There are certain blogs that I watch like a hawk, literally stopping whatever it is that I am doing when I see that they have shared a new post or added a new picture to Instagram (thank you Instagram for the notice feature!). Some foodies just kill the whole recipe creation thing that consistently!
Deliciously Organic is one of those blogs, I am often on a pinning flurry with her recipes and forwarding top-priority creations to Matt begging that he recreate them ASAP (like this angel food cake the other week).
Not only does Carrie, the master recipe creator at Deliciously Organic, provide you with an assortment of recipes, but she shares practical tips on how to reduce inflammation as well. Carrie has a very inspirational health transformation story, and uses all that she has learned over the years to provide others with tips and tools that will help them in their healing as well!
Carrie is here today to share a bit on her story, her site, her resources, and to give you a taste of the awesome delicious you will find on her blog, with the recipe for Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf.
Take it away Carrie!
♥♥♥
Sometimes life takes a turn and you end up in a place you never even imagined. That’s what happened to me. In 2008 I suddenly developed hives from the neck up that wouldn’t go away. My hair began falling out. I became very depressed and spent many days in bed with ice packs on my face because my skin was burning, red and peeling.
I spent nine months going from doctor to doctor without anyone really listening or running tests. I finally found a doctor who investigated my case and ordered the required tests. In the spring of 2009 he diagnosed me with an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.
Years ago, I overcame chronic migraines, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and eczema by switching to unprocessed foods, so I called a highly recommended nutritionist and asked for her help with my new health issue.
First, we had to figure out the root cause of my thyroid disease.
I talked with my husband and looked over the calendar from the years prior. We were able to pinpoint the day when everything went downhill. On that date I had visited the dentist to have an amalgam filling removed. As soon as I sat up from the dentist chair I felt terrible and knew something was wrong. I spent a week in bed, gradually regained some of my strength and went on with life. But then, several weeks later came the hives, depression, allergic reactions to nearly everything I came in contact with or ate.
I brought this information to my nutritionist and after many tests, we discovered my thyroid had absorbed heavy metals from the amalgam filling. Consequently, my liver “backed up” so it couldn’t properly filter any toxins my body encountered. This helped explain the hives and the thyroid disorder.
My nutritionist prescribed a grain-free, nutrient-dense diet and gentle detox therapies. She helped me understand that when the body is taxed, grains and processed foods can cause inflammation. By removing the offending foods, I could let my body rest and encourage recovery.
This new path required a dedication to changing my diet unlike anything I’d experienced before. I couldn’t cheat at all – just one dose of gluten could have caused my body to start attacking itself again! I omitted all processed foods, grains and most sweeteners.
I was very fortunate to have a supportive family. When he learned of my need to drastically change my diet, my husband said, “If you have to do this, then we do it together”. So my husband and two daughters joined in for the ride and it’s been a fantastic experience for us all.
Once we got going, it wasn’t as hard as I’d anticipated. More importantly, my hives eventually went away (I haven’t had any since November of 2009), my hair grew back, my disease is in full remission and I can now spend time with my family and friends. Changing my diet helped me get my life back!
My health struggles and path to healing led me to write my second cookbook, The Grain-Free Family Table.
A grain-free, nutrient dense diet helped reduce my inflammation, allowed my body to detox the heavy metals that had accumulated in my system, heal my gut, cure my chronic hives, heal my thyroid, and much more. My hair grew back, my depression and fog lifted and I found myself again!
Here are some of my most favorite grain-free recipes that helped me along the way (I include a few treats in the list, because we all gotta live a little!):
Creamy Chicken, Vegetable and Tomato Soup
Teriyaki Salmon with Cauliflower “Rice”
Quick Shrimp Scampi with Squash Noodles
The Perfect Green Smoothie (with cooked kale to reduce the goitrogens!)
While everyone is different, I’m not alone in my healing of Hashimoto’s. My nutritionist taught me that healing comes through gentle, steady, and effective detoxification coupled with nutrient-dense, nourishing foods.
If you’re struggling with chronic health issues, I encourage you to seek out a nutritionist, osteopath, naturopath, functional medicine doctor, or nutritional therapy practitioner who can help guide you toward better health. Even if everyone around you says it can’t be done, follow your instincts. If you think it’s possible, run toward that hope. After my experience, I truly believe that many of the diseases that ail us can be avoided or reversed with the right foods, detox and support.
Today, I’m sharing my recipe for Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf from my cookbook. I realize liver is usually at the bottom of the list of foods to choose from for most people, but it contains many important nutrients, such as vitamin A, B and iron, so it’s a great addition to the diet.
I made this meatloaf for the family one night and didn’t mention the additional liver. They all ate it and complimented the food. After the meal, I told them that I included liver in the meatloaf. They all agreed that they couldn’t taste it and it was a great way to add some extra nutrients. It’s important to chop the vegetables finely, so I blitz them a few times in the food processor to save time. I usually serve this with creamed cauliflower and a salad.
Cooking Time: 2 hours (most of this is baking time). Serves 8. Ingredients Instructions
http://realeverything.com/guest-post-bacon-wrapped-meatloaf-deliciously-organic/
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://paleoparents.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/5G8_1gXf3bRhieNqrecHudga6HFOPb9CCTIdJmYygVE.jpeg[/author_image] [author_info]Carrie Vitt is the author of the successful cooking blog Deliciously Organic, and has authored two cookbooks: Deliciously Organic and The Grain-Free Family Table. Carrie also runs a successful meal-planning business and an online course titled Real Food Boot Camp that teaches you how to reduce inflammation and find better health with real food. After struggling with health issues for years, she turned to an unprocessed, grain-free diet and has been able to reverse Hashimoto’s disease, chronic migraines, IBS, and eczema. You can also find Carrie on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.[/author_info] [/author]
