Well, since my last post, I've had good and bad days regarding the IC. I'm still eating GF/CF, although I've stopped the Body Balance. Since supplements can sometimes contribute to IC pain, my doctor thought it would be best if I stopped taking the BB to see if that helps to calm things down. I should say that lots of people have had great results with BB, but I've made so many dietary, drug, and supplement changes in the past month that it's hard to tweeze out what's been helping and what hasn't. I'm still taking the Fisol Omega-3 supplement, New Chapter Take Care Bone Strength calcium/magnesium/Vit K/Vit D supplement, Folic Acid, and Culterelle (probiotics). I also take Prelief prior to eating, although I've had mixed results. I can't tell if that's been helpful or not for my IC, but it really helps my acid reflux. Licorice I take on and off. Yesterday I had a good day with regards to my IC pain, but last night I made the mistake of having a glass of Chardonnay and a martini when I was at my friend's house. I took the Prelief and felt fine last night, but this morning my IC pain was a 7 out of 10. I may have also been slightly dehydrated, which doesn't help. I added a fiber supplement (Metamucil Clear and Natural) two nights ago because I think my fiber intake isn't as high as it used to be when I ate lots of wheat-based, whole grain foods. I'm only using it once a day though because twice a day starts to make me bloated. It seems to help.
WOA: It's really important to up one's water intake, especially when taking supplemental fiber. Drinking lots of clean, pure water is important to IC as well as diluted urine typically doesn't cause as much pain.
I would like to add a multi-vitamin back into the mix, especially because I don't think I'm eating a very balanced diet. I'm trying, but with all the foods that are forbidden now, I'm not getting a lot of variety. One of my best friends from back home is a registered dietician and has sent me some great links to companies that offer GF/CF foods. See email below:
Hi Claudia:
These are some companies that offer high-quality, nutritious foods that meet a variety of specific needs: This information can also be found at www.foodallergysurvivalguide.com - click the link under resources. This list is continually changing…. I noted some of their links are currently not working off their website and was not able to find exactly this list that is found in their book: Food Allergy Survival Guide
Hopefully this information is helpful for you – have fun browsing around ..
Alpsnack. Gluten-, wheat-, egg-, and dairy-free organic snack bar made with hemp nuts, almonds, dried fruits, and other natural ingredients. Phone: 760-743-2211. Web: http://www.alpsnack.com/
Aunt Candice Foods. Cookies, brownies, and mixes free of wheat, dairy, gluten, casein, corn, soy and additives. Web: http://www.auntcandicefoods.com/
Authentic Foods. Dedicated to glueten-free products, from milling to blending, to packaging. Baking mixes, flours, pasta, snacks, cereals. Phone: 310-366-7612. Web: http://www.authenticfoods.com/
Berket Millls. Buckwheat products. Web: http://www.thebirkettmills.com/
Bob’s Red Mill. Hypoallergenic baking products, flours, mixes, cereals, entrees, grains, beans, dried fruits, seeds, and spices. Many gluten-free poducts. Phone: 800-349-2173. Web: http://www.bobsredmill.com/
Dietary Specialties. Gluten-free frozen foods, baking mixes, breads, pastas, snacks, and sweets. Phone: 888-640-2800. Web: http://www.dietspec.com/
Eden Foods. Grains, 100 percent buckwheat noodles, beans, seasonings. Phone: 888-441-EDEN. Web: http://www.edenfoods.com/
Edward & Sons. Organic grocery items such as miso soup, rice snaps, sauces, and candies, many of which are free of gluten and other common allergens. Phone: 805-684-8500. Web: http://www.edwardandsons.com/
El Peto. Manufacturer and distributor of a huge line of gluten-, wheat-, yeast-, corn-, milk-, and egg-free products. Phone: 800-387-4064. Web: http://www.elpeto.com/
Ener-G Foods. Egg and milk substitutes, flours, baked goods, mixes, pasta, cereals, soups, gluten-free items. Phone: 800-331-5222. Web: http://www.ener-g.com/
Enjoy Life Foods. Baked goods, snack bars, and cereals free of gluten, wheat, dairy casein, eggs, soy, nuts, potoato, GMOs and hydrogentaed oil prepared in a gluten-free and peanut-free facility. Phone: 888-550-ENJOY. Web: http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/
Gluten Free Mixes. Baking and seasoning mixes, flours, and even cake decorating kits, all gluten free. Phone 866-225-3432. Web: http://www.glutenfreemixes.com/
Gold Mine Natural Food Company. Hard-to-find gluten-free grains, snacks, condiments, dried fruits and more, most of which are organic. Phone: 1-800-475-FOOD.
Web: http://www.goldminenaturalfood.com/
Grainworks. Quinoa and other organic grains. Phone: 800-563-3756. Web: http://www.grainworks.com/
Kinnikinnick Foods. (Canada) Gluten-, wheat-, and casein-free breads (some are yeast free), mixes, snacks, baking mixes, desserts, and more. Phone: 877-503-4466. Web: http://www.kinnikinnick.om/
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Food and Oils. (Canada) Organic and GMO-free sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Phone: 800-665-HEMP. Web: http://www.manitobaharvest.com/
Mail Order Catalog for Healthy Eating. Dairy substitutes, nutritional yeast, gluten-free grains and pastas, soynut butters. Phone: 800-695-2241. Web: http://www.healthy-eating.com/
Mrs. Leeperes. Rice and corn pasta. Phone: 816-502-6000. Web: http://www.mrsleeperspasta.com/
Natures Highlights. Gluten free, dedicated facitility producing wheat-, gluten-, and yeast-free, pizza crusts, fozen entrees, and snacks. Phone: 800-313-6454. Web: http://www.natures-highlights.com/
Natures Path Foods. Organic cereals, including gluten-free products. Phone: 888-808-9505. Web: http://www.naturespath.com/
Nu-World Amaranth. Amaranth-based snacks free of dairy, eggs, wheat, rice, corn, oats, soy, potato, and nuts. Phone: 630-369-6819. Web: www.nuworldfoods.com
Omega Nutrition. Organic flaxseed oil and related products. Phone: 800-661-FLAX (3529). Web: http://www.omeganutrition.com/
Pangea. Foods, sancks, mixes and sweets that are free of eggs and diary products. Phone: 800-340-1200. Web: http://www.pangeaveg.com/
Pamela’s. Wheat-free baked goods and baking mixes, many of which are also free of gluten, eggs, nuts, and soy. Phone: 707-462-6605. Web: http://www.pamelaproducts.com/
Tinkyada. (Canada) Amazing wheat-free, gluten-free rice pasta in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Phone: 416-609-0016. Web: http://www.tinkyada.com/
The Soynut Butter Company. Peanut-free soynut butter produced in a 100 percent peanut- and treent-free facility. Also gluten-free toriilla crumbs and cornflake crumbs. Phone: 800-288-1012. Web: www.soynutbutter.com
Vegan Essentials. Better than Milk fortified rice beverage and a varity of egg- and dairy-free foods. Phone: 866-88-VEGAN. Web: http://www.veganessentials.com/
Vermont Nut-Free Chocolates. Chocolate confections, absolutely free of nuts. The dark chocolate has no dairy ingredients, although it is produced on the same equipment as the milk chocolate. Phone: 888-468-8373. Web: http://www.vermontnutfree.com/
WholeSoy. Drinks and cultured soy yogurt with probiotics (live active cultures). Phone: 415-495-2870. Web: http://www.wholesoycom.com/
___________________
Thanks, Sheila, for this great info!
No funny stories for today's post. I'm too beat and a little discouraged right now. I'm hoping to muster up some energy for my next post. What I do want to say is that I think is critically important, especially when dealing with chronic health issues (or even when one is healthy), to cherish those moments when one is feeling good, healthly, and/or happy. Last night, after spending an enjoyable night hanging out with my girlfriends, I came home and admired a couple of home improvements projects my husband and I had just completed earlier in the day. I savored the satisfaction I felt and was also grateful for the pain-free evening I had experienced. In that moment, life was good. It's easy to forget those moments during the bad times and to think that one's doomed to a lifetime of pain and suffering. It's crucial to carve out time for rest and relaxation. Creating a space in ones home that is free of clutter and distractions, while being visually appealing, can also aid in bolstering one's spirits. There is always hope. On days like today when I'm feeling tortured by my body, it's hard to remember that things can and will get better... but they will. Happy Labor Day.
Showing posts with label DGL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DGL. Show all posts
Monday, September 7, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Body Balance
Ok, before I get into the supplement, “Body Balance,” I still need to catch you up on the other changes I’ve made and the effects they’ve had on my health. I’m hoping that within a post or two that I can finally start writing about the present and begin officially keeping data.
On Day 4 of my new “detox” diet, I stopped taking the proton-pump inhibitor I was taking to treat my acid reflux. I had been taking it for about 3 months and found that I had become dependent. Unfortunately, chronic use of acid reducers can lead to B-12 deficiency since stomach acid is necessary for proper digestion (http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030301/979.html). I decided I would stop taking the medication and see how I did. Two days of ratatouille later, I had what felt like a lump in my throat, trouble swallowing, plus my reflux was back. I called my G.I. and spoke to the nurse, who spoke to the doctor, who wanted to up my meds. Go figure. I’d made these major overhauls in my diet, hoping to improve my health, and now I was destroying my esphogus. I found it pretty depressing that I had fixed one problem (my IBS) but had created another. I had heard that stopping an acid blocker could lead to rebound acid reflux (http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/GERD/14956), so instead of freaking out, I decided to find some alternatives to the acid reducer.
I checked out Dr. Andrew Weil’s website, http://www.drweil.com/. I first heard of Dr. Weil after he was a guest on the Oprah show and appreciated his ability to combine conventional and complementary medicine. He is also the founder and Program Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Weil recommended deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), so after a little more research, off to the local health food store I went. DGL supplements can taste pretty gross, but the lovely clerk at Earthfare recommended a chocolate flavored one that was gluten-free. Gluten-free, yes. Dairy-free, no. Since I could barely swallow by this point, I was pretty desperate and bought it anyway. After about three days, the lump in my throat was gone. I should add that I also cut out alcohol, dark chocolate, tomatoes, raw onions, fried foods, and spicy foods (my acid triggers). After a week, I was able to reintroduce small amounts of tomatoes and garlic, but not raw onion (which I also avoid because it aggravates my IBS) or alcohol (which has always given me reflux). I should continue to avoid chocolate, but sometimes I’ll have a bite and suffer the consequences. I take the DGL three times a day, twenty minutes before meals. I find that if I skip a dose and eat a large meal, my acid comes back. Oh yeah, there are a few other things that really helped me, such as eating smaller meals, chewing well, eating slowly, and not eating three hours prior to going to bed.
Body Balance started Day 5 into my diet. Life Force International’s Body Balance is a whole foods, liquid supplement recommended to me by my physical therapist. It’s a multivitamin, antioxidant, mineral, and amino acid supplement made from sea vegetables, combined with an aloe base. Because Body Balance is in liquid form, it’s also much more absorbable than the typical horse pill sized multi’s that I never end up taking anyway because they make me gag. I was a bit skeptical at first since it’s sold via multi-level marketing, but after speaking with my PT’s daughter, Sarah (name has been changed), who sells the product, and doing tons of research, I decided I would try it. Sarah has two young boys who suffered from multiple health issues, both whose problems started to resolve after a few months on the supplement. Sarah recommended I start with a low dose (.5 oz) to ensure that it didn’t cause G.I. distress. After about two weeks, I’ve worked my way up to 2 oz per day. I don’t really notice much of a difference being on the supplement; however, as with any supplement, it typically takes weeks before the health benefits kick in. In addition to Body Balance, I also take a calcium/magnesium/Vit D/ Vit K supplement, fish oil, and folic acid. I probably have the most expensive urine on my block! Previously, I had only taken calcium and fish oil sporadically and didn’t take folic acid. But since folic acid and fish oil are both key to brain health, not to mention important to prenatal development (should I get pregnant soon), I now take them daily.
Ok, it’s almost 11 pm and I’m beat. More to come after I’ve gotten some sleep.
On Day 4 of my new “detox” diet, I stopped taking the proton-pump inhibitor I was taking to treat my acid reflux. I had been taking it for about 3 months and found that I had become dependent. Unfortunately, chronic use of acid reducers can lead to B-12 deficiency since stomach acid is necessary for proper digestion (http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030301/979.html). I decided I would stop taking the medication and see how I did. Two days of ratatouille later, I had what felt like a lump in my throat, trouble swallowing, plus my reflux was back. I called my G.I. and spoke to the nurse, who spoke to the doctor, who wanted to up my meds. Go figure. I’d made these major overhauls in my diet, hoping to improve my health, and now I was destroying my esphogus. I found it pretty depressing that I had fixed one problem (my IBS) but had created another. I had heard that stopping an acid blocker could lead to rebound acid reflux (http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/GERD/14956), so instead of freaking out, I decided to find some alternatives to the acid reducer.
I checked out Dr. Andrew Weil’s website, http://www.drweil.com/. I first heard of Dr. Weil after he was a guest on the Oprah show and appreciated his ability to combine conventional and complementary medicine. He is also the founder and Program Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Weil recommended deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), so after a little more research, off to the local health food store I went. DGL supplements can taste pretty gross, but the lovely clerk at Earthfare recommended a chocolate flavored one that was gluten-free. Gluten-free, yes. Dairy-free, no. Since I could barely swallow by this point, I was pretty desperate and bought it anyway. After about three days, the lump in my throat was gone. I should add that I also cut out alcohol, dark chocolate, tomatoes, raw onions, fried foods, and spicy foods (my acid triggers). After a week, I was able to reintroduce small amounts of tomatoes and garlic, but not raw onion (which I also avoid because it aggravates my IBS) or alcohol (which has always given me reflux). I should continue to avoid chocolate, but sometimes I’ll have a bite and suffer the consequences. I take the DGL three times a day, twenty minutes before meals. I find that if I skip a dose and eat a large meal, my acid comes back. Oh yeah, there are a few other things that really helped me, such as eating smaller meals, chewing well, eating slowly, and not eating three hours prior to going to bed.
Body Balance started Day 5 into my diet. Life Force International’s Body Balance is a whole foods, liquid supplement recommended to me by my physical therapist. It’s a multivitamin, antioxidant, mineral, and amino acid supplement made from sea vegetables, combined with an aloe base. Because Body Balance is in liquid form, it’s also much more absorbable than the typical horse pill sized multi’s that I never end up taking anyway because they make me gag. I was a bit skeptical at first since it’s sold via multi-level marketing, but after speaking with my PT’s daughter, Sarah (name has been changed), who sells the product, and doing tons of research, I decided I would try it. Sarah has two young boys who suffered from multiple health issues, both whose problems started to resolve after a few months on the supplement. Sarah recommended I start with a low dose (.5 oz) to ensure that it didn’t cause G.I. distress. After about two weeks, I’ve worked my way up to 2 oz per day. I don’t really notice much of a difference being on the supplement; however, as with any supplement, it typically takes weeks before the health benefits kick in. In addition to Body Balance, I also take a calcium/magnesium/Vit D/ Vit K supplement, fish oil, and folic acid. I probably have the most expensive urine on my block! Previously, I had only taken calcium and fish oil sporadically and didn’t take folic acid. But since folic acid and fish oil are both key to brain health, not to mention important to prenatal development (should I get pregnant soon), I now take them daily.
Ok, it’s almost 11 pm and I’m beat. More to come after I’ve gotten some sleep.
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