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Herpes Diet: Managing Herpes Symptoms With Fall Veggies

Herpes SymptomsHerpes Diet: Managing Herpes Symptoms With Fall Veggies
By Contributing Author Stephanie

As those of us who have read Dr. Kelly’s Book Live, Love & Thrive with Herpes know, diet can have a huge affect on how our bodies experience the herpes virus.  Whether it’s the balance between lysine and arginine in our bodies, or simply eating well to support our immunity, it is important to actively support our bodies through our diet. This is a key to managing our herpes symptoms.  In this blog, I will go over some of the fall vegetables you can eat to support your body in suppressing future herpes outbreaks.  I strongly suggest referring back to Dr. Kelly’s previous blog on lysine and arginine for reference, as it explains how and why lysine is helpful in preventing outbreaks and arginine can be a trigger for outbreaks.

Root vegetables and squash are common fall vegetables that are delicious and nutritious for our bodies! Most vegetables have fairly high amounts of lysine.  Did you know that wheat and other grains contain high levels of arginine? This is why it is not uncommon for people diagnosed with herpes to go gluten free. If we can replace our grains  (which contain high levels of arginine) with vegetables high in complex carbs, our bodies will likely thank us. Of course this is a personal choice, but if you suffer from constant outbreaks, you can always test out this method to see if it helps you!

Some fall vegetables I love that are either higher in lysine than arginine or about equal in amounts of the two according to the sources I have researched are: beets, turnips, select squashes, and potatoes (white and sweet).

A great way to get the most out of these delicious fall foods is to pair them with foods we know are very high in lysine. One amazing recipe that comes to mind is roasted beets with goat cheese.  If you have never tried roasted red beets with goat cheese, I suggest you do so soon. If your recipe calls for nuts, you should omit them, since nuts are another known herpes trigger.

Another great and super easy recipe is roasted acorn squash filled with yogurt. Yogurts containing probiotics in the form of live cultures can also help boost our immunity to better manage herpes symptoms (assuming you are not dairy free).  If this is the case, there are dairy free yogurts made with coconut milk. High levels of probiotics and lysine in this meal, or dessert, make it an excellent and healthy choice for the season.  Since sugar affects the body in a way that prevents us from fighting off viruses, it is important to minimize our intake of sugar to prevent future outbreaks.  This is one of many delicious squash recipes that can easily double as a sweet dessert.

One last recipe that incorporates fall veggies with other foods containing high amounts of lysine is this Italian fagioli soup recipe.  This recipe is great for those cold and busy months and is packed with root veggies and squash.  The ground turkey is a great addition, as turkey is one meat in particular that is very high amounts in lysine.  You will even get some lysine from the parmesan cheese on top! I urge you all to take a look at some of the different recipes you can try to incorporate some of the seasonal vegetables into your diet throughout these colder months.

Keeping veggies in our diet consistently is so important for our health, regardless of living with herpes or not; but of course if we can decrease our herpes symptoms at the same time, why wouldn’t we do it?

book_LiveLove300Make sure to check out Dr. Kelly’s book to learn more about how diet and supplements can support your body as you learn to navigate your herpes symptoms!  

Overcoming Herpes Depression with Passion

Herpes depression is a real thing for many women. It can be overwhelming and leave women feeling all alone.

It’s not that you don’t have enough Zoloft running through your veins, it’s just that you are believing your thoughts about what it means to have herpes.

Most of you are thinking that…

No one will ever love me OR

My symptoms will NEVER get under control OR

People are going to think of me differently.

While these are all common thoughts, they do not need to be your TRUTH.

The truth is that you CAN overcome these thoughts about this diagnosis and rediscover hope, healing, and happiness.

If you are tired of feeling depressed…here is what you need to do.

You need to get out of your head and back into your heart!

While you probably haven’t felt like doing the things you love to do and are passionate about….I’m here to kick your butt and tell you that it is time to return to your passions, even if it is just for 30 minutes.

Here is a quick video from me to you from the beautiful mountains of Colorado. I wanted to send it to you yesterday, but I guess it was meant to happen today.

You know why? I just found out that Warren Miller, a ski movie icon, at 93 years old died today. He created a whole industry and lifestyle around his number one passion, skiing. I was introduced to him and his ski movies at the age of 8. Here is a video that I dedicate to him. May you rediscover your passions and not give up on happiness!

Overcoming Stigma and Finding your Unique Path

Overcoming Stigma and Finding your Unique Path

By Contributing Author Stephanie

I watched this video quite a few months ago and for a long time did not understand my connection to Eleanor Longden or her struggle with mental health.  After much contemplation I began to understand my ability to empathize with her and be overwhelmingly inspired by her journey.  Although her experience with schizophrenia is vastly different than my own experience with herpes, the fact of the matter is we both had to overcome societal stigma and as well personal stigma against our conditions.

To me, the most inspirational part of Eleanor’s story is her ability to not only overcome that stigma but to do so in a way that defied the norms of medicine and treatment for her condition.  By overcoming the stigma associated with schizophrenia she was able to work with her symptoms and hardships in order to create a meaningful interaction with her voices.  What she teaches any of us going through the process of overcoming stigma to promote healing is that doing so will allow you to experience your stigmatized identity in a way that is actually beneficial. For those of us dealing with a new herpes diagnosis, or the trauma that comes along with an outbreak after years of living with the virus, it is important to interact with our condition and symptoms in a compassionate way.  My ability, and i’m sure many of yours, to understand Eleanor’s hardships is a perfect example of one way herpes has been beneficial in my life.  Being able to feel true compassion and empathize for others in seemingly completely different situations than your own is a true gift that I may not have today without my diagnosis.

I hope you all find as much inspiration in Eleanor’s story and her ability to overcome stigma associated with her voices as I have; and I hope it inspires you all to find your unique path to health and happiness in your acceptance of your diagnosis.  

 

About Stephanie

Hi Everyone! My name is Stephanie.  I was diagnosed with HSV-2 in April of 2014 when I was 22 years old.  Right now, almost three years later, I am a doctoral student in the sociology department at Purdue University.  I recently completed my MA in sociology at the University of Northern Colorado where I explored the role of stigma in the process of disclosing a genital herpes diagnosis.  With that said, if anyone is interested in reading what I discovered in my project, I am happy to share that with you! I plan to continue advocating for our community, as well as studying the social factors that influence sexual health in order to understand how we can create a world that is easier for people diagnosed with STIs.  I really enjoy writing for the Pink Tent community and am excited to be able to share some of my experiences and thoughts about living with genital herpes with you all.

Herpes Treatment: Lemon Balm for Herpes

Lemon balm remedies for herpesHerpes Treatment: Lemon Balm for Herpes
By Contributing Auther: Stephanie

One of my main concerns with herpes treatment is my ability to control the virus naturally without effecting other areas of my body.  Lemon balm is used in herpes treatment as a natural home remedy to reduce the replication of the herpes virus.  Here, you will learn many of the different ways you can use lemon balm for herpes outbreak treatment and prevention, in hopes that you will find the perfect remedy for your lifestyle!

Lemon balm, scientifically known as Melissa officinalis, was shown in a 2004 study to effectively reduce the rate of of replication of both type 1 and 2 of the herpes virus (Allahverdiyev et. al 2004).  One precaution the article gives is using anything over a concentration of 100 micrograms per milliliter.  If the concentration is higher than this threshold there could be potential toxic side effects.  This being said, any lemon balm oil or supplement that you buy in the store should be safe for use, but I would suggest checking the dosage on the product just to be sure. As you can probably imagine, go organic whenever possible. While it is beneficial to discuss how this herb can potentially prevent outbreaks, help heal current outbreaks, and hinder the replication of the virus, we will also discuss some creative uses for the herb.  This herb can be used in many applications and it is my intent that each and every one of you will learn how it can benefit you, no matter what your unique situation with herpes is.

Different uses for lemon balm:

If you would like to grow the herb and use it in its most natural form, there are several ways to accomplish this.  The first, and likely most common, is to make lemon balm tea.  All you need to do is to place some herbs in hot boiling water for a few minutes (tea bag is optional), add some honey (raw is best), sip and relax. This tea also pairs well with black or mint tea. You can drink this hot or you can add ice to drink iced tea. This herb touts its ability to relax you and when you’ve sipped to your hearts content, re use the tea bag to sooth any sores by placing the bag directly on them.  If you do not want to grow the herb yourself, lemon balm tea is readily available for purchase.

Another creative and relaxing remedy is to take a lemon balm bath.  If you have the lemon balm plant you can use the leaves  in the bath by making a lemon balm leaf-filled bag and hanging it under the running water as you fill the bath.  This remedy will create a relaxing and healing environment for your herpes sores to heal. A word of caution though, do not take a bath that is too hot as very hot baths and hot tubs can trigger the herpes virus.

You can even eat fresh lemon balm leaves in a salad or with any other meal you have prepared.  Culinary nerds might want to add mint, anise, fennel or lemon verbena to mix with the lemon balm. Eating the leaves allows you to proactively begin to approach herpes treatment with more of a preventative approach.  Having lemon balm as a part of your regular diet could help to decrease the likelihood of having another outbreak.

Lemon balm salve or ointment is also available over the counter.  The salve can be applied directly to an outbreak site to help sooth and heal any bothersome sores.  This is a great option for those of us who might not have the time to get super creative with the herb.

You can also buy a lemon balm (or Melissa) supplement at your vitamin store to get the herb into your daily intake.  This is a great alternative to eating the leaves with your food, and will also act as a herpes treatment for outbreak prevention.

Lemon balm/Melissa essential oils are also available. You can use the oil in the area that you usually experience outbreaks to potentially prevent them.  You can also use the oil for its relaxing and calming properties in times of stress to help control your immune system’s response to hectic times.

These are just some of the many creative uses I have found while researching the lemon balm herb and its effect on the herpes virus.  I for one am planning to experiment with each of them to find which remedy works best for my mind and body.  I hope you all do the same, and successfully find a healing outlet in the herb!

Resources:
Allahverdiyev, A., Duran, N., Ozguven, M., & Koltas, S. 2004. “Antiviral activity of the volatile oils of Melissa officinalis L. against Herpes simplex virus type-2.” Phytomedicine 11(7):657-661.

 

About Stephanie

Hi Everyone! My name is Stephanie.  I was diagnosed with HSV-2 in April of 2014 when I was 22 years old. Right now, almost three years later, I am a doctoral student in the sociology department at Purdue University. I recently completed my MA in sociology at the University of Northern Colorado where I explored the role of stigma in the process of disclosing a genital herpes diagnosis.  With that said, if anyone is interested in reading what I discovered in my project, I am happy to share that with you! I plan to continue advocating for our community, as well as studying the social factors that influence sexual health in order to understand how we can create a world that is easier for people diagnosed with STIs.  I really enjoy writing for the Pink Tent community and am excited to be able to share some of my experiences and thoughts about living with genital herpes with you all.

Genital Herpes Diagnosis? 5 Top Things You Must Know

Positive Genital Herpes Diagnosis? 5 Top Things You Must Know

Are you a woman who was just diagnosed with genital herpes? If so, be sure to watch this video where Dr. Kelly explains what you must know. As a woman, doctor and 15 year carrier, she understands the stigma and shock of a genital herpes diagnosis. Need more support? Have more questions? Check our our new online Foundations Course©, which is complete private! You can be a student AND remain anonymous on your terms and on your time frame to learn. . Herpes Support Course for Women

Don’t wait until your next outbreak or heartbreak to -Learn how to naturally manage your outbreaks -Reclaim your birthright to a happy, healthy sex life -Learn the top hidden herpes triggers that your doctor never told you In addition to all of these benefits…… you don’t have to feel all alone anymore! Join our community of Women Supporting Women With Herpes and become part of an intimate group of women who are committed to living a vibrant, happy, healthy life….despite their having genital herpes. Reclaim your self-esteem and sex life today!

Live. Love. Thrive.

Dr. Kelly

P.S. If you are screaming in silence and feel that you have nowhere to turn, this is the course for you. I am committed to your success if you’ll just leap and have faith that you can learn to live and love again. You deserve it!

P.S.S. Our Pink tent™community is committed to serving you. Please share your story on our forum and receive the support you need. It’s FREE!  

Healing Herpes: Opening Up To Your Dreams

 

Healing Herpes: Opening Up To Your Dreams

TransformationI just spent the past several hours facilitating a Ladies Brunch and workshop on Healing Herpes in my home. What a magical event!

My Story

I opened up the afternoon by sharing my story of how fifteen years ago, I contracted herpes on a post college trekking trip high in the Himalayan mountains. I shared how my world came tumbling around me as I faced my greatest fears….that no one would ever love me again and that I would never be able to bear children naturally. Thankfully I was wrong, but I’ll never forget how that tiny, windowless room in a dilapidated backpackers hotel became my cave of isolation for three whole days. An endless stream of tears and waves of despair, anger, shame and frustration overwhelmed me. Would I…could I… have a life after a herpes diagnosis? At that time, the only ray of hope was from the crack of light piercing through the hotel room door. Everything else seemed dark…a mystery waiting to unfold. (Want to read more about my story from shame to love? Click here)

Their Stories

First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the women who shared their stories today at our Pink Tent™ event. It takes a great deal of courage to share your story publicly in a room full of women you have never met. These women stood in their power and shared some of their deepest and darkest secrets and fears. Not only were they brave enough to attend our event, but they took it a step further and dove deep into the emotional facets that bind us from healing herpes.  Feelings of shame, guilt, anger and unworthiness were at the core of every story.

Listening to these women tell their stories brought me right back to that windowless room in Katmandu. I recalled how the crack of light from the hallway pierced through my darkest of nights. How at that time, I could have never conceived the life I am living now. My dreams did come true, but back then, the brightness of the sun and the world of possibilities for me would have been too bright for me to embrace. I truly would have been blinded by the light and the plan that God or The Divine had in store for me.

After working with women from around the world,  I now realize that some women have lost access to their dreams. They have given up hope and even worse, they self sabotage their future with toxic substances and thoughts of betrayal, guilt, shame,and negative self talk. When I ask them to share with me what they want in life, they respond by saying that they have no idea. They can easily rattle off the things in life that they DON’T WANT, but they are hard pressed to even come up with one thing that they desire. They forgot what it was like to be in their joy and to feel fulfilled in their lives. Herpes was like a thief in the night, robbing these women of their dreams.

Wherever you might be on your journey of healing herpes, your first step is to share your story and know that you are not alone. Life has a way of beating us down and over time we become numb to what else is possible. Sharing your story is cathartic and our Pink Tent™ community is the perfect forum for you to get educated, empowered and inspired. Even if you think you have lost your ability to dream, you haven’t! Herpes can be devastating, but you can pick yourself up and move in the direction of your dreams.

If the word “dream” seems too out there for you or too much, just think of one small thing you can do today for yourself to bring you comfort and joy. What did you used to do when you were a little girl? Did you dance to music when no one was watching? Did you pick flowers or gaze up at the stars in wonderment? Get back in touch with your inner child. Take time to date yourself and fall in love with YOU before you even consider dating again. Go to an art show, take up dancing, or cooking. The KEY to healing herpes is to love yourself; wholly and completely. The best way to do that is to take one baby step in the right direction. Just like that crack of light piercing the night in my hotel room, think of one ray of hope for yourself and do one thing that brings you joy. Chose love and don’t let it slip away. Live. Love. Thrive.

Dr. Kelly Amazon bestselling author of Live, Love and Thrive with Herpes: A Holistic Guide For Women

 

How A Mantra Can Help You Heal And Access A Power Beyond Yourself

Chalk FlowerI realize that many people see the word Mantra and it might evoke images of men in turbans or a group of people chanting weird words from the Sanskrit bible. So, what exactly is a mantra?

Mantra: a word, sound or group of words to aid in concentration or meditation. The word mantra has its roots in Hinduism and Buddhism, but a mantra does not have to come from these traditions. Think of a mantra as a simple word, sound or phrase that can bring you right back to your center or closer to a Higher Spirit or God. A sound as simple as Ahhhhh or Ohmmmm repeated over and over again can bring about a powerful mental state.

The sound “Ah” is found in almost every word used for God. for example: God, Allah, Buddha, and Krishna all have the sound Ahhh. “Ohm,” on the other hand, is a word which reflects total gratitude and the attitude of gratitude has its own set of blessings. Whenever I need to get centered or to focus on healing, I can always turn to these basic, but powerful mantras.

When I chant “Ah”, I get really clear about what I want to create in my life or what I want to manifest. There was a time in which healing herpes was at the top of my list! I love to chant “Ah” first thing in the morning to connect me to God. In the evenings, I use the mantra “Ohm” to review all of the blessings in my life. I often fall asleep to the “movie of my blessings”. The attitude of gratitude is one of the most powerful states of healing and manifestation! I have personally used these mantras and several others to help me to heal my body and follow my bliss. In fact, I used a cd of mantras from a dear friend of mine, Carrie Grossman, to help me to write my book, Live, Love and Thrive with Herpes: A Holistic Guide For Women.

As you can imagine, there were days where the words just didn’t want to flow onto the page. So, I started a tradition of listening to her cd each and every day that I sat down to work on my book. Each day, before I would begin to write, I would set my intention of being in service to millions of women around the world, suffering from herpes. I knew that these women needed support, and I wanted to connect to a Higher Spirit to guide me in writing the best resource book I could. Immediately after placing my Bose headphones on and listening to the first track, “Invocation,” I would be transported to another space and time where I could access a flow beyond my own capabilities.

How to use a mantra: If you have never tried to use a mantra, now is your time. It is ideal to have about 20-30 minutes where you will not be interrupted. Find a comfortable position, close your eyes and bring your attention to the space between your eyebrows. Then, begin chanting either “Ah” or “Ohm”. If you are on a journey of healing your herpes, then I would use the mantra “Ah” in the mornings and focus on your healing. If you no longer have outbreaks, focus on what it is that you are wanting in your life. Get crystal clear because the clearer and more vivid you can imagine what you want, the more likely it will be to unfold. At the end of the day, review all of the things in your life that you are grateful for and go to bed chanting “ohm”. Buckle up, for these mantras are extremely powerful. If you can do this for about 30 or more minutes a day, your life, 30 days from now, could look drastically different.

Let us all at Pink Tent™ know how it goes. Share your victories, your visions and dreams with us in our private online community for women supporting women with herpes. I look forward to hearing from you. Live. Love. Thrive.

Dr. Kelly      

Bethany: Herpes Isn’t The End Of The World

Well, even though the H bomb is still hard to think about from time to time…I have definitely figured out that I can’t let it get me down and in the dumps. I contracted herpes from a tall, strapping man. He was a co-worker and that should have been my red light, but it wasn’t. I really like the way that he made me feel and the sweet nothings that he would always seem to whisper in my ear. I pretty much knew he was a player and I just never thought that herpes could happen to me. I was young, dumb, and having fun. I knew people with herpes, but I never really though about it.In 2010, I was 23 when I got the news. I was in the deepest of denial and then regret, and then denial again. I looked at my vagina 2 days after the diagnosis and it was all white. I knew then that it was real. Talk about hurt. I automatically thought about my daughter’s father and the fact that I would possibly never get oral sex again. The 23 year old mind! SMH… I was terrible.I don’t take my Valtrex anymore. When I got my first bottle I took it like clockwork and then I was in denial again… I thought, “If I take these pills, then that means that I accept it.” I didn’t want to accept it. I still don’t sometimes. I feel like I don’t have it. When I meet a guy, that is when I remember that I may have to tell him about my conditon.I wanted to be with my daughter’s father ultimately, but we had gone down our own paths. When my daughter was born we weren’t patient with one another and we found quick love or lust in other people. I still miss him, but I understand that some people may not want to take this risk. We continue to co-parent well and that is good for now. I have learned that STDs have a crazy stigma to them and I wish people would be a bit more accepting. I have learned that herpes isn’t the end of the world, even though it definitely feels like it. I have learned that I can live a normal life. I have learned that outbreaks aren’t a daily occurence. I had that initial ob and that was the craziest one. I have had a minor one, but nothing like the first. They don’t happen often at all.I would tell a newly diagnosed woman that it will be fine. Joining support groups and getting deeper into my faith (Team Jesus) got me through my herpes diagnosis. It is going to be hard, but this will definitely make you stronger. Don’t be discouraged. It is hard to say that at first, but once you rewind to the diagnosed date…you will see how much better life is and it isn’t over. You still have life and that is what matters!Currently, I feel like half and half. I wish I had made better choices, but God has a way of making us relax and sit down when we are moving way too fast… It could have been HIV or Hep C. I always think about that. I am a better person because of it. I treat people better and I respect people who want to learn more about it. I have made it my business to know all about it. I just take it day by day.

Smart Goal Setting: The Power Is In The Reflection

 

Smart Goal Setting: The Power Is In The Reflection

ReflectionsWith 2014 right around the corner, some of you are anxiously awaiting and preparing for your New Year’s Eve resolutions. You know that most don’t stick, right?  You want to know why? It’s because most people make a rash decision to make a change, but they have not investigated the fuel behind the fire of desire. Before you begin to even think about what dreams you have for 2014, you must first reflect on the past.

Now I know that some of you have had a very difficult 2013. Maybe even several years in a row filled with challenges or maybe your life has been filled with bliss and unexpected miracles. Either way, I can help you to create the life of your dreams. I have received personal and business coaching consistently for the past 10 years and I have learned a few things about what has worked and what has failed miserably when it comes to smart goal setting. Surprisingly enough, this post will have NOTHING to do with smart goal setting and EVERYTHING to do with it.

So where do you start? Get out a pen and paper and let’s dive deep. But first, I want to share an important analogy with you. How big is your rear view mirror in comparison to you windshield in your car? It might seem like a silly question, but actually it’s not. Obviously, the rear view mirror is significantly smaller than the windshield, but it is still important, right? The rear view mirror represents your past. A quick look in the rear view mirror and you can reflect upon what is behind you and what lies in your past. Your windshield, on the other hand, is your vision for your future. All of your hopes and dreams that lie ahead of you. You could NEVER drive your car if you were constantly looking in the rear view mirror. It only serves you to take quick glances, especially if you have a baby in the back! I want you to use this same metaphor in your life.

While your past is incredibly important, it does not define you! You can’t dwell on your past and expect to live into a brighter future. When you think about your past, I want you to reflect on the GOOD and the BAD, paying particular attention to what you have learned in the process. One of the number one questions my coach is constantly asking me is, “What is working for you in your life right now?” as opposed to “what’s NOT working?”. What amazes me is that I am constantly accessing an incredible amount of actionable information when I focus on what’s working. What do you want in your life? What could you build upon that is already working in your life to get you where you want to go? What resources do you have that could help you to get there? What gremlin might be lurking in the background that could keep you from attaining your goals?

1. Pick up your pen and paper, or start typing or dictating to Siri all of the things that come to mind when you think of 2013. Lay it all out. No filters, just write it down until nothing else comes to mind. Think of this as a brain dump for 2013. I personally have had a very full past year. In brief, I launched my book, created an online private forum for Women Supporting Women with Herpes, created an online Foundations Course for my community, became Vice President of the Colorado H Club, started my daughter in part time PreSchool, we potty trained my daughter (my biggest accomplishment) and I had a few miscarriages (that totally sucked!)

2. Identify what helped you to achieve some of your goals or what may have gone wrong with some of your mistakes. Always try to find something positive even in the midst of tragedy. For example, I could have never created an online forum for women without the help of my internet consultant. I clearly explained to him what my vision was and then I trusted that he could bring it to fruition. One of the key things I have learned this past year is to delegate the things that I cannot do and to NOT try to become an expert on things I have no business doing. It takes too much time away from the things that I love to do and I am good at doing. I dearly love to collaborate and this past year was all about collaboration and delegation to help my dreams to become a reality. As women, we often try to do it all. I did that for many years and it is absolutely exhausting! Asking for help is a lesson that everyone should learn.

3. Write down some of your key strengths and your key weaknesses

4. When you think about the future you want to create, what is your number one motivation? How would you feel if you didn’t accomplish it? What small thing could you do today to move you toward that goal?

5. Take the next few weeks to get real about where you’ve been and what you have learned. Be sure to include your victories and what was in place in your life that helped you to achieve them. Include the good, the bad and the ugly. No one will ever have to read this, so be true to yourself. The reason it is so important for you to intimately know your past in a very conscious way is because it will help you to explode your growth in the future.

One of the best tools I have used in my life for personal growth and development is my journals. I have been journaling since I was a teenager. Most of the time I just allow my thoughts to flow onto the paper without any judgement. It is from these journals that I eventually wrote my book to help women overcome the emotional and physical burdens that a diagnosis of herpes brings. Thank God for those journals to offer me insight and memories that helped me to find my path of helping others.

Whether you believe it or not, I believe that there are hidden blessings in almost all struggles in life. Believe me, I would have never thought that I would write a book about herpes, but upon reflection, I realized that I had a lot to share with my sisters around the world who were struggling with the same things I was. After the New Year, we can talk more about your dreams for the future and how to make them come true, but for now, spend your time in reflection.

I will end with a quote that my sister wrote in a journal for me many years ago before I set out on a trip around the world. “He who knows others is wise; He who knows (her) himself is enlightened.” –Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu Chinese philosopher (604 BC – 531 BC)

Know Thyself!!!!

Live. Love. Thrive.

Dr. Kelly Amazon best-selling author of Live, Love, and Thrive with Herpes  

From Gluten Free to Paleo?

From Gluten Free to Paleo?

GrainsOctober 22, 2014….I was sitting in my doctor’s office listening to all of the things I knew he would say. The usual suspects were at hand…exhausted adrenals, low progesterone, heavy metal toxicity, sluggish thyroid and liver.

Although I had studied my hair analysis for several years, hearing it from another professional made it real for me. I started zoning out as he outlined my new “diet”. I was in a fog and all I could think about was that Paleo Cookbook I just borrowed from the library, based on my suspicion that dietary changes were coming. My doctor started listing all of my restrictions… No coffee- Not Even Decaf. No alcohol. No gluten- not even most “gluten free” treats. No dairy. No grains. No beans. No processed foods. No refined sugar. No canned foods. “No Fun“, I thought, and Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner.

Richard spoke up first as he asked if I could “cheat” on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. My doctor rolled his eyes and raised his eyebrows. Then, he went into a whole monologue complete with graphs as to why I couldn’t “cheat” if we wanted to get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy, delivery and baby. So, “should I go paleo?” I asked. And his answer was a resounding yes.

Now, let me give you some background. In the past year, I have had 3 miscarriages (BTW, miscarriages are not related to herpes) despite the fact that I have a very healthy 3 year old girl Maddie. After the third miscarriage and a challenging pregnancy and afterbirth with Maddie, I knew that it was time to get some answers. So, I took the summer off and fervently placed my energy in creating our new Foundations Course. Richard and I both agreed that come Fall we would start seeking some answers.

I had blood tests, urine tests, saliva tests, and hair tests to get an accurate measure of what was out of balance. Mind you, I feel great and eat healthy. In fact, I went Gluten Free (no wheat, barley, rye, triticale) over the summer after having read the book Wheatbelly. My mother, father and aunt had already gone gluten free. The best gift of going Gluten Free for my whole family allowed our little girl’s occasional stomach aches to go away completely. I was amazed at how easy going gluten free was for our family. Maddie’s biggest challenge was not being able to get mac n cheese at the “mac n cheese store” (AKA Whole Foods).

I was shocked to find that going Gluten Free in Boulder, CO is relatively easy if your diet is already pretty clean. We could still partake in gluten free pasta and cupcakes- two treats that Maddie loved. The only other challenge I had was when Maddie started preschool part time this Fall. Most of the snacks are filled with gluten like pretzels, graham crackers, cookies, goldfish etc. I felt guilty that my child was going to have to be different. The good news is that they make most of these things gluten free and I as able to bring Maddie her own snacks. When she was in a fire drill the other day, she said that she was a good listener and that she had a pretzel (GF) as an award and that the other kids had gluten. She made me smile.

So, it is three days before Thanksgiving and now I am taking on a Paleo diet. All weekend I was pissed off that I had to be so restrictive in my diet. I went ahead and cleaned out my refrigerator and pantry of all potential temptations. No Thanksgiving stuffing or Christmas cookies or chocolate torte for me! And what about my favorite seasonal beers? I am a foodie at heart! I couldn’t possibly imagine how I would do it. My husband agreed to do the diet with me in his commitment to expand our family. He looks at it as an opportunity for us both to be healthier than ever. Watch out for what you pray for, for I have always gotten on his case for eating more veggies and now he is more than willing to.

My yoga instructor told us in class on Saturday that “Adversity is just change that has not adapted yet”. She shared this idea after watching a Ted Talk from a paralympic sprinter Aimee Mullins. Her message sank deep into my soul and I’ve been holding onto it ever since. This diet change will be a challenge for me, but I am committed to adapting to it. Richard reminds me to focus on the foods that I CAN eat as opposed to those that I CAN’T. I am so grateful for my current level of health and my amazing family.

I GET to have the chance of turning this ship around and if that means changing my diet, then I’m all in. I can’t control the outcome, but I can participate 100%. There are many of you who are reading this after having read my recommendations in my new book, Live, Love and Thrive with Herpes. I have heard from many of you that you are challenged to clean up your diet and make changes to decrease your herpes outbreaks. I totally understand. If I can do Paleo, you can make the necessary changes you need in your diet and lifestyle.

How committed are you to healing? I know that I will do whatever it takes to heal my body to its optimal potential. I have had a headache for the past few days and I am just now starting to feel more empowered. I bought 2 Paleo cookbooks and shared with my family how restricted my diet will be over the holidays. I am so fortunate that they are on board to support me. Health and healing is a never ending journey. I am on this journey with each and every one of you here at Pink Tent. Let’s rise above our challenges and be grateful for the opportunity to do so. Happy Thanksgiving!

Live. Love. Thrive.

Dr. Kelly

P.S. If you’re looking for some great Paleo Cookbooks, check out Primal Cravings, Practical Paleo or  Make it Paleo

P.S.S. I’m off to read my new book, Grain Brain- The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs and Sugar: Your Brains Silent Killers