Our mission is to make a positive impact on the health of humans. So, when we heard about Rebecca’s success story with Nourish’d we had to hear more! We interviewed Rebecca about her journey with Crohn’s disease - a chronic condition where the gastrointestinal tract is consistently inflamed - and how Nourish’d has helped her minimise symptoms to live a fuller life as a mother and touch football athlete.
You talk about your journey with Crohn’s disease and balancing life as a mum and athlete with chronic illness on your Instagram. For those you don’t know, what has been your health journey in receiving a diagnosis and looking for the signs of Crohn's disease?
“Way back in 2011 I had quite severe digestive symptoms including diarrhoea and bleeding in the bowl. My doctor ordered me to have an emergency colonoscopy which showed only mild inflammation. My symptoms were put down to allergies. I had always been lactose intolerant so this wasn’t a surprise and I thought it was IBS for quite a long time. However, 5 years later my symptoms began to get worse. I finally received another colonoscopy and was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as I had ulcers in my stomach. Fair to say this wasn’t a great time.”
In all the ways you help manage your chronic illness, where does food fit in?
“When I was diagnosed I was referred to a nutritionist which was a huge help! They recommended starting a food dairy to find out what triggers I had regarding food. Everyone has different triggers for Chron’s so I did need a food dairy to work out what my triggers were. In time I found out that my worst triggers were dairy, preservatives and highly processed sugars. According to research, diet isn’t a treatment for Chron’s but it is essential for managing symptoms so this was just the beginning. Luckily, I didn’t have to drastically change my lifestyle; it was just about making those small diet tweaks.”
How has life changed before and after good nutrition?
“When I was younger I wasn’t very healthy, especially when it came to partying and drinking. Since being diagnosed I have had to majorly cut back on drinking and only drink on special occasions, and even then it is only 1 or 2. My friends love it because I can always be designated driver and it’s great to still be able to go out and have fun. I also feel much better in touch football as my energy is much higher now. It is also important to note that I don’t completely cut out everything. Having a balanced diet is key for a sustainable life so I will have some chocolate and a drink every now and again.”
Why did you initially start eating Nourish’d?
“At the beginning of this year I had a flare up of symptoms from Chron’s that just didn’t go away. This was due to my son beginning daycare. He comes home with many germs which can react badly with my gut. I did some research on Google about preservative and sugar free meals and came across Nourish’d. When I ate Nourish’d for a week the initial flare actually settled down and completely stopped. It was a great relief.”
How does Nourish’d make you feel?
“Nourish’d has been great for those times when I’m exhausted and my Chron’s is flaring up. I love that I don’t have to go to the shops and meal prep as when I’m in a flare I get pretty exhausted. Nourish’d is now a key part of my routine when I do feel my Chron’s flaring up. It is great that I can rely on these meals for those times when I need to manage symptoms and get back on track.”
Lastly, do you have any advice for people who may be struggling with Crohn's disease or an inflammatory bowel in terms of a diagnosis and managing the pain?
“Listen to your gastroenterologist - they are the specialists and know what they’re talking about. Crohn’s can’t be cured but you can go into remission, which I am in now. Certain medications can also slow symptoms and, most importantly, avoiding the foods that trigger you can help greatly with pain relief. You literally need to trust your gut!”
To read more about Rebecca’s journey follow her on Instagram at @becs_ibd_journey!
Want to try preservative and refined-sugar free meals? Head to our menu and view our range of nourishing meals. Orders close 5pm Thursdays AEST!
