I’m often asked how I’ve healed my body as well as my immune system, so today, I’ll teach you what steps I would take if I were to do it all over again. I’ve learned from my mistakes, so I hope that these five steps in my healing 101 can take out some of the guesswork for you!
I want to put an emphasis on the fact that this is what worked for me, and I am in no way telling you that this is what you should do. I don’t believe there is a “one size fits all” diet out there, so finding exactly what works for you may take some trial and error. I do, however, know how helpful it can be to have even the slightest idea of where to start, especially when you’re sick and feeling lost, so that’s what I hope to provide you with today!
- Start Slow
I dove head first into paleo and switched my entire diet in a single day without any preparation or really any clue of what I was doing. I did this because I was desperate to feel better, and by that point, I’d really hit my rock bottom.
If you have the ability, I’d recommend starting as slow as possible, cutting out one thing at a time, so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Find some recipes that look good and start trying them out and experimenting in the kitchen. Prep some meals for the week ahead and slowly start changing your habits. Over time, you’ll learn just how fun this diet change can be!
- Add in Bone Broth & Collagen
What you add into your diet can be just as effective as what you remove. Bone broth wasn’t something that I started right away, because first off, I didn’t even know it existed! When I did find out about it, I was slightly terrified of animal bones simmering away in a pot of water. If you’re new to bone broth, I promise you it’s not scary at all! You’ll realize this yourself once you make your first batch.
Back when I first changed my diet, I didn’t fully understand that food can literally heal your body. Before I changed my diet, I thought that food was something I ate that kept me alive, and that’s just about it. I was never taught to look at food as something that can help or harm you, so it really wasn’t something that had ever crossed my mind. Now I can say that without a doubt, adding bone broth and collagen to my diet has been the biggest support in healing my gut.
I have a recipe for bone broth on my website, and as far as collagen goes, I absolutely love Vital Proteins and add to my daily smoothie or tea!
- Manage Your Stress
This one is HUGE! While diet may be very important, in my opinion, stress can be an even bigger culprit. I could be eating the cleanest, healthiest food in the world, and I don’t think any of it would matter if I didn’t keep my stress under control. That’s really what makes paleo a lifestyle and not just a diet, as it’s also about getting enough rest, reducing the stress in your life, and really learning to take care of yourself.
- Stick With It
Changing your entire diet and lifestyle can be a challenge at first, but it won’t always be that way, this I can promise! Over time you’ll find exactly what works for you, which really feels like magic! You’ll become more in-tune with your body, and you’ll understand what it needs on a much deeper level.
I always suggest giving yourself a minimum of 30 days to follow your new diet changes, because the longer you stick with something 100%, the easier it will become, and the more it will feel completely natural!
- Consider Getting Some Extra Help
Sometimes we all need a little extra help when it comes healing. A functional medicine practitioner or naturopath may be just what you need to get you to 100%! A good friend of mine happens to be a functional medicine practitioner, and I started seeing her last year. She’s made a powerful impact in my life, and with her guidance as well as the supplements she’s prescribed, I’ve been able to reverse all of my deficiencies that showed up within my previous labs!
If you’re in Northern California, or are able to travel, I highly recommend Andrea from The Remedy. If you’d like to find a practitioner in your area, check out functionalmedicine.org.
Healing takes time and isn’t something that fully happens overnight. Be patient with yourself and know that you’re doing the best you can. It can take some trial and error to find out what really works for you, which is why sticking to the changes that you decide on is key.
Here’s to true health and happiness!
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Is beef gelatin powder different from collagen?
Hi Lisa! Gelatin powder only dissolves in hot liquids, and sets when cold, which makes it great for making homemade jello or gummies (like my blueberries and cream gummies). Collagen, on the other hand, dissolves easily in cold liquids and won’t set, which makes it great for smoothies or adding it to anything that you can drink. Both are really awesome, it just depends what you’re looking to use it for!
I’m getting ready to have my 3rd surgery (crohns disease). Have been researching the paleo diet for 3 years now. While I have made drastic changes to my diet by eliminating certain things. I have yet to take the full plunge. After this surgery I am committing myself to the paleo diet/lifestyle. I’ve started following you for a couple months now! Thank you for the inspiration in making these cxhanges. It’s definitely not easy and it’s nice knowing it’s helped others like me. If you don’t mind sharing what supplements/vitamins are you on? And are there any foods such as (nuts, seeds etc) that you can’t tolerate. Those foods do make me nervous with the paleo diet. Since I’ve pretty much been programmed since being diagnosed with crohns to avoid at all cost.
Hi Amanda! I’m so sorry that you need surgery, but I hope that you recover quickly! I take enzymes to help break down my food, along with Vitamin D, and B vitamins, all prescribed by my practitioner. Obviously you may have totally different needs, this is just what works for me. I did eliminate nuts and seeds for a couple months and after reintroducing them, have found that I have no reaction to them. I totally understand where you’re coming from, it can be hard to let go of the conventional way of thinking 😉 It’s definitely something worth eliminating from your diet and reintroducing once you feel great again. Wishing you the best with surgery and recovery!
do you also take a turmeric supplement? do you take the vital proteins bone broth? Does it matter whether it is chicken or beef?
Hi Sara! I actually haven’t used either, but as far as broth, chicken or beef is fine!
Hi, I enjoy your post and information however I am struggling with doing aip and Paleo. I have multiple autoimmune diseases and other arthritis, fibromyalgia. I cannot cook, stand, prep ETC most days. Any advice on how I can eat healthier and still be compliant. I am gluten free. Thank you. Karen
Hey Karen! If you haven’t already, I would highly recommend searching for a functional medicine practitioner in your area – that could be a huge help!
Hi thanks for sharing your story it’s very encouraging. I read that u suffered from adrenal insufficiency during ur worst moment. I’m currently going through adrenal fatigue with a host of other horrible symptoms (insomnia, low immunity, ibs, piles, deep fatigue, heart palpitations, muscle weakness). It’s truly great to see someone recovering from a sensible diet n lifestyle when I’ve been push aside by every single conventional doctor who have seen me.
My bf has ulcerative colitis and we are always looking out for new recipes and encouragement.
Cheers from Singapore,
Yun
Hi Yun! If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the posts that I wrote all about how I healed my adrenals – https://livinglovingpaleo.com/?s=adrenal
Sending you love!
i keep hearing about collagen. can u pls explain the use,benefits and where to find it. thx my hubby of 32 yrs was diagnosed w/ALS a yr n halfago. they have no cure n give all paitents a2 to 5 yr window of life. i am a firm believer in gut health n have recently start the keto diet. only have bout 10 lbs to lose but want to ferl better over all. was thinking of putting my hubby on a kinda keto plan no sugar or wheat or dairy to see if he feels any better but i keep haering about turmeric and collagen.
I have Ulcerative Colitis and am currently on TPN. I am only drinking raw cows milk with vital proteins collagen peptides, coconut oil and banana mixed in. My GI doctor has told me not to eat until the medication begins to work. I have started doing a few little things, cause at this point after 2 months of barely eating (off and on) and starving all the time, I want to eat something! My question for you is, you said that the first 20 days of the Whole 30 were awful, was your gut healing during that time and you didn’t realize it? I’m just wondering what made you keep doing it? I get afraid when I eat something and then suffer for it. I guess I really just don’t know what to expect and don’t want to end up back in the hospital for malnutrition.
Hi Katherine, During the initial few weeks, I knew that I was “detoxing,” and this is what kept me moving forward. For me, and just to be clear, it didn’t involve any sort of gut pain…it was more that I was feeling exhausted, irritable, and foggy. I would highly recommend looking into functional medicine for guidance with all of this. You can find a practitioner here: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/. It has helped me SO much. Wishing you so much healing! ❤️
Hi Kristen my husband lost his colon due to an acute attack of UC that did not respond to anything with a 32 day stay in hospital with sepsis. We have gotten no guidance from any of his Doctors on diet or anything for that matter. He has trouble with some foods going right through him and skin reactions under his appliances. He needs to lose 20-30 pounds and wants to do so healthily and heal what needs to be healed. I have just found your website. What should he do first? Is it gut health causing certain foods to go right through and causing skin reactions in your opinion? What should he be doing first and best way to navigate your website. Thank you!! So glad you are doing so well!!
Hi Sarah! Thank you so much for reaching out – we are sending you + your husband so much love right now. 💕 We recommend seeking out a Functional Medicine practitioner in your area, checking out the blog posts under the “How I Healed” category on Kristen’s website and also checking out the Total Gut Reset course Kristen created with her Functional Medicine Practitioner that helped her heal. :))