This past year has been quite the journey with battling TMJ. One of the things my doctor urged me to do was eat like a caveman — aka take on the Paleo diet as a way of life. She feels my diet is contributing to my joint, muscle and digestive issues, and likely causing inflammation. Yep, TMJ disorder can be become quite the chicken or the egg adventure. Is it the jaw? Is it the diet? Was it that fall that I had a kid? Am I allergic to gluten? Could that be the culprit? Do I have a magnesium deficiency? Is coffee making it worse? The list goes on and on.
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Sure, I can get 100 tests done, and so far I've had about 99. But at the end of the day, it all boils down to one thing when it comes to feeling better: my diet. What goes in your body can make you feel great, even heal you; or it can spiral you down into a health crisis. There's no question about that. A new healthy food lifestyle may not cure my TMJ problems, but it will surely help me feel better if I pay more attention to it. However, I knew that if I jumped right into it, I would crash in no time because I know myself very well. To be realistic, I found that substituting my favorite things with healthier options — one dish and beverage at a time — was the way to go for me.
The first thing I let go of was milk and … Wow! What a difference. I haven't lost any weight but I feel lighter. I replaced it with almond milk, and I actually have gotten used to the flavor in my morning cafecito. I don't miss milk at all. It was an easy thing to let go of and gave me the confidence to move forward with other changes.
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I grew up with arroz con gandules and arroz con pollo, two dishes that I'm not even that crazy about but have familial and cultural significance for me. So what to do? Find a replacement and chalk it up for now. My health relies on it.
My next target: rice. Now this is a tough one! As much as love it, I just don't feel well after eating it. Sadly, it's time to let it go. But I know that eliminating the ritual of eating rice with dinner is unrealistic for me. I grew up with arroz con gandules and arroz con pollo, two dishes that I'm not even that crazy about but have familial and cultural significance for me. So what to do? Find a replacement and chalk it up for now. My health relies on it. I don't love my Titi Gloria's arroz any less, and the joy it brought me by switching things up.
I've heard so many great things about cauliflower as a substitute for rice and pasta (that's No 3. on my list) so I figured I would give it a try.
It's actually really delicious. However, I'm not going to lie. Will it taste good with frijoles or salchichon? I'm not convinced yet, but one step at a time.
If you're in the process of replacing ingredients and dishes, I know it can be daunting. Take it slow and find new and doable ways to eat the things you love. Make it a fun exploration of fresh ideas and simple recipes. I added a bit of ghee, sea salt and rosemary to my cauliflower rice, and love the way it tastes with fish and chicken. Here's to new eating habits!
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