Recognizing the role nutrition and exercise play alongside treatment
I want to be proactive about my health without becoming preoccupied with it
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Having Gaucher disease has made me think about my health in ways I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. I pay attention to my blood work, keep up with my doctor appointments, and receive regular enzyme replacement therapy. I also think about things like nutrition, exercise, and what I can do to support my overall health.
Over time, I’ve become increasingly interested in holistic nutrition. I even completed a course to become a health coach, partly because I wanted to better understand the connection between what we eat and how we feel. I like learning about the ways food, movement, and everyday habits can support our health.
But there’s a difference between wanting to take care of your body and feeling like you constantly need to fix it.
When you live with a chronic illness, it’s easy to start thinking about your body in terms of what needs attention. There are lab results to monitor, appointments to keep, and health concerns to consider. For me, bone health is one of those concerns because of my low bone density. Even when I feel perfectly fine, it’s something I need to keep in mind.
I take my treatment seriously, and I want to do what I can to support my health. I’ve started doing Pilates and try to incorporate walking into my routine. I also pay attention to nutrition, particularly when it comes to supporting my bone health through nutrient-rich smoothies. In addition, I try to follow an anti-inflammatory diet. At home, we’ve cut out a lot of sugar and focus on eating whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. We also use avocado oil and olive oil exclusively.
At the same time, I’ve realized that I don’t want taking care of myself to become another full-time responsibility.
For me, it’s about finding a balance and recognizing that nutrition and exercise play a role in my health alongside medical treatment. I want to be proactive about my health without becoming preoccupied with it. I want to make choices that support my body without treating every meal, workout, or daily habit as a test of whether I’m doing enough.
Living with Gaucher disease has taught me that taking care of my health involves more than trying to improve every number or prevent every possible problem. It also means continuing to live my life, enjoying the things I enjoy, and recognizing that I don’t have to make my health a project every single day.
Note: Gaucher Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Gaucher Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Gaucher disease.
