Why Hot Tea & Honey?

Hot tea and honey represent happiness and healing for me. When my digestive issues first began, there wasn’t much I could tolerate to eat. Other than plain oats or bone broth, hot tea and honey was the only thing that seemed to soothe my stomach and esophagus.

Why I started this blog

For almost two years I've had some serious GI issues and it has taken a LONG time and three specialists to get answers. Earlier this year, my GI doctor did a barium study and an upper GI scope with biopsy revealing a few conditions that are common and one more rare. He found a hiatal hernia, an ulcer, GERD (acid reflux), as well as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE for short).

Briefly, EoE is a large number of white blood cells (eosinophils) built up in the lining of esophagus. This buildup is a reaction to food, airborne allergens, or acid reflux, and can inflame and injure esophageal tissue. EoE is a recognized chronic allergic/immune condition, and is not typically outgrown (but it can be managed)! EoE is a relatively new disease, as it has only been identified in the past two-three decades. EoE is rare with an estimated 1 of every 2,000 people affected. Accordingly, there is still much to learn about this complex condition.

To treat my issues, my doctor prescribed a PPI and a corticosteroid (inhaler). Since EoE is most commonly caused by a food allergy, a 90 day elimination diet is also part of my treatment (to allow everything to heal and ID my specific allergens). All major food allergens: dairy (including ghee), egg, gluten, soy, peanut, tree nuts and fish/shellfish, have been eliminated from my diet. As well as foods that trigger stomach acid- tomato, onion, fried/fatty foods, peppermint, caffeine, alcohol, citrus fruits AND chocolate!! Oh. My. Gosh.

Saying this has been A LOT for me to take in and wrap my mind around is an understatement. I'm still researching and linking up with support groups to learn more about how to manage and minimize my awful symptoms. From what I've read so far, EoE can came and go like a seasonal allergy. I'm starting this blog as a way to document/share compliant recipes that I've tried. If/when I have a flare up down the road, I'll have a place to go where all my recipes (the ones that turned out) are saved. 

For the first three weeks I ate mostly baked chicken and veggies...and I can't do it any more! I need flavor! I need comfort foods! And I need cookies!! (If you don't know me, cookies are my favorite food group.) I have/am putting SO MUCH TIME and energy into finding substitutes for my favorites recipes and locating ingredients, if I can help anyone else it will all have been worth it!