Why I became a Nutritionist!

I assumed for many years that I needed to become a Nutritionist to save my dad’s life. He suffered from colon cancer. I begged him to change his eating habits and cut out meats and coffee, trying to convince him not to go through chemotherapy and resort to natural remedies. Nothing could change his mind since his Oncologist suggested chemotherapy. After painful surgeries and agonizing years of chemotherapy, he passed away in 2005.

I now believe that nothing could have changed his mindset, not even his own daughter.

Do you ever wonder why you have become, what you are? Why does the universe have such riddling ways planed for each one of us?

My digestive health was always questionable, and I did get into health and nutrition way before my father’s diagnoses. Not until, my dad has passed away have I fully committed to a healthy diet. I was desperately trying to figure out what could have caused his cancer in the first place and totally ignoring my own health. He never smoked, had extremely little alcohol and ate home cooked meals at every meal. Where was the problem?

Is cancer hidden in the genes?

Just like my dad, my aunt (my father’s older sister) passed away from cancer. She was quite a large woman my aunt. They never diagnosed her with colon cancer, but they diagnosed her with cancer in all organs and tissues. By the time she went to the doctor, the cancer has spread all over.

This mystery sent me on a seven year quest of more learning, reading and much more research!

Just this year, my Mother in Law got diagnosed with pre-cancerous polyps and badly damaged intestines which needed immediate surgery. She is also a health nut. My Mother in Law eats well, does not smoke, does not drink and prepares her own foods. Where is the culprit for all this madness?

Finally after 7 years all is clear! What I have discovered is, that it was genetic, but not what one would think! Cancer is not genetic. Now one would wonder, what is the underlying cause? This is going to surprise some, but bear with me; the pieces are coming together!

Many family members suffer from food intolerances or food allergies. It was so obvious –Gluten Allergy and Gluten Sensitivity. There is a difference between symptoms of wheat intolerance and gluten intolerance symptoms. Also, it is possible to experience Celiac Disease symptoms but test negative for Celiac Disease. Even adults can develop food allergies, do not neglect the thought that certain conditions can be brought on in adulthood despite not showing any signs in their youth.

I had couple pieces of the puzzle, but the picture did not make sense until my boys, 10 and 6 showed weird symptoms and too many unexplainable infections. My 10 year old suffers from sinus infections and pollen allergies for a couple of years now as does my younger son. Recently my older son got diagnosed with anemia which was specially puzzling to me. I’m a nutritionist. We eat natural beef and foods high in natural iron. What was going on?

Sebastian is the little guy he had trouble with his tooth enamel for years, funny white bumps on his arms and cheeks, just like I used to have when I was little. He suffered from tonsillitis since he was a toddler with frequent ear infections and colds, funny, just like his mommy!

These are all symptoms of a suppressed immune system caused by an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine triggered by gluten! Symptoms of this autoimmune disorder are also vitamin, mineral and a nutrient deficiency!

Important to recognize is that conventional clinical tests can determine Celiac Disease to some degree,  but inconclusive or negative results in these tests do not mean; free from gluten intolerance. Quite frankly, most people experiencing hidden and significant gluten intolerance symptoms, have tested negative for Celiac Disease. These individuals are categorized as Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive, or NCGS. The scary part is that, only because individuals are not positively diagnosed with Celiac Disease by doctors, does not mean that they could not suffer the same outcome from your gluten sensitivity – Colon Cancer!

As a now Gluten-Free Family, I do suggest an elimination diet. If one is not familiar with these allergy testing approach, please research: Elimination Diet.

More information on Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease, as well as symptoms, can be found on this site Gluten Intolerance Symptoms.

I’m thanking my dad for paving my way, so I could diagnose my children quite early with this nasty food intolerance. Some children, like me, go undiagnosed for years until they develop symptoms that are extremely hard to pinpoint in adulthood.

My Dad with my son Pierce

Be proactive and research your family”s history. Colon Cancer does not mean cancer it means that the digestive system and immunity are compromised by something!

Wishing your family best health and like always…

Stay Healthy and Keep Juicing … oh, and gluten-free!

Monika Baechler