I've heard mixed results about this from medical professionals, but I would love to hear it from those who have dealt with it firsthand. Does cutting out certain foods really help your inflammation (fatigue is a major one for me)? What has been your experience with supplements?
Thanks in advance for your help and advice,
PearlGirl
Maybe......
University of Washington medical school is doing an "Anti-inflammatory Diet" Its very restrictive and they have found there is also a need to restrict medication by eliminating everything but the biologics. They remove groups measure carefully the change (or no change) and add them back one at a time. IF there isa sensitivity it makes a difference, if not there is none.
Most supplements are a huge waste of money as they are not absorbed into the body in a natural fashion. If you are deficient (which is rare) then the right form of supplement is necessary.... Other wise man dollar$ are being flushed down the toilet.....
I have deficiencies in B6, B12, and vitamin D, so I take supplements for each. Each supplement is in a form that's very bioavailable. I also take B2 to try to stave off migraines. The supplements make a huge difference in my energy levels.
I'm also gluten-free and dairy-free. I have celiac, so need to be gf. I cut out dairy, as I thought I had a dairy sensitivity, and am doing better off of dairy. I probably should be totally nightshade-free, but have found that although I react to peppers, I don't seem to react at all to tomatoes, so eat them every once in a while (and only organic). I try to avoid white potatoes and eggplant.
I also don't eat refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, trans-fats, artificial sweeteners, or most processed foods. I don't do well eating meat that's not organic (free range/grass fed/etc.) and react to pesticides (and don't want to consume them anyway), so eat organic / non GMO fruits and veggies.
Oy, talk to your doctors before doing anything like that. Docs have added specific vitamins and supplements to my diet and, like today, jumped out of their seats when they heard I had added others on my own. "NOT FOR YOU!", they said. (there were two in the room at the time)
Yes! But it not just about gluten, although that is part of the story. Its about a route to a healthy gut, where you give it a break from the cycle of irritation caused by poor digestion of gluten and other carbohydrates, painkillers and anti inflammatories. I used the advice from many sources after a thorough exploration of many issues to with the dietary causes of all disease with an inflammatory component- from diabetes, to heart disease etc. I was interested in carbohydrate metabolism and gut bacteria and how once an irritation has been set up, it causes the tight junctions of the gut wall to open slightly and then proteins which are very difficult to digest start to enter the blood stream where there set up an auto immune response in some people with a genetic disposition - HLA - B27 . I found ideas and suggestions in a blog called Cooling Inflammation very inspiring, and work on fats and carbohydrate by Mary Enig, Gary Taubes, and Volek and Phinney essential to understand the principles. I also used Dr Peter Osborne on Gluten( you tube has some of his theories and interviews) and Dangerous grains- a book.
I have used Dr sarah Myhill and Dr Terry Wahls ( who cured her own MS) for resources and ideas for supplements. I am eating a high animal fat low carbohydrate diet, use probiotics, vit c high dose, absolutely grain free , and look and feel amazing. I did this over 5 months or so. I take no medication - I have had all medications over the past 20 years- all the DMARDS and biologics and many years on prednisolone so i could keep my part time teaching job. I was ill and depressed and hopeless as I hated feeling so ill and hated not being able to take part in family activities. It really is possible, but it is a lot more than just cutting out a couple of foods. I am using about 50-60g of carbs(all carbs - and this takes a lot of research to understand- anything that is not protein or fat is basically starch/sugar) , 140g ish of fat ie eggs, butter, nuts, cream and 60g of protein - meat/fish/.I have lost fat, but not muscle and have now stabilised using the the EAdes diet plan- Staying power. This can be weight loss tool, but that is not how Ive used it. Ive used it to stop the problematic gut bacteria proliferating by giving them very little carb/sugar and using fat as my main source of energy. It needs correct planning and rigid adherence or the saturated fat with a higher carb intake would be unhealthy, but with a strict carb policy, it works amazingly.
I swear by it - the evidence- no symptoms- fab skin- it has healed my psoriaisis too, no gums bleeding, no bloatedness, no heat, all my joints pain free - all swelling gone- i can do things I havent been able to do like dance, and mentally feel so different xx
Are you taking vitamins? Our bodies need a balanced diet. I am gluten and sugar free but I eat fruits and vegetables, which contain a natural sugar.
melaniej said:
Yes! But it not just about gluten, although that is part of the story. Its about a route to a healthy gut, where you give it a break from the cycle of irritation caused by poor digestion of gluten and other carbohydrates, painkillers and anti inflammatories. I used the advice from many sources after a thorough exploration of many issues to with the dietary causes of all disease with an inflammatory component- from diabetes, to heart disease etc. I was interested in carbohydrate metabolism and gut bacteria and how once an irritation has been set up, it causes the tight junctions of the gut wall to open slightly and then proteins which are very difficult to digest start to enter the blood stream where there set up an auto immune response in some people with a genetic disposition - HLA - B27 . I found ideas and suggestions in a blog called Cooling Inflammation very inspiring, and work on fats and carbohydrate by Mary Enig, Gary Taubes, and Volek and Phinney essential to understand the principles. I also used Dr Peter Osborne on Gluten( you tube has some of his theories and interviews) and Dangerous grains- a book.
I have used Dr sarah Myhill and Dr Terry Wahls ( who cured her own MS) for resources and ideas for supplements. I am eating a high animal fat low carbohydrate diet, use probiotics, vit c high dose, absolutely grain free , and look and feel amazing. I did this over 5 months or so. I take no medication - I have had all medications over the past 20 years- all the DMARDS and biologics and many years on prednisolone so i could keep my part time teaching job. I was ill and depressed and hopeless as I hated feeling so ill and hated not being able to take part in family activities. It really is possible, but it is a lot more than just cutting out a couple of foods. I am using about 50-60g of carbs(all carbs - and this takes a lot of research to understand- anything that is not protein or fat is basically starch/sugar) , 140g ish of fat ie eggs, butter, nuts, cream and 60g of protein - meat/fish/.I have lost fat, but not muscle and have now stabilised using the the EAdes diet plan- Staying power. This can be weight loss tool, but that is not how Ive used it. Ive used it to stop the problematic gut bacteria proliferating by giving them very little carb/sugar and using fat as my main source of energy. It needs correct planning and rigid adherence or the saturated fat with a higher carb intake would be unhealthy, but with a strict carb policy, it works amazingly.
I swear by it - the evidence- no symptoms- fab skin- it has healed my psoriaisis too, no gums bleeding, no bloatedness, no heat, all my joints pain free - all swelling gone- i can do things I havent been able to do like dance, and mentally feel so different xx
Hello Gelita,
Its a good question but of course the problem is what is a balanced diet. My research and own experience has led me to question many things about diet and how it is processed. the understanding has helped me realise that carbohydrate , which is all starch and sugar is, is the food for certain bacteria in the gut. It is not a question of natural- there is nothing natural about having an unhealthy gut - your genes are not trying to make you ill. There are a lot of myths in the SAD, the Standard American Diet - mostly about the wisdom of eating grain, fruit and vegetables beyond a certain limit, and the various health benefits of vegetable oils instead of saturated fat.
The fact is too much sugar/starch of any kind- be it fruit, vegetable, juice,brown rice - ie so called healthy food is inflammatory. It requires an insulin response to stabilize your blood glucose level. Also there are many reasons why plants are just not always as healthy as we have been lead to believe- look at the allergic reactions to legumes and other nuts by those with a nut allergy.
there is also a lot of misinformation regarding the problem with saturated fat and its relationship with heart disease, cholesterol and so on. Inflammation is the problem, it has been argued, very successfully by the researchers who I am studying , ie top up to date biochemists at the forefront of exploring inflammation, that it is the combination of carbohydrates and saturated fats which is unhealthy, rather than saturated fats per se. There are many reasons for this - one is that it is repeated exposure to flooding your body with insulin by eating carbs- even so called healthy carbs , like bananas, that damages your body. It causes oxidative damege to things like your arteries , which then become sites for plaques of cholesterol molecules to attach to. But, if you lower your carbs, they argue , you massively reduce the stress on your body. And then the saturated fat, which in terms of cholesterol- HDL and LDL, actually does its job- reducing inflammation and building healthy cell membranes.
So - my low carb diet- at the moment as I am totally disease free - has a good intake of leafy green vegetables and a few strawberries, blackberries etc. I always take them with some saturated fat, ie butter on the brocolli or cream on the berries in a healthy smoothie or panna cotta. I am taking some vit c as my research suggests that modern food is just not fresh enough, ie berries straight off the plants might be ok, but much is lost over time. I am taking probiotics to help those gut bacteria. Apart from that I am more interested in vit d if i dont get enough sunshine, and that is most of the time. There is much evidence that vit D levels are low in people with an auto immune disorder due to the gut irritation. I dont quite get all the biochemistry of that , but my gurus recommend it. then , magnesium, zinc and potassium - all are often low with people with psoriasis- again something to do with the biochemistry of the disease. I use magnesium oil, seaweed, a zinc supplement and a mineral supplement. I am taking some glucosamine and some Omega 3 fish oil.
but the rest of my nutrients comes from lots of nutrient dense food - lots of my own eggs from my own free range hens which I feed a corn free diet and roam , fish , meat- all grass fed not grain -including my own lamb from my own sheep, including liver - lots of yummy sauces made with high quality butter, soups made from bone marrow stocks, stews and colourful salads. But sticking to no more than 50g of total carbs a day - which I calculate very carefully. Absolute care about not getting too much Omega 6 - I fry in coconut oil, lard or butter or a little olive oil, absolutely no other oils in any food.
there are plenty of resources out there- but I can assure you - it is a very healthful diet. My weight is excellent, I have no inflammation now - as I have progressively got better and better. Ive been doing this for almost 6 months. It is not a spontaneous remission !!! The only time I got that in the past 20 years was when I was pregnant and when I did the Atkins diet about 10 years ago. I cannot believe that i would be healthier being on a low fat high carb diet, being too ill to work or do exercise, with chronic side effects and related disorders like gum disease, ibs and taking immune suppressants as the saturated fat is too unhealthy! Now, I sleep so much better, have mental clarity and gone is the depression. saturated fat is good for the brain, its what we are designed to eat ! Think about what your grandparents and all your forefathers ate!!!
Gelita said:
Are you taking vitamins? Our bodies need a balanced diet. I am gluten and sugar free but I eat fruits and vegetables, which contain a natural sugar.
melaniej said:Yes! But it not just about gluten, although that is part of the story. Its about a route to a healthy gut, where you give it a break from the cycle of irritation caused by poor digestion of gluten and other carbohydrates, painkillers and anti inflammatories. I used the advice from many sources after a thorough exploration of many issues to with the dietary causes of all disease with an inflammatory component- from diabetes, to heart disease etc. I was interested in carbohydrate metabolism and gut bacteria and how once an irritation has been set up, it causes the tight junctions of the gut wall to open slightly and then proteins which are very difficult to digest start to enter the blood stream where there set up an auto immune response in some people with a genetic disposition - HLA - B27 . I found ideas and suggestions in a blog called Cooling Inflammation very inspiring, and work on fats and carbohydrate by Mary Enig, Gary Taubes, and Volek and Phinney essential to understand the principles. I also used Dr Peter Osborne on Gluten( you tube has some of his theories and interviews) and Dangerous grains- a book.
I have used Dr sarah Myhill and Dr Terry Wahls ( who cured her own MS) for resources and ideas for supplements. I am eating a high animal fat low carbohydrate diet, use probiotics, vit c high dose, absolutely grain free , and look and feel amazing. I did this over 5 months or so. I take no medication - I have had all medications over the past 20 years- all the DMARDS and biologics and many years on prednisolone so i could keep my part time teaching job. I was ill and depressed and hopeless as I hated feeling so ill and hated not being able to take part in family activities. It really is possible, but it is a lot more than just cutting out a couple of foods. I am using about 50-60g of carbs(all carbs - and this takes a lot of research to understand- anything that is not protein or fat is basically starch/sugar) , 140g ish of fat ie eggs, butter, nuts, cream and 60g of protein - meat/fish/.I have lost fat, but not muscle and have now stabilised using the the EAdes diet plan- Staying power. This can be weight loss tool, but that is not how Ive used it. Ive used it to stop the problematic gut bacteria proliferating by giving them very little carb/sugar and using fat as my main source of energy. It needs correct planning and rigid adherence or the saturated fat with a higher carb intake would be unhealthy, but with a strict carb policy, it works amazingly.
I swear by it - the evidence- no symptoms- fab skin- it has healed my psoriaisis too, no gums bleeding, no bloatedness, no heat, all my joints pain free - all swelling gone- i can do things I havent been able to do like dance, and mentally feel so different xx
just a thought in reply to tntlamb's comment about the diet trial at Uni of Washington - and the diet being restrictive!!! I cannot think of anything as restrictive as : the Psoriatic arthritis, side effects of medication, inflammatory complications like serious endometriosis and infertility, depression, fatigue, lack of self worth and all concomitant troubles!! But unfortunately because of the current dogma regarding saturated fat and its centrality to healthy immune system and positive outlook it is very unlikely to have anything new to add to the debate x
tntlamb said:
Maybe......
University of Washington medical school is doing an "Anti-inflammatory Diet" Its very restrictive and they have found there is also a need to restrict medication by eliminating everything but the biologics. They remove groups measure carefully the change (or no change) and add them back one at a time. IF there isa sensitivity it makes a difference, if not there is none.
Most supplements are a huge waste of money as they are not absorbed into the body in a natural fashion. If you are deficient (which is rare) then the right form of supplement is necessary.... Other wise man dollar$ are being flushed down the toilet.....
Its not a "trial" They have been at it for a very long time. While they have found maybe 20% of people have food (diet sensitivities) that effect inflammation levels, those sensitivities are very specific to the individual if they indeed exist. The interaction of food, supplements, medication etc is as individual as DNA. But there are some combos that just don't work ever.
Gluten has no effect on me, with my wife on the other hand.......
tntlamb said:
Its not a "trial" They have been at it for a very long time. While they have found maybe 20% of people have food (diet sensitivities) that effect inflammation levels, those sensitivities are very specific to the individual if they indeed exist. The interaction of food, supplements, medication etc is as individual as DNA. But there are some combos that just don't work ever.
Gluten has no effect on me, with my wife on the other hand.......
melaniej said:
totally agree that every person has a unique profile and set of sensitivities. I also challenge the wisdom that Psa is just gluten sensitivity, my research leads me to believe it is much more about the gut interface and the leaky gut. I truly believe that when we understand more about gut flora and how to restablish a healthy gut, rather than assaulting it with more irritants we will have a better way of treating this chronic condition. BTW mine is absolutely tickety boo after 20 years of assaults by NSAIDs methotrexate sulphasalazine etc and is absolutely happy on its fare of animal fat, leafy veg etc You wouldnt believe it xxx Maybe i will dare try sourdough bread soon !!!
tntlamb said:Its not a "trial" They have been at it for a very long time. While they have found maybe 20% of people have food (diet sensitivities) that effect inflammation levels, those sensitivities are very specific to the individual if they indeed exist. The interaction of food, supplements, medication etc is as individual as DNA. But there are some combos that just don't work ever.
Gluten has no effect on me, with my wife on the other hand.......
Think about a car. It not only needs gas, but oil, water in the battery, radiator, etc. Our bodies have nutritional needs to function well. Too much of something, none of a nutrient at all of another carries its consecuences. 3 months ago my doctors thought my liver was compromised because of the PsA meds. The liver specialist told me this week it is due to my overlooked high cholesterol and triglycerides. Fat raises both. Life (dieticians and nutritionosts alike) has taught me that eating a well-balanced diet as the Government suggests keeps the body working properly. Excesses in any form only bring trouble. Of course, some foods are better than others, as we all know. Glad you are getting organic. Wish I had a yard. I am allergic to some foods, which I have no control of. Yes, I avoid some meats, gluten, lactose and some vegetables and fruits, but I substitute them for other meats, almond milk, other flours, and plenty of other vegetables and fruits (the ones I am not allergic to). I also avoid sugar. I have many ailments to think of; but I try my best to listen to my docs, nutritionist and dietician. They all work together for my benefit (I go to the University of South Florida College of Medicine Clinic).
melaniej said:
Hello Gelita,
Its a good question but of course the problem is what is a balanced diet. My research and own experience has led me to question many things about diet and how it is processed. the understanding has helped me realise that carbohydrate , which is all starch and sugar is, is the food for certain bacteria in the gut. It is not a question of natural- there is nothing natural about having an unhealthy gut - your genes are not trying to make you ill. There are a lot of myths in the SAD, the Standard American Diet - mostly about the wisdom of eating grain, fruit and vegetables beyond a certain limit, and the various health benefits of vegetable oils instead of saturated fat.
The fact is too much sugar/starch of any kind- be it fruit, vegetable, juice,brown rice - ie so called healthy food is inflammatory. It requires an insulin response to stabilize your blood glucose level. Also there are many reasons why plants are just not always as healthy as we have been lead to believe- look at the allergic reactions to legumes and other nuts by those with a nut allergy.
there is also a lot of misinformation regarding the problem with saturated fat and its relationship with heart disease, cholesterol and so on. Inflammation is the problem, it has been argued, very successfully by the researchers who I am studying , ie top up to date biochemists at the forefront of exploring inflammation, that it is the combination of carbohydrates and saturated fats which is unhealthy, rather than saturated fats per se. There are many reasons for this - one is that it is repeated exposure to flooding your body with insulin by eating carbs- even so called healthy carbs , like bananas, that damages your body. It causes oxidative damege to things like your arteries , which then become sites for plaques of cholesterol molecules to attach to. But, if you lower your carbs, they argue , you massively reduce the stress on your body. And then the saturated fat, which in terms of cholesterol- HDL and LDL, actually does its job- reducing inflammation and building healthy cell membranes.
So - my low carb diet- at the moment as I am totally disease free - has a good intake of leafy green vegetables and a few strawberries, blackberries etc. I always take them with some saturated fat, ie butter on the brocolli or cream on the berries in a healthy smoothie or panna cotta. I am taking some vit c as my research suggests that modern food is just not fresh enough, ie berries straight off the plants might be ok, but much is lost over time. I am taking probiotics to help those gut bacteria. Apart from that I am more interested in vit d if i dont get enough sunshine, and that is most of the time. There is much evidence that vit D levels are low in people with an auto immune disorder due to the gut irritation. I dont quite get all the biochemistry of that , but my gurus recommend it. then , magnesium, zinc and potassium - all are often low with people with psoriasis- again something to do with the biochemistry of the disease. I use magnesium oil, seaweed, a zinc supplement and a mineral supplement. I am taking some glucosamine and some Omega 3 fish oil.
but the rest of my nutrients comes from lots of nutrient dense food - lots of my own eggs from my own free range hens which I feed a corn free diet and roam , fish , meat- all grass fed not grain -including my own lamb from my own sheep, including liver - lots of yummy sauces made with high quality butter, soups made from bone marrow stocks, stews and colourful salads. But sticking to no more than 50g of total carbs a day - which I calculate very carefully. Absolute care about not getting too much Omega 6 - I fry in coconut oil, lard or butter or a little olive oil, absolutely no other oils in any food.
there are plenty of resources out there- but I can assure you - it is a very healthful diet. My weight is excellent, I have no inflammation now - as I have progressively got better and better. Ive been doing this for almost 6 months. It is not a spontaneous remission !!! The only time I got that in the past 20 years was when I was pregnant and when I did the Atkins diet about 10 years ago. I cannot believe that i would be healthier being on a low fat high carb diet, being too ill to work or do exercise, with chronic side effects and related disorders like gum disease, ibs and taking immune suppressants as the saturated fat is too unhealthy! Now, I sleep so much better, have mental clarity and gone is the depression. saturated fat is good for the brain, its what we are designed to eat ! Think about what your grandparents and all your forefathers ate!!!
Gelita said:Are you taking vitamins? Our bodies need a balanced diet. I am gluten and sugar free but I eat fruits and vegetables, which contain a natural sugar.
melaniej said:Yes! But it not just about gluten, although that is part of the story. Its about a route to a healthy gut, where you give it a break from the cycle of irritation caused by poor digestion of gluten and other carbohydrates, painkillers and anti inflammatories. I used the advice from many sources after a thorough exploration of many issues to with the dietary causes of all disease with an inflammatory component- from diabetes, to heart disease etc. I was interested in carbohydrate metabolism and gut bacteria and how once an irritation has been set up, it causes the tight junctions of the gut wall to open slightly and then proteins which are very difficult to digest start to enter the blood stream where there set up an auto immune response in some people with a genetic disposition - HLA - B27 . I found ideas and suggestions in a blog called Cooling Inflammation very inspiring, and work on fats and carbohydrate by Mary Enig, Gary Taubes, and Volek and Phinney essential to understand the principles. I also used Dr Peter Osborne on Gluten( you tube has some of his theories and interviews) and Dangerous grains- a book.
I have used Dr sarah Myhill and Dr Terry Wahls ( who cured her own MS) for resources and ideas for supplements. I am eating a high animal fat low carbohydrate diet, use probiotics, vit c high dose, absolutely grain free , and look and feel amazing. I did this over 5 months or so. I take no medication - I have had all medications over the past 20 years- all the DMARDS and biologics and many years on prednisolone so i could keep my part time teaching job. I was ill and depressed and hopeless as I hated feeling so ill and hated not being able to take part in family activities. It really is possible, but it is a lot more than just cutting out a couple of foods. I am using about 50-60g of carbs(all carbs - and this takes a lot of research to understand- anything that is not protein or fat is basically starch/sugar) , 140g ish of fat ie eggs, butter, nuts, cream and 60g of protein - meat/fish/.I have lost fat, but not muscle and have now stabilised using the the EAdes diet plan- Staying power. This can be weight loss tool, but that is not how Ive used it. Ive used it to stop the problematic gut bacteria proliferating by giving them very little carb/sugar and using fat as my main source of energy. It needs correct planning and rigid adherence or the saturated fat with a higher carb intake would be unhealthy, but with a strict carb policy, it works amazingly.
I swear by it - the evidence- no symptoms- fab skin- it has healed my psoriaisis too, no gums bleeding, no bloatedness, no heat, all my joints pain free - all swelling gone- i can do things I havent been able to do like dance, and mentally feel so different xx
Interesting. My diet is specific to my medical needs, per my docs.
tntlamb said:
Its not a "trial" They have been at it for a very long time. While they have found maybe 20% of people have food (diet sensitivities) that effect inflammation levels, those sensitivities are very specific to the individual if they indeed exist. The interaction of food, supplements, medication etc is as individual as DNA. But there are some combos that just don't work ever.
Gluten has no effect on me, with my wife on the other hand.......
Im absolutely sure you are right about the individuality of the food sensitivities Lamb! Just regretting the scotch egg with breadcrumbs I had yesterday ! It was a rash move - oh well. The difference in me over time - ie 20 years and a lot of drugs , is before I would have reached for the painkillers or anti -inflammatories. Now I am confident enough to reach for the coconut oil and Omega 3 and glucosamine and stick to the low carb high fat . I have the experience , after the beer in Spain, to know that if I give it time and the anti inflammatory fats it will pass. Before I wouldnt have got that .
I must reply to Gelita 's model of the car and the body. I can see that you have faith in the people who advise you and whose word you take about your precious health. That is very important, and I would hate to be flippant about that trust.
But, for me its different now. I am now at a stage in my life when I feel able to radically question some fundamentals ; my kids are about to leave to go to Uni, I am now working from home - if I have a day when I can't work it doesn't matter in the same way. the pressure is so much less. When I was younger- in my mid twenties and thirties- I was indebted to the care of my rheumatologist and gp- by being on Prednisolone it allowed me to continue with the teaching job I loved, be active and look after the two busy children I had whilst my husband worked away in the oil industry for 6 weeks at a time. I had to preserve those things - my husbands career, my career and a home life as a single parent without tons of family support. I never doubted the medics had my best interests at heart - we discussed the pro s and cons of prednisolone. I always knew there were risks and - I paid the price when I was 40 - but - I would probably do it all again for the quality of life I had during those years. Ok I was ill sometimes, but I had mobility.
However - what I am saying now is that there are some very interesting perspectives coming out in research done now which explore the auto immune thing in very new ways. One is that some of our fundamental beliefs based on what we have been taught as mainstream by nutrtionists/dieticians may be fundamentally flawed. the one size fits all approach to what is a balanced diet could be barking up the wrong tree. Which may be why we now have such a huge number of people being medicated for diabetes, auto immune disorders, cholesterol and heart disease etc. And this is the stuff i am looking at.
I believe that this last 50 or 60 years has seen a huge change in the way we eat - much more available simply absorbed sugars in our diet than even I had as a child (Im 47) When i was a child we hardly ate wheat products - no pizzas or pastas, few cakes and biscuits, some bread as toast and some sandwiches. But not everyday - cooked school dinners were meat/ fish and veg, and so were evening meals. a few processed foods were bought, but much fewer than now. Coca cola was an occasional treat , as were sweets ( candy and chocolate.) Although there were apples around, we didnt have the amount of fruit around for general consumption. Fruit juices- were maybe a once a year treat on a foreign holiday. So it is clear to my mind that when I compare the diets of my great grandmothers , who lived, drug free till they were 96 , and a contemporary one , it is not the same. They also ate a lot of fat: lard and butter: not industrially processed vegetable oils or margerines. They ate fatty meat, tripe and other organ meats,like liver, as it was cheap. They made soups from marrow bones and they loved the eggs from their chickens and the vegetables from their gardens.
They werent afraid of fat like we have been brainwashed into being. Im afraid of anything that looks like it shouldnt be eaten - or I wouldnt feed to my horse - beans, wheat, vegetable oil, margerine and an excess of sugar.
so - were their bodies well looked after and getting a healthy , balanced diet ? I should say so.So if anything that is what Im doing, challenging the modern version of a healthy diet, with its excess sugars from whatever natural sources ( that is all fruit is - and fructose is very bad for the liver !!!), its excess unfermented grains btw - all traditional cultures would prepare the grains in their diet with practises like fermentation as in sourdough bread , as a way of predigesting the more difficult proteins. And then, using the essential fats my body craves as it is what it is designed to run on , not glucose !! and a moderate amount of protein - and my body, the car, on the right fuel is running sweetly. MMM do you see where i am coming from - It is not that I havent done the research- I have- its that my mindset is different. I believe things have causes and that all the people out there with immune issues have triggers in the environment- not , as I believe the medics model- that we are slightly faulty as we don't quite fit the proper model of what a body should do in the world with its modern diet and lifestyle.
so its ok, when your body feels well about the food and treatment it is getting, it tends to go better- and only the driver can tell that xx