BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?

Subject: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 03:22 PM

Curious to know if anyone on these boards has any experiences to share regarding adjusting diet to help manage an illness or particular condition/s?

Inflammatory and autoimmune conditions would be of particular interest.

As I mentioned earlier here: thread.cfm?threadid=147272&messages=8#3412169 I've had some unexpectedly positive results with both adult onset asthma and early indications of arthritic joint pain (in knees, ankles, wrists & fingers) from cutting out dairy and nightshades. I don't know as yet whether both food groups are implicated in either issue. But from reading online, it would seem that dairy in particular can be a problematic issue for many people.

Has anyone else cut dairy, or other foods, and had success at managing painful or otherwise restrictive conditions? Were there any anecdotal reports, press articles, medical research that encouraged you to try dietary self-help measures?

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 03:33 PM

"... it would seem that dairy in particular can be a problematic issue for many people."

Re what?

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: bobad
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 03:35 PM

Those with lactose intolerance I would presume.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 03:39 PM

I have morphoea (US: morphea), a form of scleroderma restricted to the skin. It's an auto-immune condition - the skin gets inflamed and turns into scar tissue. Mine is pretty widespread but hasn't gone deep enough to do any real damage, I just have odd blotches on my torso.

Looking up treatments for scleroderma, one thing that came up was turmeric, which blocks part of the auto-immune process. I'm using a whole stack of conventional medications for it, but adding turmeric as well (about a dessertspooonful a day) has made a substantial difference. (Side-effect: eating that much in food means my moustache tends to go yellow at the edges).

There aren't many conditions with disease processes overlapping morphoea and scleroderma, so this may not be very helpful.

Large amounts of dairy products seem to exacerbate the morphoea, producing intensely itchy zits on my legs that can last for months. Zapping them with immunosuppressant ointment does the trick. I don't need to exclude dairy entirely to avoid them, but don't consume very much anyway.

My partner is a dietitian who has spent much of her career managing food and environmental allergies and intolerances; I've picked up a lot of info about this.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 05:09 PM

I hope this thread stays on the page for ages as it would take that long to get to all of "it". On a recent thread, I told about my doc telling me to drink pommegranate juice every day as it WILL reduce an enlarged prostate.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 05:18 PM

I've found that if I don't eat I get sick. Being diabetic I have to watch my diet, which I do. Recently I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy; diet seems to make no difference there as it is secondary to the Type II diabetes. If there is anything I can eat which would help I'd love to know about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 05:50 PM

GROSS answer... do not read any further if you don't want to be offended... and somebody will be offended. Sorry, Spaw... I guess I AM a pussy.

Yes, Rap. Eat pussy. It won't help, although I would volunteer to be a participant in a controlled medical study to make sure about that, and it will take yer mind off things. If you do it right, her mind too.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 05:54 PM

The best thing that has ever helped me was a documentary called Forks Over Knives about a whole-food, plant-based diet. It is amazing how many independent studies, unbeknownst to one another, show the same conclusions...populations which had next to little dairy and meat in their diets also had a VERY low rate of all kinds of maladies, including heart and kidney disease and cancer. It's well worth watching, imo.

A spoonful of Mrs. Braggs vinegar every morning is good in a cup of warm water or use fresh lemon juice instead.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 05:55 PM

Like this?

Alert: not for the squeamish:-)>
mod

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 05:56 PM

You degenerate.
(:-( o)=

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Raedwulf
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 06:04 PM

There isn't a great deal, if any, scientific evidence, but you could research calorie restriction / alternate day fasting. CR doesn't appeal to me, but a lot of people have good things to say about ADF. Michael Moseley did a Horizon program at the start of August titled "East, Fast, and Live Longer". The program isn't available any more, but there may be a transcription available, and there is certainly information. I'm starting to practice it myself, and am not finding any trouble in following it. Can't answer for the illness related aspects, but it is said to help with a number of conditions.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 06:15 PM

Lemon juice, kat!.... 6 drops in a cup of cranberry juice every day can help prevent stones... gall, kidney and parotid stones. As my close friends here know, I went through five months of hell and two nasty operations and two recoveries (one was a "near death" experience") because I ate too much salt and calcium. Cheese is an addiction for me... like a kid eating candy. Gotta eat it seldom and gotta have my lemon juice.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 06:34 PM

Kidney stones (one of the most painful things you can get) are often made of calcium phosphate. The phosphate comes from the phosphoric acid flavouring in cola drinks and the calcium comes from your bones. The very high levels of phosphate in the blood you get from drinking cola dissolves the calcium from bone.

Cola is a common cause of osteoporosis for the same reason. Two diseases from one glass. And if it's diet cola, make that three. Aspartame is a common cause of incontinence in the elderly, and nothing gives you such a big dose of it as an artificially sweetened soft drink.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: bobad
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 06:36 PM

It would be helpful to provide links to properly conducted studies to back up any claims made.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 07:30 PM

bobad... the thread title asks for "Experiences?" Would that not precude your request?

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 07:32 PM

SAW IT AT THE SAME TIME I HIT "SUBMIT..."

Would that not precLude your request?

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: bobad
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 07:37 PM

I suppose so but I don't put much stock into anecdotal evidence - each to his own I guess.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 07:55 PM

I believe Jack usually knows what he's talking about, and bobad really cares and would read the studies.

Here's a link to WEBMD regarding sodas and osteoporosis. There are loads more hits, too.

Here's a link to an article on sodas & kidney stones at Yahoo! Voices.

The latter contains links to studies and sources, the former states what sources were used.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: bobad
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 08:32 PM

My post was not in response to Jack's, I hadn't even read his. I just like to see claims supported in general, but that's just me.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 08:48 PM

bobad... sorry, bud. I didn't understand.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Janie
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 10:00 PM

I am mostly in the same camp as bobad. I want to see whatever research is out there. There often is not much research available regarding nutrition and illness. Has mostly to do with funding of research issues. Anecdotal evidence is often suspect but that is all folks have to go on in many cases until the anecdotes reach the threshold that a university can get a government grant to begin researching the anecdotal evidence.

So anecdotal evidence can be worth exploring or experimenting with personally. Just be aware that such evidence is subject to even stronger bias that may occur with well-funded research. Also be aware that what was once referred to disdainfully as "the placebo effect" is increasingly well researched and increasingly recognized as effective phenomena with healing and managing many medical conditions, though still poorly understood.

We are moving, albeit very slowly, to a realization that mind/body is a misnomer and the slash will, in the future, be eliminated.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Oct 12 - 11:15 PM

Watch the vid, folks....lots of good, science-based research.

Agree, Janie, re' your last sentence.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 05:03 AM

Cheers Kat, will watch Forks Over Knives - I found it here (with Romanian subtitles): Forks Over Knives - Video

As to the whole-food & plant-based approach, my own recent experience - at least regarding the alleviation of asthma and joint pain - concurs with yours. I've been predominantly plant based (no meat bar a small amount of fish, no cheese, milk, eggs etc) and wholefood (whole grains every day, mainly in the form of rice, bread & pasta) for maybe something like two months now, so early days, but I'm completely shocked at the remission of asthma in particular. Never would have predicted it.

Have you heard of The China Study? I've not read this either, but you might be interested. They say it's the biggest study of nutrition ever conducted, and the evidence comes down strongly in favour of a plant-based diet. Check out the reviews, 1000 five stars, it's apparently made a big impact on many people's lives in the States in particular:
The China Study @ Amazon

Adding their voices to the 'plant-based' choir are Dr's MacDougall, Esselstyn and Ornish. Again none of which I've read as yet - I'm more of a 'try it and see' person, than 'show me the facts' type (where there's nothing to lose at least) so I just followed general guidelines from web articles - but all propose a plant based diet in order to manage or even reverse certain conditions, heart problems in particular.

I'm going to watch the Forks Over Knives vid now.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 07:00 AM

Well I am going to try it too. It will be easier as I am living with a 30+ year vegetarian and because the fruit and veg in the UK is glorious.   I am not big on dairy and the only meat I like is chicken and turkey but I can give them up.

What I will find very difficult is letting go of nightshades especially potatoes. I can eat a plain boiled potato with nothing on and just love it. So I will replace that potato with legumes. A tin of black eyed peas in water, with a splash of extra virgin olive oil and herb mix will make 2 lunches for me.

I need to start dedicating one day on the weekend to making veg soups to eat through the week.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 07:09 AM

Nightshade intolerance symptoms usually clear up VERY fast after excluding all nightshades from your diet and environment. So (if your exlusion of this plant family has been total) you will know within a week whether there is any point in cutting out potatoes. You don't want to end up restricting your diet unnecessarily.

Dairy and wheat intolerances are slower to resolve. Give them a month.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 07:38 AM

"Nightshade intolerance symptoms usually clear up VERY fast after excluding all nightshades from your diet and environment. So (if your exlusion of this plant family has been total) you will know within a week whether there is any point in cutting out potatoes. You don't want to end up restricting your diet unnecessarily."

That's worth knowing Jack, right now I don't really know if there's any good reason for me to continue to exclude Nightshades (it was about a month before symptoms started easing up). Though I've I've kinda got used to eating quite simply and plainly over the past several weeks and liking it too, so I may or may not bother reintroducing them as a regular part of my diet.

As for wheat, I hadn't really considered that as an inflammation causing food (it would seem from doing a quick scan online, that it can be for some people - and gluten in particular) but based on the fact I'm feeling fine right now, it would seem pretty clear that I have no issue with it myself. Potatoes I can take or leave, but I wouldn't want to have to cut out brown bread.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 07:54 AM

"So I will replace that potato with legumes. A tin of black eyed peas in water, with a splash of extra virgin olive oil and herb mix will make 2 lunches for me."

Good idea, I love beany salads! I make up a batch and keep in fridge for about four or five days. Same with rice - though I usually stir fry fridged rice leftovers with a couple teaspoons of hemp oil.

I forgot to tell you that another victim of my proselytisation is my Dad. He's also cut out dairy and meat and is eating wholefoods: focusing on brown rice, wholemeal bread, beans, lentils & vegetables with occasional fish. He hasn't really got anything wrong with him that we know of, but now he's knocking on a bit, he has begun to get concerned about his usual diet high in saturated fats (especially from eating lots of butter and hard cheese) potentially mucking his heart and arteries up.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 08:38 AM

Booklet available online detailing an exclusion diet for arthritis sufferers. This one excludes everything bar H20, but might be of use for the process of identifying and eliminating key trigger foods:

http://veganvegetariancookingschool.com/files/HVHC-Cookbook-arthritis-edition.pdf

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: gnu
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 04:27 PM

Thanks CS.

Once again, I'd just like to say... if anyone has science and such and PROOF and all that, by all means, post it! But don't shit on the OP and the thread title... it's just RUDE.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 04:55 PM

Cheers Gnu, yeah I'm principally interested in personal experience, with additional supportive materials if possible.

Official recommendations for diet and nutrition is an area which is constantly undergoing change as different studies come out. Not surprisingly, as we are consuming a whole host of complicated substances in multiple forms, every day. So, an imprecise science on the best of days, not taking into account where economic conflicts of interest can come into play were sources of funding are concerned. It's not in the interest of either big agri business or big pharma, to let you know that you may not really want to be buying the products that they want very much to sell you.

As I said before I'm not the kind of person who needs to wait for scientific 'proof' before exploring very simple everyday options regarding what types of foods I choose to eat, what kind of daily exercise I choose to do, or indeed how warm I choose to run my bath.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: gnu
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 05:13 PM

Then get yerself some cherries and pommegranates and prunes! Works on two levels. The cherries lower blood pressure so while you are reducing your enlarged prostate with pommegrantes and eating prunes, you don't get increased blood pressure if you don't get the right combination of pommegranates and prunes (yeah, there is a LITTLE leg work to that joke). Don't ask about the prunes. Just shut up and eat em... their good for ya. (How's THAT for scientific study proof!)

And pick up some toilet paper while yer out and aboutst gathering sustinence...

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 06:47 AM

Official recommendations for diet and nutrition is an area which is constantly undergoing change as different studies come out. Not surprisingly, as we are consuming a whole host of complicated substances in multiple forms, every day.

Much dietary treatment of illness involves trying to omit or restrict certain basic foodstuffs.

This is getting steadily harder to manage. Processed foods get more and more ingredients added to them - the trend is for every food to have every conceivable basic ingredient (to make the product easier to make or store).   It used to be that potato crisps contained nothing but potatoes, salt and cooking oil. Now, even many plain crisps (and most flavoured ones) contain wheat, used as a coating to improve the texture. Dairy products (mainly milk powder) get into the most improbable foods, mainly because milk powder is really cheap.

Three of the commonest foods implicated in intolerances are dairy, wheat and nightshades. All of these are commonly used in processed foods, and under so many different names that it's really difficult to tell when they're included. The new labelling regulations in the UK that say the 12 declarable allergens must be listed on the packet are a help, but nightshades are not declarable (the list is based on the likelihood of anaphylaxis, which is rare with nightshades). And there are many foods not covered by those regulations: almost anything loose-packed. The law says that anybody selling food to the public MUST be able to say if one of those 12 allergens is present in any specific product - but some food businesses just flatly ignore the law. Pretentious cafes and small makers of artisanal foods tend to be the worst.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 06:58 AM

Make that 14, not 12:

UK "may contain" guide

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 07:49 AM

"Pretentious cafes"

Argh! I hate those places with continental sounding names, packed to capacity with little crome tables and chairs. I avoid them at all costs. If I want to be crushed by bodies in a small space, I can take the lift - for free! Plus MacDonalds actually do a decent strong cup of coffee, without all the bullshit :D

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 01:00 PM

Diet and exercise can't change genetic markers but they can help in alleviating the ill effects of illness.

Diet ad exercise in the face of genetic degeneration can help you to get through the tough times and prolong your life.

Having gone through a major heart operation, I know that my recovery is aided by D and E.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: gnu
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 03:39 PM

I have heard that sex and drugs and rock and roll can be of benefit theraputically but merely alleviate symptoms temporarily and, when used too frequently or in excess, can cause additional problems. A great many studies have been done but lack clinical accuracy due to inconsistency, poor coordination and lack of rigorous program control.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 07:15 PM

From experience, I ca state with certainty that hospital dood is generally lousy.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: bobad
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:00 PM

And the food's not great either.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:09 PM

Vitamin D and lupus

(A side link mentions fish oil as another beneficial nutrient if you've got SLE, but the anti-inflammatory effects of that are pretty well known already).

I've been taking extra vitamin D myself for two reasons: it's been shown beneficial for people with heart disease of the sort I've got, and it seems to help control morphoea - though usually what's administered for that is a topical locally-active analogue, calcipotriene. Otherwise I don't take supplements regularly, but sometimes have reason to hit a particular symptom with a sizable short-term course of one.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Janie
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:16 PM

Sorry, but I don't see that anyone has "shit" on the OP or the thread, gnu.

I am also sorry if that is how you see it, CS - not sure you do, but your response to gnu makes me concerned that is a possibility.

I don't have asthma. I do have allergies and respiratory issues from my nasty tobacco habit. I am aware that research does not demonstrate that diary products increase mucus, but think there is research that suggests diary products may thicken mucus, though I haven't taken the time just now to do a search to confirm my recollections.

What I do know is that as much as I love milk, I experience decreasing my milk consumption in particular, and dairy consumption in general although to a lesser degree, as beneficial when I have a cold, bronchitis or during allergy season. I have substantially decreased my milk consumption in general over the past several years as result. Whether it is a placebo effect, changes in body and metabolism over time, or because of the reduced milk consumption, I seem to over-all have less severe respiratory problems, or they are less severe, so I'm sticking with my program, research be damned.

On the other hand, milk in the USA often is reinforced with vitamin D, and I have had major problems with vitamin D deficiencies since I cut way back on drinking milk several years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:35 PM

There are plenty of cheaper and better sources for vitamin D than dairy products - oily fish or fish oil in particular. In fact that's where the added vitamin D in dairy products mostly comes from, so you may as well cut out the middleman.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: gnu
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:47 PM

Fish, of various types, seem to be beneficial to one's diet in so many cases. It gives pause to contemplate. My elders call any fish, "Brain Food".

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Janie
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 09:12 PM

I know that. I have a terrible personal problem with swallowing pills that goes waaay back into childhood, and that leads to avoidance and non-compliance with taking pills and capsules, be they medications or nutritional supplements.

A matter of personal responsibility, I understand. But still a powerful aversion, especially for all the nutritional supplements my primary care provider prescribes. Them be BIG pills and capsules, and they also upset my stomach.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Janie
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 09:31 PM

But that is thread drift. Sounds like you are being systematic in your approach, CS, and paying attention as best you can to what works for you, taking in information from the experiences of others to decide what to try for yourself. Good for you for doing your own research re the experiences of others, and having the confidence to do your own experimenting to figure out what works for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 18 Oct 12 - 04:28 AM

"I am also sorry if that is how you see it, CS - not sure you do, but your response to gnu makes me concerned that is a possibility."

No Janie, no offence taken here. To put some of my comments into context from a young age I learned from my mother - a care worker who worked with a lot of physically disabled people who had learned helplessness, a trained homeopath and an animal healer - to try to take personal responsibility for my health. There have been both good and bad results from that, the good being that I learned the resilience and self-reliance necessary to manage a very serious health condition (not asthma) with minimal medical support, the bad being that I can be resistant to seeking medical support when it's appropriate to do so. I hate having to go to the Dr's or take medication for anything and will always look to alternative forms of self-help as a first resort. While I still believe that personal research and self-help methods can be self empowering, it's not always the best way forward. Particularly if like many people, myself and other members of my family included, you become too stubborn to relinquish control and accept outside help at all. Like most things there is a happy middle space and accepting help, doesn't necessarily equate to accepting helplessness.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Oct 12 - 08:59 AM

Janie: http://www.iherb.com/search?kw=all%20one%2C%20nutritech

At this site you will find All One Nutritech products which are powder - vitamins, minerals. I found them while looking for supplements without additives. I could not stand to take the powder so I gave them to a friend, who has trouble swallowing, who found them OK.

As far as improving health with diet and supplements. I could write a lengthy essay but no time right now. I have been studying on the subject most of my life and more so since being environmentally poisoned. Meanwhile mainstream medicine has been making tiny steps into recognizing the reality of why we get all these nasty things wrong with us. It now recognizes the environmental factors are causing most "auto-immune" illnesses, as well as most cancers, heart problems, etc.

EAT - clean food - without pesticides and other chemicals. The what is probably less important than ensuring that whatever it is is not full of chemicals

DRINK - clean water; I only use distilled because no matter where you are, it would cost a fortune to test for all the chemicals that may be in the water, no matter how wonderful it tastes.

BREATHE - clean air - this is the hardest of all. So my home has a top quality air cleaner and I take frequent de-tox baths. I definitely feel better when I do but they are a nuisance. They take time and my recovery time might be as lon as 3 hours and I am even more hyper-sensitive for a few more hours so need to be careful where I go. Best to do it just before bedtime.

When I lived on Whidbey Island, I would sometimes go to Seattle for folk dancing on a Friday night. Regardless of what time I gat home (except when I missed the 1 am ferry and slept the night in the car 'til the 6 am) I would immediately draw a bath, knowing, absolutely, that if I did not the pollution I had absorbed in the city would affect my health until I de-toxed.

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: freda underhill
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 04:48 AM

Nine years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2, which I've been managing with meds. At the beginning of this year, my three monthly blood sugar reading was far too high, and I was told it was time to graduate to injecting insulin. I negotiated a delay with my doctor, and changed my diet to a more moderate version of the one suggested by Dr Joel Fuhrman, in "The End of Diabetes". It's a very restrictive diet (basically vegan, no sugar, no alcohol or fruit juice, no carbs) which I've stretched to include eggs and yoghurt; and bread around once a week. I eat a large amount of green veggies and replace carbs with legumes - lentils, chick peas, beans. I've been monitored at the hospital once a month while on this diet.

I don't keep bread, pasta ,or rice at home, and I eat a lot more nuts and seeds. Since being on the diet I have more than halved my blood sugar levels, no longer experience retinal bleeds and nerve pain associated with diabetes, and have lost 9 kilos. The best thing is, I was told this week that my blood sugar averages are so good that I will not be going on insulin and don't have to go back for a check up for another year.

I see myself following this regime for the rest of my life.

freda

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 03:21 PM

Great news, Freda!

This is not a no-carb diet but a low carb diet: "These carbs that get absorbed slowly into our systems, avoiding spikes in blood sugar levels. Examples: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans. We can minimize the health risk of bad carbs by eating fewer refined and processed carbohydrates that strip away beneficial fiber. Examples: white bread and white rice."

I did a similar diet and my health consultant kept worrying about the lack of carbs; even she forgot that chick peas are also carbs. I lost 35 pounds in four months but, alas, my life changed and I gained it back over a period. My environmental sensitivity makes it difficult for me. I did the diet after a major de-tox which cleared a great deal of toxins and gave me a life back. I have never been able to de-tox that thoroughly since; I suspect due to where I have been living. Now that I am living where the air is clean(er) I am hoping to get well enough to diet adequately again.

It is all multi-factorial - quality of food, air, water, exercise, stress factors....

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 05:38 PM

well done, freda & good luck on your proposed changes, Dorothy

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Diet and Illness: Experiences?
From: freda underhill
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 07:16 PM

thanks Sandra, and good luck Dorothy.

just to clarify, this is a no-carb diet, not a low-carb diet, as my pancreas can no longer metabolise carbs. I have a piece of sourdough toast once a week or fortnight but have otherwise eliminated bread pasta and rice from my diet.

all the best

freda