I’ve been sporting a badge in my sidebar all month but haven’t blogged a dag gone thing about it. I was reading Margret’s healthy living blog, and discovered that March was National Nutrition Month.
WHAT IS NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH?
National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.
If you have a healthy living blog, I’ve probably mentioned to you that eating healthy is a constant struggle and focus of mine. I am one of those people who will eat the extra and take an extra group fitness class in the week. I have been trying to utilize my blogging as an accountability tool. Reading your blog posts about recipes, struggles with meals, meal suggestions & tips are all very inspirational. Thank you so much for that.
The National Nutrition Month® 2013 theme, “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day,” encourages personalized healthy eating styles* and recognizes that food preferences, lifestyle, cultural and ethnic traditions and health concerns all impact individual food choices.
In keeping with the theme, I wanted to share with you a personal epiphany of my personal eating style.
Remember this post on the Rock the Red Pump Campaign from a couple of weeks ago.
You all that follow me on Instagram here wished me well & safe travels, as I spent the afternoon in Sparta with family.
WHELP, what started out all smiles and fellowship, turned into a feast gone wrong 🙁 !
To make a long story short, the days leading up to that Sunday, I had an unusual amount of dairy product intake that led to a very unpleasant episode that scared the stew out of my family.
Without totally grossing you out, I got really sick with a combination of issues I have and have had since I was a child.
What I never realized was that I was Lactose Intolerant.
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the sugar lactose (which is present in dairy products) because of a deficiency of the digestive enzyme lactose, leading to diarrhea and abdominal cramping.
Are you wondering how I could just now be figuring this out? Well, it is so! That’s all. Don’t overanalyze it. People go misdiagnosed for long periods of time.
Beauticians don’t do their hair!
Teachers have dumb kids (not my Mother 😉 !
Yes, pharmacists assist other people with problems and ignore their own 🙂
It’s just life!
Anywho, Lactose intolerance is prominent in black people because black people have decreased levels of the digestive enzyme lactase. Yes, I know I really should have caught this a long time ago. Recognizing symptoms that occur after consuming dairy products is really the only way to figure out if you have it. I’m extremely regular (WHOA…I’m sharing a lot today), so that is one of the reasons I didn’t pick up on this.
Back to the theme of National Nutrition Month…
Now that I know, In eating right, your way, every day, I am decreasing the amount of dairy products that I consume. It actually hasn’t been that hard to do so far. It just requires some discipline.
Now, I always say that COLD TURKEY is not the solution to anything. I am not stopping completely with the whole diary thing. I cannot live without Pizza for one thing.
Supplemental lactase enzymes have been placed in my little medicine bag for my purse, my lunchbox for work, and my gym bag just in case!
I use the generic store brand of course! I have found these to be very beneficial over the last two weeks.
We are all constantly learning things about ourselves. Some of the things are major and some are quite minor. The challenge is not to ignore new information but act on it appropriately. National Nutrition Month motivated me to change my eating habits in this regard. How can you use the theme to improve your own food choices and to develop sound eating and physical activity habits?
Yours in Healthy, Active, & Prosperous Lifestyles,
Rx Fitness Lady wants to know…
- How can you use the theme “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day” to improve your own food choices and to develop sound eating and/or physical activity habits?
- I’m clearly a bootleg pharmacist, whatever your talent or profession, do you practice what you preach?
Rx Fitness Lady
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I am so glad that you shared this. I, too, have difficulty digesting certain dairy products – milk being the MAJOR problem. I can handle cheese (which I love), yogurt and kefir with no problems. But, milk, that’s another story. I had gone most of my life not knowing. It was not until I was pregnant with my youngest (he’s eleven now) that I realized that milk was causing me major problems – similar to the ones you described above. Coupled with normal pregnancy ailments, that was extremely unpleasant. I am so glad that I discovered the culprit. It is interesting because had I not developed a dislike for milk during my pregnancy, I still might be drinking it and not realizing that it was the cause of my discomfort. I am so glad that someone with your credentials is sharing this info. – because it is often difficult trying to convince others that something they love is causing them so much discomfort. Great post!
Well thank you Trinity! It is difficult to get people to see things, even for me as I’ve shared. It is unfortunate too when we discover some our delicacies are not necessarily what’s best for us. Thank goodness for these Lactaid tablets!
Joi
I think I might be? Can you be like 50% intolerant? LOL I need to check myself out. My mom is lactose intolerant as well. so I know your struggle. Yes, all the time. My profession requires me to be on my customer service game 100% but I can’t say I’m always the greatest, especially on bad days. Yet, I can’t stand when I get bad customer service!
and you are not a bootleg pharmacist, you are REAL! Human! and that is okay by me.
Nellie recently posted…Sunday Favorites: American Idol, A New Tablet, & The Biggest Loser
Depending on how much of that digestive enzyme is in your body specifically. If you’ve noticed symptoms in the past, You can tell by doing a 4 week trial run to test what happens when you DON’T consume dairy products. If you don’t have any symptoms, you probably are lactose intolerant. Then try it with the lactaid tablets (you may need 2 tablets). If you feel better, you have a solution. If it doesn’t work, you probably need to eliminate rather than decrease consumption of dairies.
So….you should be getting my response today via email…HOLLA!!! Lol, Thanks for kicking me into gear as always. Let me know if it’s working.
I’m lactose intolerant also. Almond is the mild of choice in our house and as a result, my kids have never tasted cows milk. I do TRY to practice what I preach, both professionally and spiritually, but Girl…you know it’s NOT easy and I am FAR from being even close to perfect. I trip up on sugar…sweets. I’m thankful for being in the profession that I’m in because it keeps me accountable and “health conscious”, but there’s always room for improvement. Great post.
Hope recently posted…Pack your own bags.
Thanks Hope! We talked spiritual last week so you know how I feel about that constant struggle in a world full unfair judgements. It’s hard to be a good example, but all we can do is continue to try to do our best.
I want to see a chiropractor. My group fitness manager swears by her family’s health & her ability to teach better after they starting going.
You should go to whoever your group fitness manager goes to. You will be amazed. Like with most professions, finding the right person makes a world of difference so I encourage referrals. Let me know if you do 🙂
Hope recently posted…Pack your own bags.
I will, Thank you Hope. I will chat with her Monday when I get off and see about making an appointment.
This post made me think about a few bad eating habits I always tend to ignore. This themes helps me recognize my issues with spicy foods and their affect on my heartburn and nausea. I know I get like this after eating the spicy food, yet I always order it when I’m out…Why??? I’ m definitely more cautious about what I eat now, than I was 2-3 years ago. Great post girl! Accountability is everything!
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Yes girl! We always love things that don’t make us feel good. I often make comments to my parents about certain foods, but then I have to point the finger back at myself. We love what we love and it’s difficult to give it up, but we have to look out for our health…it’s not usually worth it.
My hubs deals with this. Cue up the generic Lactaid! Even so, he still gets random stomach’y issues. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s gluten-related.
Love that outfit, girl.
YumYucky recently posted…GAH! Vial of Venezuelan Virus Goes Missing From Texas Bio-Weapons Lab
Well Thanks Josie! I was trying to support the cause and these are my favorite of my cowgirl boots…I have a slight obsession with boots!
I’m glad you were able to find out about your allergy. Although, I’m sorry to hear the awful weekend that revealed this news to you.
Veronica @ vwattsthoughts recently posted…Color Run 5K 2013 Pics
Thank you Veronica! The weekend was a mixture of things that is just life but I am glad to have made this discovery that can be assisted so simply with just taking Lactaid tablets. I’m grateful that I didn’t have to eliminate it completely…WHOO…that would have been tough, 🙂 !
I hope I am not so far I think I am okay when I eat cheese and milk my son was diagnosed as a baby for being lactose so we know he is. I buy him the lactose milk and it tastes good too so no worries. Glad you self diagnosed and no one always practices what they preach no one on this green earth.
Thank you for that Kita! I agree, some of us are a little more slack than other 🙂 I fit that category sometimes when it comes to getting sick as a whole. My Mother has to force me to go to the Doctor..I’m like most men that way..SMH. Oddly enough, my sister was diagnosed as an infant like your baby, but she is fine now.
First of all, I LOVE your read boots! As a former TX girl, they spoke to me! 🙂 Secondly, this is really helpful. My hubby struggles with lactose issues as well.
thedoseofreality recently posted…Home Alone 5: The Blogger Edition
Tee hee, nothing hotter than a chick Rockin cowgirl boots 😉 Thanks!
So, so sorry! I know how horrible that can be. My husband is allergic to whey. Which is of course in milk and a whole nost of things. One time we went to a restaurant and he ordered a salad, no cheese, no dressing. They brought it out and it had cheese on it. We sent it back. They brought out a “new” salad. Within a few minutes of eating it he became violently ill. Turns out they had just tossed it around so that the cheese was on the bottom so we couldn’t see it. They still wanted us to pay! I said sure and I’ll send you the hospital bill for his stay this evening. They nixed the bill!
I try to practice what I preach but I’m also a flawed human just like everyone else. 🙂 I really do hope I inspire others to live a healthy life. You sure do that!
Carli recently posted…Pilates: Breathing {#YQA}
Thank you Carli and for sure anyone tuned in to your blog is inspired one way or another. You give a variety of food and exercise choices and thoughts to ponder.
That restaurant fiasco boils me. That’s why I don’t like sending stuff back, I’d rather they bring me a new whatever, THEN they can take their
little mishap back to the kitchen….that way I know it’s not the same.
I drink Lactaid but I am not lactose intolerant. Made the switch a few years back. So sad for all my lactose intolerant friends though…
Andrea recently posted…Finding a Church Home is as Difficult as Finding a Good Hair Stylist
Why do you drink it then? Is it a just in case or are you like slightly intolerant or so?
I started drinking it back in college when I completely cut diary out of my diet in the hopes that it would help clear my skin. I started getting horrible breakouts in college and made a few lifestyle changes in the hopes of clearing my skin…and my system.
Andrea recently posted…Finding a Church Home is as Difficult as Finding a Good Hair Stylist
I am just trying to eat healthy and get my weight back to where it should be. Pizza is my favorite so I have to really watch that. I am visiting with DYWW blog hop.
Betty Taylor recently posted…Wordless Wednesday – Out to Lunch!!!
I am all over some Pizza too Betty. That’s why it’s so important to make exercise a lifestyle so we can enjoy our fondest meals in moderation without tripping on it. Thx for stopping by.
Joi
I totally appreciate that you are “real” about what you love to eat. I, too, would much rather eat what I want and then workout more. I hope you are feeling better since you’ve diagnosed yourself.
P.S. You look so pretty in your cute outfit up there! Those red boots are fabulous!
XOXO,
Meredith
Meredith recently posted…4 Questions People Shouldn’t Ask
Thanks so much Meredith, I’m doing much better now!
I try to keep it real on my posts. I don’t like reading blogs and feeling like I can’t trust what the blogger is saying. I do believe people eat totally clean and watch every single calorie and all that…I’m just not one of them, not am I trying to get there. I love to enjoy my meals without obsessing over them.
Hey there lady!! I concur…those red boots are fabulous! Too funny about the teacher and hairdresser, but true! Lol! So glad you discovered what was wrong. Lactose intolerance is.no.joke! Thank God I don’t have it, but I have family members who do. I didn’t even know about the Lactaid Fast Action…will definitely pass that info on. As always Joi, thanks for ALWAYS keeping us “in the know”l! Have a wonderful weekend my friend!! ;-))
Michell recently posted…Doing YOU WELL Wednesday #10
Ha ha, you forgot the pharmacist who neglects her own health..tee hee. All is well now, Thanks ma’am! The boots were a gift..the best one he’s given me to date, lol.
Joi, your entire family is so amazingly happy that you made this discovery. This is just one more of your wonderful attributes. Keep making us proud in all that you do to help and inspire others and yourself. You are truly blessed.
Thank you Mother! Let’s hope it helps decrease these episodes of mine. That one was a little worse than usual! Thanks for taking good care of me as always. Love you!
Congrats on figuring it out! So many people miss it and wonder why they feel like crap. I’m vegan and gluten-free, I never cheat on the vegan part but whenever I cheat on the gluten-free part I end up getting sick, not just the reaction to it but it lowers my immune system and that’s when I get colds or asthma. So if I were to follow “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day”, I would stop my little wheat-cheats, I did manage to go all of March without it so hopefully that is the end of it in my life.
Kristiina recently posted…{DIY Inspo} Friendship Earrings
Thank you for sharing Kristiina! It is difficult to cut the things we love. Good luck with going forward. I’m moderating but not completely cutting but then the results are not affecting me that seriously. The lactaid tablets have been God sent!