Episode 6: THE JOYFUL DIET

"When we hear about diets, we often concern ourselves with the question, "Oh my goodness, what am I going to have to give up?" We fear giving up things like our favorite cheese, sugar (which means alcohol), or garlic, because, let’s face it, the smell of frying garlic is one of life’s biggest joys. But can I tell you something? When you give up certain items from your diet, and your body begins to sing with joy, it's because that item, which has caused your body to struggle for so long, is finally gone."

A healthy gut is essential for overall well-being, impacting digestion, immunity, and mental health. It regulates nutrient absorption, supports the immune system, and influences mood through the gut-brain connection. Maintaining a balanced gut microbiome promotes vitality, reduces inflammation, and fosters resilience against disease, enhancing both physical and emotional health.

'One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.' Virginia Woolf

#MultipleSclerosisSymptoms #AutoimmuneDiseaseTreatments #ChronicInflammation #Remedies #MSDiagnosis #FlareUps #MSAndExercise #InflammationAndDiet #HealingAutoimmuneDisease #InflammationAndStress #MSAndLifestyle #ChronicInflammation #PainManagement #MSAndMeditation #ImprovingAutoimmune #Recovery #Fatigue #RestorativeSleep #SleepHygiene #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDiet #Anti-InflammatoryFoods #EliminationDiet #GutHealth #PaleoDiet #LeakyGut #HealingDiet #HealingFoods #Supplements #StressManagement #AutoimmuneHealing #MSAndStress #AutoimmuneDiseaseAndStress #MentalHealth #MindfulnessAndHealing #MS #ChronicFatigue #Autoimmune #Inflammation #HealingAndStress #ReducingAnxiety #InflammationSuperhighway  #Love #SelfLove

Transcript

Hello? Hello? Hello. Welcome Inflammation Superhighway. It's Claire. I am so pleased to have you back with me today. So, today we're talking about diet, and I want to start with a warning. Well, it's not a warning; it's more of an enthusiastic encouragement. It’s also the reason why I call this episode *The Joyful Diet*. 

When we hear about diets, we often concern ourselves with the question, "Oh my goodness, what am I going to have to give up?" We fear giving up things like our favorite cheese, sugar (which means alcohol), or garlic, because, let’s face it, the smell of frying garlic is one of life’s biggest joys. But can I tell you something? When you give up certain items from your diet, and your body begins to sing with joy, it's because that item, which has caused your body to struggle for so long, is finally gone. 

Sometimes, you've been eating certain foods for so many years that you don’t even realize your body struggles with them. You’ve learned to live with bloating or that feeling of discomfort after eating something. But when you finally work out what these items are and remove them, your body sings with joy, and your palate adapts. 

I can honestly tell you that I am living proof. I no longer crave a ton of things I once thought I couldn’t live without. So, let’s begin.

Today we are recording in Yarraville, Melbourne, Australia, on the lands of the oldest continuous culture on this planet. We would like to pay our respects to the oldest and original occupants, the custodians of this saltwater-encircled country, who have lived in harmony with the land and the sea. I pay my respects to their Elders, past and present, and I honor the fact that this land was never ceded. It is, was, and always will be Aboriginal land.

Well, well! What an exciting day! Excuse me while I just adjust my microphone here. What an exciting day today is! The reason I’m so excited is that today is the fourth episode in my series about the behaviors we have control over that can influence our genetic expression—our environment, and the things we can control.

Let’s face it: diet plays a huge role. And look, when we think of diet in Western culture, it conjures up all sorts of things—weight loss, beauty, and so on. But the current climate and conversation around health have evolved. Now, we're talking about diet in relation to the gut—the gut microbiome. I’m sure everyone’s talking about that. It’s the latest development in our understanding of health and wellness. We now know how much our mental and physical health is influenced by what we eat.

This week’s episode is titled *The Joyful Diet*. So, what do I mean by that? 

I’m not going to talk specifically about one diet, although there are some incredibly well-researched diets that have been implemented with great results, especially for autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis and inflammation. These diets aren’t so much focused on supplements or what you can add to your diet, but rather on what you can remove to reduce inflammation.

But, as I said, I’m not going to focus on one specific diet today. I’ll probably bring in a few guests in the future to talk about the diets they’ve tried and the successes they’ve had. I’ll also refer to some of the groups I’m involved in, where people are seeing incredible results. We can discuss those formal diets at a later date. 

Today, I want to talk about what I call *The Joyful Diet*. It’s a mindset shift. While, yes, we may need to remove certain things from our diet to reduce inflammation and achieve positive results for our wellness, the focus is on joy—not on deprivation.

To some people, that is just awful. Some people find the concept of removing their favorite food just awful—worse than, I don't know, I can’t even think of what might be worse for some people. But I know it’s hard. I know it can be really hard, especially if that item has been in your diet and brings you so much pleasure. 

When we talk about removing certain foods, we need to change our mindset. Instead of thinking, "Oh God, imagine never eating bread again," we need to shift our thinking. Understand that if, for you, bread is a problem—which probably relates to gluten being a problem—even if you're not celiac, gluten can still be an issue. Statistically, research shows that a large portion of the population doesn’t digest gluten very well.

So, if you're thinking, *Hey, I want to get on top of my wellness. I want to be the best version of me that I can be,* then you’ll want to look at the things that are causing your body, your machine, not to function as well as it could. And you'll need to remove those things. We need to shift our mindset from, *Oh my God, it’s terrible! How am I going to do this?* to thinking, *It’s amazing that this item, which I’ve had in my life since I was a kid and nobody told me it was bad for my health because it’s just such a part of my culture, can actually be removed.*

Every time I go to a restaurant, they put a free bread roll on my plate. I put loads of butter on it, and it makes me feel so good because it tastes so great. But I need to change my mindset to think, *You know what? That bread actually doesn’t do me any good. It causes bloating, a rash, acne, or inflammation.* Again, it’s about shifting that mindset from seeing it as a tragedy or disaster to realizing how powerful you are as a person, as an individual, to step outside the norm. Be bold. Own it.

You don’t have to have big conversations with people about it. When the bread roll is put on your plate at the restaurant, you just don’t eat it, or you offer it to someone else. Like anything that you give up, you just need to practice. Think of it as the opposite of other things that require practice. 

Take golf, for example. I don’t play golf, but I know that if you go out on the green—no wait, it’s the tee, right? You tee off at the first hole, you put your ball on the little peg, and you whack at it. I assume 99% of people who play golf for the first time don’t hit the ball well. It might roll along the ground or miss entirely. You need to practice. You need to practice to strengthen your arms and to "get your eye in," as they say. You’ll probably need a lesson on how to stand or hold your head. All of these things we do are for the positive outcome of something we might love.

Personally, I don’t love golf, so this is a strange example for me, but the point remains: flip that perspective. Look at giving up certain foods as practicing your mental strength and mindset. It’s an opportunity to embrace your unique individuality. Say to yourself, *You know what? I don’t need this bread.* I don’t need certain things that have become habitual in my diet. 

In Australia, as in many other European countries, we have a very bread-based diet. It’s a habit, just a habit. I hesitate to call it a lazy habit, but interestingly, the more I’ve exercised my mental capacity to say no to certain things, the more I think it *is* a lazy habit. That’s just me, looking at it with 25 years of experience of barely eating bread. What I used to live with was just a lazy habit, and I don’t miss it.

I can now enjoy certain breads that don’t affect me in the same way in terms of inflammation. I can have a properly made sourdough bread or a gluten-free bread occasionally. Instead of every day, I might have it once a fortnight, and I so enjoy it when I do. But I don’t think about it every day anymore because I don’t have it every day. 

It’s similar to when I gave up cigarettes. I thought I was always going to be a smoker. I thought I would enjoy a little joint well into my older age because it was one of those fabulous, fun things I did. But it was just a habit. When I decided that, you know what, it didn’t really... Well, cigarettes...

Well, cigarettes make your lungs vulnerable in winter to infections and colds, and they're just plain expensive. You’ve got to look at it with joy in your heart, with the truth and understanding that you are saying no to something that is not your friend. 

If there’s something you’re putting into your body, think of it like a mechanic and a machine. If your body is your car, carrying you from point A to point B for your entire life, and you put in good oils, service it regularly, and use high-grade fuel, it will run smoother. The same goes for your body. If you put foods into it that are truly beneficial, it will run better. 

Take bread, for instance. Bread isn’t evil in itself, but it doesn’t really give your body much. It doesn’t provide you with nutrients, vitamins, or many minerals. It’s a filler—padding. It doesn’t make your machine go faster or run longer over the years.

This is why I keep returning to the joyful part. You need to own what you do with your body. You need to own the respect you give it and understand that not everything is good for it. Those things you’re brave enough and bold enough to say no to—knowing they aren’t good for your body—will become part of your skillset. In the bigger picture of life, it shows that if something isn’t good for you, you’re capable of saying no.

You could look at it in terms of relationships. If a relationship wasn’t good for you, if it was taking from you and never giving anything back, if it drained your energy and made you less positive, you wouldn’t stay in it. 

Being honest with yourself is key here. This isn’t a conversation you need to have with anyone else, because, frankly, people will often want you to stay on their team to justify their own behaviors. They may try to encourage you to stay with them. For example, if you give up something that they know is also not good for them, they might say, "Oh, come on, what’s one bread roll going to do?"

Bread is just one example. The "big three" meanies in our food culture are, in my opinion, sugar, gluten, and dairy. They are everywhere, and for many people, eggs too, but not everyone. These big three are probably the hardest to give up because they are so prevalent. Most people might say things like, "Oh, sugar has never done me any harm," or, "I’ve been drinking milk since I was a kid, and it’s never affected me."

But everyone is an individual, and everyone’s body is different. However, if your genes react to your environment in a way that causes inflammation—whether that’s arthritis, Hashimoto’s, or any other autoimmune condition like my multiple sclerosis—then these foods could be problematic for you. In that case, you have every right to own the fact that, for you, no matter what others say, these foods aren’t fabulous.

I’ll also mention nightshades, but that’s a bit more specific to me. It’s another step in the conversation about food. Ultimately, it’s about finding a balance—a balance between loving yourself, loving life, and being honest with yourself. You need to be aware of your relationship with food.

I have so many conversations with people who say, "Oh, I could never give up X, Y, or Z, whatever it is that I’ve given up." They say, "You’re so amazing."

"I could never give that up." One of the most obvious things people struggle with is sugar. Now, I do still have sugar, but when I was trying to get my wellness under control, I cut it out completely. You can’t really baby step from inflammation to non-inflammation (is that a word? It’s not the first time I’ve said it, and it’s a funny word that doesn’t exist). But really, what I mean is that if you want to calm your body down, you can’t just take out a little bit of sugar. 

You’ll probably have to go all in and completely abstain, at least for a while. Then, you can reintroduce minimal amounts of sugar, but only in ways that truly bring you joy. That applies to all of the "big three": sugar, dairy, and gluten. Pick your monster. Pick the one that you think will be the easiest to give up first. I’m a big believer in baby steps. 

You’re not going to do this overnight. I’m not going to tell you to go to the pantry tomorrow, remove everything with dairy from the fridge, throw out everything with sugar from the cupboard, and toss out that beautiful bread you bought on Saturday. That’s not sustainable, and I get it. But you can take baby steps toward that goal. The benefits it can have on your body are amazing. Honestly, I’m a different person, but it was hard. Freaking hard, you know? It was really tough to go anywhere and resist, especially when alcohol is such a big part of Australian culture. 

Now, I’ll tell you about the times I do have a drink, but let’s go back to when I first started trying to stop. (Oh my goodness, I’m creating words and sentences today.) I was managing events and feeling really under the weather. I realized the amount I drank wasn’t making me "too out of it" but was affecting my body. Specifically, the sugar content in alcohol was really impacting me, and it was hard to be out with friends and not have a drink. 

Alcohol is such a social relaxant that it felt nearly impossible to abstain. There’s even this weird cultural norm where people say, "Don’t trust someone who doesn’t drink." So, what I did while hosting these events was ask the bartender to put soda water in a champagne glass with a couple of drops of bitters. It looked like lovely, rich, dark champagne. In reality, I was just drinking soda water. Slowly, over time, I did the same thing with vodka. Vodka became my stepping stone away from all the other sugary drinks I used to have. I would have vodka with soda and fresh lemon juice. 

Over time, I just removed the vodka entirely and stuck to soda water with lemon juice and a slice of lemon on the side. I was taking baby steps away from alcohol while still blending in at the events I was hosting. I could look like I was part of the group until I was strong enough to just say, "No thanks, I don’t drink." That was the same mindset and reaffirmation I used when giving up cigarettes. 

When someone would offer me a cigarette, instead of simply saying, "No thanks," I would follow it up with, "No thanks, I don’t smoke." The more I told myself I didn’t smoke, the more it affirmed my choice. Eventually, I didn’t smoke. I used the same approach with alcohol and sugar. Saying, "No thanks, I don’t drink," became a powerful reaffirmation. 

Now, let me explain. When I’m out with friends, having a great time, sometimes I’ll enjoy a glass of wine—a good glass of wine. Sure, they’re more expensive by the glass, but a good wine is usually produced more slowly, with better fermentation of the sugars. I find that one glass of good wine, savored with water, doesn’t affect my body as much. We all know that hangovers are usually from the sugar. I don’t know if everyone knows that, but it’s true. 

Cheap, crappy champagne is the worst culprit for hangovers because it’s made quickly and doesn’t go through proper fermentation. French champagne, though, while three times as expensive, won’t give you that nasty hangover. You might feel a pleasant giddiness, but you won’t get the sugar-induced headache the next day. On the other hand, cheap champagne will make you feel sick to your stomach, and if you drink multiple glasses of it, you’ll wake up with a horrible hangover. It’s the sugar that’s so toxic. 

That toxic aspect of sugar is why it wreaks havoc on your body. It’s highly addictive and really harmful. When I had my child, my partner and I were very firm about not introducing him to the sugar overload that is so common in childhood. Instead, we used other products like xylitol. We bought it online. Xylitol is made from various sources, including tree bark. It has a low glycemic index (low GI), is not overly processed, and is neither addictive nor toxic. 

In some Scandinavian countries, they even use xylitol in toothpaste because it’s known to help with small cavities. We used it all the time—sprinkling it on everything, cooking with it, making cookies and cakes. It was just like sugar, but without the negative effects. 

The thing is, sugar is stupidly addictive and can be really, really hard to give up. But you’re going to feel amazing when you do. There are alternatives you can use while you adjust your sweet tooth, like maple syrup (proper maple syrup), honey, and dates. Dates add incredible sweetness to smoothies. 

So, I may be a bit off-topic, but if you walk away from sugar—except for maybe the odd glass of good alcohol—and step away from dairy (which was another big trigger for me), you’ll notice a huge difference. 

I know this is going to sound gross, but after giving up cheese (which is delightful, by the way), anyone listening will notice a change in their bowel movements too.

When I consumed a large amount of dairy, I found my body felt more sluggish. Gluten, on the other hand, caused bloating. Sugar was also somewhat bloating, but it was particularly inflammatory for my joints. These are the big three for me: dairy, sugar, and gluten.

Now, I want to talk about nightshades. This one is probably harder to eliminate, especially when you enjoy dining out. If you don’t go out to restaurants, you’ll probably have less trouble giving up nightshades. But I found that in the commercial world of eating out, nearly every meal starts with garlic (which is a nightshade), along with onion, tomato, eggplant, capsicum, and chili. I personally react to these, but you might not. 

Here's the thing with diet: if you want to get a baseline of what is causing inflammation or reactions in your body, you need to do a blood test. I’ve had quite a few blood tests over the years. I would get detailed reports from a company in America, providing pages of information on what I should remove from my diet. 

It’s overwhelming when you first start this journey. I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and now I’m really comfortable not putting anything harmful into my body. But I’ll admit, there’s a small caveat. Because I’ve done the hard work of eliminating things that were bad for me, I can now occasionally have those things without a reaction. 

For example, if we say 100% is the level of reaction I would have had before, I’ve worked my way down to 0% by eliminating certain foods for about three to six months, which allowed my body to heal. Once I reached that baseline, having something occasionally won’t bring me back to that 100% inflammation. This means that because I’ve calmed my body and reduced its response, I can indulge occasionally without immediate consequence.

Let’s be real: at a wedding or a party, sometimes you want to indulge in something that looks amazing. If you haven’t had it for months, you might think, "I’m going to have one." And that’s okay. If you do have a reaction, you’ll know that you have more work to do. But for the most part, once your body is calm, occasional indulgence won’t send you back to square one. 

Some people struggle with the idea of giving things up. I get a lot of comments like, "Oh, I could never do that." I think there’s a bit of "Oh, that’s so cute" in those statements, like they’re part of some exclusive club where they praise you for something they could "never do." But if it were life or death, I bet they could. So why wait until it becomes that serious? Let’s not let our bodies deteriorate to the point where it’s a life-or-death situation. 

Think of it like a car. You only have one car for your entire life. If you’re lucky enough to live to 100, imagine that story. One vehicle to get you from point A to point Z, and you can’t trade it in. Our cells replace themselves constantly. Every organ and every cell has a different replacement timeframe—sometimes years, months, weeks, or even days. But as you age, this process slows down. All sorts of factors come into play as you get older, so it’s important to give yourself the best chance at living a healthy life.

Diet is one of the biggest factors in achieving wellness. And it’s not something that costs money; adjusting your diet is free. Yes, doing a blood test to figure out what your body is allergic to might cost between $150 and $350, but you don’t have to do it every month. It will provide you with a solid baseline to know what works for you.

This is why I advocate for a joyful diet. Don’t live like a monk. Don’t restrict yourself so much that you can’t raise a glass at a friend’s birthday or enjoy a special occasion. Don’t wrap yourself in bubble wrap. But do yourself a favor—don’t be pressured by social norms. If what others are putting in their mouths doesn’t suit your body, don’t do it. 

I know it sounds easy when I say it, but it’s not. It’s bloody hard. But baby steps will get you there. Just give it a try.

Give it your best chance. Sometimes, as difficult as it is, I’m bold these days. I don’t care if I go out to a restaurant and have to bring my own gluten-free bread or bread roll. If I attend a function where there’s a set menu and I can't eat 95% of the food on that menu, and the restaurant can’t adapt for me—though, in all honesty, it’s rare these days—I’ll manage. 

Thirty-five years ago, when this all started becoming a problem for me, it was extremely hard to find alternatives. But now, I’m perfectly comfortable bringing my own food. I’m also comfortable telling the restaurant that I can’t eat their alternative options. Sometimes restaurants will say they can adapt, but they’ll remove one thing and add something else to create flavor, which might end up being another thing I can’t eat. 

No one wants to be that person at the restaurant asking, "Does it have this, this, and this?" and then refusing the alternative because you can’t eat that either. It’s awkward for your friends, and it’s awkward for you. When I’m at a café, sometimes I’ll ask them to use oil instead of butter. If I’m out with friends, I might just have soda water with bitters and skip the glass of wine. Or, as I mentioned before, I’ll have one really nice, high-quality drink. I’m so happy with just one because I don’t drink every day, so it doesn’t affect my body the way cheap, low-quality alcohol did back when I drank excessively. 

In my twenties, I was wild. I drank, ate, partied, and didn’t sleep. You know the story—we’ve all lived it. But right now, at this point in my life, it doesn’t serve me to feel pressured into behavior that doesn’t support my well-being. 

To summarize: The three major things I’ve removed from my diet, as much as possible (and yes, it’s hard, and you can’t always avoid them), are dairy, gluten, and sugar. 

I also don’t eat eggs because they make me feel sick. I know eggs are full of vitamins and minerals and are a great little nugget of nutrition. A boiled egg and a piece of celery could probably sustain anyone through life. But I’ve removed them because they always made me feel a bit queasy. 

Ultimately, your joy with your diet comes from your attitude toward it. It’s about owning the brilliant person you’ve become and saying, "My wellness is far more important than the pressure you’re putting on me." The mindset of "Just have one, it won’t hurt" is flawed. It’s crazy, isn’t it? 

Have fun with it. Own the fact that every cell in your body is rejoicing because you’re not subjecting it to the toxic load you used to. You didn’t do it on purpose, but now you know better. 

So, the big question is: What do you want? Do you want a healthy body, or do you want a vehicle that struggles to get up the hill, coughing and spluttering because it’s lethargic and running rough? 

I could talk about diet forever. It’s such a big topic. I’ve barely touched on nightshades, but I think I’ll revisit that when I discuss some of the more specific diets out there. There are amazing people who’ve had incredible results with autoimmune and anti-inflammatory diets. Keto, paleo, and many other diets all have merit. 

The key is to create your abstinence from things that aren’t good for your body. Embrace it, love it, and feel proud. Jump up and down with joy knowing that you’re no longer doing harm to your body. Look around—many people who aren’t making the choices you are struggle. They may not even realize that it’s the food causing their issues. 

You don’t have to preach at every outing, saying, "Don’t eat that because it’s bad for you." Just own your choices. 

On that note, since I’ve rambled for quite some time, I’ll have to edit this before I release it. But I’ve enjoyed talking about the joy I’ve found in my diet and the process I’ve gone through to reach the fabulous place I’m at now. 

So, let’s wrap this up. Thank you for joining me on the inflammation superhighway. Until we travel the delicious, delightful, joyous, scrumptious road together again, pat yourself on the back. Find one thing you’re going to try to baby step your way away from. Pick something that seems manageable, and if you falter, don’t be too hard on yourself. Just try your hardest and take small steps toward having the most joyful, delightful diet for your body. 

Until next time, enjoy the tasty ride.