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Noon to 7:00 pm
Monday through friday
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As a freelance writer for many
years, my life came to a screeching halt in the summer of 2006,
when I was hit with an illness that warranted bed rest for several
weeks. My medical doctor was baffled by the array of symptoms; from
the belly discomfort, (well, that's an understatement since my labor
pain was comparable), to bone aches, blurry vision, and lack of
mental clarity, to name a few. I was a mess! Thank God for my naturopath,
Dr. Nicole Kellum, of Whole Health Naturopathic Medical Center in
Manchester, NH, who suggested perhaps Celiac disease, Food Allergies,
and Candida Overgrowth. She was right! The road to better health
was simply a change in diet! |
Welcome news at a time when I thought my demise was near. It
didn't happen overnight, let me be clear. "Simply a change
in diet" is initially not that simple. Learning to eat better
is a process, a step by step adventure which has led me to a state
of health I thought was out of reach. It all began with an awareness
that my eating habits, good or bad, dictate how I feel each and
every day. It has been well worth the effort. At 42, I have more
energy, strength, and vitality than I did ten years ago. Superior
health can be garnered at any age! My hope is that the research
and recipe testing my partner, Shannon McCarthy, and I have completed
in the creation of Heavenly Fodder, LLC, will help you enjoy foods
that promote optimal physical and mental health as well. Sincerely, Gina White, member
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I wanted
to share my story with you, and what inspired me to pursue this
venture. Simply put, I knew this was my calling based on my own
personal experience with feeling sick and exhausted. For many years
I’ve been experiencing severe fatigue, shortness of breath,
(these symptoms continued and then additional problems started,
including): achy joints, red irritated eyes, yellowing eyes, sore
throat, bloating, and headaches. I was on-line constantly researching
my symptoms, hoping to try and figure out what was wrong with me.
Each time my search would yield results, it
was always some type of autoimmune disorder.
I honestly thought that I'd rather be diagnosed
with a fatal disease then to |
think that I would have
to live this way for the rest of my life. One day I was speaking
with Gina after not talking for some time, and was shocked to learn
of how sick she had been with Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder.
In the course of our conversation I told her about how I was feeling
and she suggested that I may have food allergies and may be Gluten
sensitive. I was a little skeptical because I couldn't see how food
allergies could cause my type of symptoms, but, never-the-less,
I started to look into what she told me. From what I read I was
convinced enough that there was something to consider. Soon after,
I started on a Gluten free diet, because I figured I didn't have
anything to lose, and it couldn't hurt. In addition, I figured if
I was going to extract Gluten from my diet, I should go across the
board and cut out the top ten food additives. My husband agreed
to participate along with me.
The first thing that I noticed after cutting out Gluten, was that I wasn’t getting the “full” bloated feeling after eating. Within a couple of weeks, my fatigue was significantly better. My headaches virtually disappeared, my joints weren’t aching, the shortness of breath subsided and my eyes started to look clear and brighter. I have since lost much of the extra 20 pounds that I had gained over the past 10 years. Something I had struggled with unsuccessfully, despite the amount of time I dedicated to the gym. My husband lost 14 pounds within the first month. Though he doesn't notice any difference in how he feels, other than feeling better about the weight loss, he has embraced this new way of living with enthusiasm (not an easy feat). I honestly didn’t think he would want to change his eating habits. I assumed he would feel unfulfilled, or feel he was missing out on something. Actually, on the contrary, he is actually seeking out the healthier food options, even though he has ample opportunities to make other choices. I do not know if I have Celiac disease, but I do believe I am Gluten intolerant based on my experience. I decided not to be tested because I would need to go back to eating Gluten to see if I'm affected by it, and I simply don't want to. Once you feel good after so long, you don't want to rock the boat! When Gina proposed opening a business catering to Gluten-free and healthier food options, I was on board! With my culinary degree, and being a former restaurant owner, I knew THIS was what I had been preparing for! I am so excited about starting our venture because I know we'll be able to offer products that no one else is offering. With our love of food and creativity, we will be able to offer fantastically delicious meals that even the mainstream population will love!! I look forward to seeing you.......get on the path to healthier living!! Sincerely, Shannon
McCarthy, member |
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33 Elm street, Manchester NH 03101 (603) 668-1689
