some of my vitamins, I need to get more next week....
The other week I was watching this Youtube Channel about how a Japanese family ate and they eat a higher quantity of food then we do, [all those desserts!] but I noticed how high the quality was, and the sheer variety of food! They have multiple fruits and vegetables at every meal. They are all very thin including the wife of the house who definitely is into cooking and the world star in housewifery.
This is often a financial thing I face with food, where there isn't the money for that many ingredients or items, and I found myself wondering how much of obesity is related to sheer nutritional deficiencies, it makes you wonder. I used yellow squash I had in three recent meals but my meals are limited in the number of different items. Some obesity researchers do believe obesity is a disease of malnutrition. I KNOW that with my serious malabsorption problems, that doesn't help either.
We do have an obesity epidemic in this country from the bad quality of food. It feels harder and harder to get the "decent stuff" too. Most of the grocery store to me is a waste land of processed garbage. I had the thought if I got to live in Japan for a year and had the same amount of money as this family and didn't eat their desserts and chips, I'd probably lose 100 without even trying.
I'm not sure if the functional doctor takes my insurance yet. One of my habits is going to a health food vitamin shop. I learned what supplements would help with my Meniere's disease and have taken some to help my ear ringing, I have lost so much hearing but believe they have helped.
They opened this new vegetarian/health food restaurant in a neighboring town but I have to wait for some money to go over there and try it. They have some healing teas and other alternatives too.
I am trying to make a decision about seeing a functional doctor which is a doctor that combines naturopathy and allopathic medicine. I have to keep all my regular doctors and specialists but wouldn't mind seeing one who could pay attention to the more root causes of my health problems, especially the autoimmune issues and pain issues. My husband wants me to be careful since my medical needs are so immense, but there's a point you want to try anything that will work. One worry I do have is usually insurance only wants to cover allopathic treatments. Sadly my financial realities have kept me from the naturopaths far too often. One online friend advised me, "Go to naturopath books yourself and learn, that's what I did. I am even new friends with a naturopath. I have bought products from her, she grows herbs and makes tea. She shares some information with me. I plan to pay her for sessions when I am able to.
I'm not sure if the functional doctor takes my insurance yet. One of my habits is going to a health food vitamin shop. I learned what supplements would help with my Meniere's disease and have taken some to help my ear ringing, I have lost so much hearing but believe they have helped.
One latest venture is I need to examine dandelion root tea, and make sure it does not contradict with my medications, because I have read it helps with kidney stones. Not every regular doctor is open to alternative remedies so raising these issues isn't always comfortable especially in checking new treatments, herbs or nutritional remedies. I wish regular doctors would pay more attention to nutrition and remedies like this.
My kidney stones at least have been "stable" lately but this is based on a lot of caution, cooking, and vegetarian meals. However this tea could be a back up during "bad times". I don't want to die of a calcium oxide kidney stone. Surgery is not as easy for me. You know it's scary 6 years ago I had to give up all red meat, for a normal person that would have taken some weight off. Every meal I eat I have to calculate how much possible kidney stone damage there is, can I afford a little turkey on the sandwich? Is that too much tofu? It's not easy.
Drinking milk with meals to bind calcium oxide has helped, that was advice given to me by a kidney specialist so I still value what so called "regular doctors" instruct me on. One thing I do want to buy is a vitamin supplement to help with insulin resistance that I found to help in terms of weight loss. I've already found the supplement.
My kidney stones at least have been "stable" lately but this is based on a lot of caution, cooking, and vegetarian meals. However this tea could be a back up during "bad times". I don't want to die of a calcium oxide kidney stone. Surgery is not as easy for me. You know it's scary 6 years ago I had to give up all red meat, for a normal person that would have taken some weight off. Every meal I eat I have to calculate how much possible kidney stone damage there is, can I afford a little turkey on the sandwich? Is that too much tofu? It's not easy.
Drinking milk with meals to bind calcium oxide has helped, that was advice given to me by a kidney specialist so I still value what so called "regular doctors" instruct me on. One thing I do want to buy is a vitamin supplement to help with insulin resistance that I found to help in terms of weight loss. I've already found the supplement.
One friend of mine swears by Chinese medicine, we have one place here that practices it. I did try accupuncture years ago, it simply did not work, so trust me even as I venture into the alternative health world deeper, I have to see what works.
They opened this new vegetarian/health food restaurant in a neighboring town but I have to wait for some money to go over there and try it. They have some healing teas and other alternatives too.
Two examples of Naturopath Books I own:
Things that didn't work for me during my life:
Iridiology
Iridiology
Ear Candling
Acupuncture
Acupuncture
Homeopathy--I don't buy the underlying concept.
Traditional Weight Loss Diets. [lol obvious isn't it]
Things that have worked for me during my life:
Things that have worked for me during my life:
Various vitamins and supplements [I believe zinc and C, mouth rinsing with mouth wash have kept me from getting Covid, but that could be N95 masks, isolation and germ-phobia too]
Nutritional things have worked, except on weight loss, I used to make this special soup, parsley and mushroom when my CHF was really bad off, that would take fluids off.
In 2010, I was about to be diagnosed with colitis, maybe even on edge of Chrohns [this was way beyond present IBS] and cut all GMOs out and increased fiber, etc, and was able to fix this problem.
Nutritional things have worked, except on weight loss, I used to make this special soup, parsley and mushroom when my CHF was really bad off, that would take fluids off.
In 2010, I was about to be diagnosed with colitis, maybe even on edge of Chrohns [this was way beyond present IBS] and cut all GMOs out and increased fiber, etc, and was able to fix this problem.
Cutting all sugar out cut thrush out--though I learned I have to be careful with cottage cheese. I haven't eaten desserts in years except extremely rarely so when I say sugar, that means stuff like juice, HFCS in spaghetti sauce, etc.
Drawing salves
Massage. [it does help Lipedema/Lymphedema, Flexitouch is like mechanical massage but I wish I could afford regular massage too like on neck]
Things I want to try:
Diet far higher in cooked vegetables and more variety. I am making homemade tomato soup very soon today. Finances does impact this. Dinner probably will be some chicken and cabbage stir fry.
Chinese medicine
Other herbal remedies I've looked into.
I need to add more exercise to life but need something that will work, some fun, safe with Covid--that's the hard part.
Some supplements addressing weight/insulin resistance/hormonal issues.
Diet far higher in cooked vegetables and more variety. I am making homemade tomato soup very soon today. Finances does impact this. Dinner probably will be some chicken and cabbage stir fry.
Chinese medicine
Other herbal remedies I've looked into.
I need to add more exercise to life but need something that will work, some fun, safe with Covid--that's the hard part.
Some supplements addressing weight/insulin resistance/hormonal issues.
More mindfulness/meditation exercises
Please tell me about your own experiences in alternative or naturopathic medicine that has worked for you.
Hi peeps - I used to be a macrobiotic cook. I ate a macrobiotic diet for about ten years. It's very labor intensive, but one of the healthier vegan diets ; with a nice philosophy behind it. I do not and would not eat that way today as I believe in eating meat. I think it's more packed with the nutrients we need and more bioavailable. I do believe some people who are vegan can become malnourished. Also our ancestors ate that way so it's the diet we are most evolved to eat.
ReplyDeleteI do believe in avoiding sugar and eating whole foods
I have done acupuncture, but I felt it threw my body off and my energy. Except when I went to my chiropractor. He strictly only did ear acupuncture and that kind of worked for me. He was kind of a magician though!
I became very disillusioned with homeopathy myself. But do still use arnica gel for muscles aches on occasion. It just seems to help, though I realize it might just be the massaging your muscles when you apply it.
Chiropractic was helpful but it can actually be dangerous and more so as you age.
I find dandelion tea really helpful and also nettle tea.
Vitamin D and B12 have helped my energy move up a bit in the past few years. I always take magnesium as well.
I have breast cancer now, and after the surgery I have decided to go alternative health care , which can be scary.
I am doing really high dose Vitamin C IV twice a week. Plus all manner of supplements . I dropped all sugar and am intermittent fasting. I guess I will see how well I do. I feel great. Better than in years.
I try to find vitamins and supplements that are my allies, as different things work for different people and some things that might agree with you might not help me. I follow my intuition about it, and how my body feels. It's like how some people might be our allies , but someone else's enemy. Same for food and everything else.
I felt veganism and yoga both destabilized me. I'm not just saying that as a Christian now , but as an observation. I was far more nervous and had more anxiety when I did yoga and ate vegan. It really opens you up and that's probably why.
Anyway, I'll probably think of more stuff I have tried at some point.
Be well - Sue
Thanks for sharing your experiences Sue, I had a college friend whose father with cancer went on a macrobiotic diet and would visit there on weekends, it seemed to be some work. There probably are more nutrients in it with the whole grains and vegetables. I can't do complete vegetarianism/veganism, I have major problems with anemia, and some if it's worse. I think I'm paying a price even being off red meat though I do sneak some ham in. [like a little deli ham] and what won't bring in the kidney stones.
DeleteI do think humanity did evolve to eat a more varied diet, of course Americans there's too many empty carbs and other heavy foods, but they say meat played a part in evolution especially with the brain. Yeah sugar I consider a poison, well with diabetes, one glass of juice can jack it up 20 points. I try to buy as many whole foods as I can. Groceries are getting really scary where I live. My diet is being affected now. It's beyond sticker shock. BTW yesterday I went to get a few groceries and they were out of milk, like there was a few jugs left of the off brands. That was not good.
Acupuncture didn't work with me, parents pushed me into it to "make me lose weight", remember they put this metal thing in my ear, it didn't work. Lungs etc, everything just got worse. I'm glad your chiropracter's accupuncture worked. Other areas of Chinese medicine seem interesting to me but don't have access to it now.
What do you consider dangerous about chiropractic? I've never been to one, is it the adjustments? Glad dandelion tea helped you. I hope it helps me. I've been okay on kidney stones this week, but drinking a lot of milk. Its time to get more vitamins, I'm running out. D is supposed to help keep the Covid away. I hope your breast cancer gets better and will be resolved, that has to be scary to deal with. Hope the therapies are of help.
I've heard about high C for cancer, you probably already know about laetrile/etc and other alternative remedies in that area. Agree different things work for different people. Some health nutrition advice used to make me feel worse, like low fat stuff just made me fatter and hungrier. Thanks for telling me how veganism and yoga affected you. Yoga doesn't work for me, can't get on the floor anyhow though Tai Chi looks like it would be an easier possibility. I got this Medical Medium book from library but all the recipes etc, I would need to be a millionaire to afford them especially given the prices of the food. Hey hope things go well for you. Thanks for sharing again.
Yes I feel the food prices also. It's horrid. Right when I need to be eating better. Also , yes low fat is terrible, glad you caught on to that. Sorry they put that out there. I think it hurt a lot of peoples health.
DeleteI've been hearing about shortages a lot of places, but have been lucky here.
That is interesting that milk helps your kidney stones. Why is that?
Sue
Yeah they say low fat just helped to fatten everyone up. I accidentally bought some low fat cottage cheese, got a high blood sugar the next day after eating it, what in the heck do they put in that stuff. Milk is supposed to bind calcium oxide stones, so I drink a little milk [Lactaid milk] with every meal. I have to drink some when I eat dairy anyhow. Yeah here there are shortages, this is a smaller town not sure if that has anything to do with it. Being short on milk seems weird, I know we have dairy farmers in this state. Some of our shortages just seem extreme.
Delete