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[Sarai]

Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't TSH number need to be high to show under active thyroid. When my daughters packed in her TSH was 45!!
Hence immediate thyroid prescription the same day.
Oh and I gad very low vitamin D, got up to very high and felt absolutely nothing of benefit.

[babyjane]

You are right Sarai, the higher the TSH number the more the thyroid is struggling.  The reference range is usually around 0.5 - 4.5 but my endo increases my dose if mine goes above 3 as then I start to struggle.  When I was first diagnosed my TSH reading was 52 and my GP phoned me at home the same evening. That was 28 years ago and there have been ups and downs since then.

[Nemesis]

I hate it when people tell me that they are feeling 'similar' to my complaint.  That de-values how I'm feeling right then!  Now I ask 'how long have you got?' 

Very good point CKLD.

I would also like to sign in to the the tired and drained club.

[GeordieGirl]

I've cut out gluten but I'm a big fan of sugar  and as for dairy - I don't know what I'd eat if I gave that up.  No cheese, no milk 

It's actually so much easier than it sounds. I've done it to fight my cancer (and it appears to be working well), initially I thought it would be a nightmare but my diet is better than ever.

Almond milk, coconut milk or goats' milk are good replacements for dairy (goats' milk contains 90% less casein than cows' milk, and also less lactose)
Goats's cheese is good too - I've started using Feta in cooking and it's just as nice if not nicer.

I'm actually finding I'm no longer craving sugar and can't stress how much difference I feel this has made. Sugar is a huge problem in our standard Western diets, with an average 8 year old now having consumed more sugar a man would in the whole of his life only a century ago.  I've given up any processed foods and sweeten my own cooking with cinnamon or fruit, or a small amount of manuka honey if absolutely necessary.

I have been pretty much forced into this as I didn't want to have conventional cancer therapies but am absolutely amazed at the results and have more energy and clarity than ever. 

Worth considering if all else fails (I'd say it's worth considering even if all else doesn't fail, but then I'm a very convinced convert  )

GG x

[Briony]

GG,

When I first got MS like symptoms, a number of people suggested I gave up sugar. At the time I dismissed it, but you have now got me thinking.

I don't 'add' sugar to anything (drinks, cereal etc), but often wonder where the hidden sugars are that I eat? What are the foods that most surprised you find they had sugar? Do you avoid all sweeteners?

B x

[CLKD]

Hidden sweeteners as well as sugars, sucrose …….. read the labels if you have glasses strong enough  - I can no longer read small print …..

I had a chocolate swiss role during the afternoon and almost immediately felt queasy  …….. won't be buying any more of those!  A few days ago I had a chocolate biscuit, same happened …….

[GeordieGirl]

GG,

When I first got MS like symptoms, a number of people suggested I gave up sugar. At the time I dismissed it, but you have now got me thinking.

I don't 'add' sugar to anything (drinks, cereal etc), but often wonder where the hidden sugars are that I eat? What are the foods that most surprised you find they had sugar? Do you avoid all sweeteners?

B x

Oh  God Briony, please please try it!  Sugar, gluten and dairy are the key offenders and can play a definite role in auto immune and other debilitating conditions. It's definitely worth googling MS and diet and see what comes up.

The only way to truly cut out sugar is to give up processed foods. Check boxes, tins and tubs and you'll see just how much sugar is put in the food we're sold - alongside salt. It's horrendous. 

Whatever you do, don't swap to artificial sweeteners. Aspartame is the main one used (also used widely in processed, diet foods) and is linked to neurological disorders. Aspartame was banned in the US when first launch, eventually after much insistence it got through, but has recently been dropped by Coca Cola due to pressure - only in the US though, it continues to load it into UK carbonated drinks.  If you must sweeten your food, a small amount of good honey is better, or try fruit and spices. Pureed apple, cinnamon, banana etc work well. If you use any sweetener at all, Stevia is from a natural plant and not loaded with damaging chemicals.  There's a very good documentary film, "Sweet Misery - A Poisoned World" which outlines why aspartame is so bad for us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KjdApUovUw

It takes 21 days to change a habit apparently and I've found that by cutting down on sugar more and more and more over the last few months, I no longer crave it. It's taken a while to get there but I no longer have milky tea loaded with sweeteners, but hot water with a dash of fresh lemon. We've swapped carbonated drinks and instead keep a bottle of filtered water in the fridge with lemon slices and a dash of Himalayan pink salt - I never thought I'd ween my teens off the sugary stuff but they love it!

Like CLKD, I now recognise almost immediately when I've had gluten as my body just feels 'heavy'. I've never particularly had food allergies but I can now see how I'd been overloading my digestive system with stuff that can't be digested easily.  I rarely get that really heavy feeling now and with a little imagination, we have a fab range of recipes.

Over the years I'd been 'hoodwinked' by the diet industry to think a low fat diet was better for us and I cut out all good fats (Avocado, olive oil, coconut oils etc) and instead loaded up with products full of hidden sweeteners and little goodness. I fought against the sugar cravings for decades, the more sugar you have the more you tend to crave. I though diet drinks would be ok for me because they didn't contain sugar, right?  My body now shows me how wrong I was, and I'm just glad I've realised it whilst my girls are still young and I have time to get them into good practices.

So....highly recommended! 

Herein endeth today's sermon 

GG X

[GeordieGirl]

My DD is doing a nutritional therapy course and sugar is deemed to be the worst component in our diet. It used to be thought fats were bad for us but that is only trans fats, we need a certain amount. As usual, everything in moderation! X

Where's she studying Sparkle? My youngest is way off leaving school yet but is becoming increasingly more interested in following this route.

GG x

[GeordieGirl]

Just found this too....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/healthyeating/11691125/I-ate-40-teaspoons-of-sugar-a-day.-This-is-what-happened.html?fb_ref=Default

GG x

[honeybun]

It would seem that quite a lot of young women especially are very interested in healthy eating. My daughter certainly is. It has nothing to do with her weight and everything to do with a healthy life style.
She has stopped adding any salt to her food, she has drastically cut down on sugar, makes food from scratch much more often and is the smoothie queen in our house....both fruit and green.

Her skin has improved as has her energy levels. She started this at the beginning of the year in an attempt to have more energy to study for her finals.

Interestingly, she cooks a lot for her boyfriend and has changed his eating habits as well. He has lost over a stone in weight and has gone from being your typical mechanic who glugs fizzy drink and eats bacon rolls, to making his own packed lunches and drinking water. She even has him eating fruit and veg. He also looks better and has far more energy than before.

They still have the occasional carry out, such as pizza and Chinese but it's rare these days.

It's so important that our young eat well for future health and fitness.


Honeyb
X

[CLKD]

Cape gooseberry straight from the plant are delicious  - we have grown them for years.  Make good dried pods for decorations too.

Many years ago it was hot - probably the Summer of 1995 and I couldn't walk to the shop for chocolate.  After a few days of not eating it I found my body was less sluggish.  Yesterday I ate a small chocolate roll and within minutes, felt grumbly and awful so will try cutting milk chocolate out of my diet again. 

Canderal is another sweetener but I can't remember if this is the one which shouldn't be used if one is on certain anti-depressants 

[CLKD]

We grew them throughout the earlier 1970s.  They were known as South African gooseberries then. 

[GeordieGirl]

She's studying at the College of Naturopathic Medicine (www.thecnm.com) - they do various courses but the one she's doing is the Diploma Course in Naturopathic Nutrition (three years/part time) - well worth a look as they do short courses too.

She also thinks that manufacturers get away with making the sugar content look lower by breaking it down into the three main types on labels, that way they appear individually on the ingredients list but lower down if that makes sense.  Something she worked out by looking at labels - I'd never have thought of it to be honest!

I really admire your determination GeordieGirl and getting your girls interested at a young age can only be beneficial.

S x

Thanks for the link Sparkle. My daughter is a little young yet but it's worth us checking out so she can consider it as an option. Is your daughter enjoying the course?

I totally agree with the labeling issues. By breaking it down, sugar isn't listed as the main ingredient - hm. This happens regularly with 'High Fructose Corn Syrup', and the aim is basically to trick the consumer.

One rule I'm trying to stick to now is, if it has to have a label, I probably shouldn't be eating it. If the label has ingredients I know nothing about, then I won't eat it. 

GG x

[Briony]

GG,

When I first got MS like symptoms, a number of people suggested I gave up sugar. At the time I dismissed it, but you have now got me thinking.

I don't 'add' sugar to anything (drinks, cereal etc), but often wonder where the hidden sugars are that I eat? What are the foods that most surprised you find they had sugar? Do you avoid all sweeteners?

B x

Oh  God Briony, please please try it!  Sugar, gluten and dairy are the key offenders and can play a definite role in auto immune and other debilitating conditions. It's definitely worth googling MS and diet and see what comes up.

The only way to truly cut out sugar is to give up processed foods. Check boxes, tins and tubs and you'll see just how much sugar is put in the food we're sold - alongside salt. It's horrendous. 

Whatever you do, don't swap to artificial sweeteners. Aspartame is the main one used (also used widely in processed, diet foods) and is linked to neurological disorders. Aspartame was banned in the US when first launch, eventually after much insistence it got through, but has recently been dropped by Coca Cola due to pressure - only in the US though, it continues to load it into UK carbonated drinks.  If you must sweeten your food, a small amount of good honey is better, or try fruit and spices. Pureed apple, cinnamon, banana etc work well. If you use any sweetener at all, Stevia is from a natural plant and not loaded with damaging chemicals.  There's a very good documentary film, "Sweet Misery - A Poisoned World" which outlines why aspartame is so bad for us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KjdApUovUw

It takes 21 days to change a habit apparently and I've found that by cutting down on sugar more and more and more over the last few months, I no longer crave it. It's taken a while to get there but I no longer have milky tea loaded with sweeteners, but hot water with a dash of fresh lemon. We've swapped carbonated drinks and instead keep a bottle of filtered water in the fridge with lemon slices and a dash of Himalayan pink salt - I never thought I'd ween my teens off the sugary stuff but they love it!

Like CLKD, I now recognise almost immediately when I've had gluten as my body just feels 'heavy'. I've never particularly had food allergies but I can now see how I'd been overloading my digestive system with stuff that can't be digested easily.  I rarely get that really heavy feeling now and with a little imagination, we have a fab range of recipes.

Over the years I'd been 'hoodwinked' by the diet industry to think a low fat diet was better for us and I cut out all good fats (Avocado, olive oil, coconut oils etc) and instead loaded up with products full of hidden sweeteners and little goodness. I fought against the sugar cravings for decades, the more sugar you have the more you tend to crave. I though diet drinks would be ok for me because they didn't contain sugar, right?  My body now shows me how wrong I was, and I'm just glad I've realised it whilst my girls are still young and I have time to get them into good practices.

So....highly recommended! 

Herein endeth today's sermon 

GG X

Great post GG. Just been googling aspartame . So scary...... and I always thought it was beneficial to have sweeteners. What's worse is how many things it's in - even my yogurt and squash has it in 

[CLKD]

Yep.  Because humans have developed a sweet tooth ………