Ok, so the title is a bit dramatic and can lead someone to believe this post is about Jesus…which I actually thought about putting a devotional spin on the topic….like, there is no substitute for Jesus….which is totally true, but instead I think I will just share some interesting information with you.
Maybe you know that I have had several allergic reactions to something this year. They were not just hives or just a small breakout. They were, to me, big deals. One episode landed me in the ER, which I wrote about back in May…you may remember that Mack fainted in the ER and Molly thought he died so she was hysterical and also was sitting there with her broken arm in a brace, and I was loopy from an IV of Benadryl and steroids. Fun times.
Then there was this horrible episode that happened in August and had several symptoms, not the least of which was UGLY blisters all around my mouth and on my cheek. It then manifested itself in hives on my legs. NO fun.
Throw a couple of panic/anxiety attacks in there because I thought my throat was going to swell up and I wouldn’t be able to breathe, and I just knew something had to be done.
Sooooo, I decided to go to a wholistic doctor to help me get to the root of the problem. I didn’t just want benadryl or a cream to calm the rash. I wanted to know how to stop the reactions. We discussed all manner of subjects surrounding my “issues” and how to build my immune system back up. We have a plan, and I am so happy to be on the track of being healthier and not having any more of these reactions, Lord-willing.
Part of the process is a food sensitivities test. It isn’t an allergies test…just sensitivities test. I am to stay away from the foods that don’t quite agree with my body for two months and then see if I want to add them back in slowly after my body has had some rest from them and has been able to strengthen my “gut” with a good probiotic supplement.
I won’t bore you with every single item I am sensitive to, but let me just share a few…..
cane sugar
milk
cocoa (aka chocolate!!)
yeast
wheat
gluten….like, this means NO BREAD at all
The one that caught my attention……..COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
huh??? Coffee! How can this be? I mean, I love coffee. I mean, I drink coffee. Every. single. morning. I had even prided myself on weaning myself off of creamers and only adding one little Stevia packet.
But, alas, I remember the reactions and the drama that ensued with each one. I remember the ER bill that came in the mail. I remember. So I am not drinking coffee.
I tried tea a few days, and I like tea. It’s totally fine.
But it ain’t coffee.
So I decided to try the coffee substitute that my doctor recommended. At first I was thinking, “There is no coffee substitute.” But I think I was totally wrong. I tried it this morning, and I really, really liked it!
You can buy it in tea bag form or ground. I found this one at Ancient Awakenings.
It made me SO happy to sit and have my time with the Lord with my new “coffee.”
So, there is hope for you, too, if some doctor some where has the audacity to tell you tells you to stop drinking coffee. Try the coffee substitute…you will probably like it!