Iberogast to the Rescue

     When it comes to treatment options for GP, there aren't many. It's pretty frustrating but led me to search for alternatives, such as Iberogast. It's a simple blend of natural herbs (in liquid form taken three times per day so it's easily absorbed and digested) that helps with symptoms such as nausea, bloating, and heartburn, and also helps move food through the stomach which is exactly what I need. I had heard about Iberogast quite a few times before I decided to give it a try and am kicking myself that I waited so long to try it, but figured if nothing the doctors tried could help me, then why should something this simple.
     It's not a cure all, but has helped so much with my symptoms and reduce my number of flare ups. Before the Iberogast, I could hardly consume eight hundred calories per day and was at a dangerously low weight and now I can generally eat twelve to fifteen hundred calories per day and have gained six pounds! My eating is still far from normal and generally with some discomfort, but this simple and natural remedy has allowed me to eat more thus gaining weight and having more energy to get back to living the life I want and will continue to be big part in my fight against GP.
     Iberogast has a very safe tract record and has been used in other countries for quite awhile, but as with any medication changes you wish to make you should speak with your doctor before doing so. If you would like to give Iberogast a try, you can by it here on Amazon and also read all of the positive reviews of other people (including those without GP!) who have benefited. If you or someone else you know decides to try it, please let me know what you think=)

Get In My Belly!!!: Barney Smooth Almond Butter

     Wow. That's literally all I have to say about this almond butter. In the past, I was a lover of all things made with peanut butter, but lately it just doesn't settle well for me *tear*. So I decided to give other nut butters a try and had heard good things about almond butter, so that is where I started. I tried a few different brands and they were all pretty good, or so I thought. Most almond butters are made from almonds with the skin on and just don't get as smooth of a texture as I was use to from peanut butter.
     Then I tried Barney Almond Butter. They use blanched almonds (meaning that the skins are removed) so the texture is much smoother than many other brands. Finally something that could satisfy my craving! Now the taste isn't the same since it is a different nut, but if you enjoy the taste of almonds it's definitely a nice change. It's not nearly as sweet as most commercial peanut butters, but that's because it's not full of nasty chemicals and high fructose corn syrups so you won't hear me complaining. Also, I love the fact that they sell individual serving packets that are perfect for on the go and traveling. The only two stores that I have seen this brand of almond butter are Whole Foods (although they don't serve the individual packets here) and Plum Market. If neither of these stores are near you, you can buy them online straight from the Barney Website (you can also type in your zip code to find stores that do sell them nearby) or on Amazon.
     In small quantities (about 1 Tb at a serving, up to 2 Tb a day) nut butters are considered GP friendly, but they are generally high in fat so depending on your tolerance of fats it's best to build up to a full Tb to see how you personally tolerate it.  To satisfy my almond butter cravings, I start every day off with a nice hot bowl of grits ( 1/2 cup eatten very slowly is GP friendly for me) with 1 Tb of Barney Almond Butter and 1 Tb of light brown sugar. You'd think it'd get old fast, but nope I still love it! Hot cereals are very comforting to me and easily digested. Adding nut butter is a great way to add some protein and extra calories without adding too much volume, which is a big consideration for me since I can't eat too much food at one sitting.
     "Get In My Belly!!!" is going to be a permanent segment on my blog highlighting GP friendly foods that I have found since I know just how difficult it can be to come up with food ideas. True, every GP patient and their tummy is different and what works for me may not work for you, but hopefully it can be a good place to start your own experimentation, and if you have any suggestions for me please feel free to leave them in the comment section below=)