As some of you may know, I've been dealing with psoriasis most of my adult life and it has especially worsened since childbirth. It has covered the fronts and backs of my legs, my elbows and arms and recently appeared on my hands.
A while back, after a comment from my dental hygenist about her gluten allergies, I decided to give it a try. I gave up wheat, limited my dairy. It gave up cream in my daily coffee and learned to drink it black. It wasn't as hard as I thought because instead of giving up everything right away (sugar, meat, alcohol), I just gave up these two things.
About six months after this time, I noticed my psorasis on my arms was a bit clearer but my legs were about 80 percent clear! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would NEVER have believed it! I was so excited because this summer would be the first time I could wear shorts in public!
I was so excited by my progress that about two weeks ago I started doing "green" smoothies. Typically, you would take lots of green veggies, mix in some fruit and blend it into a smoothie. Since I don't have a blender that could do this, such as a Vitamix (I am saving up for one!), I purchased some "greens" in a powder form, specifically Spectra Greens. I mixed the powder in my Magic Bullet, along with some bananas, blueberries and the occasional mangos. It was delicious and I was feeling great!!
Well, my legs have erupted in psorasis again. It is the worst I've seen it in a while. I've been really down about them... wondering what I could have been doing wrong since I didn't change my diet at all, except for the occasional cheating of tortillas, pitas and ice cream! :) Well, that and my smoothies!
This morning, when I went to make my green smoothie, I looked at the back of the Spectra Greens bottle and saw these words:
MAY CONTAIN SOY & WHEAT.
:(
Why wasn't I paying attention to those words!? Why didn't I read the bottle! I am so upset with myself because in trying to do something good, I am right back where I started. I'm threw the green powder in the trash and I'm trying again. I am hoping it won't take 6 more months to get it out of my system again.
I haven't seen a doctor to determine if I am wheat intolerant... I just have to look at my legs! I'm determined more than ever to live a gluten-free/wheat-free lifestyle. Are any of you gluten intolerant? Maybe you can share some good resources with me. And if any of you have an old VitaMix blender you want to get rid of, let me know! ;0
xxoo
N.
Super huge bummer. I just started a green drink thing too...but I'm using this:
http://vibranthealth.us/?p2=/modules/vibranthealth/product.jsp&id=27&category=52
I can't find anything about wheat/soy on it. Good luck, Nan! xo
Posted by: Rachel Young | May 19, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Nancie - I have never dealt with psoriasis, but deal with eczema constantly. After doing some reading in herbal books and such, I have decided that it could possibly be an allergy to wheat or dairy. Sadly, I don't have the will power to get those up. However, hearing how that changed your life, it makes me wonder if that might be a change that someday I can consider making. Good luck with getting this to go away! I hope this gets back out of your system very quickly!!
Posted by: Rebecca | May 19, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Nan, the good news is that you identified the reason for the flare up. I'll try to look for gluten free greens powder. I know that this has caused you a lot of discomfort and restricted your activities. I only see you as beautiful -- and remember how Ellie pronounced psoriasis "prizes". ;-)
Posted by: michrowe@gmail.com | May 19, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Check out stuff on Celiac Disease, allergy to Gluten, they have stuff listed that would be wheat free. If you watch the View (ABC) you may know that one of the hosts, Elisabeth, has Celiac. Wednesday May 18, 2011 they did a whole segment on gluten-free food and there is a bunch of stuff on the web site about it. I've been thinking about cutting gluten down in my diet to see if it helps with general wellness. Good luck and don't forget to read the labels, it's really surprising how much stuff has wheat/gluten in it.
Posted by: LianeZ | May 21, 2011 at 03:07 AM
ah that's terrible, Nan...so sorry you have to deal with that...and wow, i empathize over the green smoothie debacle...who'd a thunk?
Posted by: christine | May 21, 2011 at 10:43 PM
I'm so sorry to hear what you have to deal with. It sounds really restrictive. I hope that you will be able to wear shorts this summer anyway. Take care.
Posted by: Alice | May 22, 2011 at 08:31 AM
I am a firm believer in natural remedies and try to go that route first in most cases. I used to get upper respiratory infections often and a cough that would linger for weeks and weeks. About 18 months ago, I began using Oil of Oregano. One drop under the tongue twice a day. I have not had an issue since and my dentist has noticed the difference in how little plaque I have built up between cleanings. I love it and believe in it!
Also, I love green smoothies! Check out Green Smoothie Girl: http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/
My best to you as you make this journey and I hope you will be able to clarify some of these things so you can continue to heal!
Cheers,
RM :)
Posted by: Roben-Marie | May 30, 2011 at 11:39 PM
Nancie--welcome to the world of living gluten- and wheat-free--it is certainly full of challenges. I also suffer from psoriasis and learned a couple of years ago that living gluten-free was the answer. Your setback is temporary if you give up the wheat now; it won't take as long to get over your flare-up.
I found that giving up soy made a difference, too. As far as finding the green stuff, just carefully read everything. My DH and I were making smoothies but gave them up. And I feel so much better!
One of the best resources out there is the Gluten-Free Girl and Chef blog: http://glutenfreegirl.com/
Her blog is a wealth of information, recipes, and insight in the GF lifestyle. NAYY
Best of luck to you!
Shari
PS: LOVE YOUR DESIGNS!!!
Posted by: Shari | May 31, 2011 at 08:02 AM
DUH...then I go back to the home page of your blog and see you have featured Shauna's book! Oops...!
Shari
Posted by: Shari | May 31, 2011 at 08:07 AM
Thanks so much for your replies... it means so much to me!
@RM - I have never heard of Oil of Oregeno. I will have to look that up!
@Shari - your reply today was JUST what i needed! I suspect that sugar may be the culprit of my smoothie-setback. Do you do sugar? Why did you give up smoothies!? I have so many questions - may I email you!?
xoxo
Nan
Posted by: Nancie | May 31, 2011 at 02:30 PM
Hello Nancie! I stumbled on your blog via an art journal challenge. But I wanted to share with you a green powder that I've been using. I got this at a GNC, so I'm sure they carry it at all their stores. It's Garden of Life's Perfect Food (Raw). Best of all it's gluten free, dairy free, soy free, etc. I've been using it for awhile and am liking it.
Good luck on your journey! It's always a couple steps forwards and a couple back ;) I'm in the (slow) process of getting my family gluten free, and cutting down on sugars (HARD! lol). It's helped me so much with my health problems, as well as my kids eczema & psoriasis.
Posted by: Mary | June 04, 2011 at 01:49 PM
oh my goodness. i SO know what you are going through Nancie!
I don't know if you remember how I used to get migraines all the time? I'm sure I must have mentioned it on the forum at SA at some point lol! I'd been sick sick sick for so many years and no doctor could tell me why.
Well I finally went to see a naturopath in January. About 10 minutes into me telling her about all my symptoms she stopped me and said "Ok you definitely have food allergies!" So she sent me for a blood test. Sure enough I had "extremely high" reactions to: wheat, gluten, eggs, dairy, soy, fish, peanuts, almonds, and cane sugar.
NO WONDER I was so sick! Those are all the things I was eating every. single. day.
Anyway to make a long story short, I quit all that stuff cold turkey the day I found out and I haven't felt this good in my entire life. No more migraines, no more asthma, I've lost 24 lbs in 4 months, I have so much more energy. I feel like a different person!
I'm at work right now but tonight I'm going to email you with recipes and resources :)
It's really scary at first but you'll see it's not so bad at all once you find the yummy replacements for your old favourite foods. And don't feel bad about missing the label - it's incredible (and furiating) how sneaky food companies are about hiding wheat/soy/corn in EVERYTHING. Sometimes under totally different names you wouldn't even recognize. Read this article for example:
http://www.celiacsolution.com/hidden-gluten.html
i'll be in touch with more info soon!
Posted by: Michelle Godin | June 09, 2011 at 10:01 AM
It’s a good thing that you had a little chit chat with your dental hygienist. It helped you so much from recovering. It is really very healthy for both the patient and the doctor to have a little exchange of wisdom to help each other and also to establish trust and friendship.
Posted by: Bobby Schaeffer | June 14, 2011 at 02:29 PM
Have never been to your blog, but just stumbled across it. I don't have an intolerance to wheat, but you might want to check out Ann Louise Gittleman's book, The Fat Flush diet. I used it when I was trying to detox my body from birth control pills and I think she has some good info in there about allergies.
Posted by: Laura | June 16, 2011 at 08:46 PM
Nancy ~ I make green smoothies all the time and I have a little no-nothing personal blender. I've used Spinach and Kale and usually do blueberries or strawberries & 1/2 a banana. (if you add the banana the color is very mud like, still tastes great) I also add in a tbsp of no fat Greek yogart but you do not have to. First get the spinach or kale going by adding just water or I use a little diet Snapple. just a bit and blend all the greens first. Then add the fruit, ice, and yogurt if you want. posted a layout here http://www.theshabbyshoppe.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=30292&title=projectscrap-feb2011-page2&cat=500 which shows a beautiful green smoothie.
Best of luck to you!
Posted by: Carolyn | June 21, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Nancie, I hope things have improved for you. I just have psoriasis on my elbows and can't imagine having to deal with it more than that. Seriously. Very interesting about the food allergy correlation. Something for me to consider since mine flares up out of the blue, or so it seems. Good luck!!! :)
Posted by: Melanie | July 05, 2011 at 08:28 PM
I went gluten free a couple years ago now, the doctor had diagnosed me with ibs through depression and anxiety but I had been getting physically sicker and sicker until I was ill after every meal. I also had spots of psoriasis, terrible migraines and awful pmt, bloating and cramps. I gave up gluten out of desperation and was better on all counts literally overnight. Eating out is the worst, you have to be so careful, I have set places I go to which have reliable gluten free menus (it's surprising how many places season even fries with a gluten containing seasoning). Don't become complacent. In my case even though there are certain food I miss so much, I don't miss them enough to suffer the extreme pains and sickness! I am in the UK so I'm afraid any links I have won't be applicable to you, but good luck and stick with it!
Posted by: Suzanne | November 10, 2011 at 05:56 PM