So far, I’ve been diagnosed with three autoimmune diseases:

1) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
2) Psoriasis
3) Vitiligo

As if that were not enough, a genetic test has revealed that there are some serious genome mutations I have inherited from both my parents. That explains why our family has an unusual number of members afflicted by an array of autoimmune diseases, some worse than others. To give you an idea:

• Mom has Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, fibromyalgia, and myasthenia gravis
• Dad has psoriasis and Graves’ disease (they eventually removed his thyroid completely)
• My sister has Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and at one point she was hospitalized with a severe case of brain vasculitis that resulted in the permanent loss of life as she knew it
• My aunt recently died of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. I can’t think of a worse autoimmune disease

If you have a similar family history or have been diagnosed with one of the many “mystery” autoimmune diseases out there, you know how it feels. It’s scary, confusing, and mentally exhausting. And that is on top of the physical discomfort, fatigue, chronic pain, and flare-ups. In brief, it’s pretty effin’ bleak.

IS THERE ANY HOPE?

The answer is ABSOLUTELY YES! As I said, I have vitiligo (most of it on my face because destiny can be one spiteful b*tch sometimes. Read this post for more information). Just around the time it started blooming, so to speak, I also got a horrifying mystery rash all over my face and body. Hives as big as dessert plates, itchy as hell and looked even worse. I didn’t know it then, but that aesthetically challenging combination (I looked like one of the aliens on Men In Black) was my blessing in disguise that spurred me into action and turned things around. Today, it’s my canary in the coal mine. Both vitiligo and the hellish rash, which I keep under control with periodic cleanses and herbal remedies, are too visible to ignore. I can pretty much keep tabs on my overall gut health and autoimmune issues just by observing their status. And what’s the status today?

MY WAY TO RECOVERY

By now, you’ve probably guessed that I am determined to break the genetic curse I have inherited. I believe that the right food and nutrients are not just key, but the only real solution. And my journey does not stop in the kitchen. After following a cyclical strict elimination diet for 5-6 weeks at a time 3 years in a row now, I am realizing that supplements can make a huge difference in the quality of our daily lives, especially while aging with autoimmune diseases. And this year, for the first time since my Hashimoto diagnosis, my doctor lowered my thyroid medication 3 times and counting!

MY HASHIMOTO IS IN REMISSION!

I can’t even tell you how good that feels. My doctor is baffled and had me test my blood twice just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. He claims that at my age it makes no sense. That is because conventional medicine does not believe in the mighty role of Nutrition and the miracles it can perform. But I’m here to share my journey and the secrets to my success with you, along with my real-life recipes, which are always made with real food and nutritious ingredients. My number 1 rule is: NO CRAP AND NO EMPTY CALORIES! But no matter how healthy and nutritious my dishes are, they also must always be Absolutely Flavorful. Because– Hello, guys! — I’m still Italian after all.