On the verge of Eureka!

Serendipity may have been kind to me this morning. I was feeling the usual discomfiture over my acne, weight, and reproductive issues when I decided to google ‘hypoglycemia’, ‘acne’ and ’skin’ on a whim. There is a connection between all my issues and what I googled!

The condition is called skin diabetes. Our skin is an organ, just like a liver, spleen, or kidneys. It has to metabolize the nutrients we feed it, but, sometimes it malfunctions when it comes to complex sugars. Insulin levels, for some reason, are very low in the skin. The consequence is acne, because the excessive sugars are a buffet dinner for bacteria. This metabolic problem is a tripping wire for a cascade of changes in the hormonal systems in the body, hence reproductive issues, etc.

All of the above is perfectly applicable to my genetics and previous health history. My grandpa had type 2 diabetes; my dad was rejected from the draft because of sugar in his urine. I have passed out a couple of times because of low blood sugar and dehydration. I have all the classic symptoms of hypoglycemia.

The good news is that skin diabetes can be controlled, much like type 2. My weight is still in the acceptable zone, so that is not such a big determinant. The real changes I have to make is with what I eat. Big Serious Changes.

Sugar is no longer my friend, neither are refined carbohydrates, nor caffeine. Buh-Bye High Fructose Corn Syrup!

Nourishing Traditions is the way to go: Good fats, proteins, well-treated grains, fermented dairy, veggies, and fruits.

This will take a while to sink in…

Cautious Hope in Vitex

Three weeks ago I started on an herb called Vitex or Chasteberry Tree. It is supposed to regulate pituitary gland function, especially in women. If you all remember, I went through the medical gamut to find out why I was having some clustering of symptoms that points to a pituitary problem. While my thyroid fluctuates mildly and my prolactin levels were a tad high, there wasn’t much the doctors could do for me.  I would just have to live with menstrual weirdness, acne, and weight gain.

Enter the herb! I began Vitex right after the end of my last period and continued it onward through ovulation. Most folks I’ve referenced recommend taking the herb right on through the whole cycle, unless you find yourself pregnant and then one should stop immediately.  Like most ‘natural’ remedies, it takes a couple of months before the more profound shifts occur in the body.

So far I have noticed my acne is like 50% better, not totally clear but much better than usual. The big test will be when PMS starts next week, the time when I get a flair-up. My energy levels have been consistently high and my head feels clearer throughout the day. These are wonderful things!

I will keep you all posted on how this progresses.

My Diet Soup

I’ve been without chocolate for nearly 72 hours now…and I’m feeling remarkably well. Jeff announced after our final meal out for the Birthday-Weekend on last Sunday night that we are were going on a diet! He said he needed to lose some of his, ahem, love handles. He said it, I didn’t. One of my goals for the 1001 days challenge is to get rid of some extra body fat I’ve accumulated. That is hard to do if you sit at a computer for 8 + hours a day!

The secret, I’ve found, is to cut out the junk and watch portions. I also don’t like to ponder and plan too much what I have to eat all the time. My solution for work lunches this week has been a “health soup.” Low-fat and fills me up!

Lentil “Diet Soup” Stew

2 cups regular lentils, picked over and rinsed.  Two or three carrots, chopped. 2 stalks celery, chopped. Half onion, diced. Two Potatoes, chopped up in bite-sizes.Two good-sized cloves garlic. 1 can crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce (15 oz). Olive oil. Balsamic Vinegar. Salt and Pepper.

Cover lentils in a few inches of water and simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring, skimming and adding water as necessary. Add veggies, garlic, and 0nion. Simmer for another 20-30 minutes. Add 4 tablespoons of Olive Oil, a good few dashes of Balsamic Vinegar, S&P, and tomatoes. Stir and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve with crackers or fresh bread.

Lentils are easier to digest than beans and cook faster, too. This cook time is longer to increase the thickness of the stew. The “earthiness” of the lentils may take a while to get used to. You can spice this up with Tabasco.

Health Updates

For those of you in doubt, it turns out that I am “normal.” The MRI of my head was normal. The blood tests were normal. So…. Where does this leave me? I know I have indications of autoimmune responses (inherited from my mother) in the early stages. Early is the key word. Allopathic  medicine is great at fixing bad cases (wow, you’re screw up! take these pills!). What about patients like me who have small, scattered, annoying symptoms that could degrade into something for which I could take a pill?

Well, in the meantime, while waiting for the results, I had been doing my bookwork. Looks like I can make some good dietary/herbal/exercise changes now that might stave off any spread or progression of my body’s autoimmunity. It’ll mean some tough discipline on my part and support from my husband. (What the heck is tempeh?) I’ve found Dr. Weil to be a great source of balanced advice.

My mother is also doing wonderfully! She received all-around good news from the cancer doc on Monday. He said the CT scans showed some lessening of the tumor in her one lobe and no progression elsewhere. His advice? “Go take the summer off from treatment, enjoy your family and home!” Hurray! She’s in good spirits and has more energy than ever.  God is good!

My Mother and Lung Cancer

I’d like to share with you all about my mother’s battle with lung cancer. Its not something I broadcast loudly or wear advocacy pins for because most people assume lung cancer equals smoking. 23% of diagnosed cases are not smoking-related. My mother was one of those cases.

Over two and a half years ago, she received this news after nearly a year of bouncing around doctors for pneumonia treatments. She has Bronchio-Avelialor Carcinoma, or BAC. This is normally seen in those with exposure to industrial chemicals. I don’t want to speculate, but I think being a housewife for 36 years might have counted as that! (One reason I use natural cleaners and non-scented everything.)

She has had 3 rounds of chemotherapy and 1 round of radiation. This past winter, she took seriously ill with fluid building up in her chest. The surgeons drained it and found more cancer outside her lung in the chest cavity. They advised hospice care, which is only given to those with 6 months or less to live. My mom is a very stubborn and well-loved lady! She “graduated” from hospice last month and is now able to care for herself and drive short distances.

I am sharing this with you so you can pray for her and for us. We’ve been abundantly blessed through this process from famil, friends, and the church. My mother’s name is Barbara and she is 58 years young. She has a PET scan on June 11 to check on the status of the cancer and see if there are any treatment options open. The doctors, as always in situations like this one, are baffled at how she has lived this long. Yes, my mom is a believer and will go to be with Jesus when the time comes, but we’d like that time to be later than sooner.

#14 - Eat More, Weigh less

According to the Doctor’s scale, I’ve lost 3 pounds in the last month! Small steps, soon to be less of me! I would like to feel a difference in how my clothing fits before I consider my efforts worthwhile.

Here is a blog post showing what a 300 calorie meal looks like. I was astounded! This is close to what I normally eat…but I only eat three meals a day instead of 5-6, as they recommend. No wonder I like to raid the vending machines in search of more (and useless) calories! I’m just not eating enough good food. On the practical side, to adopt a mode of eating like this, will take a lot of planning and time. Cook foods, pack them up for the work day, make sure I’m tracking how much I’m consuming, etc. Talk about a new way of living…

Another web site I enjoy is called My Pet Fat. They offer a visual and tactile representation of what a pound or more of fat is like. I’m sure your first reaction will be like mine…..EEEEeeewwww!

On the exercise side of things, I’ve been doing fairly well the last two weeks. I rotate through a stack of dvds and tapes, my favorites being Yoga Booty Ballet and The Firm. I was blessed with the latter set in a special way. I picked up the whole set of tapes from 2002 at a Goodwill in Florida, where we had our honeymoon last year. Only $7 for the whole kit! The Fanny Lifter was missing and we couldn’t well pack it up to take home anyway. Well, a friend of mine gave me her steps she wasn’t using. Now I’m set for doing all the videos, hopefully making it through just one Body Sculpt before the 1001 days are up.

If the weather is clear later this week, I’ll walk to and from work. The distance in 1.5 miles, one way. That is an excellent workout for one day. Lace up your shoes and join me in the glorious sunshine.