Paleo Diet: Raw Paleo Diet and Lifestyle Forum
Raw Paleo Diet to Suit You => Omnivorous Raw Paleo Diet => Topic started by: Suiren on January 02, 2013, 12:40:04 am
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I just went through the worst PMS of my life, with pain that made me wonder if something worse was going on than PMS.
I never had problems during my period, until 4 months ago, when I had my first postpartum period, while breastfeeding around the clock still.
Maybe it was a bit early.
The pain/ symptoms (back, joint and body aches, abdominal cramps, general feelng of being sick, nausea) have gotten worse not better. My cycle seems to be long, not totally irregular, but just weird, with a lot of black blood and not much else after. I bleed very lightly (spotting) for over a week. (I used to have a 29 day cycle with 3 days of light bleeding before pregnancy)
I also experience acne and hair loss, so my guess is that I am dealing with raging hormones.
I want to see if I can alter my diet to help my body regulating its hormones soon.
What would you recommend?
I have eaten some dairy lately (cheese), but am planning to cut it out again to avoid unwanted effects on my hormones. I eat raw butter daily, which I need for calories. Not sure if the butter could cause problems.
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Hmm, I've come across other RPDer females who've claimed that their periods became of a very minor nature and much shorter duration, as a result of going rawpalaeo. By all means, cut out all dairy and try to upgrade your rawpalaeodiet to higher standards.
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Yes, I have heard about that too but the post pregnancy hormones might make this situation different?
I have improved my diet but due to financial limits I can't go all out, like buy all meat grassfed or buy raw meats and organs, organic fruits and veggies etc.
I was hoping there might be foods beneficial to hormones or maybe some to be avoided (Paleo foods).
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I find fish is best for my and other people's hormones.
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When I read your past diagnoses that you list in your signature, it screams "autoimmune" to me. How strictly are you avoiding inflammatory foods? One author suggests that a speck of wheat can set you back 6 - 8 months in your healing. What are your thyroid (T3, T4, TSH) numbers? Am I on the right track here? Ignore me if this makes no sense to you.
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Yes, I have heard about that too but the post pregnancy hormones might make this situation different?
I have improved my diet but due to financial limits I can't go all out, like buy all meat grassfed or buy raw meats and organs, organic fruits and veggies etc.
I was hoping there might be foods beneficial to hormones or maybe some to be avoided (Paleo foods).
I would suspect that raw adrenal and raw thyroid would be great foods for improving hormones but these are difficult to obtain from farmers, for spurious reasons. Getting them in processed pill-form is possible, but way more expensive, and nowhere near as useful as the genuine, raw article,imo.
Reducing costs while maintaining food-quality can be possible. Doing Intermittent Fasting(1 large meal a day or eating every alternate day) can lead to a reasonable reduction in food-intake(-15%?) without delving into caloric restriction, thus saving some cash.
If you're living by the coast, there are always some wildcaught species like sprats or sardines or mussels which are dirt-cheap.
You might also consider going in for sprouting. I did so in pre-rawpalaeo days and found it rather cheap. It greatly improves the quality of your daily raw plant food intake without forcing you to expensively buy "organic" etc.
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-Oysters, mussels, crabs, shrimps.. fish.. anything from the sea. The best foods ever.
-Seaweeds. Lots of minerals and Iodine.
-Organs from wild or grassfed animals, raw. Heart - has lots of coenzyme Q10, so important for our brain.
Healthy brain = healthy hormones.
-Raw fat. You need cholesterol to make hormones. Fatty seafood and raw grassfed beef/lamb and reindeer-marrow are my favorites. I do raw grassfed butter too.. sometimes raw egg-yolks.
-Wild edibles.
-High meat. Everything that improves your gut improves your hormones and your whole body too!
If you are short of money and/or it is hard to get all of the above, there are things you can do to improve your hormones that cost nothing;
-Sunbathing naked. It is important to expose the women parts.
-Cold showers, baths, cold overall. Keep home cold. Use little clothes when out, embrace the cold! Does wonders for balancing and improving hormones!
-Light management. Limit fake lights! Go early to bed. Look into the sun one minute every morning after rising. Try to get as much daylight/sun as possible during the day. At night - total darkness. Never turn on light if / when going to the bathroom etc at night.
-Earthing. Decreases inflammation and so also help hormones to heal.
Avoid stress! Negative stress are hormone killers for women!
Hope this helps Suiren. :)
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When I read your past diagnoses that you list in your signature, it screams "autoimmune" to me. How strictly are you avoiding inflammatory foods? One author suggests that a speck of wheat can set you back 6 - 8 months in your healing. What are your thyroid (T3, T4, TSH) numbers? Am I on the right track here? Ignore me if this makes no sense to you.
If one speck of wheat really sets you back then I must be behind years :(. What author suggests that?
I very rarely have something with wheat, but some other things like dairy or potato I had occasionally. Usually when we are out and there is not much for me to eat. My hypoglycemia is better, but when I go very long without food, I still get dizzy and weak. So something like fries with Doener Kebab meat is a quick fix. Although, most of the time I just get meat with lettuce or veggies and I also make sure not to get dressing or gravy that could contain anything bad.
To me it seems all my conditions are hormonal and have to do with inflammation. The first time I had problems with my hormones was after quitting the pill in 2009. That is when my prolactin sky-rocked and I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's. Prolactin caused the hair loss you can see in the center picture of my avatar, and it stopped a few days after taking "cabergoline".
To me it seems my body gets thrown off waaaay too much by hormones. My postpartum shed after the birth of my son was almost as bad and I had bald spots. I don't think it should be this bad.
Anyhow, my thyroid levels:
Past:
Jan 2010, USA
Anti Tg 871.4 IU/ ml
Anti TPO 314.3 IU/ ml
Free T3 3.250 pg/ ml
Free T4 1.510 ng/ dl
TSH 3.080
(Prolactin) 29.6 ng/ml
With only Cabergoline for the Pituitary/ Prolactin Problem:
Sept. 2010
Anti Tg 586.9 IU/ ml
Anti TPO 201.9 IU/ ml
Free T3 2.540 pg/ ml
Free T4 1.340 ng/ dl
TSH 1.640
(Prolactin) 3.2 ng/ml
Current, as of Feb. 2012 (Germany)
FT3 3.8 pg/ml (norm. 2.0- 4.2)
FT4 1.30 ng/dl (norm. 0.8- 1.7)
TSH 0.02 mIU/l (norm. 0.35- 4.50) low
(Prolactin) 297 (norm. 46.0- 622)
Antibodies TSH reception (Antithyreodale Antikoerper TSH - Rezeptor - AK)
0.75 IE/l < 1.75
TPO (Thyroid Peroxidase-AK) + > 1300 U/ml <60
The German units seem different and did not make any sense to me, but what the doctor said is that I don't have Hashimoto's anymore, and that my thyroid functions relatively normal, but that I still have high Antibodies and the sonogram was showing that as well. She said no medication is needed at this time (I had already went off all meds in late pregnancy to be able to breastfeed).
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I would suspect that raw adrenal and raw thyroid would be great foods for improving hormones but these are difficult to obtain from farmers, for spurious reasons. Getting them in processed pill-form is possible, but way more expensive, and nowhere near as useful as the genuine, raw article,imo.
Reducing costs while maintaining food-quality can be possible. Doing Intermittent Fasting(1 large meal a day or eating every alternate day) can lead to a reasonable reduction in food-intake(-15%?) without delving into caloric restriction, thus saving some cash.
If you're living by the coast, there are always some wildcaught species like sprats or sardines or mussels which are dirt-cheap.
You might also consider going in for sprouting. I did so in pre-rawpalaeo days and found it rather cheap. It greatly improves the quality of your daily raw plant food intake without forcing you to expensively buy "organic" etc.
Sprouting as in growing my own? I might do it to some degree, the balcony is the only place I can do this.
I suppose fasting would make me lose weight? I have such a hard time keeping on weight, even when eating a lot of calories and high fat. Then there would be the dizziness that sets in at some point. I don't think I am the type to fast. My husband however eats very little and fasts throughout the day. That really does save some money.
But now, the baby also needs high quality solids.
I heard raw thyroid can also benefit the thyroid?
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Inger,
thank you for the great list! :)
-Oysters, mussels, crabs, shrimps.. fish.. anything from the sea. The best foods ever.
-Seaweeds. Lots of minerals and Iodine.
I have been avoiding Iodine because of my thyroid, but maybe it is a myth? I do eat a lot of fish, since it is the most affordable.
-Organs from wild or grassfed animals, raw. Heart - has lots of coenzyme Q10, so important for our brain.
Healthy brain = healthy hormones.
-Raw fat. You need cholesterol to make hormones. Fatty seafood and raw grassfed beef/lamb and reindeer-marrow are my favorites. I do raw grassfed butter too.. sometimes raw egg-yolks.
I do eat TONs of butter! :) But sometimes I worry about possible hormones in it and I wonder if it contains Casein? I have not been able to find out about that.
-Wild edibles.
-High meat. Everything that improves your gut improves your hormones and your whole body too!
Our last high meat experiment failed...not sure if it was done right. Of course the gross factor is huge here, but I would give it another try.
If you are short of money and/or it is hard to get all of the above, there are things you can do to improve your hormones that cost nothing;
-Sunbathing naked. It is important to expose the women parts.
-Cold showers, baths, cold overall. Keep home cold. Use little clothes when out, embrace the cold! Does wonders for balancing and improving hormones!
-Light management. Limit fake lights! Go early to bed. Look into the sun one minute every morning after rising. Try to get as much daylight/sun as possible during the day. At night - total darkness. Never turn on light if / when going to the bathroom etc at night.
-Earthing. Decreases inflammation and so also help hormones to heal.
Avoid stress! Negative stress are hormone killers for women!
Hope this helps Suiren. :)
I will try to do as much of that as possible. How cold should the water be? I have used colder water but not ice cold lately.
Sun of course is hard to get by right now :(
At night, I only use little fake lights, or just dim lights, but when my son goes to bed I have to do some work (knitting, sewing and computer), so I am not sure if that is even helpful.
I am not going to bed early at all though *sigh*, my son goes to sleep at nine and then I work into the night. Not sure if his sleeping schedule could be adjusted. I would love to go to sleep earlier.
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Sprouting as in growing my own? I might do it to some degree, the balcony is the only place I can do this.
You should do it to a large degree! The only space you need, if you do it properly (and this is really not hard), is a small patch of counterspace in your kitchen. With correct sprout start timing, and a good setup, you could grow pounds of fresh, living vegetables with 5-10 mins of work a day, everyday! Nature's best plant food for us is...Living plants!
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I heard raw thyroid can also benefit the thyroid?
Not everyone can fast without incident. I'm (sort of) lucky in that I put on weight too easily, even on a rawpalaeodiet(though nowhere near as much as if eating cooked foods) so IF is best for me, really.
And, yes, like cures like, so raw thyroid consumption would benefit your thyroid, provided the thyroid came from a healthy animal. Take raw heart, for example. It contains lots of coenzyme Q10 and similiar nutrients that, unsurprisingly, the human heart also needs.
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Oh, and raw butter contains some casein and lactose, though not as much as with other dairy products. All depends on how acute one's allergy is, as some claim not to have issues with raw butter but do have problems with raw milk/cream/cheese etc.
Ghee contains the least amount of casein and lactose, but is heated and still contains trace amounts thereof.
Re:- "high-meat":- The trick I used to get used to it at first was to cut the high-meat up into tiny slices(preferably before aging it) and then swallow each tiny sliver, followed quickly by a big gulp of high-alkaline mineral water to disguise the taste of the meat.
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I see, maybe one day I will be able to keep my weight on more easily and then I won't have to worry about the calories as much.
At least I seem to be able to maintain my weight with less calories now.
I don't know if the raw butter gives me problems. I have never cut it out for the calorie reason. However, I don't feel much of a difference when cutting out dairy. If anything, I felt like dairy benefit me a bit, like I explained in my other thread.
Now if I could only get my hands on some raw thyroid..hmmm..
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Not everyone can fast without incident. I'm (sort of) lucky in that I put on weight too easily, even on a rawpalaeodiet(though nowhere near as much as if eating cooked foods) so IF is best for me, really.
And, yes, like cures like, so raw thyroid consumption would benefit your thyroid, provided the thyroid came from a healthy animal. Take raw heart, for example. It contains lots of coenzyme Q10 and similiar nutrients that, unsurprisingly, the human heart also needs.
Same with brain. I find that pretty darn interesting.
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If one speck of wheat really sets you back then I must be behind years :(. What author suggests that?
Nora Gedgaudas talks about this in Primal Body, Primal Mind. She also lists possible wheat sources in body products, and she says that some people don't really heal until they eliminate ingredients such as
hydrolyzed vegetable protein in shampoos; absorption through the skin in the shower can be higher than absorption in the gut. She also talks about cross sensitivity from things like coffee. I have made it my intention to be squeaky clean RPD. I really want to find out how well I can be, and I'm sick to death over self-induced backsliding.
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Suiren :)
Inger,
thank you for the great list! :)
I have been avoiding Iodine because of my thyroid, but maybe it is a myth? I do eat a lot of fish, since it is the most affordable.
It is a myth for sure. I would not take Iodine in any extracted/unnatural form, but only the natural way. That way you get the whole package that is extremely beneficial! Seaweeds are some of the most healing foods we have, for thyroid, for hormones... I eat lots of seaweeds these days, I never did before. I have no issues, in the beginning a little bloating but it disappeared after a week or so.
You can not get an overdose as your body regulates it and is getting all the other factors too to help detox. Only certain seaweeds like Kelp are extremely high in Iodine and should maybe not be eating in huge amounts. But Irish Moss, Arame, Sea Spaghetti, Dulse.. any other are just fine in larger amounts too! I make me seaweed water, water with dried raw seaweed in it, and drink throughout the day. Tastes amazing. Slightly salty in a nice way, and so addicting!
You can start to add little by little if you are concerned. Start with a small amount and then increase.
Above some info about he seaweeds, you can google more there are lots of great info out there!
A. Irish Moss (chondrus crispus, carrageen) is full of electrolyte minerals — calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. Its mucilaginous compounds help you detoxify, boost metabolism and strengthen hair, skin and nails. In Eastern medicine it is traditionally used for a low sex drive because it helps support T3 levels to convert LDL to progesterone and not to cortisol.
B. Wakame (alaria, undaria) is a high-protein, high calcium seaweed, with carotenes, iron and vitamin C. It is used in Chinese medicine for hair growth and luster, and for skin tone because it optimizes thyroid function.
C. Kelp (laminaria) contains vitamins the fat soluble vitamins A, B, E, D and K in high quantity, and is a major source of vitamin C from the sea. It also happens to be rich in many minerals found in land based plants. This is why it made my top ten supplement list so long ago in the blog series. Kelp proteins are high quality and present in abundance for a sea plant. It is a brown marine plant, kelp contains sodium alginate (algin), an element that helps remove radioactive particles (think Fukishima Iodine) and heavy metals from the body. Kelp can works as a blood purifier, relieves arthritis stiffness, and promotes adrenal, pituitary and thyroid health. Kelp’s natural iodine can normalize thyroid-related disorders like obesity and muscle fatigue seen in fibromyalgia cases. Clinical pearl: people with herpes virus of any type: It is a demulcent that helps eliminate herpes outbreaks after they have occurred. Kelp is nutrient rich and a small amount gives a large clinical result often.
D. Hijiki is a mineral-rich, high-fiber seaweed, with 20% protein, vitamin A, carotenes and calcium. Hijiki has the most calcium of any sea green, 1400mg per 100 grams of dry weight.
E. Kombu (laminaria digitata, setchelli, horsetail kelp), has a long tradition as a Japanese delicacy with reported nutritional healing value. Natural healers use it is a decongestant for excess mucous and to helps normalize blood pressure. Kombu has abundant iodine, carotenes, B, C, D and E vitamins, minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, silica, iron and zinc, and the powerful skin healing nutrient germanium, which is a pretty rare element in the human diet. Kombu is a meaty, high-protein seaweed. It is higher in natural mineral salts than most other seaweeds. I often add a strip of kombu to my bone broths and seafood broths.
F. Nori (porphyra, laver) is a red sea plant with a sweet, meaty taste when dried. It contains nearly 50% balanced, assimilable protein, higher than any other sea plant. Nori’s fiber makes it popular for sushi wrapping. I do not eat any rice because its miRNA directly affects our DNA expression. Nori is rich in all the carotenes, calcium, iodine, iron, and phosphorus.
G. Sea Palm (Postelsia Palmaeformis), American arame, grows only on the Pacific Coast of North America by Oregon and Washington State. It has a honeyed, salty taste that makes it tasty vegetable. I like it with my cauliflower rice recipe form the e-cookbook, or as a summer or autumn salad topping.
H. Bladderwrack is loaded with vitamin K and it is an excellent adrenal adaptogen and it helps sensitize us to insulin to because of its K2 like effects. It is often used today by Native American cultures broths and in sauna/steam baths for degenerative arthritis and inflammatory joint conditions.
I. Dulse (palmaria palmata), a red sea plant, very rich in iron. The last two sea veggies are my favorites because they have the most iodine of any plants on our planet. I was made aware of this sea vegetable when I was researching the Geritol solution for global warming. It also has abundant protein, and vitamin A. What really makes it a specially balanced nutrient for a lactovegetarian paleo diet is that it contains 300 times more iodine and 50 times more iron than wheat products. Tests on dulse show antiviral action against the herpes virus.
J. Arame (Eisenia bycyclis), is one of the ocean’s richest sources of iodine. It often contains more iodine than seafood does! Because of its high iodine content it can have major effects on women’s progesterone to estradiol ratio’s naturally. If you are estrogen dominant you might consider using this as become a staple in your broths and recipes. Many natural healers use arame to help reduce breast and uterine fibroids, excessive bleeding, fibrocystic disease of the breasts, and ovarian cysts. It is also quite helpful in cases of PCOS with acne and excessive facial hair. It also contains a lot fat soluble vitamins and phytohormones, to normalize peri menopausal and menopausal symptoms. Arame is often associated with soft wrinkle-free skin turgor and tends to enhances hair growth and make your hair have an incredible sheen. The reason is because this veggie increase your free T3 to a dramatic degree when it is used regularly in your diet.
http://www.jackkruse.com/brain-gut-6-epi-paleo-rx/ (http://www.jackkruse.com/brain-gut-6-epi-paleo-rx/)
I do eat TONs of butter! :) But sometimes I worry about possible hormones in it and I wonder if it contains Casein? I have not been able to find out about that.
Maybe it is good to be concerned about the butter issue. I am too a bit, even if I do eat it now. But I am thinking it might not be the best thing to do. I am following my body and if there are any strange reactions. Then I am going to quit the raw grassfed butter. I think it is a very individual thing, for some it is good for someone not. I am not totally sure it is good for me yet.
I have been eating lots of raw, unsalted grassfed butter last week and I have last days a slight tenderness in my right breast. I wonder why. Might have been the farmed raw salmon I was eating lots of at Christmas, or just some work I have done and the muscle is a bit sore.. or it might be the butter?
Our last high meat experiment failed...not sure if it was done right. Of course the gross factor is huge here, but I would give it another try.
Don't give up. :) Just try again! You cant do much wrong if you just remember to air the meat every other day or so. And fill the jar only about 1/3. Then.. wait. Maybe it helps to nibble on it throughout the process, so you get used to the stronger taste? I love the taste of my highmeat. t is like the oldest strongest cheese.. quite a lot ammonia taste! But I always liked those cheeses...
I will try to do as much of that as possible. How cold should the water be? I have used colder water but not ice cold lately.
No rules about temps, just do as cold as you can. Gradually increase time or cold. Just think, lets explore the cold! Do not be afraid of it anymore, just think it is something very nice and healing! Do as much as you feel comfortable with, because you will slowly want more. ;) Just a cold shower a day and colder temps indoors (I have 14-15 degrees C in my home now and it feels just nice, I always used to have 22 degree C..!). Do it slow if you want. The important thing is, that you do. :)
Sun of course is hard to get by right now :(
At night, I only use little fake lights, or just dim lights, but when my son goes to bed I have to do some work (knitting, sewing and computer), so I am not sure if that is even helpful.
I am not going to bed early at all though *sigh*, my son goes to sleep at nine and then I work into the night. Not sure if his sleeping schedule could be adjusted. I would love to go to sleep earlier.
But you can get daylight in your eyes! And when spring comes start to tan as soon as you can, I do when there is still snow! Just find a not windy lonely place. The sun will warm you up fast!
Too bad you are going so late to bed. You will find a solution. Maybe your son is sleeping at daytime? If you stop that and put him earlier in bed? We went to bed at 7 PM as kids.. So it is possible! :)
You can work by candle light or lit an oil lamp! It works for me! It is very relaxing too. I have no issues to read by candle light now. Or use dimmed lights and dark sunglasses or blueblockers. That works too. The thing is, you do not want to get any blue or green lights in your eyes after sunset. Because it disturbs our hormones!
:)
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But Irish Moss, Arame, Sea Spaghetti, Dulse.. any other are just fine in larger amounts too! I make me seaweed water, water with dried raw seaweed in it, and drink throughout the day. Tastes amazing. Slightly salty in a nice way, and so addicting!
Me too!
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Same with brain. I find that pretty darn interesting.
Me too! Makes me think that if I would eat a whole body, every part of my body would benefit from it. :)
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Nora Gedgaudas talks about this in Primal Body, Primal Mind. She also lists possible wheat sources in body products, and she says that some people don't really heal until they eliminate ingredients such as
hydrolyzed vegetable protein in shampoos; absorption through the skin in the shower can be higher than absorption in the gut. She also talks about cross sensitivity from things like coffee. I have made it my intention to be squeaky clean RPD. I really want to find out how well I can be, and I'm sick to death over self-induced backsliding.
Same here, I would not want to ruin all my progress. My belief with wheat and other bad foods was that my body would clear it within a few days. I thought so because it usually took my skin a day or two to clear up zits after cheating...but now, my skin is way too blemished anyway.
Coffee is something I have definitely cheated on more often than wheat. :( Probably every two weeks, usually when we go out we stop at a Cafe or Starbucks.
I will have to read more about that.
Cosmetics: I recently went through my cosmetics, only to find some do have ingredients that could cause problems. I knew about the absorption, and have been very strict with ingredients since 2006, but I usually just made sure the ingredients are natural and don't have any harmful effects, like carcinogens.
I just recently eliminated soy in cosmetics though (so many products contain soy), rice bran oil and wheat germ oil. The fact that it is oil led me into thinking it would not have the same properties as pure wheat, but when I looked into it I found it actually does.
(I don't have any shampoo or conditioner I can use now though. Dr. Bronner's soap has good ingredients, but it leaves a nasty sticky residue.)
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Suiren :)
It is a myth for sure. I would not take Iodine in any extracted/unnatural form, but only the natural way. That way you get the whole package that is extremely beneficial! Seaweeds are some of the most healing foods we have, for thyroid, for hormones... I eat lots of seaweeds these days, I never did before. I have no issues, in the beginning a little bloating but it disappeared after a week or so.
You can not get an overdose as your body regulates it and is getting all the other factors too to help detox. Only certain seaweeds like Kelp are extremely high in Iodine and should maybe not be eating in huge amounts. But Irish Moss, Arame, Sea Spaghetti, Dulse.. any other are just fine in larger amounts too! I make me seaweed water, water with dried raw seaweed in it, and drink throughout the day. Tastes amazing. Slightly salty in a nice way, and so addicting!
You can start to add little by little if you are concerned. Start with a small amount and then increase.
Above some info about he seaweeds, you can google more there are lots of great info out there!
http://www.jackkruse.com/brain-gut-6-epi-paleo-rx/ (http://www.jackkruse.com/brain-gut-6-epi-paleo-rx/)
Well, I love seaweed :) I will try to find a good source.
Maybe it is good to be concerned about the butter issue. I am too a bit, even if I do eat it now. But I am thinking it might not be the best thing to do. I am following my body and if there are any strange reactions. Then I am going to quit the raw grassfed butter. I think it is a very individual thing, for some it is good for someone not. I am not totally sure it is good for me yet.
I have been eating lots of raw, unsalted grassfed butter last week and I have last days a slight tenderness in my right breast. I wonder why. Might have been the farmed raw salmon I was eating lots of at Christmas, or just some work I have done and the muscle is a bit sore.. or it might be the butter?
I have thought about eliminating butter, but right now it really helps me to keep my weight on! I think I would disappear if I were to simply stop. And I could never eat as much suet I think...I am still too grossed out by it, it is very hard to get by, and I can't eat it with my honey spread over a coconut pancake.
Maybe I should try ghee and see if I notice a difference. I am unsure what your breast tenderness could be, but it seems that hormones could cause it...I am thinking of how breasts hurt in puberty and pregnancy.
But it might also just be the work, sounds logical.
Don't give up. :) Just try again! You cant do much wrong if you just remember to air the meat every other day or so. And fill the jar only about 1/3. Then.. wait. Maybe it helps to nibble on it throughout the process, so you get used to the stronger taste? I love the taste of my highmeat. t is like the oldest strongest cheese.. quite a lot ammonia taste! But I always liked those cheeses...
I love old cheese but not sure I will feel the same about high meat any time soon haha.
Nibbling sounds like a good idea, and I might also flush it down with water like Tyler suggested.
No rules about temps, just do as cold as you can. Gradually increase time or cold. Just think, lets explore the cold! Do not be afraid of it anymore, just think it is something very nice and healing! Do as much as you feel comfortable with, because you will slowly want more. ;) Just a cold shower a day and colder temps indoors (I have 14-15 degrees C in my home now and it feels just nice, I always used to have 22 degree C..!). Do it slow if you want. The important thing is, that you do. :)
I tried running some cold water into my luke warm bath today, it gradually got colder but at a certain point I had to stop. It is amazing that you can do that, I always hated cold water.
But you can get daylight in your eyes! And when spring comes start to tan as soon as you can, I do when there is still snow! Just find a not windy lonely place. The sun will warm you up fast!
Too bad you are going so late to bed. You will find a solution. Maybe your son is sleeping at daytime? If you stop that and put him earlier in bed? We went to bed at 7 PM as kids.. So it is possible! :)
You can work by candle light or lit an oil lamp! It works for me! It is very relaxing too. I have no issues to read by candle light now. Or use dimmed lights and dark sunglasses or blueblockers. That works too. The thing is, you do not want to get any blue or green lights in your eyes after sunset. Because it disturbs our hormones!
:)
What type of light is a computer?
We do only have yellowish lights at home and I have a red lamp on my desk. Not sure if red is okay.
My sewing machine has a rather dim light build in, so I don't need much additional light for sewing. The only time I need brighter light is for pattern making.
We will see if getting up a bit earlier each day will help my son going to sleep earlier. When he goes to bed at 9 that is without a nap. He wakes between 9-10 am.
Sometimes he does take a late nap, from 4-6 or so, and that would cause him to stay up until 11 even. We never wanted to do sleep training and instead let him make his natural schedule, but maybe by waking up a bit earlier his bed time will gradually shift naturally.
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(I don't have any shampoo or conditioner I can use now though. Dr. Bronner's soap has good ingredients, but it leaves a nasty sticky residue.)
I have been 'poo-free for about 5 years. I use water and a safe conditioner to clean my hair. I don't believe in stripping the scalp oils with shampoo, not even the SLS-free shampoos. My hair is a different texture than yours, so I won't make product recommendations, but I will say that once your scalp adjusts to no shampoo, it is a blessing.
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suiren have you tried bone marrow? its very buttery and spreadable and super calorie dense.
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I have been 'poo-free for about 5 years. I use water and a safe conditioner to clean my hair. I don't believe in stripping the scalp oils with shampoo, not even the SLS-free shampoos. My hair is a different texture than yours, so I won't make product recommendations, but I will say that once your scalp adjusts to no shampoo, it is a blessing.
I have been using mild detergent shampoo for 7 yrs. and my hair did adjust To being less oily and I now wash once weekly. During that time I gave no poo a try for 6 months, but my hair did not adjust any more. I was unable to clean it and it was very oily all the way down, so I switched back to mild shampoo.
Maybe my scalp would be different if I was all RPD.
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suiren have you tried bone marrow? its very buttery and spreadable and super calorie dense.
I will look into that! I have been wanting to make bone broth, and I found a seller for bone marrow. Just hope it will equal up to the half block of butter I eat per day.
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Suiren - I find adding cold water to warm bath water to be the most unpleasant experience. A shower is easier and more safe than CT in a bath. After your next warm shower (best after exercise and high fat meal, so your body feels warmer) gather your convictions and turn the water all the way to cold, and get out of the stream, quickly. Next, tell yourself you are just going to put on foot in the cold shower. Promise yourself only that. If the water is cold enough it will numb your skin, which is good because after it will be quite tolerable. Then, you can either go up your leg a bit or to other foot. You're a strong mother Suiren, I have complete faith in your ability to get all of the way in. Decide in small steps. First, lower body, then hands. Then, I cup my hands and cool/freeze my face. Then, arms, and just as I approach shoulders I go under at my core. I'll be honest, that step is really hard, but once your skin is numb you're much more comfortable. It is even fun to realize you've done it, your victorious. I do what Whim Hoff says. As soon as my body is under and cool, and my breathing is calm (always breathe through your nose, it keeps you much warmer), I feel for my inner fire. Its deep in your core, chest, belly, or womb. Mine moves but it is remarkably warm, a fire in contrast to the cold all around me and I experience the truth, the well spring of my vitality. Like, the core of the earth in winter, I too am ablaze with life.
I always move, although Whim and Jack both say it is easier to be still. That has never been true for me. I weave and turn in the bath and shower.
Your skin should get red, never white, shivering is fine, but not necessary, my head and back are the hardest part. I still get head aches every time I do, and I can only tolerate 10 secs.
I like to linger at my thyroid and get it really icy.
If you don't have a shower. Exercise to get warm and then turn on the faucet and get in when there is only a puddle in the tub. get you feet, to your knees then hands face and arms, then sit down and splash the cold water around you to evenly distribute the cold. Then, relax if you can, it's a hard place to start. I would set a timer and get out no matter what after 2-3min max.
When your all done, you may want to get warm. I have never had a man to warm me and i don't mean to get in your business, but your husband seems supportive of your health. Maybe he could be waiting with a big towel, or warm covers.
Later, in you're training you may like to stay in the cold air naked, I go in my bed room which is 55degs C and I fold clothes or dance while I air dry and smother oils. You learn to love the cold, not for a while though.
I still love the warm and today after CT I snuggled in my bath robe by the wood stove, enjoying my tea. Every day is different there is no wrong way. All CT is good CT.
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Surien, have u tried sungazing yet? We have a whole topic on it by Raw-Al. Only sun gazing can cure everything for free
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Adora, have you had good successes with hormone regulation through cold training? I've started to go at it a few weeks ago. I do quite a bit, but feel I could be doing a lot more. I suspect my hormones have been severely out of whack for the last decade. Everyday of my life I get anxiety, several times a day, in a lot of situations. Makes me sweat a lot, and its basically trained my systems to soak me, and especially my hands, which can go from dry to drenched in literally seconds. Its kinda fucking up my entire life. ._<
I always had felt more comfortable in the cold than others did generally, so it was an exciting idea to immerse myself in this world of cold.
Not all of my showers have a cold component, but many do. A lot of times it won't be the coldest setting though, but still very cold. Then I do things like driving with both my front windows down anytime I drive (which is daily), and sometimes my A/C blasting on high, for stretches of 10-40 mins, usually split up by a few minutes of a bit of heat if it drags past 15 mins or so. I live in Canada so its really cold at this point of year. I also sleep with no heat in my room.
Problem is, my problem is still as bad as ever. Feels like I have a massive fire burning inside me when this happens, but its not the good kind of fire. Its a fire that burns me, makes me worry, makes me anxious, and expels large amounts of water from my over-trained sweat glands. Anytime I'm overcome with anxiety it feels like a heat regulation issue, as when I'm calm, I'm a normal relaxed temperature. In this moment it feels like my hands may never sweat again (unless it gets triggered again and starts). But then when they do inevitably sweat because of something (an environmental trigger, or simply my own thoughts when I'm alone), it feels like it can never stop, until it does when I calm down somehow. This is why I thought cold training would help me master my mind, body, and all of its systems.
I think I need to be more strict with my cold showers to probably make the biggest difference. I'm definitely committed, because at the very least I know that its an amazing way to improve the cardiovascular system.
I just want my mind to cool down and relax, so that my body doesn't go into an uncontrollable hot sweat. I'm also working on proper daily, mindful breathing. At current rates I imagine I'm taking in a quarter of the oxygen I'd be able to if I were paying attention. From what I hear, proper breathing is the best strategy for controlling anxiety (which is just a symptom, I'm sure, of a whole range of issues such as my low self-confidence/esteem, fear of humiliation and criticism, fear of screwing up or dread of even having to deal with mundane things, etc).
I know it doesn't need to be this way though, as my body was functioning normally before a decade ago. I was very much unlike how I turned out to be. I had behavioral issues, but I was still filled with confidence and all the good things that come with it. Then over the course of a short amount of time (from middle school to high school) it all went to shit. I guess that would be a time my hormones really started to change with puberty, and I think something went terribly wrong. I was on a typical junk food diet all my life except a few years ago, and even then it wasn't nearly optimal. I think it was a period of my life where my mind was extra mold-able due to the stage I was going through. My thoughts, unknowingly, set in motion an inescapable path that to this day plagues me to the core.
Cold training is probably the best way for my body to overcome this problem, I think, through regulation of my hormones and my sympathetic nervous system. I want a life. One where I don't have to worry everyday of my life about things that don't need to be worried about.
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Surien, have u tried sungazing yet? We have a whole topic on it by Raw-Al. Only sun gazing can cure everything for free
No, but I have heard about it. If the sun would decide to come out once in a while I might be able to do it ;)
Suiren - I find adding cold water to warm bath water to be the most unpleasant experience. A shower is easier and more safe than CT in a bath. After your next warm shower (best after exercise and high fat meal, so your body feels warmer) gather your convictions and turn the water all the way to cold, and get out of the stream, quickly. Next, tell yourself you are just going to put on foot in the cold shower. Promise yourself only that. If the water is cold enough it will numb your skin, which is good because after it will be quite tolerable. Then, you can either go up your leg a bit or to other foot. You're a strong mother Suiren, I have complete faith in your ability to get all of the way in. Decide in small steps. First, lower body, then hands. Then, I cup my hands and cool/freeze my face. Then, arms, and just as I approach shoulders I go under at my core. I'll be honest, that step is really hard, but once your skin is numb you're much more comfortable. It is even fun to realize you've done it, your victorious. I do what Whim Hoff says. As soon as my body is under and cool, and my breathing is calm (always breathe through your nose, it keeps you much warmer), I feel for my inner fire. Its deep in your core, chest, belly, or womb. Mine moves but it is remarkably warm, a fire in contrast to the cold all around me and I experience the truth, the well spring of my vitality. Like, the core of the earth in winter, I too am ablaze with life.
I always move, although Whim and Jack both say it is easier to be still. That has never been true for me. I weave and turn in the bath and shower.
Your skin should get red, never white, shivering is fine, but not necessary, my head and back are the hardest part. I still get head aches every time I do, and I can only tolerate 10 secs.
I like to linger at my thyroid and get it really icy.
If you don't have a shower. Exercise to get warm and then turn on the faucet and get in when there is only a puddle in the tub. get you feet, to your knees then hands face and arms, then sit down and splash the cold water around you to evenly distribute the cold. Then, relax if you can, it's a hard place to start. I would set a timer and get out no matter what after 2-3min max.
When your all done, you may want to get warm. I have never had a man to warm me and i don't mean to get in your business, but your husband seems supportive of your health. Maybe he could be waiting with a big towel, or warm covers.
Later, in you're training you may like to stay in the cold air naked, I go in my bed room which is 55degs C and I fold clothes or dance while I air dry and smother oils. You learn to love the cold, not for a while though.
I still love the warm and today after CT I snuggled in my bath robe by the wood stove, enjoying my tea. Every day is different there is no wrong way. All CT is good CT.
Thank you! :) That is good advice. I will try it the way you described next time. It makes sense, because I can deal with cold water much better when I just jump right into it for example..(unline the people that rub cold water over the body and try to do it slowly).
I know for sure I hate hot water, it makes me feel dizzy.
So I don't have to be cold every minute of my life now right? We have the temp. lower at our house (usually 17, but now a bit less), but when it drops much we need to turn up the heat for a little on full blow (old heaters).
My son does not mind the cold, he would even prefer to run around shirtless. He refuses to dress warm and does not like socks much *shrug* :o. So unless he is really, really cold, we let him have his moments with less clothing. Though it is weird when you consider how warm babies and toddlers are always wrapped up.
When we are outside I dress him about as warm as myself or a tad warmer (since he does not move as much), but most parents put their baby in a snow suit, inside a bag for extra warmth, and they are so bundled up they can barely move. Mine would protest heavily.
Maybe there is a reason he does not like it. He was always acting very much on instincts.
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Suiren.. computer is very bad light. Very bad. You can protect yourself pretty good by using f.lux, just google it and download it for free. Makes the sreen turn into reddish and limits blue light. Then, turn the screen lightness on lowest settings, and put on dark brownish sunglasses. Or blue blockers. That way you have quite good protection.
You can "sungaze" with great benefits as soon as it is light outside, I do it if the sun shines or not. Just look into the sky for a minute or more! You will get massive amounts of light in your eyes even if it is cloudy!
The whole point is to gain back natural circadian biology (because it affects our hormones to a great degree), and all you need is dayligh. But do it as soon as it gets light outside!
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Surien dressing cool sound very healthy. Ivy was always hot as a baby and child. She would be in short sleeves, no hat or gloves, maybe a sweat shirt when it was really cold out. I had to throw fits to get her to bundle up. I regret it now, she's often cold and huddles by the wood stove. It is easy to get into a heat rut. If you are over tiered, and spend too much time in warmth, it's hard to reacclimatize to cold.
Barefoot I think CT, sleep, and dark in addition to diet (high fat/low carb) are the best habits for hormone regulation.
Emotions and hormones are closely, if not directly linked too. I've done a great deal of work to heal my emotions. I like a web site I've mention before, sorry to repeat, healingtowholeness.com. The main pt I think would help is that when I suffer anxiety that bad a huge door has opened for healing, but the door was powerfully blocked by self judgement/fear. I was alone and deep in suffering when I decided I was going to try to feel the energetic rhythm of what was occurring in my body. Notice the tension, in my shoulders, jaw, or whole body. Feel it. I had no love for it, only frustration, anger, and fear. Later, when working with those feelings I choose to connect to frustration, anger and fear, but at first I was deeply suffering and just felt that. So, I released it by noticing the thoughts I was judging and breathing them out of the top of my head (giving it to god, whatever you want to call it, ditching what I was overwhelmed with so I could manage to love the core of the feeling in my body). Then, I just sat with the discomfort, I stayed loving as long as I could, when my thought wandered I found they were always to a judgement, which I would breath out, or to an old story that would play in my head, that I would also breath out. I just stayed with the energy of the suffering, sending myself love there where it was so desperately needed, not to make it go away, but because it was there and it was demanding my attention to the extent that I couldn't do anything else, so I knew I needed my love powerfully, and I choose to give it to myself as best as possible. It's not easy, but it's not really hard either. It helps, but it's not instantaneous, or it wasn't for me that time. I know this had nothing to do with diet, but your description felt so familiar, I hope that helps.
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Thanks Adora. It seems I can relate to a lot of the stuff you write about. Maybe we're like-beings. :p
From the research I've done on the specifics of my problem, it seems that everything you're saying is absolutely true. Its the proper path to accepting and loving oneself, so they can feel peace and ease instead of worry and self- destruction.
I'll need to start giving it my all and really work on self-healing. Your experiences help, thank you.
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I think we really destroy our ability to stay warm with forcing too much clothing and heated homes from childhood on. Too sad...
But I am confident we can regain that ability to produce heat back, when we just let our body embrace the cold often! It will take time for sure...
Adora you wrote so beautifully above.. so very beautiful.
BarefootInstincto, I suffered a lot from anxiety too but it is gone now. Now I have it very seldom, and it is for a reason then.. even if it is stupid I know. But I am learning. So just that you know, your will disappear too, I promise!
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Inger
I see, there is much more light pollution than I thought! It makes sense. I read something about night time and day time hormones, which was very interesting, and it said that with all the lights on the balance is thrown off because we don't get enough night time hormones anymore. The light after dark even causes an increase in stress hormones.
Do you know any online source where I can read more about that? I find it interesting and I want to make sure I understand it all. My light atm are dim, but I might have to go all out.
Adora
See, I think Babies are always right. My son seems to have so many instincts and likings that society would try to correct, but I just think he is right.
As an example: Sleeping with his parents, nursing for comfort, nursing until he decides to stop, wanting to be held, not wanting too many clothes on, wanting a lot of attention, wanting to be outside a lot, wanting to get into everything, not liking veggies and preferring meat....those are all instincts imo :)
I feel I have adjusted to colder temperatures a little since moving out of my parents house when I was 21. When I visit nowadays, the heat makes me feel horrible. They always crank up the heat :P
They always tell me I am not dressed well for cold weather too (dresses, skirts, thin wool coats)
The cold shower went much better today. Just am not able to do icy cold yet.
I wanted to add something about what eveheart said:
I did find rice, wheat and soy in a few products and tossed them. I was not aware of the fact that they contained it...not sure why I did not check...how stupid.
I tried to do no shampoo again, but my hair was very oily, so I got a mild organic shampoo that could be considered Paleo.
Since I stopped washing with old shampoo, I have been losing much less hair during a wash. For some reason I always lost even more when washing.
My hair loss is still happening, but just wanted to share that the shampoo apparently did not help.
I also researched coffee, and yes there is a protein in coffee that can be seen as Gluten by the body...I haven't had any coffee since, and I am noticing a bunch of improvements, similar to when I went grain free.
My acne has also been bettering.
That is some good progress already :) Now my hormones just need to settle.