Healing Heroes – Pilar How Eating Real To Heal Helped Pilar To Stop And Cure From Graves’ Disease

Edited by Stephie Hennekam

MEET PILAR …

… Who, for the past two years, has submerged herself in the most amazing healing journey. She wants to share this life changing experience to show there is more hope than we sometimes think. There is always a way.

WHAT MADE YOU START LOOKING INTO USING FOOD AS MEDICINE?

When I first heard stories about people using food to heal their bodies, I felt intrigued so I started to research it. I found books, documentaries and scientific research talking about the body’s own healing potential.

Not long after I learned all this new knowledge, I went to see my doctor and was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. When I left her office, I felt confused and worried. I had a lot of questions and I needed to find my own answers.

During my next appointment my hormones levels where still too high. So my doctor advised getting a thyroid scan and running some blood tests to rule out whether or not I had Graves’ disease. When the test results came back positive a couple of days later, confirming the diagnose of Graves’, I felt down and out.

I was told that if my hormone levels didn’t change, I would have to choose between being on meds for the rest of my life or, having my thyroid removed and taking hormones for the rest of my life. I couldn’t believe these were my only options, so I went home and started researching how I could heal myself differently, naturally.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

I found doctors and other health care practitioners, like Nicolette, who advised alternative, nutritional therapies to recover from autoimmune thyroid conditions. It was their experience that just because someone has a genetic marker for Graves’ disease, it didn’t mean they have Graves. In most cases, there are certain external factors -like our life style, the food we eat, the stress we experience, etc.- that trigger the autoimmune response.

It turned out they had a totally different approach in treating disease. Instead of merely managing the symptoms, their goal is to address the actual cause of the disease. In my case this meant I had to get rid of everything in my life that could cause my immune system to be triggered. Next thing I did was register for Nicolette’s 5-week Eat Real to Heal program and start implementing her teachings at home. The two basic principles of this therapy are: optimum nutrition and detoxification to help the body heal itself.

For five weeks I stopped eating all processed, packaged or canned foods. No refined sugar or grains. No more starting my morning with a coffee or having a glass of wine. The only food I was putting into my body was organic fruit, vegetables, clean filtered water, lots of cold pressed juices and some specific whole grains.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE IMPLEMENTING THIS NEW WAY OF EATING AND LIVING?

At the beginning it wasn’t easy. Having headaches in the mornings is no fun. I was craving and missing certain foods. Still, I pulled through and after three days or so, woke up without a headache and with a smile on my face. I felt different!

After only one week the cravings for sweets stopped. Instead, my body was yearning for juices, oatmeal with fruit, and big fresh salads. I felt relaxed, my morning palpitations where gone. I was getting in 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. My body was slowly finding its balance again.

After four weeks of eating real to heal, my endocrinologist called. She was surprised to see my hormone levels back to normal. She asked if I was taking any medication, which I wasn’t. “I changed my diet.” is what I told her. She never even asked what I changed specifically to get these incredible results.

It’s been almost three years now and since then, my hormones levels have stayed normal. Even after my pregnancy, my hormones and body found their balance back again. Thanks to sticking to eating real food, I feel I am the best version of myself I can be.

After four weeks into the challenge, my endocrinologist called. She was surprised to see my hormone levels where back to normal. She asked if I was taking any medication, which I wasn’t. “I change my diet.” is what I told her.

Today, Pilar is still thriving on a whole foods, plant-based, Eat Real to Heal lifestyle and is now the proud mom of a baby boy.

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