Why I Haven’t Been Blogging: A TMI Adventure.

Folks it has been far too long. And in truth I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to revive this blog, or myself in terms of creating and sharing my favorite foods and creations.

As I like to write in ‘bites’ I will give a brief summary of my time of absence.

I became slowly allergic to most plants, became very weak and found myself in Hospital with an extremely fast heartbeat that wouldn’t chill out, very low sodium levels and high blood sugar levels, despite the fact that I eat no sugar and haven’t in years.

For what seemed like ages I was sleeping 14-16 hours per day and could only drink bone broth and consume very well masticated salmon, poultry and lamb along with avocado and preserved lemon. Once in a while I could handle some raspberries. Anything else was too painful to digest and would result in major inflammation centered around my neck, shoulders and back.

I learned about the benefits of the carnivore diet although did not go completely that way. I felt better and could cope with things like spirulina and wheatgrass juice powder etc, so these were how I took my greens. I also went the way of organ meats for a while as my body was so weak and out of sorts I was willing to try anything to just… not… feel like I was dying. I couldn’t even drink COFFEE! That was a killer.

 

I became deeply grateful for the research around carnivore-style approaches and for the knowledge shared by people like Mikhaila Peterson, as well as my own biohacking. It helped me understand why I could begin to reintroduce certain “fruits” of plants — which tend to contain fewer defensive phytochemicals.

At the time, this framing helped me make sense of why my body could not tolerate most plant foods during an acute inflammatory phase.

I began devouring the Thyroid Pharmacist blog by Dr. Izabella Wentz. I followed her recommendations but continued to worsen. I listened to her Hashimoto’s Protocol audiobook, bought the hard copy, and began moving through the environmental liver detox.

Despite my health yo-yoing, this detox was brilliant and life-changing.

At my lowest point, I had to make peace with God because I wasn’t getting better — and I knew if I didn’t figure this out, I might just waste away. After that reckoning, things began to click.

I thought I was doing well with food, cleaning products, body care, and home items. I was wrong.

I downloaded the EWG app and began scanning everything in our household. I filled a black garbage bag with products I had thought were safe — but were not, at least for me.

I went two weeks without wearing any personal care products (aside from Schmidt’s deodorant), and I felt dramatically better. I could breathe.

At that point, I upgraded my skincare to Beautycounter. Even though my previous products scored around a 2 out of 10 (with EWG Verified being 0), my skin had reacted to almost everything my entire life. Burning had been normal. This felt different.

I searched my Ancestry DNA for MTHFR variants and found them. My naturopath uploaded my raw data into PureGenomics and gently explained that I probably would have been fine if I’d lived as a hermit with my own cow, no power lines, no Wi-Fi, no neighbors for 50 miles.

At the time, this information helped explain the severity of my reactions. I now understand genetics as context — not destiny — but it mattered then.

If you’re sensitive or squeamish, this is your exit ramp.

After finishing The Hashimoto’s Protocol, I realized I likely still had gut infections from my exchange student years and missionary travel — possibly Blastocystis hominis or H. pylori.

I began a gut cleanse that promptly confirmed parasites.

Gross. Very gross.

This was not my first rodeo, but these critters had been in residence for 10–20 years. Expelling them was nauseating, painful, and long. After about 45 days, I could tolerate small amounts of vegetables again. Asparagus. Green beans. Kabocha squash.

It felt like candy.

That Thanksgiving was full of gratitude.

All of this is why my blog went quiet. I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to eat vegetables again — let alone write about fermenting them.

As I slowly reincorporated foods, I regained hope. I learned how to temper chocolate. I discovered I could occasionally enjoy a biodynamic pinot noir.

Life became rich again.

You’ll notice changes here. I’ll likely blog more about health and lifestyle products — because what touches our skin goes straight into our bloodstream without the liver’s filtration. It matters.

I’m revamping the site, converting recipes to printable formats, and slowly rebuilding. Some recipes feed my family even if I don’t eat them myself — and that’s okay.

If you’ve stuck around: thank you. Truly.

Further up and further in.

Very sincerely,

Brenna May