Chronic pain caused by Faye Whittaker’s rheumatoid arthritis led to a strong interest in the properties of different foods and their effects on the body.
When she was first diagnosed Faye spent five weeks in hospital and was told she would eventually require a wheelchair. “I couldn’t brush my own hair, or shower or feed myself, and I slept 18 hours a day. It was devastating. But as I came to terms with the diagnosis, I wanted to beat the disease without heavy drugs”.
Faye’s illness demanded a complete lifestyle change. She left her busy career in tertiary education and moved to the Far North to devote herself to her recovery.
Faye has written several books about her return to wellness. Her book The rheumatoid Triangle has helped hundreds of others who have arthritis.
Now, Faye has launched a new book, Intricious, as a response to readers who asked her to share the health-restoring recipes she developed while learning which foods her body would tolerate, and which to avoid.
“I’ve always had to write reports and proposals in my working life, but had never tried anything as ambitious as a book. I found it amazingly therapeutic”.
Taking control of her diet, and seeing how positively her body responded, was life-transforming, Faye says. “My personal experience with the medical profession had been demoralising. All I heard was the prognosis for my deterioration. It’s so easy when you are diagnosed with a serious illness to go down, to accept that your life is going to be less than it was.” “I am living proof that it doesn’t have to be that way.”
She is now careful to avoid certain foods, either because of their effects, or because she likes them so much she can’t eat them in moderation. Chocolate is an example. “If I ate one piece I would want six, so I don’t have that first piece. And I don’t buy bread or milk because I can’t eat them.” “I’m not a purist but I have to eat this way to be healthy.”
Avoiding stress is another way to stay well, a tactic she says is just as important for those in caring situations. “I was told 15 years ago I would be in a wheelchair. I’m a long way from that, but a big part of the ‘cure’ for me was being mindful of stress. I know that I can’t handle much stress of any sort. Sometimes my work can be quite stressful, and when I begin to feel the effects, I know it’s time to balance things out.”
“We all understand our bodies, the signals we get that it’s time to pull back. I live day to day, which I can do in the Far North. But when I occasionally have to travel for work, my body tells me when it’s had enough. I’m not out of the woods with my arthritis, that’s for sure.”
Carers also need to manage stress and find ‘little relievers’ to help them. “I know myself that if you are unwell, you can be grumpy and depressed. It’s those close to you who bear the brunt, and it’s hard for them not to feel bad too.” “I would encourage carers to do what they do from the heart, but not get drawn into a loved one’s depression or the effects of illness. Trying to have a sense of humour can get you through a lot.”
At times Faye’s illness was overwhelming and it was hard to stay positive, she says. “At those times I would remind myself that people are incredible and it’s okay to ask them for help. If I can’t open the lid on a jar, I am now comfortable asking a stranger to do it for me. We humans do care about each other. The big thing is to learn to ask.”
During a recent visit to Wellington, Faye struggled to remove the petrol cap from her car. “There was a queue behind me, everyone was in a hurry, but I went up to a man in a suit and asked if he’d help. He walked straight over, and said he would shift his car and pump my petrol. I have found that life is an exchange: I do things for others, and sometimes complete strangers do nice things for me.”
Equally, Faye says it’s important for carers to support their family member’s independence. “Something that I found very helpful during my recovery was that those who supported me did not treat me like an invalid.” “When you are ill or have a disability, it means so much to be able to do what you can for yourself.”
Faye’s healthy shopping list
- Almonds (whole/ground)
- Anchovies
- Apples
- Apricots in juice
- Avocado
- Bananas
- Basil
- Bay leaves
- Beans
- Beetroot
- Brandy
- Broccoli
- Capers
- Carrots
- Cashew nuts
- Cauliflower
- Cayenne pepper
- Celery
- Chicken
- Chilli (red)
- Chives
- Cinnamon
- Coconut cream/milk
- Coriander
- Couscous (quick cook)
- Cucumber (telegraph)
- Cumin seeds
- Currants
- Curry powder
- Dates
- Dried apricots
- Eggs
- Feta cheese
- Fish (snapper/salmon)
- Fish sauce
- Garlic powder/flakes
- Ginger (ground/fresh)
- Grapes
- Leeks
- Lemon grass
- Lemons
- Lentils (red/brown)
- Lettuce
- Limes
- Linseeds
- Nutmeg
- Olives (green/black)
- Oregano Mint
- Mushrooms (flat)
- Mussels
- Mustard seeds
- Parsley
- Parsnips
- Peppercorns (black)
- Pineapple (rings/pieces/crushed)
- Pine nuts
- Prunes
- Pumpkin
- Pumpkin seeds
- Raisins
- Red wine
- Rice (basmati/brown)
- Rolled oats
- Rosemary
- Sea salt
- Sesame seeds
- Shredded coconut
- Silverbeet
- Spinach
- Spring onions
- Sprouts (alfalfa/bean)
- Sunflower seeds
- Tamari sauce
- Tamarillos
- Thyme
- Tomatoes (acid free)
- Turkey
- Turmeric
- Walnuts
- Yoghurt (natural)
- Zucchini
