat again I'll be heading off to work. Toby is going south to do some work with his mom and begin filing the company's taxes, or at least organizing them. That is leaving me the afternoon to do what I love to do: write.
I might just figure out what to make for dinner tomorrow as well. Perhaps fish might be in order. I do make a mean tuna steak.

Day One

Well, I'm not entirely doing this by myself. My boyfriend, Toby, is partly going on this journey with me. He and I come from similar food-backgrounds, to a point. We were both raised on frozen foods requiring a microwave and a very select few vegetables that our mothers could get us to consume. His was salad while mine was broccoli and peas.
We're the same age, though six months apart. The difference in our diets happened during sophomore year in high school, when I happened to come across a Meal Management class. This taught us the etiquette of dining, proper food preparation, how to cook healthy meals and so on. It was really fun and interesting. After that I decided I loved cooking so much that I might consider it as a profession one day. I began obsessively searching the internet for recipes to try out. I would write them all out onto index cards. I had hundreds of them. This was not an experience Toby had.
When I began my studies in school, I only wanted to study herbs. I was intrigued by plants. I had no interest in nutrition though. It was just something that involved a bunch of vitamins. Whatever. However, one of the modules in my herbal studies was about nutrition. It was cleverly disguised as a module on the dangers of a toxic colon. It sparked my interest. It had never occurred to me that food could be used as medicine. I know I am not alone in this. Many doctors even do not acknowledge Hippocrates's words - the very words of the founder of medicine - "Let thy food be thy medicine".
This too, was not an experience Toby had.

I had suspected Toby may have a food allergy as well due to his own personal symptoms. I thought that since I was going to be going on this journey, perhaps he could join me part way. He has been thinking and thinking and thinking all month about which one he wants to give up during this time. It has been a battle which has been neck and neck the whole time. Even up until midnight, it was a 50/50 which way he might go.
It wasn't until we both woke this morning, hung over from celebrating the New Year, that he decided. We went to Sheri's for breakfast. It wasn't my first choice, but breakfast for a town full of hung over and bleary people- all the local places I'd have liked to have gone to had lines out the door. While looking at the menu, Toby finally made his decision to go dairy free for the next two months.
Later that day we went grocery shopping, and I realized how little Toby knew about food, and what was in it. I found myself coaching him on how to read labels, the key words that sounded harmless or foreign, but actually contained what we were trying to avoid. I more wanted him not to focus on what he could not have, but instead to focus on the creative adventure which lay before us. Unfortunately, Toby does not get as excited about food as I do.
It also didn't help too that he was still suffering from his hang over while mine had run its course with me, and I was excited for this shopping trip.

For dinner tonight we had a completely gluten free and dairy free meal that could have fooled any one.
I made a garlic tuna pasta, with salad on the side.
For the pasta sauce I substituted brown rice flower for normal flower, coconut oil for butter, and rice milk for milk. The pasta was brown rice pasta as well. I fried in the coconut oil onions until they just began to go transparent, then I added four cloves of chopped garlic (I am a huge fan of garlic) and zucchini. Once the onions had gone soft, I added some red cooking wine. I know - I know, one should use white wine with a white sauce - but I just didn't have it, so I sacrificed color for red. I allowed that to boil into the veg a little bit while also adding an onion stock cube and a vegetable stock cube for flavoring, along with some basil and dill. Once the stock cubes were dissolved I patted in some of the brown rice flower as mentioned and rice milk. After the flour had been whisked in, I added the tuna to heat.
The salad was nothing special. An already put together mix of different lettuces and spinach with an Italian dressing for me, and a dairy-free ranch we found for Toby (I can't stand ranch).

I was very impressed with the outcome of this meal. Had Toby not been joining me, I might have added a couple of diced tomatoes, some broccoli, and or some butternut squash. However, I am still easy Toby into healthier eating.

I consider for myself that day one was a success. I didn't feel any cravings for anything that I couldn't have. But it was also quite helpful that in general I don't consume much dairy aside from cheese, and I have no qualms with alternative pastas. I think it was also helpful that we were suffering from the hang overs. It meant we had a docile day, instead of a day of running around which would make us want to eat more.
I can come up with meals for myself that are along the guidelines I'm following, but finding something that Toby will enjoy as well is an entirely different feat.

The Low Down

So here is where it starts.

Current
My name is Nicola. I have just turned 26 ten days ago and I am just beginning the new 2013. I work two jobs- one is with a company called Evergreen Supported Living where I work as a direct support staff for adults with developmental disabilities. I love my job, though I wouldn't be lying if I were to say it wasn't trying. I am fairly new to the company, having only started eight months ago, but I'm three years into the profession itself.
My other job is working for Think Piece Productions. I have so far been doing the work for the experience, but soon I will be a share holder of the company. I put in just as much work for this company as I did when I was full time at Evergreen, while still being full time there. Think Piece Productions is a video production company in the Pacific Northwest, which travels from Vancouver to Seattle working on various projects from documentaries to music videos to simple filming of bands and other promotional videos.
I got into Think Piece Productions due to my boyfriend, who has most of the ownership of the company. I began helping out with some organization which has lead to various other tasks which have included me. Now I'm learning to edit, I film at most gigs, I am in charge of scheduling, promotion and so on.
I"m surprised at how much I have enjoyed it. much like when I got into the supported living profession, I didn't expect to like this work, and I didn't expect to have as much involvement as I do.
I have been to school to study alternative medicine. I have gotten my herbalist and nutritionist certifications and was half way through getting my Bachelor's degree in Holistic Healing, but sadly the school shut down without any notice, thus leaving me high and dry. I want to continue my education, I am just taking a break.

Health
As mentioned before I am 26. My eye sight it's awesome, but isn't enough to warrant glasses (at least not when I had them checked a couple years ago). I have tendinitis in my left shoulder which flares up periodically. I have suffered from two back injuries in as many years - just muscular, but still weakening my core as it is. I have bad knees, they hurt from time to time. I haven't been able to find any similarities to when they decide to flare up except sometimes when they do it's because I have been sitting for too long. I was taking extra Omega's, thinking that might have been the problem. It worked for a little while, but now it doesn't seem to matter as much.
I don't exercise. I refuse to own a car because I insist that not owning one makes me walk more, especially since none of my work locations are on a bus rout which runs at helpful times for me. However, when the hints of winter began nudging, I found I walked less and mooched more.
One day I hope to ride a bike, but for the moment I am asthmatic. Since I don't exercise much, my lungs aren't strong enough to deal with the exertion a bike would bring. Though, it is less the bike and more that my asthma gets set off by cold air. Without fail. And I don't carry an inhaler. I once made a garlic syrup to strengthen my lungs and act as a preventative, but I haven't made a batch since, and that was some years ago. It did the trick though while it lasted.
The biggest issues which has been bothersome for me is my right hand. My right and middle finger have some seer eczema which keeps trying to spread up toward my arm and down to the palm of my hand. I have good times and bad times with it. It generally gets bad in the winter, as all my skin dries out like no one's business during the winter months, but I have never had it as bad as this. I have had eczema on other parts of my body - behind my knees, my wrists, my ears - on and off all my life. I find I usually break out in it when I get stressed. I also generally blame it on boys - they're damn stressful!
About three years ago, I lived with some people that had a cat which scratched me. Her claw went into the back of my right hand and out in the same spot, not even leaving a scratch, and only leaving a wound site so small and insignificant looking one might have considered it a freckle. However, my ring finger and middle finger went numb, and I began experiencing an aching in my hand and wrist. A week later I went to the hospital to have it check out. Ten minutes and a $500 bill later, I was on my way home with a suggestion that I take Aleve as needed should my hand continue to hurt and that "Maybe God will let you have the feeling back in your fingers". This was not helpful. Luckily, the feeling in my fingers returned two weeks or so later.
I don't know if the maddening eczema on my right hand is related or not.

Naturopath
I went for the first time at the beginning of December of 2012 to see a Naturopath. She was recommended by a friend and co-worker who sorted out her eczema which had consumed both of her arms. I had been saying I was going to do it for ages but finally decided to go in when my life-long doctor had sent out letters announcing his retirement.
She was so lovely, and we had tea and chit-chatted for a while and talked about everything mentioned above and more. At the end of it she suggested I need some liver support, and thus we concocted a tincture that would suit my tastes (it's delicious!) for that purpose, and she suggested that I test out the possibilities of food allergies. She told me to eliminate dairy to see how my body reacts. She also said that she would suggest gluten as well, that normally she wouldn't suggest it so soon, but I have already had the experience so she thought I could handle it.
Eczema is a common symptom of a food allergy, as it the problems I have had with my ears in the past, the knee problems, the shoulder problems, and so on. She believes it is most likely dairy, but gluten may also be the culprit as well. They are generally the more common deviants.

Goal
My lovely naturopathic doctor told me to wait until after the holidays to begin my elimination experiments. I probably would have any way. I like to think I'm strong willed, but I ate a lot of delicious and cow milk product rich foods over the last four weeks.
My goal is go eliminate dairy and gluten. After two months, I am going to pick one and gorge on it. I have a feeling it will be cheese, since I really do love a wine and cheese night. I am to wait and see the reaction my body as to it. I will give it another month free of whichever food I continued to leave out of my diet and repeat the process. If it is neither of these things, then I will try something else.
I want to keep a comprehensive blog about what is going on around me. Holistic healing is about everything going on around the person, internally, externally, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, environmentally and so on. If I am stressed out, then it may cause my eczema to flare up. If I am sad, it may lead to more weight gain, and so on.


I am very excited for this for many reasons. I have this odd love of experimenting with my diet. I cut out all meat that doesn't come from the water to force myself to eat different foods. I was experimenting for a year and that year has stretched into it's fourth. I feel healthier for it, it's cheaper, and I eat more nuts and seeds and other protein rich vegetables more.
I had a roommate which passed along the book Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis to me, and insisted it was a book worth my time. I read it and it had convinced me to try going gluten-free. I did it, and enjoyed it, for four months or so. The mistake I made was that I wasn't entirely strict. I didn't mind that the soy sauce had trace amounts of gluten, or that I was consuming more corn flour products, which have the potentially of producing the same effects as gluten. In the end I gave up. I was buying the gluten-free replacements of the foods I love instead of just not having the product in any form, which was costing me a lot of money. I once bought one bag of groceries which cost me $70! I was also concerned about my fiber intake, or lack there of at this point. I mostly got my fiber from whole wheat, and with eliminating it, I hadn't bothered to make up for it by other means.
I hope that by doing these experiments I will of course, discover if I have a food allergy and what it might be, but I also hope to lose weight, be more clear minded, more energetic and productive. I have been looking forward to the 1st of the year for a long time.