So sorry to hear about another accident. If its an option for you, have you tried spraying surgical spirit on the toes? Trauma to toes is a funny (not!) thing.
Kimberley Gallagher is really good, shes on Instagram...The Feng Shui Flow...and does a Q and A on most weekends, you could try that that! She also does online home analysis and has a register of people shes trained. May be worth a look?
Oh great, I'll look her up, ta. I should be able to do it myself but it'd be nice to have someone more up to date than me! Can't do surgical spirit but I've doused it in teatree and a trauma balm I've invented - which ahs been very handy the last few months!!
I like the emotional meaning of accidents. I'm always knocking my feet. I wonder if it's a kind of ataxia and lack of coordination due to various health issues. It would certainly make sense, but the emotional meaning has value too. How you describe not being able to move forward in life, and not liking the direction it's taking you no matter what you do. That resonated with me a lot. And as we have similar health issues, I feel exactly the same, that it and all it's restrictions is holding me back. Thanks a lot big toes! 🤣
Bloody big toes. Grr. Ataxia is a good thought. Very gluten related. So is blood sugar. I'm definitely more clumsy when my blood sugar is off. That said, I realised that, as P is not doing his usual stuff, I am doing a lot more of the heavier/lifting sort of jobs that he would normally do. So I'm not surprised my legs are tired and I keep falling over/injuring myself!
They do all the staple "spirits", and a few delicious liqueurs, all made from sweet potatoes! And they do mini bottles too so you can try them out. Fab! I hardly drink alcohol myself but this is def my go to company!
If only pubs and bars would stock it, then I could have my beloved espresso martini! 🍸🍸🍸
Got a few comments today! But that's cos you give us such interesting stuff! I'll do individual comments on them, will be a bit tidier!
First up, glad you brought up the sugar issue again, and following on from last week's comments on insulin resistance.
I really struggle with sugar swings, and never know what to eat. If I adopt a diet like in the Belly Fat Plan, low carbs and more protein, my body and brain don't have enough fuel to function. It doesn't seem to matter if I eat every 2 hours or not, I'm still even more fatigued, foggy, brain tired, low mood, low concentration and dragging myself around even more than usual. I'd expect my body to detox and "reset", but it doesn't happen, even after weeks or even months. And then I get the cravings because my body simply needs more, and in particular the coffee, because it boosts my mood, I can't stand constant low mood.
I don't know what to eat to give my body and brain the energy they need without upsetting my blood sugar or causing weight issues. Any tips from anyone would be great! It doesn't help that I can't eat grains or dairy, and also have to watch histamine levels due to pesky mast cell issues!
I honestly wonder if I should intro more fruit as snacks, I don't eat huge amounts, or high sugar fruit. But at the same time as you said, fruit has fibre, electrolytes, enzymes which all help the correct digestion of the sugar, so I often wonder what the harm is. Our ancestors would have picked fruit off trees and eaten them in abundance when in season. I'm a fan of ancestral eating, and probably have "ancient gut"! I'm a bit funny with high starch things like root veg as they upset my digestion, so I limit it to beetroot, swede, squash, turnip, celariac etc. I feel in-between a rock and a hard place with my diet. I don't drink fizzy drinks, eat crisps, eat cakes, pastries, choc bars etc, so it feels doubly unfair that I have these issues!
I do wonder if I'm on the road to diabetes, despite tests never showing anything. Interesting what you said last week Micki about tests never showing anything for you either, got me thinking.
If anyone has similar issues I'm ready to hear about what you eat to help 😊
It's a tough one, isn't it? I know exactly how you feel - I never used to feel full up. I remember talking to an MCAS expert or listening to something (I forget) and she said she'd never yet come across a MCAS/POTS/hEDS type patient who didn't need to eat every 2 hours and lots of carbs! It made me feel better. I don't know what the mechanism is yet - probably to do with carb utilisation in cells, malabsorption in the villi, insulin regulation etc. I do know that since I cut my carbs right down as my HBA1c was too high, I have felt better. Hungry, but better, less inflamed overall. When I went on a 'diabetes/keto' level of carbs, I felt bloody awful and my gut has actually not recovered yet. I think it is very individual - there is no one diabetes/carb level for everyone. Trial and error as per.
If it helps, I feel better on certain carbs and that includes fruit and, oddly, potatoes! Which I could never tolerate before. If I try to eat a big lots-of-stuff-in salad with a bit of carb, eg. beetroot, and some protein, it's simply not enough. Within an hour, I feel like I might pass out. If I add 2 very small potatoes, fine. As I say: individual needs vary. If I could just take the ruddy berberine, I wouldn't need to worry.
I'm just the same! Potatoes are always a no no everywhere you turn, but I feel better when I eat them, better than the alternative sweet potato. How funny! Maybe it's the amount that makes the difference. And potatoes are easier on my gut than other root veg. Maybe it's the fibre?
Hmmm, got some thinking to do. Perhaps add a bit of potato or fruit in with a meal and see how I get on. I don't eat the higher sugar fruits because again we are always told to avoid them, but I have no reactive issues when actually eating them. So for example perhaps if I had only a couple of pieces of mango with protein fat and fibre that wouldn't really be a problem at all. My brain would certainly thank me for it, it's the first thing to go when I lack carbs.
I really miss yogurt. Thick Greek yogurt with fruit, and some ground flaxseed. It's the perfect snack or breakfast, with protein fat fibre and a bit of carb. Sigh...
I know what you mean about keto, that would be dire for me! And keto puts stress on the body, not great for those already adrenally compromised (AKA me. Honestly, is there a problem I don't have??!) I agree, it has to be an issue with the way our cells use energy, or not using energy, more accurately. Crack the case there, and we're sorted! Musings...
So what about berberine then? I know we've had convos about it before, but these kind of supplements that are supposed to balance blood sugar never seem to impact me the way they should. If anything they seem to push my blood sugar too low. This is why I sometimes wonder if I'm on the way to being diabetic, or the complete opposite! If I could work that out I'd know how to manage it. Sigh...
To be honest, I eat what I need. Fruit suits me mast cell wise. I'm focusing on apples and berries but I always 'clothe' carbs as they say and never eat it on an empty tum and always with fibre and protein to slow any insulin spike down. I find Cocos natural yogurt with ground almonds and ground flax seeds works really well for me yogurt wise in case that helps. I also do a ground almonds, flax and dried coconut porridge with hot water, with a spoon of the cocos yogurt in for fat. Works as a great base for fruit and even a little honey. Doesnt spike me and fills me up. For 2 hours lol. I often have it for lunch.
Ah Cocos, the one that's got tapioca starch in it. Can't do it! The other vegan offerings have corn starch in. Other than that though, you don't find the live cultures triggering?
Some good tips there though, I use ground almond and flax a lot, very useful.
I think I need to start eating what I need too, and stop paying attention to diets that constantly tell me not to eat things. I'll keep out the worst offenders for now, but will adopt a different approach I think. I still like ancestral eating, but I'll adapt it for "energy", add more fruit in, clothe it as you say (I like that!) and see how I get on with adding a bit of skin-on potato 👍. I need more variety, more nutrition and more energy from my food. Thanks, good convo! Hopefully it's helpful to others
Ah shame about the yogurt - I can do tapioca but corn is my nemesis! Yes, eat for you, not what someone else says. You need to find what suits you not some average Joe person.
Agreed. Even the low histamine diet is too much for me, or rather too little, it strips too much out, and is just a source of stress as I'm always at a loss what to eat, especially for such a rubbish cook! Can't see how that helps, in fact stress, and emotional stress, is one of my worst triggers. I shall experiment and see what happens!
Wondering if this is worth an article piece at some point? There's too much demonisation of food and it's detrimental to people's health. I think it's become a bigger issue.
Loads of very interesting stuff here, thank you! And I’m with you on what makes you spit.
Sorry to hear you’ve been injured in your own home again - hope you’re fully ‘back on your feet’ very soon. ❤️
I don’t know about negative energy but I do like to keep an open mind. One weird thing did happen to me many years ago. I moved into a house which had to be sold because the owner, a professional footballer, got injured and his footballing career was over. It wasn’t until the house was empty on moving-in day, that I felt a strange heaviness, a sadness, as I wandered through the rooms waiting for the removal van to arrive. I started clapping. My (then) husband thought I was nuts, but I must have read somewhere that clapping dispels negative energy…I dunno, anyway, I clapped and it seemed to help (me, or the house?). Something for you to try maybe? 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I have literally just clapped everywhere after I read this, and chanted positive affirmations in ever room for good measure! You never know! I did have a similar feeling myself in a previous house so I got a feng shui person in. It was fascinating - we thought we'd be there for years and I remember her saying you'll have left here before 18 months is up. And we were, nothing to do with our choice, but circumstances conspired against us. I still miss that house. Was in Lytham, oop North.
So sorry to hear about another accident. If its an option for you, have you tried spraying surgical spirit on the toes? Trauma to toes is a funny (not!) thing.
Kimberley Gallagher is really good, shes on Instagram...The Feng Shui Flow...and does a Q and A on most weekends, you could try that that! She also does online home analysis and has a register of people shes trained. May be worth a look?
Oh great, I'll look her up, ta. I should be able to do it myself but it'd be nice to have someone more up to date than me! Can't do surgical spirit but I've doused it in teatree and a trauma balm I've invented - which ahs been very handy the last few months!!
No better woman for that!! Wishing you a speedy recovery x
I like the emotional meaning of accidents. I'm always knocking my feet. I wonder if it's a kind of ataxia and lack of coordination due to various health issues. It would certainly make sense, but the emotional meaning has value too. How you describe not being able to move forward in life, and not liking the direction it's taking you no matter what you do. That resonated with me a lot. And as we have similar health issues, I feel exactly the same, that it and all it's restrictions is holding me back. Thanks a lot big toes! 🤣
Bloody big toes. Grr. Ataxia is a good thought. Very gluten related. So is blood sugar. I'm definitely more clumsy when my blood sugar is off. That said, I realised that, as P is not doing his usual stuff, I am doing a lot more of the heavier/lifting sort of jobs that he would normally do. So I'm not surprised my legs are tired and I keep falling over/injuring myself!
I'm definitely off balance when my blood sugar is off too. And with vestibular issues on top too
Interesting comment about potato vodka. Reminded me of something.
Want TGF alcohol? Try this:
https://www.thesweetpotatospiritcompany.com/
They do all the staple "spirits", and a few delicious liqueurs, all made from sweet potatoes! And they do mini bottles too so you can try them out. Fab! I hardly drink alcohol myself but this is def my go to company!
If only pubs and bars would stock it, then I could have my beloved espresso martini! 🍸🍸🍸
Ooh that looks interesting, thanks. Never come across them. I don't drink a lot but nice when you fancy something.
I've asked them in the past about TGF and their other ingredients, such as the spices. Unless they've changed ingredients, they are pretty clean.
Mind you, I've just looked at the prices, it ain't cheap! Still, I suppose it will stop us drinking too much of it! 🤣
Got a few comments today! But that's cos you give us such interesting stuff! I'll do individual comments on them, will be a bit tidier!
First up, glad you brought up the sugar issue again, and following on from last week's comments on insulin resistance.
I really struggle with sugar swings, and never know what to eat. If I adopt a diet like in the Belly Fat Plan, low carbs and more protein, my body and brain don't have enough fuel to function. It doesn't seem to matter if I eat every 2 hours or not, I'm still even more fatigued, foggy, brain tired, low mood, low concentration and dragging myself around even more than usual. I'd expect my body to detox and "reset", but it doesn't happen, even after weeks or even months. And then I get the cravings because my body simply needs more, and in particular the coffee, because it boosts my mood, I can't stand constant low mood.
I don't know what to eat to give my body and brain the energy they need without upsetting my blood sugar or causing weight issues. Any tips from anyone would be great! It doesn't help that I can't eat grains or dairy, and also have to watch histamine levels due to pesky mast cell issues!
I honestly wonder if I should intro more fruit as snacks, I don't eat huge amounts, or high sugar fruit. But at the same time as you said, fruit has fibre, electrolytes, enzymes which all help the correct digestion of the sugar, so I often wonder what the harm is. Our ancestors would have picked fruit off trees and eaten them in abundance when in season. I'm a fan of ancestral eating, and probably have "ancient gut"! I'm a bit funny with high starch things like root veg as they upset my digestion, so I limit it to beetroot, swede, squash, turnip, celariac etc. I feel in-between a rock and a hard place with my diet. I don't drink fizzy drinks, eat crisps, eat cakes, pastries, choc bars etc, so it feels doubly unfair that I have these issues!
I do wonder if I'm on the road to diabetes, despite tests never showing anything. Interesting what you said last week Micki about tests never showing anything for you either, got me thinking.
If anyone has similar issues I'm ready to hear about what you eat to help 😊
It's a tough one, isn't it? I know exactly how you feel - I never used to feel full up. I remember talking to an MCAS expert or listening to something (I forget) and she said she'd never yet come across a MCAS/POTS/hEDS type patient who didn't need to eat every 2 hours and lots of carbs! It made me feel better. I don't know what the mechanism is yet - probably to do with carb utilisation in cells, malabsorption in the villi, insulin regulation etc. I do know that since I cut my carbs right down as my HBA1c was too high, I have felt better. Hungry, but better, less inflamed overall. When I went on a 'diabetes/keto' level of carbs, I felt bloody awful and my gut has actually not recovered yet. I think it is very individual - there is no one diabetes/carb level for everyone. Trial and error as per.
If it helps, I feel better on certain carbs and that includes fruit and, oddly, potatoes! Which I could never tolerate before. If I try to eat a big lots-of-stuff-in salad with a bit of carb, eg. beetroot, and some protein, it's simply not enough. Within an hour, I feel like I might pass out. If I add 2 very small potatoes, fine. As I say: individual needs vary. If I could just take the ruddy berberine, I wouldn't need to worry.
I'm just the same! Potatoes are always a no no everywhere you turn, but I feel better when I eat them, better than the alternative sweet potato. How funny! Maybe it's the amount that makes the difference. And potatoes are easier on my gut than other root veg. Maybe it's the fibre?
Hmmm, got some thinking to do. Perhaps add a bit of potato or fruit in with a meal and see how I get on. I don't eat the higher sugar fruits because again we are always told to avoid them, but I have no reactive issues when actually eating them. So for example perhaps if I had only a couple of pieces of mango with protein fat and fibre that wouldn't really be a problem at all. My brain would certainly thank me for it, it's the first thing to go when I lack carbs.
I really miss yogurt. Thick Greek yogurt with fruit, and some ground flaxseed. It's the perfect snack or breakfast, with protein fat fibre and a bit of carb. Sigh...
I know what you mean about keto, that would be dire for me! And keto puts stress on the body, not great for those already adrenally compromised (AKA me. Honestly, is there a problem I don't have??!) I agree, it has to be an issue with the way our cells use energy, or not using energy, more accurately. Crack the case there, and we're sorted! Musings...
So what about berberine then? I know we've had convos about it before, but these kind of supplements that are supposed to balance blood sugar never seem to impact me the way they should. If anything they seem to push my blood sugar too low. This is why I sometimes wonder if I'm on the way to being diabetic, or the complete opposite! If I could work that out I'd know how to manage it. Sigh...
To be honest, I eat what I need. Fruit suits me mast cell wise. I'm focusing on apples and berries but I always 'clothe' carbs as they say and never eat it on an empty tum and always with fibre and protein to slow any insulin spike down. I find Cocos natural yogurt with ground almonds and ground flax seeds works really well for me yogurt wise in case that helps. I also do a ground almonds, flax and dried coconut porridge with hot water, with a spoon of the cocos yogurt in for fat. Works as a great base for fruit and even a little honey. Doesnt spike me and fills me up. For 2 hours lol. I often have it for lunch.
Ah Cocos, the one that's got tapioca starch in it. Can't do it! The other vegan offerings have corn starch in. Other than that though, you don't find the live cultures triggering?
Some good tips there though, I use ground almond and flax a lot, very useful.
I think I need to start eating what I need too, and stop paying attention to diets that constantly tell me not to eat things. I'll keep out the worst offenders for now, but will adopt a different approach I think. I still like ancestral eating, but I'll adapt it for "energy", add more fruit in, clothe it as you say (I like that!) and see how I get on with adding a bit of skin-on potato 👍. I need more variety, more nutrition and more energy from my food. Thanks, good convo! Hopefully it's helpful to others
Ah shame about the yogurt - I can do tapioca but corn is my nemesis! Yes, eat for you, not what someone else says. You need to find what suits you not some average Joe person.
Agreed. Even the low histamine diet is too much for me, or rather too little, it strips too much out, and is just a source of stress as I'm always at a loss what to eat, especially for such a rubbish cook! Can't see how that helps, in fact stress, and emotional stress, is one of my worst triggers. I shall experiment and see what happens!
Wondering if this is worth an article piece at some point? There's too much demonisation of food and it's detrimental to people's health. I think it's become a bigger issue.
Loads of very interesting stuff here, thank you! And I’m with you on what makes you spit.
Sorry to hear you’ve been injured in your own home again - hope you’re fully ‘back on your feet’ very soon. ❤️
I don’t know about negative energy but I do like to keep an open mind. One weird thing did happen to me many years ago. I moved into a house which had to be sold because the owner, a professional footballer, got injured and his footballing career was over. It wasn’t until the house was empty on moving-in day, that I felt a strange heaviness, a sadness, as I wandered through the rooms waiting for the removal van to arrive. I started clapping. My (then) husband thought I was nuts, but I must have read somewhere that clapping dispels negative energy…I dunno, anyway, I clapped and it seemed to help (me, or the house?). Something for you to try maybe? 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I have literally just clapped everywhere after I read this, and chanted positive affirmations in ever room for good measure! You never know! I did have a similar feeling myself in a previous house so I got a feng shui person in. It was fascinating - we thought we'd be there for years and I remember her saying you'll have left here before 18 months is up. And we were, nothing to do with our choice, but circumstances conspired against us. I still miss that house. Was in Lytham, oop North.