I did it.

Finally.

I ate a brownie.

After 8 weeks of a strict Gut Repair Diet, I ate a deliciously chocolatey paleo brownie.

Notice I didn’t say I “cheated” and ate a brownie. Cause I didn’t. I’ve been cleared by the Doc to stop the gut repair protocol and return to my regular clean-eating diet. Wahoo!

Here’s the scoop. My symptoms have not really budged since beginning the elimination and supplementation. As I’ve said in recent weeks, I think my digestive problems are more closely related with my stress/anxiety levels than the actual food I eat. Therefore, if I am not managing or reducing chronic stress, tension, or anxious thoughts, then my issues will not get better by food/supplementation alone.

So for the next little bit I will be finishing out all my herbal supplements (the Repairvite, liquid Vitamin D Complex, and GI Synergy) and THEN embarking on the final phase of my functional medicine journey (well, this one anyways).

The next phase is a gall bladder/liver detox. There is also a restrictive diet that goes along with this phase, but it’s much easier and closer to a strict paleo diet. It removes alcohol, caffeine, sugar, fruit, white potatoes, beef, and pork (sad face). I can bring back eggs, tomatoes, peppers, paprika, etc. I can also bring back nuts and seeds but I will, most likely, keep those to a bare minimum.

The detox supplement is called Clearvite and it comes in the form of a powdered drink. The protocol lasts for 21 days. I will also continue to take digestive enzymes and HCL support as well as a probiotic (prescript assist).

So, back to the brownie. It was a brief celebration of my gustatory freedom. Since I will be detoxing in the near future, as I finish out the last of the Repairvite I will keep to the elimination diet ….in theory. In practice, I won’t freak out if there’s paprika on my sausage, banana in my smoothie, or peppers in my salad. I know that those things aren’t the issue. However, I don’t want to jump feet first into a sugary, caffeinated, alcoholic diet since I’ll just be detoxing again in a week or two.

So that’s my story. I suspect that if I’m ever able to get my “anxious tendencies” under control, my digestion will vastly improve and I won’t have to resort these sorts of interventions. But if I do, I know that they are available to me and I can comply with the “rules”.

In other news… I am beyond STOKED for this lil’ cookbook that arrived on my doorstep this week.