The Tummy Blues

Photo Credit: Eric Striffler Photography

My 4½-year-old son Jack has been complaining about his tummy hurting for some time now—about six months. At first I didn’t think much of it. We have a pooping family, and as I’ve come to realize, “my tummy hurts” for a 4½-year-old can be mistaken for hunger, eating too much, or needing to pee. Instead of being overly cautious (I definitely have neurotic tendencies), I watched for about six months. I might add that we are talking about a kid who has an above average healthy diet so I felt fairly okay with my choice. But once I started noticing soft, red-gray circles under Jack’s eyes, I knew I had to put on my detective’s hat!

Clue One: gas, frequent bowel movements
Clue Two: soft, red-gray circles under eyes

In instances like this, conventional medicine typically prescribes unnecessary poking and pills as the first course of action. But for me, it was clear that dietary action was a must! It was the only thing I could control. I wanted to tap into my resources before taking him to the doctor. I must say that I had a brief moment of panic realizing that there was probably a problem, albeit a manageable one, with my kid’s diet (or possibly something else). He’s my baby, he’s got the tummy blues, and I want to make it better… NOW!

The first step to solving the tummy blues was identifying the symptoms. Once identified, I created an elimination game plan. If necessary, seek immediate assistance from an integrative doctor (who will typically look at dietary change as the first course of action) or qualified nutritionist (another very wise choice). If I were not a culinary nutritionist, I would have done just that!

My elimination game plan:
1. Identify the possible culprit(s).
2. Explain to my child what’s going on and what I plan to do.
3. Remove the culprit(s) from the diet for 2-3 weeks.
4. Rebuild the gut with Aloe vera juice and probiotics (both healing and restorative) making sure to confirm supplemental gut support with a healthcare provider (in my case, a close colleague—and registered dietitian—who specializes in supplementation).
5. Keep a diary noting symptoms or hopefully lack thereof.
6. At the end of the removal period, add the culprit back into the diet and watch for the return of symptoms. If present, avoid that food. If not (and no other culprits are suspected), seek further advice from a healthcare provider. If more than one culprit exists, add one at a time (over a three-day period) and watch for symptoms. If none exist, start with next item (noting that first item is safe to eat). If symptoms do exist, remove the item again from the diet, wait five days, then add the next culprit. Repeat as necessary.

I decided that wheat was my culprit (although I keep a fairly gluten-free home, Jack does eat wheat in some form or another daily). Even though he’s 4½, I feel very strongly about talking to him about matters related to his life. One morning I pulled my little dude aside and said, “We want your tummy to feel better, right?” He gave me a nod. “And you know that I want to do whatever I can to help you feel better, right?” Another nod. “I think that foods that contain wheat, like breads, pasta, pretzels, cookies, and cakes are making your tummy hurt.” He said, “I don’t want to eat those foods anymore, Mom.” Of course he didn’t want to eat those foods anymore, but he would still want them. I continued, “This is the deal, you can still have all of those foods but they will be special foods that I will give you. Mommy will do it with you.” With a slight smile, Jack added, “It’s like our special adventure, right Mom?”

And that it was. I took him to Whole Foods to pick out all the wheat-free products that he wanted to try. Although challenging at times (what do you expect?), we left without too many breakdowns. I must add that my extreme side wanted to start with the removal of gluten, but my practical side said, “Stef, you may not need to go there, so start simple and if you need to take it a step further you can.” I find that talking to myself often helps, even if out loud in public places!

We started the wheat-free challenge, and for the first few days there was no change. In fact I felt as though things worsened a bit (usually the body detoxing). Then, there seemed to be some improvement over the course of the next two weeks; however, not enough for my liking.

The next step was to try a gluten-free diet. I was ready to go there, but there was reason for me to believe that he could have celiac disease, the inability to digest the protein (gluten) present in many grains. I contacted his doctor and she suggested we screen him with a series of blood tests before he went off gluten. When screening a person for celiac, the most common tests taken are antibody tests (IgA and IgG). If a person is already on a gluten-free diet and has their blood taken, the test will be negative for the antibodies.

Jack was a champ during the test, and luckily the results were negative. No celiac! But the tummy blues kept on singing, and I was determined to turn that music off! So, back to my game plan. This is where I am now: I have identified additional culprits and continue to forge ahead to make my baby better! We have yet to see what this journey holds. It is a process, something that I do day in and day out with others, and at this moment it is hitting home.

Obstacles are put in our way for a reason (although sometimes I am not totally convinced of that). The tummy blues are solvable and manageable. Just take a step back, create an elimination game plan with the help of a healthcare provider, and follow the plan. I would love to tell you it is easy, but it is not. Clear goals, objectives, communication, and support will help you get from A to Z as smoothly as possible.

I will leave you with this, I recently had a discussion with a pediatrician colleague of mine and he reminded me to look at the mind and gut as one, a very important component to solving and managing the tummy blues.

Our Family’s Journey with Autism

By Tracy Fox

When my youngest son Ethan turned 18 months old, I told my husband Charlie, we’re going to have a problem. I had just called the pediatrician to make Ethan’s 18 month checkup appointment, and in my gut, I knew that something was wrong. I didn’t know exactly what, but having a 3 year old son Ben helped me see what Ethan should and shouldn’t be doing. And at that moment, I saw, really saw how far down the rabbit hole we had gone.

At that time, Ethan was not sleeping more than 2 hours a day, and never in a row. He walked early, around 8 months, and now would run around the house in circles, jumping on and off furniture for hours until he collapsed from exhaustion. He refused to go to sleep, so at night it would take at least 1 hour of holding him still, with him fighting and biting me, for him to pass out. While he had been a good eater for the first year, by 18 months Ethan had stopped eating everything but bread, french fries and milk. He couldn’t tolerate the feel or sound of water, and would bite me at least 50-60 times per day in frustration. He did not speak at all, and the only time I heard his voice was when he would scream in the middle of the night. He eschewed the childhood toys I bought him and instead lined up all of my bath and cleaning products. He loved to draw with crayons, except he drew all over my furniture and walls, making my home look like some strange modern art exhibit.

Most of all, Ethan had no eye contact and did not respond to his name. I would spend hours trying to get his attention, yelling, whispering in one ear, then the other, banging doors and pots and pans, to no avail. I could not hug or kiss him, as he hated to be touched. As a baby he smiled and laughed, but now I never saw any emotion out of him except frustration and anger. He would not look at anyone for more than a few seconds, as though it hurt him to focus on anything. He did not recognize that I was his mom, or that he had a father and brother who loved him. My son was in his own world, and I was not a part of it, no matter how I tried to enter.

I had become very depressed, trying to get through each day. My life has always been busy, working full time as an attorney, raising 2 young boys, teaching aerobics and yoga and enjoying family and friends. But now I couldn’t sleep, eat or do anything for myself, because taking care of Ethan overwhelmed us. It was impossible to leave him with anyone, as he had often tried to run away and needed to be watched constantly. My husband and I took turns trying to keep a happy environment for our older son Ben while trying to take care of Ethan. My worst moments would be on the drive home from work, alone with my thoughts. I would cry the entire time, both from exhaustion and also not knowing what I would face when I got home.

I went to a variety of doctors and therapists, but no one could tell me what was wrong with my son. I was told he might be PDD-NOS but I did not know what that was or how to help Ethan. I kept asking if he was autistic, but none of the professionals would give me a straight answer. My mom instincts told me autism was a possibility, but even more importantly, I knew that I couldn’t help my son if I didn’t know what was wrong. Eventually, I went to the McCarton Center and after a full evaluation, was told the words that I knew in my head but still broke my heart: Your son is autistic.

Once I had the diagnosis, I researched for hours online and bought every book I could find on autism. I learned that intensive early therapy was crucial, and after countless phone calls and arguments with Early Intervention officials, Ethan received ABA therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. We had 6 therapists a day in our home, from morning to night, each one working to help Ethan. Each therapist had a special skill and all were trying to break through the haze to get through to Ethan.

Still, no one could address the internal issues plaguing Ethan. Traditional doctors did not recognize that his refusal to sleep, constant diarrhea and zoned-out look might be related to diet issues. No matter how many times I said it was unhealthy to have such a self-restricted diet, my pediatricians claimed that it was typical and normal to have a child only eating two foods. While I knew many children limited their diets to a few foods, my gut told me that Ethan’s diet was unhealthy and was hurting him.

Little did I know that the Agut had everything to do with it. With luck and God’s grace, Charlie came across on the internet a website called Defeat Autism Now. These DAN doctors thought outside the box, looked at the symptoms each child had and discovered a profound connection between autism and diet. They found that by eliminating certain foods and including significant vitamins, many autistic children saw dramatic improvement in their social, cognitive and functional skills, and some even recovered completely.

Armed with this research, now I was on a mission to find the best doctor to help my Ethan. It wasn’t that I didn’t love or accept my child as he was; it was because I loved him and would love him no matter what. I knew Ethan was locked inside himself, and that it was my job as his mother to do everything I could to give him the best life and health possible. Ethan deserved nothing less.

I found Dr. Kenneth Bock, a DAN doctor, during my internet research and called his office. His kind and patient staff asked me many questions but informed me that Dr. Bock had a seven month waiting list. I knew I couldn’t wait that long. Through tears and outright begging, I managed to get an appointment. Meeting Dr. Bock was one of the best days of my life. He spent hours with me and Ethan, asking hundreds of questions about my pregnancy, family history, and Ethan. Dr. Bock never promised me a miracle, but said he thought he could help my son and that was what I needed to hear. I told Dr. Bock that all I wanted was for my son to be happy and for him to say I love you Mommy. I left his office and for the first time in a long time, felt hopeful.

From that day on, we looked forward and never back. Ethan was put on the gluten-free, casein-free diet, and three days after beginning it, he slept through the night for the first time. I woke up the next morning, shocked that I had slept so long, and ran to Ethan’s crib. I was terrified that something was wrong with him. What I saw was my beautiful boy sleeping peacefully, a sight I had never, never seen, and my heart was ready to burst.

Three years later, we have continued with the gluten-free, casein-free diet, incorporating vitamin therapy and chelation, to restore Ethan’s gastrointestinal system. He thrives on his diet of healthy proteins, organic vegetables and fruit, and rice and potatoes. I am thrilled to say that he is one of the happiest, smartest, most well-behaved boys in his pre-school class and will be attending general education kindergarten in September. He has lost his autistic diagnosis, meaning that he longer exhibits any of the indicia of autism. Most of all, he is a loving, happy, fun little boy who enjoys life and his family and friends. People who meet Ethan have no idea that he is autistic, and often don’t believe how severe his condition had been. To this day, Ethan only eats foods on his diet, and will often ask if a new food will ‘hurt his belly’ or ‘make him sick.’ Thanks to the ever expanding availability of gluten-free, casein-free foods, I can make Ethan the equivalent of any foods his friends have at school and parties, and he truly does not recognize any difference.

When I look back on the struggle we have endured, I thank God for giving all of us, especially Ethan, the strength to be positive and overcome our obstacles. Everyday isn’t easy, but the joy on my son’s face is infectious, and pervades every aspect of my life. People ask me why I always seem happy, why there’s always a smile on my face. When I hear them, my smile gets bigger and I say I have 2 happy, healthy boys who are the loves of my life- how can I not smile? This fall, I am running the ING NYC Marathon on behalf of Autism Speaks. I know this will be an incredible challenge, but if Ethan can fight as hard as he has to overcome autism, I can run 26.2 miles in his honor. I am the luckiest woman in the world, and I know when I cross the finish line, my little boy will be there smiling, with his thumb up, saying I love you Mommy.

The Scoop: Kathy Freston’s Quantum Wellness Cleanse

What was your inspiration for adopting a vegan lifestyle and how has it impacted your life?

I always considered myself a spiritual person, someone who wanted to live by principles that would better hone my personal evolution: kindness, compassion, alleviating suffering when I saw it. When I saw, through videos and in books, what was happening to animals as they became food for my plate, I realized I was not living my principles at all. It was a tough realization, and an immediate challenge to my choices. I knew I wanted to be someone who didn’t eat animals, but I was still so attached to my food. So I leaned into the shift, gradually cutting out one animal product at a time, until over a few years, I became vegan. This shift has not only been hugely beneficial to my health – I lost weight and lowered my cholesterol, and my skin cleared up – but I also felt an inner alignment that I’d never before experienced. Like I was finally living my prayer. I felt clear and clean, energetically, and this clarity empowered me creatively.

What is the largest hurdle you see for people going through your 21-day cleanse and what advice can you give them?

The biggest hurdle is getting through the first few days without your comfort foods or drinks! For me, 3 cups of coffee in the morning and a nightly glass (or 2.. ok, or 3) of wine were habits that I loved. I got very cranky when I tried to abstain, so believe me, I know it’s not a breeze for a lot of people. But my advice is to be gentle on yourself; if you have to ease out of caffeine (one of the Big 5 things to give up for 21 days) by cutting your coffee with decaf and gradually moving to herbal tea over the course of the 3 weeks, that’s just fine. And if you slip and have a glass of wine, say to yourself that tomorrow is a new day. Mostly, though, remind yourself that you will get through the withdrawal symptoms usually within a very short time; they are only temporary, and they only show you that your body is indeed addicted. Do some light exercise, like a brisk walk or a hike, and you will assist your body in the process of detoxing.

How is your 21 day cleanse different from the vegan lifestyle you live everyday?

In the cleanse, you give up sugar, alcohol, caffeine, gluten, and all animal products. Being vegan only means not eating animal products, so the cleanse takes the health program a bit farther. By giving up the Big 5, your body gets to relax and recover from what it often reads as toxic. When I’m not on the cleanse, I do have some coffee or tea (but not nearly as much as I used to!), and I have a glass of wine 3 or 4 times a week. I don’t have a problem with gluten (many people do though, which is why it’s good to test yourself by giving it up and seeing if you feel better in your gut without it), so I eat bread and seitan sparingly. I very rarely have refined sugar, as I think it inflames the body. It wreaks havoc on my insulin/blood sugar, and is simply not worth the momentary pleasure. I love agave, however, and stevia is totally benign.

What are some of the detox symptoms that your readers can expect and what is your advice for getting through these challenges?

You might feel headachy and sluggish, which is usually from caffeine detoxing. Light to moderate exercise will help you get through this, as it oxygenates the body and the resulting endorphins perk you up.

What is your favorite recipe from your book?

The tempeh “tuna” salad is phenomenal. I missed my tuna sandwiches, and Tal Ronnen’s recipe is better than anyone I’d ever eaten from the sea!

What are you working on now?

I’m blogging a lot, and doing a couple of tv shows which feature stories on health, healing, and miraculous medicine. One of them is called Renegade Doctors, and it’s made by the producers of EXTRA. I will start writing a new book on Weight Loss and Healing from Disease soon.

Channeling the genius of James Lipton from Inside The Actor’s Studio, we would like to ask you a few of his famous interview questions:

What is your favorite word? Luscious

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Being around nature, being quiet and absorbing the beauty

What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? City noise and aggressiveness

What sound or noise do you love? Birds, especially in the morning. An evening breeze

What sound or noise do you hate? Horns honking, people yelling at silly things, being rude

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? If I weren’t so focused on health and healing, I would want to be a hospice worker. I think it’s such a profound and deep time to be with someone as they move toward their crossover. It’s about as truthful, poignant, and insightful as we get, I think, when we near the end of our lives.

What profession would you not like to do? I would be terrible in a corporate setting because I’m not good at politics.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? “Don’t worry, everything you wanted to get done, we will finish for you. Consider your mission accomplished!”

Thanks, Kathy! Read more of Kathy’s blogs…

All About Wheat and Gluten!

I recently turned 40. And, against my better judgment (caused by the “I can’t believe I am 40-blues”) I decided to treat myself to the most delicious, amazing chocolate coconut cake in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD. Only major problem is that it was NOT gluten-free (GF). And, I have been pretty much 100% gluten-free for about 8 years now. If you are wondering, I came upon this cake before my GF days and ever since I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind.

I don’t drink. I eat cake. The hangover from this gluten-laced cake was so intense. My head hurt (major stuffy nose, eyes sensitive to light and headache), my joints ached, my stomach felt funky, I was exhausted and irritable. Not fun when you have a 7 month old and a 4 year old! I must add that this feeling was not just a “day-after” thing like most alcohol-related hangovers. It was more like a 2-3 “days-after” thing. I would have been better off downing a bottle of white!

Ok, so now you all know that I can’t tolerate gluten. I realized this many years ago when I felt worn down all the time (experiencing the above symptoms on a daily basis including bloating and sharp stomach pains). My acupuncturist recommended that I remove gluten from my diet. Seeing as though I was a professional chef (trained at The Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts) and early in my formal nutrition training (studying for my Masters in nutrition at Columbia University), you think I would have been able to figure this one out!

So, I removed the gluten and within a week I was feeling better. I knew how to cook GF so I just applied it. And finding the BEST GF products became my personal quest. I have had a private practice for close to 10 years now and because of my personal experience (as well as professional training), I have been able to guide all of my clients needing and wanting to go GF.

So, for all of your novices out there, here is the low-down on gluten…

WHEAT OR GLUTEN FREE?

Firstly, people often confuse wheat-free with gluten-free so let me add a little clarity to the situation.

Wheat-free means that a person avoids all foods containing wheat.

Why does a person avoid wheat? He/she has a sensitivity to wheat, typically in the form of gastrointestinal distress such as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, reflux; skin issues such as rashes; and allergies/asthma such as congestion and wheezing.

If a person is symptomatic and eliminates wheat, typically after a week symptoms should start to improve. It can sometimes be dramatic.

What contains wheat? Foods containing wheat are anything made with white or whole wheat flour such as cookies, cakes, breads, tortillas, pizza, pasta, pancakes, waffles, most fried food, tempura, dumplings, wontons, etc.; anything made with bulghur such as tabouli; wheat berries; cous cous; sauces that are typically thickened with white flour; soy sauce (although San-J has a wheat-free option).

What are the other options? Don’t worry, there are plenty of great alternatives to wheat (spelt, kamut and all gluten-free grains—see below) containing foods including breads, tortillas, pasta, pancakes, waffles, etc. Just make sure to read labels. Most products that are wheat-free will say so on the package. Also, anything that says gluten-free is also wheat-free (even if it does not say so).

Gluten-free means that a person avoids all foods containing gluten.

What is gluten? Gluten is the general term used to describe the protein found in many grains including wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, oat, triticale, semolina, pumpernickel and farro.

Why does a person avoid gluten? The absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by gluten resulting in malabsorption of carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins and minerals, all of which are needed for good health (Gluten Free Diet by Shelley Case). This condition, called Celiac Disease (or Celiac Sprue), is an autoimmune disease that can be very difficult to diagnose for symptoms can range from everything from diarrhea and constipation to chronic fatigue and depression.

Celiac disease is a serious disease that can be diagnosed through blood tests and intestinal biopsy. Should you suspect that you have, seek medical attention immediately. Please note that there is a large population of people who are sensitive to gluten though don’t have full blown celiac disease. These people also benefit from a gluten-free diet. Again, seek medical attention if you suspect you are sensitive to it.

What are the other options? Here is a list of gluten-free grains. Rice (all kinds but beware of rice pilafs and mixed grain rice mixes); buckwheat (if it says buckwheat soba make sure you look at ingredient list, for most times the buckwheat is mixed with wheat); teff; amaranth; quinoa; corn (as in polenta). These grains and other starchy foods such as beans, potatoes and tapioca are used to make all gluten-free products. There are many amazing products on the market that are gluten-free including breads, pastas, cookies, cakes, pancakes, waffles, etc. It is very important to read labels. Take note that a product that says “wheat –free” only is NOT necessarily gluten-free.

Living GF has totally changed my life. I feel alive and well every day (as well as you can feel with two small kids, working part-time and not enough rest). I have never formally been tested for a gluten allergy, no need. I know I feel better off it, so I just stay off of it. Except on major birthdays!

If you suspect a wheat or gluten sensitivity, I suggest first removing wheat. This may do the trick. If not, go down the GF road. I just contributed to a book, The Source, Unleash Your Natural Energy, Power Up Your Health and Feel 10 Years Younger by Dr. Woodson Merrell and Kathy Merrell. I created a 21-day plan and 70 recipes, all of which are nutritious, delicious (if I must say so myself) and GLUTEN FREE!

Feel free to e-mail me any and all questions! sbs@stefaniesacks.com

Some amazing GF resources/products are:

Resources

www.celiac.com
www.glutenfreediet.ca
www.celiacchicks.com
www.glutenfreepassport.com

Products (GF favorites!)

Yummies:
Pamelas cookies, dessert mixes, pancakes
Georges baked goods
Glutino
Glutano
Whole Foods (the store) gluten free bakery

Breads:
Food for Life (also rice torrillas)
Corn tortillas (found in freezer section of heath food market)
Whole Foods (the store) gluten free bakery
Make Your Own Bread
Bob’s Red Mill
www.glutenevolution.com

Pasta:
Tinkyada (other brands too but this rocks!)

Snack Foods:
Glutino
Glutano
Ener-G

Stand in your power

Wellness Warriors,

On Monday May 11th, hundreds of you will be participating in our online Adventure Cleanse Tune-up (ACT). First and foremost, I am so PROUD of you. You are brave, responsible, brilliant unicorns full of healing potential. Yeehaw!

Many of you have already started to upgrade your cabinets, fridge, pantry and the secret vodka stash in the laundry room. GREAT! Toss what no longer serves you. This is your weekend to move from the darkness into the light. Farewell artificial colors and flavors, preservatives, trans fatty acids (if New York City restaurants banned this stuff, so can you), saturated animal fat, unpronounceable chemicals, whey, casein, gluten, fructose, corn syrup, and hydrogenated non-foods. These are poisons not meant for your regal being.

Remember you are a god/dess. Poo on a plate won’t do! If you don’t believe in your beauty then shut your (former) pie hole and let me do the talking. YOU ARE STUNNING! This world will suffer if you’re not at your best, brightest and most fulfilled. I will suffer if you don’t shine. When you build a daily practice of honoring yourself, thoughts rearrange. The negative hot air loses power as the truth posies push through. Got it sparkle puss?

As a result of your efforts you’re gonna twinkle from the inside out. No one can package that in a fancy French bottle! Remember, it’s not about weight, disease reversal, fixing the blues (or your marriage). Start small. Love yourself at the cellular level.

This tune-up works because it focuses on rebuilding your terrain by increasing your alkalinity. That’s all you need to remember. By consuming more alkaline foods and less acidic foods you’ll feel better, look better, and have tons more energy. If you need a little pH refresher course, please read my recent post.

Only you can ignite the glow! Commit and try to be as consistent possible. But if you flub a day it’s OK. Don’t beat yourself up or succumb to a mega-binge. “Hey, I blew it anyway so why not get high on my favorite drug – food”. That’s dirty self-sabotage speak. This “tune-up” is NOT under the supervision of your ego. ACT and be guided by your higher self. He/she loves you dearly and believes that all your dreams are within reach.

So if you stumble just be kind and remember your divinity. Pay close attention to why and what hit your trigger. Pull out your Food & Lifestyle Journal and scribble the issues OUT of your tissues. Take a walk, bark into a pillow, call a buddy, soak in the tub, rent a funny movie, do what you need to do to break the habit and then slide back into your bikini (even if it’s currently too tight) and dive in again.

Some folks may try and discourage you from changing. They prefer you fat, sick, mad and exhausted. “Oh, that’s dangerous, I wouldn’t do that if I were you! Where will you get your protein? You’ll wither and die” Huh? Since when is a plant-based diet full of salads, veggies, steamed greens, juice, nuts, seeds, beans, sprouts, gluten-free grains and breads, yummy almond butter, pates, soups, smoothies, baked root vegetables, exercise, journaling, telling someone you love them, rolling in the grass while giggling – dangerous? Stand in your power and break from the human herd. Folks like that don’t want to you to look at yourself nude (emotionally & physically) because it puts pressure on them to do the same. Screw that, skinny dip!

I love each and every one of you. Good luck and remember to join the forum. I’ll be posting daily in the Life Lounge section under Adventure Cleanse Tune-up. For a detailed discussion on the different cleanse levels, check the forum.

Peace and power,
Kris