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Food That Helps Win the Battle Against Fibromyalgia, by Deirdre Rawlings, ND, PhD
Thu, 08/19/2010 - 4:15pm
If you're wanting to know if I like this book or not, I really like this book! As do the people I show it to ... 'where can I buy this?' ... whether they have fibromyalgia or not. I feel that this book is not just about foods and fibromyalgia, but a 'primer' for anyone who has any chronic illness or wants to remain free of it. I don't just live in a world of people with fibromyalgia; quite the 'split' on that -- many I know through Lumigrate do but few in my actual 3-D 'real world' life do, so my copy of the book gets shown to more people WITHOUT fibromyalgia and they LOVE IT. I feel that the text portion of the book (which is about 100 pages) is an excellent overview with the right balance of detail about overall health concepts for all and what 'the deal is' with fibromyalgia. But that's not where people gravitate -- they go to the recipes. And EVERYONE likes that there is a little box on each one that tells you the 'tally' for that item based on the concepts covered in the previous 'stage setting'.
In writing here about what I like about this particular book, if you're wanting to know the BIG story of why I like this book, I'm going to give you that information as well. And I'll likely put this same information on other book reviews I do over time when it comes to information related to information people 'embrace' and live by.
I have a personal appreciation for following nutritional information for health overall, but unfortunately I have 'lived and learned' the hard way about following something that at some level didn't make sense to me, just because an expert I brought to my team recommended it. I think there is an important point to make related to the type of information these books contain and how we utilize them. And because of this, I maybe look at books and websites differently -- I sincerely want everyone to have an easier time with their health because of Lumigrate and other good sources of information than I had. Because of books like this, and the Internet, I am finding this to be true, I believe!
For those who haven't stopped by the front page of Lumigrate ('home') or are familiar with my history, I have 'been at this' since 1989 -- chronic fatigue syndrome at that time ground my life to a screeching halt. I was greatly helped after that by a chiropractor who brought a new level of awareness to me about food and health. I also realize, in retrospect, that the eating program he had everyone following, which was the biggest 'diet book' for many years or decades, might have set me up for 'adrenal fatigue' which lead back down the chronic illness trail to what was later diagnosed as fibromyalgia in the late 1990s.
So please think about what I just said: The book encouraged me to do things differently which in the short term helped me and in the long term perhaps caused a huge problem. You've heard the term 'chose your friends well'? I say, "choose your books well".
Over the decades, not only have I read a lot of books about many health topics in addition to those I had to read for my formal education to become an occupational therapist, I now realize how critical it is that you chose your sources well. Then I suggest you always keep in mind two things: 1) information will continue to evolve and unfold and your beliefs and actions must as well, and 2) you are always reading or hearing the opinion of someone who is knowledgeable. They study, write/talk and then you're reading/hearing and doing and then they go on to learn more, including from YOU and what occurs with the information you learned from, and it is literally a process that continues to unfold. By the time you've read something in a book, hopefully they've gone on to learn other things and would like to update what you read in the book. Perhaps the authors of the book I read in 1990 had learned that setting people up to have nothing but fruit and juice before noon was not what Deirdre would say in 2010 (as she is ALL about getting some fat in the morning, and protein).
But YOU are the expert on you, just as the home page of Lumigrate shows! Your job being the "manager of YOUR health information" is much easier when you spend your limited resources (time, energy, money) on sources which are valid. When I think back to 1989 or 90, I recall reading the book I referred to above, and thinking 'this seems kind of extreme'. I had been SO scared at my sudden and dramatic loss of strength and energy and abilities and 'life', that I was highly motivated and looking for anyone to turn to who would lead the way for me to health. I was so blown away by the wisdom of my new health care provider (where I experienced kinesiology testing for the first time -- truly a 'paradigm shift' for me with health care), that I mistakenly considered the book he recommended as if he were a god and knew better than I. Which I regret.
20 years later, I picked up and read a book about 'Adrenal Fatigue' (which outlined causes, effects, solutions) and parts of it made me say 'I KNEW that stuff in that other book that I followed so closely didn't make sense on some levels' BUT I HAD felt better at the time (could you feel worse than I did with no energy and muscle strength?) and I now know that is because it also took out dairy and wheat from the diet, which I have now come to understand I was allergic to and now recognize as a primary contributor to my health issues.
Our other core concepts are progressive and streamlined and I believe that's one of the reasons my initial impression of "Food That Helps Win the Battle Against Fibromyalgia, by Deirdre Rawlings, ND, PhD" was so favorable: It's a book with good layout and balance of how broad the information is with enough detail to make it flow easily and not get into details I'll not understand or retain, really. And I look forward to following what she produces in the future in books or on her website, as this rapidly evolving subject requires a lot of keeping up with!
So I suggest you tune in with Dr Dee, and the book is an excellent way of becoming a 'health ambassador' when you show it around. And I hope it helps many ease everyday pain and fight fatigue through food that helps win the battle against fibromyalgia.
__________________
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
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I, too, absolutely love Dr. Deirdre Rawlings book, Food that Helps Win the Battle Against Fibromyalgia. I own multiple copies so that I'm sure to always have one on hand as I lend them frequently to others.
Not only are the recipes doable and wonderful, I also receive vital nutritional information so I can make educated decisions when creating my own recipes and meal-planning ideas. The helpful hints are much appreciated as is the gorgeous photography of the finished meals. It makes food preparation all that much more enjoyable!
This book is for anyone wishing to learn more about nutrition and better health.
Sue Ingebretson is finding herself a successful leader in her latest career as a health educator and advocate resulting from her experience as a person who has found her way to determining and managing chronic illness. Her exceptional book "FibroWHYalgia: Why Rebuilding the Ten Root Causes of Chronic Illness Restores Chronic Wellness" is available on Amazon.com as well as other locations. She is developing many helpful tools with the collaboration of leading programs in California and is an invited and welcome contributor here at Lumigrate.com. Her website is: www.rebuildingwellness.com.
Thanks Mardy and thanks Sue for your very heartfelt and wonderful comments about my book.
I wanted the book to be empowering for people who suffer from fibromyalgia, as food and nutrition is such an integral part of any healing regimen ... as I am sure you know.
I suffered with malnutrition very early in my teens and this was due to eating too many processed carbohydrates, too much sugar --- which suppressed my immune system leaving me wide open to every virus or bacteria around -- plus I was growing up in a stressful environment at home. I talk about this briefly on my FREE audio, called: Stop Chronic Pain with Food & Herbs -- 10 Most Potent Solutions! When you register on my website (www.foodsforfibromyalgia.com, the link is provided, below), you will automatically receive a copy plus a FREE E-Course with 8 lessons on how to handle sugar and food cravings (something I mastered personally after needing to address this with my own health issues).
I want to emphasize how food truly can be and should be your first and best medicine because it is fundamental to your healing, recovery, wellness, and longevity. Seeing as we all eat several meals per day anyway, we may as well make it an intentionally healing process and use it to obtain optimum health and energy. I promise you it will provide you with many benefits and that having a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is a big 'tap on the shoulder' telling you that your diet and nutrition simply must be changed and that its time to look at this important and essentially key area for your healing to occur.
Food and nutrition is about much more than what you eat -- it is ultimately about life. You can get well; the first step is awareness then keep staying on the path by taking the next step after every other step.
Health, love, and support,
Dr. Dee
www.FoodsforFibromyalgia.com
Deirdre Rawlings, ND, PhD advises clients in her local area of Atlanta, Georgia, USA in person as well as remotely, both individuals and groups/corporations. While she has a focus on advising those with fibromyalgia or developing symptoms with a focus on nutrition as solution for wellness, her expertise is global and 'wholistic'. Her complete information can be found at http://www.foodsforfibromyalgia.com/. She is the author of "Foods that Help Win the Battle Against Fibromyalgia"; check out Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobel.
Good point you make about a fibromyalgia diagnosis being a 'tap on the shoulder' but it's more like a wham on the shoulder in my experience, but I wish when there were things like low blood sugar going on in my teens (a 'tap on the shoulder' when you think about how fibromyalgia develops with the hormone system) that would have gotten me turned in the right direction, although I did embrace and was compliant with an eating program related to blood sugar regulation. In my 20s, when my blood pressure was pathologically low and I kept asking medical providers why that was as it couldn't possible be a good thing, they said 'it can't be too low, you're very lucky'. So I just hope that people can start learning what the symptoms are that can be 'coming on' for years and decades before a 'diagnosis' of fibromyalgia.
Since having posted this, I have spoken with one person who read about the book here, went to Barnes and Noble and bought it and started getting things turned around! It might be helpful to list the ways a person can obtain your book, Deirdre, and since you're the expert on that, I'm going to leave that up to you to Comment again, below! I believe currently that is : online: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, and your website, foods for fibromyalgia.com. And 'the old fashioned way of going into the bookstores nationwide in the US. What about Canada, and other countries?
I encourage people to purchase this book for themselves or someone else, put it on their 'wish list' and ask for it at gifting times, or print this out and talk with your local library about ordering a copy for you to read and then hope others get sparked when seeing it on the shelves and lists. My copy is sitting right here by my workstation as I refer to it ALL the time, and since that's basically in my kitchen it's handy there too!
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
Hi Mardy and hi to Everyone!
Yes, that's correct, my book is available from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble also.
You may also pick up a copy from my website at: www.FOODSFORFIBROMYALGIA.COM -- but I recommend buying it from Amazon or B&N as they can give you a much bigger discount than I can. I know that probably sounds odd since I am the author but I actually buy the book off my publisher and they aren't able to discount it for me the same as for Amazon.com Such is life!
It's a great read and I hope you enjoy the recipes. I guarantee that you will find several in there that you will love. If you don't eat dairy -- and I recommend you do not unless it is raw and certified organic -- you can substitute coconut or almond milk in any of the recipes where there is milk. I also recommend using coconut flour instead of wheat flour and it is DELICIOUS! It is also anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory. How great is that! Did I mention that it's delicious!
Enjoy every one and I wish you good health!
Love and light,
Deirdre
Deirdre Rawlings, ND, PhD advises clients in her local area of Atlanta, Georgia, USA in person as well as remotely, both individuals and groups/corporations. While she has a focus on advising those with fibromyalgia or developing symptoms with a focus on nutrition as solution for wellness, her expertise is global and 'wholistic'. Her complete information can be found at http://www.foodsforfibromyalgia.com/. She is the author of "Foods that Help Win the Battle Against Fibromyalgia"; check out Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobel.
... and so very interesting about the book world.
I don't think I've ever used coconut flour, but I'll pick some up when I go to the healthy foods marketplace next. Thanks for ANOTHER Grate tip, Deirdre! Are you getting ready to do a second edition or revision on your FIRST and oh so very good book? I know we were recording seminars two years ago right about now and about the only one that I bet the presenter/provider would do exactly the same today is Paula King related to Strategies for Lasting Change. So much information changes so rapidly and all the providers learn along the way as well, and change and grow. I know I certainly have! ~~ Mardy
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
Thank you Deidre! and Mardy! I absolutely marked almost every single page to try to make the recipes! The photos are sooooo beautiful!, and for me, that is what makes the difference....the experience, what you look at, how does it tastes, and big PLUS, healthy for you! I'm a strong believer that food is medicine! and instead of taking it on a capsule...it becomes a whole sensory relationship with your food! The table,That fig muffin! WOW! beautiful, yummi!!!
I got soooo inspired that I asked Mardy to put a cooking class together with me especially for people with FM, arthritis and inflamation basics ... inspired on your book Deidre! And I heard another one is on its way!...
If you're interested please let us know; we are looking into March, probabily the last 2 weeks! Please contact me:
Monica 970-683-0166 www.integrativewellnesstoday.com or info@academyofyoga.com
Monica is co-owner of Academy of Yoga in Grand Junction, Colorado and a health coach with many wellness programs and incorporates foods and nutrition, including being involved with a community garden project. Please visit her website at www.integrativewellnesstoday.com, or telephone (Colorado, USA (mountain time zone) 970-683-0166 to speak with her.
It's so very gratifying to see the connections that form over a book and the people who use it and the one who wrote it. It's a blessing to be in the midst, so please let me know how Lumigrate and I can facilitate. ~~ Mardy
PS -- I've talked with Monica in person about the book; she is from Chili and has such tremedous enthusiams surrounding food. Deirdre's originally from Australia, so it's very 'international' from my perspective and I'm just so proud to have Lumigrate being in the midst. I'm not a Yenta ... at Lumigrate we have Yenta Tellabenta and she's the best, but I am a 'connector and networker'. I am looking foward to what comes form this. ~~ Mardy
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
Thanks Monica and Mardy for your kind words of support for my book. As a writer, a cook, and a coach, it's always gratifying to see others enjoying the fruits of my labor and as I had originally intended.
I practice these principles daily and they are simple and easy to follow AND they work. The recipes are some of my main menu favorites with my family and in my home. Glad you love the fig muffins...they are good, aren't they. I actually 'tamed down' the ingredients for the book to make it less expensive for people when buying the ingredients but at home -- I go all out and add tons more nuts and fruits.
I'd love to attend or participate in your cooking class -- we'll have to make this a date for some time later in the year and I will definitely let you know when I am next in Grand Junction.
Thanks again for spreading the good words about my many healing messages in my book. May it nurture you good health.
Much love,
Deirdre
Deirdre Rawlings, ND, PhD advises clients in her local area of Atlanta, Georgia, USA in person as well as remotely, both individuals and groups/corporations. While she has a focus on advising those with fibromyalgia or developing symptoms with a focus on nutrition as solution for wellness, her expertise is global and 'wholistic'. Her complete information can be found at http://www.foodsforfibromyalgia.com/. She is the author of "Foods that Help Win the Battle Against Fibromyalgia"; check out Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobel.