Feeling lost and confused Help please!

[Peacemamalove]

So we have been eating TF for about a month now and we are Gluten free as well. But I am feeling very lost and confused as to where to begin what supplements my children should be taking and what dh and I should be taking. Like what D3 what CLO what else?

How do you know what foods are TF and what aren't? I am using the Menu mailer from Cooking TF for dinners. I am really loving it

I read over the forum and how to begin etc. but I still feel all confused about supplements,oils,foods, what is right for us etc.

Plus we have been vegetarian for the past 5 years or so and my daughters HATE meat with a passion and the rest of us are slowly getting used to eating it .

PLEASE HELP!!!

[FairyRae]

This is the list of supplements I use--most are whole foods based.

So, I've learned tons here (the majority from WuWei/Pat ) a/b supplementing nutrients w/ foods, and I'm going to try and post what *we* do (or *try* to do! ).

Vit A + D--cod liver oil, and Carlson's Baby D drops (if I want extra D--just coconut oil and vit. D in those, no corn)

B Vits--I really rely on liver--a/b 6 oz a week (snuck into ground meat), along w/ other meats for these.

Vit C--I've found a corn-free sodium ascorbate just by googling, (you can sprinkle it on food or into drinks) but I also *believe* goji berries (a/b a tsp? daily) have TONS of Vit. C--I'm still looking into this.

Magnesium--Natural Calm is what I'm *planning* to add in (hoping to make a nightly mix of my oatstraw infusion [good source of calcium], natural calm and perhaps milk thistle [liver support] tea. I'm working on it!) Currently we use Concentrace to supp trace minerals (added into water, bone broth) but it's still small amounts

Zinc--so far we rely on pumpkin seeds and other food sources for this. The pumpkin seeds I've been grinding into a 'flour' and baking with using lots of elana's pantry recipes (we also have thread on this topic in this forum)

Selenium--2 brazil nuts daily for me, 1 (in theory ) for ds. I've been thinking of creating a muffin recipe that incorperates many of these things so that I can actually get this stuff into him on a regular basis...(If I do it, I'll post!) You can also make brazil nut parmesian, just mix grated or food processed brazil nuts w/ garlic powder and salt...

Iodine I'm working on--sea seasonings kelp and kelp noodles are good sources, and you could also do lugol's--although iodine is an in depth process and not something to take lightly--check out THE Iodine thread to learn more about it (it can mobilize lots of stuff which isn't good unless all your detox pathways are super supported...)

Calcium--bone broth, and I do green smoothies daily (blend of various greens w/ fruit, plus some bee pollen--not GAPS friendly though) for calcium (the greens) plus lots of other goodies.

Probiotics--juice kefir, homemade cultured veggies, homemade coconut milk yogurt, and bubbies pickles...

ETA: a gem of a post by Pat/WuWei on whole food supplements with multiple awesome links--the nutrient dense foods link might be really helpful in this area (if you're looking to supp w/ foods). Also, whfoods.com is an awesome resource for figuring out what foods carry which vitamins/minerals

We are all unique, so it just depends on your own personal nutritional needs what will be best for you and your family...It's a process to figure out for sure! I try and add something in for a bit and see if it makes a difference in how I feel...Good luck figuring out what works for you!

ETA: We do epsom salt baths for ds for mag, and I stick my feet in there w/ him too. He sleeps better on the nights he has these...I have also started using natural calm and really like it.

[Peacemamalove]

this is great Thanks Anyone else have ideas or thoughts?

[Teenytoona]

Originally Posted by FairyRae

This is the list of supplements I use--most are whole foods based.



We are all unique, so it just depends on your own personal nutritional needs what will be best for you and your family...It's a process to figure out for sure! I try and add something in for a bit and see if it makes a difference in how I feel...Good luck figuring out what works for you!

ETA: We do epsom salt baths for ds for mag, and I stick my feet in there w/ him too. He sleeps better on the nights he has these...I have also started using natural calm and really like it.

You can absorb Mag through a bath? I know I should take this, but I haven't had the means to buy the supplement, but hey! I do have epsom salt. Might be trying this tonight!

[Peacemamalove]

How much would you have to add to a bath for it to be beneficial?

[FairyRae]

I don't *know* anything for sure. I read it recommended somewhere (I believe posted by Pat/WuiWei) about helping get mag??? Not certain. I put 2 cups in his bath. It's slso supposed to help w/ detoxing.

Ah--check this out: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/hea...alt-baths.html

Known scientifically as hydrated magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt is rich in both magnesium and sulfate. While both magnesium and sulfate can be poorly absorbed through the stomach, studies show increased magnesium levels from soaking in a bath enriched with Epsom salt! Magnesium and sulfate are both easily absorbed through the skin.

Pretty cool!

[WeasleyMum]

Originally Posted by Peacemamalove

How much would you have to add to a bath for it to be beneficial?

I've read that two cups, in a normal-sized bathtub, is the amount needed to be beneficial. Expensive baths!

[Magelet]

not that expensive if a giant carton costs 1 dollar like I sometimes see around here on sale (apparently often has them too). now if your paying 4 bucks a carton like I've also seen that is high.

I'm glad to hear it and am going to give them a try. I like epsom salt baths but haven't bought epsom salts or had them in a long time, but since so many foods that have lots of magnesium are expensive, its worth adding in (plus they're so relaxing, and detoxifying)

[FairyRae]

Yeah--my epsom salts are pretty cheap--we can get the big cartons for a little over a dollar. I do them for ds every other day usually and buy the carton probably 1x every few weeks?? I just kind of pour in what I think looks like 2 cups--so not sure if I'm actually getting that much in there...

[Peacemamalove]

I think it is pretty cheap around here too though I have seen it for $4 a carton before!

[samihenter]

lost

http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnut...uperfoods.html
some nice info here,
personally i use chlorella, spirulina, bee pollen, kelp, acerola powder, cod liver oil, some a-d vitamin from fish oil from carlson some k vitamin.

[Peacemamalove]

Any help on getting my daughters to eat meat. They won't touch it at all! ANy recipes for hiding it in things.

Sorry I just haven't cooked with meat in so long I have forgotten!

[Magelet]

Do they have ethical objections or just don't like the texture/taste or do they have a hard time digesting it?

I don't know what sorts of foods you make but if you make bean or lentil taco or burrito filling, or stews, you could add some small peices of ground meat, and slowly increase the amount as they got used to it, until it was mostly meat and less beans?

Also, a lot of vegetarians I know did well coming off it by starting with broths (particularly broth in other things that is also strongly flavored so you don't taste the broth so much), and then very small (not noticeable as meat) chunks of meat in broths/stews. the broths are also easier to digest if their systems are having a hard time adjusting to the meat. It's pretty common to have a hard time digesting food that you haven't eaten in 5+ years, or even to be nauseated/throw up at the smell/taste/idea when eating it in obvious form.

[Peacemamalove]

I think it may be ethical for my older daughter and that she is just disgusted by it. My younger daughter is only 1 1/2 but any type of meat she spits right out and kinda gags on.

So I am thinking broths might be the best to start with them or just very small portions of meat.

[Peacemamalove]

So how much clo should my children take? I have an almost 2 year old a 5 year old and an almost 8 year old? Should they be taking trace minerals as well? If so what brand and how much?

[Koalamom]

I give my 2 yr dd 1.0ml and them give her additional vit D3, about 2000iu total.
For myself, it is double to triple the dose depending on how I am feeling (or if flu season is around and I need a prevenative.

I use alot of sea vegetables for the trace minerals. Like in soups I use strips of kombu, dulse, and kelp. I hope that covers all the trace mineral needs. I am pretty sure that selenium is a trace mineral and that we get from 2 brazil nuts a day.

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by Peacemamalove

I think it may be ethical for my older daughter and that she is just disgusted by it. My younger daughter is only 1 1/2 but any type of meat she spits right out and kinda gags on.

So I am thinking broths might be the best to start with them or just very small portions of meat.

It's pretty normal for the toddler to spit out and sort of gag on meat. My littlest is just starting to enjoy soft shredded chicken, and pulled pork. Beef (even rare) seems to tough for him, he will suck on it then spit it out. (He has no teeth yet, at 14 mo)

He does however LOVE bone broths and soups of all kinds. I think this is a great idea. You can get great nutrients into both of your daughters, and your oldest can ease into meat eating.