Any self-healers out there? Or healers? I need help.

[bonjourmama]

Ahh, nervous about spilling my guts so instead I will ask:

What would you tell someone who is addicted to caffeine and sugar, has constant migraines, and has a low functioning thyroid (hypo). Also, since I got pregnant and have been nursing, I have gotten surface cavities. 

Would I start with diet? And what sort of diet? It is so hard to change the way I have existed for so long, but now I am a mama and want to be healthy for many many years. Everytime I try to stop drinking coffee I feel sick for days. I also might have food allergies, but the one time I went to a homeopathic doc she just said, "everyone is allergic to dairy, wheat, soy, and corn" so it was a bit discouraging. 

How do you know if you have depleted minerals? Or is that just a given when you drink too much caffeine? 

Please be kind to me. I am really trying to change for the better.

Blessings Mamas.

Edited by bonjourmama - 3/29/11 at 10:53am

[jksmith]

Try the candida cleanse diet (just google it). I struggle with sugar addiction, causing chronic bladder infections, constipation, depression, fatigue, moodiness, acne, and trouble concentrating. I have done this diet, or at least parts of it several times. I personally found that I didn't need to eliminate yeast products, but getting rid of sugar in all forms not only made me feel better, but made me realize how much sugar I was consuming. You can get supplements to complement the diet, but you don't need to, and some might not be safe for nursing, make sure you check. However, a good quality acidophilus (pro-biotic) supplement is a good idea. You can also drink herbal teas to help like peppermint, cinnamon, and orange peel to help kill the bacteria that are feeding on all the sugar you eat. 

The diet basically consists of getting rid of sugar and yeast. No sugar or sweeteners of any kind. No fruit (including tomatoes) except for cranberries, limes, lemons, and green apples. Only whole grains twice day, no refined grains. I used unsweetened cranberry, lime, and lemon juice to flavour my water, makes it easier to drink the min 1 litre a day. Also no dairy (lactose=sugar), caffeine, chocolate... maybe you could wean yourself off of the coffee, instead of going cold-turkey, try switching half of your coffees to black tea at first?

I cheated on the diet all the time, but still ate healthier over all. I bought good quality dark chocolate and only ate 2 pieces a day, and found other special treats to enjoy like olives and fresh herbs. (pesto is a good alternative to reg tomato sauce). And for my "sweet" fix I would snack on carrots, cucumbers, and celery with yogurt dip (yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, herbs).

I find that the more I push myself to mentally associate bad food with my health problems, the less I want it. Also, many studies have found some health benefits to coffee, so try just cutting back so you experience less withdrawal symptoms?

[SandyMom]

I have been in a similar place, low thyroid symptoms, headaches, depleted minerals. Diet, is of course crucial. Without the proper nutrition our bodies can't make all the hormones we need to feel good and stay healthy.

One thing I did/do is juicing. I invested in a good juicer and make daily juices of mostly vegetables and greens - w/ a bit of apple for flavor.  This insures I get not only enzymes, but lots of vitamins and minerals. I also eat frequently, small amounts of healthy foods that I like. And I make sure to get adequate protein which is crucial for healthy adrenals, mod, etc...

There are certain herbs and amino acids you can use to support thyroid functioning. I love thyroid assist drops and l-tyrosine is a good supplement for under-functioning thyroids.

Coconut oil is also great for thyroid support. I also take iodine which has been an absolute god-send!

I also take 1 tsp daily of Celtic sea salt in water, which, in addition to supporting my flagging adrenals, helps re-mineralize the system.

I've gone off wheat and most processed foods. It was a gradual thing, but I got there. After awhile I noticed it just wasn't worth eating junk, b/c I didn't want to feel crappy!

Have you read The Mood Cure by Julia Ross? It's got tons of good info imo. Maybe your library has it?

Good luck - you can do it!

[bonjourmama]

Wow, thank you both. This is exactly the sort of encouragement and advice I was looking for. I have heard lots about juicing and the Candida diet. My mom did the Candida diet and completely cured herself of fibromayalgia! 

jksmith, do you have a recommendation for a probiotic? I take PB8 but my hunch is that it probably is not good quality. It's pretty inexpensive.

SandyMom, how did you know how much iodine to take? I have Lugols iodine. I have heard coconut oil helps too. Do I rub it on my thyroid? Or do I eat it?

I am really going to look into buying a juicer! I bet craigslist would have one. 

Thanks again guys!

[jksmith]

Originally Posted by bonjourmama 

jksmith, do you have a recommendation for a probiotic? I take PB8 but my hunch is that it probably is not good quality. It's pretty inexpensive.

I am not an expert on this and my knowledge comes secondhand from the health food store and midwives but you want to make sure it's the kind that's been kept in the fridge at the store and has at least 10 billion active cells, and multiple strains. RenewLife is a good brand, I used their Candida cleanse supplement, and my husband used their "rescue" probiotic, which really did save him after suffering bad side effects of strong antibiotics for pneumonia.

Also for migraines: my husband used to get them, but hasn't had one since he met me, as soon as he feels a headache coming, I make him drink tons of water and massage his temples, scalp, and neck with lavender oil. Lavender has become his cure-all as it also helps his eczema and insomnia.