Limitations are not just for food...

People that suffer from Digestive Tract Paralysis know that they have limitations on what foods they can digest and what foods they must avoid but they often ignore or push limitations that their limited dietary intake inflicts on their bodies.

First we have to look into exactly *why* there would be physical limitations when we are talking about internal organs and not structural muscles and ligaments and why it is important to make the connection.

What we are able to eat and digest has a huge impact on every system in our bodies. Different parts of our anatomy require different minerals and vitamins to function properly and when we are lacking in those vitamins or minerals we must take extra care to monitor any signs of deficiency.

You might think that you are doing good, you are maintaining your weight and able to keep more food down, but just because you are managing to take in sufficient carbohydrates does not mean that you are not suffering from malnutrition or deficiencies that can have an impact on other aspects of your health.

Here are a few key vitamins and minerals that you need to maintain a healthy body, many of them you already know about but some might come as a bit of a shock to you as to just how important their roles are.

• IRON- We all have heard of anemia, and iron deficient anemia is not uncommon in those with Gastric Tract Paralysis. Many of the foods that contain iron are foods that we must avoid due to the fat content or the fibrous nature of those foods. (ie- red meat, liver, organ meats, dark green vegetables) Even when we do try to get some of these foods into our diets the stomach often does not 'grind' the food enough for the over-taxed small intestine to be able to digest the foods meaning that the iron is not extracted. Common signs of anemia are : fatigue, lack of usual energy, pale nails, scalded tongue (feels like you drank a hot beverage that burned your tongue) and difficulty thinking. When you have Iron Deficient Anemia it means that your body is lacking enough iron to create mature healthy red blood cells. Your red blood cells are necessary for transporting oxygen and nutrients to your cells and if your blood cells are immature or of a smaller number your heart must pump harder to get the smaller number of cells through your body faster, often leading to a faster heart rate. Iron can be supplemented in the form of pills, liquid supplements (a note here- it is extremely difficult to find a liquid supplement that does not contain artificial sweeteners so if you have an allergy or sensitivity to artificial sweeteners please carefully read the ingredients to make sure that there are none. Check words you do not know on the Internet to be sure that you are not taking something that can harm you) and in some more extreme cases iron infusions or transfusions. A simple blood test from your Doctor will tell you if you are anemic and if you are then your Doctor will guide you in how best treat your anemia. You should never try to self diagnose and treat yourself with Iron (Ferrous Sulfate) since too much Iron can cause troubles of it's own.
• MAGNESIUM- Low magnesium levels can lead to muscle issues such as cramps and twitching. This may not seem like a big issue, but remember that your heart is made of muscle! Magnesium is usually found in foods such as legumes (peas, beans), bananas and apples as well as some green vegetables. Often, out of the foods we can find magnesium in the only one that is tolerated is banana since raw apples and applesauce can cause issues die to the fiber content and legumes are packed full of fiber. This is where apple juice can come into play. Pasteurized apple juice (not pressed apple cider, since it often contains a high amount of fiber) can help replenish magnesium and can be served hot or cold or used in the place of water when making gelatin dishes which are often tolerated well.
• PROTEIN- Protein is the building block of our bodies and it used to create new cells and when our diets are low in protein our bodies will actually take protein from our existing muscle cells to make sure that the vital organs are provided with the protein they need. This can lead to muscle aches (you feel like you have run a marathon) and fatigue as well as issues with your liver and kidneys and spleen. Your liver, kidneys and spleen are your bodies filtration system... your liver filters out and manages fat storage, your kidneys filter out excess fluids and your spleen filters out damaged or old blood cells. When you are suffering from protein deficiency and your muscles are being broken down they damaged muscle fibers release a waste product that is difficult for your body to remove and can be detected in blood tests easily. It is important to try to focus on foods high in protein so that your body does not try to steal protein from your muscles. Foods high in protein are - eggs, meats (goat meat is high in protein and low in fat), nuts and dairy products. There are also protein supplements on the market that can be added to foods to help bulk up the protein, just be careful to read the ingredients list and check any words you do not understand on the Internet so that you can avoid any food allergens.
• VITAMIN D- We have all seen it listed on milk products and most of us know that you need sunlight to help metabolize it, but did you know that you needed calcium along with the vitamin D in order for our bodies to utilize it? Vitamin D deficiency can lead to aches and pains as well as weakness and fatigue that can rival Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in severity. A simple blood test can check for vitamin D deficiency and if found your Doctor can put you on a high dose supplement to restore the levels, but often you are not told that you also need to increase your calcium intake in order for your body to use vitamin D. Foods rich in vitamin D are often foods that are also rich in calcium, such as dairy products, dark green vegetables and legumes but they can also be foods that are hard for those with Digestive Tract Paralysis issues to consume or digest.

These are just a few of the essential vitamins and minerals that are needed and often lacking in the diets of those with Digestive Tract Paralysis or the bodies of the sufferers have trouble digesting and for that reason it is vital that you ask for a full blood work-up when you are at your Doctor's office so you can check your vitamin and mineral levels and make the changes you need for a healthier body.

Okay, now we know *why* we might have to accept limitations on more than just our dietary lifestyle, but *what* does that mean?

If you suffer from a form of Digestive Tract Paralysis chances are that you are also suffering from at least a mild form of malnutrition and vitamin/mineral deficiency and that means that you have to start listening to your body and accepting a few limitations that in the long run will give you more control over your overall health.

You remember life before the Beast in your Belly came to live with you and you remember being able to do things and recovering quickly from exertion and it is ingrained in you that you should still be able to do those things, so you push yourself constantly... trying to prove to yourself more than anyone else that you are 'okay'. You ignore things that in your 'healthy' days would have had you stopping for a rest because 'these things need to get done' and when you finally do have to stop it takes you much longer to recover and things just keep piling up more and more.

You have to accept that life has changed and that you are not the person that you were before all of this happened. You can still do things that you used to do, but you have to be willing to listen to your body and when it tells you that it needs a rest you have to let it rest. This does not mean giving up the things you love it simply means taking things a little slower and accepting the limitations as facts of your life. Weeds will grow in the garden, but larger weeds are easier to grab and pull out anyway so let them go a day or two. The carpets will not disintegrate if you wait until tomorrow to vacuum.

You want to go on a 'picnic' with the kids but you can't take the heat outside because you are dehydrated? Spread a blanket on the floor, put in a fun movie, turn off the lights and have an afternoon 'picnic with the stars'.

This is a chance for you to bring out your creative side and find new ways of doing old things.

You have to listen to your body, you have to give up the guilt of 'not being able' to do things and instead find new and fun things that you can do and share doing with others that do not wear you out and tax your body.

Instead of hosting a 'cookout' with friends and neighbors, have a 'Smooth-in'! Invite everyone over for a Smoothie Party and have a contest for the most original concoction, a BYOB (Bring your own blend-ables) event that is not only fun but exposes them to your lifestyle and opens the door to share a part of your life. You can even make it a costume party and have people come in 60-70's costumes for a "Smooth Groove".

The most important thing is to take those limitations and make them work for you and not the other way around.