Grain Free/Primal/Paleo for Spring!!! - Page 8

[CoBabyMaker]

Mine is anal/perineal itching, too.  Which gets worse at night. I've had it checked out and no signs of yeast or bacteria (or pinworms). I've currently seeing an ND to "zap" my hemarrhoids, thinking that they were the cause...I started that abot the same time I started Paleo, so honestly I don't know which had the effect of easing the itch. Or if perhaps it's hormonal (recently got my periods back after DD's birth). Whatever the cause, I'm ready to be DONE with it! I swear I've had it for 2-3 years, at least.

What is your ND doing to zap them?  I have had this since having DD2.  It flairs up around when I have my period so it seems to be somewhat hormone related.

[IsaFrench]

my anal itching seems to be related to sugar intake .... that wouldn't play a part in hemorroids ... or would it ?

[Panserbjorne]

have you ever tried a drop of TTO in your panties?  That can be gentle symptom relief...just make sure it's ONE drop!

[Koalamom]

Just got to share- last night I had a very primal dinner at a friends house. We ate local duck and potatoes from down the road, cooked in a dutch oven cooked over a fire (bed of coals) since they have no kitchen and live in a grass hut in the woods. We also collected wild edibles of dandelion lf, nettles, burdock rt, and violet, and chives, and cooked those too separately over the fire. We had almond flour apple crisp for dessert that I brought. It was so primal feeling and I loved it. Kind of makes me miss the days when I lived in a primitive shelter and how I met my dh also living in the woods. I am making a goal to eat one edible plant a day. I would love to cook more outside too. Dh and I talked about building a primitive shelter and living in it for the summer to freshen our skills. If I can make it to camping in the yard in a tent, that would be an accomplishment.

A story I just heard- recently a local guy had cancer and got a falcon, and trained it to fetch him food and only ate what the bird brought him and he was cured of cancer. Cool!

[karen1968]

How interesting, Bluebirdmama! I cannot imagine myself living that primitively for long, but I love hearing about others that do.

CoBabyMaker, he uses low level electricity to zap them, if I understand correctly. He uses a speculum to open thing up, then each hemmerrhoid gets about 5 minutes of current. He only does 2 at a time, and does them a few days apart. We are all done with the internals now, and the tag comes off in 2 weeks. I think its the tag that causes most of my symptoms, but the internals caused the tag, so they went first. He thinks if I can keep the IBS under control, I may be symptom free for a LONG time.

I went to a CrossFit "class" with a friend last night. Wow! Its been a long time since I worked that hard! I left feeling great, like I could do ANYTHING. But I'm having a hard time justifying the cost. And the more I read Mark's Daily Apple, the more interested I am in that model of fitness.  And I have to admit, the baby is a big reason for not doing CrossFit. Esp. if I am only lifting for 30 minutes, it is easier to take her to the gym daycare twice a week than try to fit in CrossFit when my DH is available for kid duty.  Maybe in the fall/winter, it will be more feasible.

Is anyone else eating this way this with nursling? She's starting to show signs of allergy/intolerances (allergic shiners, cradle cap), as well as gas that wakes her every couple of hours at night. With me off grains and dairy, I'm wondering what could be behind her symptoms.

[Piglet68]

I'm sorry to hear about your baby having issues, karen1968. Hope you figure out the issue soon!

Just posting to say how happy I am with this diet. I have an internet buddy who is also on a weight loss/fitness regime, but she is going the traditional route of low fat. It doesn't sound like fun to me. With no sugars OR fats she is really craving foods alot and not feeling satisfied. I'm amazed at how satisfied I feel and how little I want to cheat. I'm quite certain it's the fats that help with that. She is also going to a gym and doing workouts etc. I don't do any more exercise than what I always did, a moderate level of fitness with dog-walking, bike-riding, and working on our rural property. After trying to do low-fat and low-sugar, and after trying to force myself to exercise to burn calories, I can honestly say that this diet is the easiest and most pleasurable of any!

At the end of my first week I lost 2 lbs, but that was after 1 cheat dinner (a McChicken meal; yes I hang my head in shame to announce that here on MDC!), 3 days of red wine with dinner (my mother was visiting and brought lots of wine!) and two nights of double servings of her amazing rhubarb pie. Even after all that I lost weight!! Now I'm halfway through week 2 and am already down another 1.5 lbs (and no visiting mother to tempt me). I've turned into an obsessive scale-user, but only because I get a thrill every time I step on it! I sure hope this lasts!

[IsaFrench]

read up a bit on the internet about the link between anal itching, hemorroids and sugar intake ....

I had not considered hemorroids before hand but the weather has suddently turned very hot and it could well cause an aggravation to whatever it is I have (candida or not, I don't know ..)

not quite sure found anything conclusive but decided to give a try to essential oils

used a little cotton pad, pourred a teaspoonful of coconut oil, 1 drop only of geranium essential oil and 1 drop only of cypres oil and applied it in the evening.

it didn't burn at all, it smelled really nice .... and it didn't itch all evening (just a very little bit later during the night, but managed not to scratch at all)

it's supposed to be really making a difference by the 3rd day ....

and also was invited for a lecture + lunch yesterday and some of the ladies invited had made some wonderful food

so I didn't manage to resist temptation & had a few things that are supposed to be "off" on the anti candida diet

& was expecting a huge itching surge in the evening ....

= so far, so good ....

[ocelotmom]

Originally Posted by karen1968 

Is anyone else eating this way this with nursling? She's starting to show signs of allergy/intolerances (allergic shiners, cradle cap), as well as gas that wakes her every couple of hours at night. With me off grains and dairy, I'm wondering what could be behind her symptoms.

My baby (same DDC :)) tends to get gassy if I go heavy on the poultry in any form (eggs, chicken, turkey). We are, at this point, eating mostly standard commercial poultry, so I'm not sure if it's really the bird, or something involved in commercial poultry processing.

[Panserbjorne]

I ate that way with two nurslings.  For us gluten/dairy/soy/peanut/shellfish/beans were the biggies.  Sugar wasn't so hot either.

being off grains doesn't mean you're off gluten.  could that be an issue?

[IsaFrench]

in what else is gluten if you eat grain free ?

i didn't know, thanks in advance for your reply ....

[Panserbjorne]

unfortunately any number of condiments, flavorings, anytime you see a "food starch" it's suspect....certain vinegars, which means salad dressings, ketchup etc.  Man...the list goes on.  I'll see if I can find a list of food to avoid for people with celiac.  It's usually pretty comprehensive.

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by ocelotmom 

My baby (same DDC :)) tends to get gassy if I go heavy on the poultry in any form (eggs, chicken, turkey). We are, at this point, eating mostly standard commercial poultry, so I'm not sure if it's really the bird, or something involved in commercial poultry processing.

Commercial poultry bothers me a bit. But I cant afford the other stuff.

With the warmer weather I havent been wanting meat for breakfast so I started eating something new:
few squares of really dark chocolate
handful or cashews
one mango

Chop up the chocolate and cashews well, add mango chunks, and enjoy!

I have that with my cup of tea in the morning.

[Panserbjorne]

you are the picture of decadence!  I LOVE it! 

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by Panserbjorne 

you are the picture of decadence!  I LOVE it! 

Awe thanks!

Any other suggestions to add to this mix? I may switch up the fruit to not get bored of mango. Is that even possible?

[CCJWGM]

http://www.celiac.com/  Look on the menu on the right side for a list of both safe and unsafe ingredients.  HTH!

On a side note I have been enjoying the "cook"book Ani's Raw Food Desserts.  The Fudge Cake with frosting is TDF.  I'm borrowing my mother's food processor and have decided I can't live without one.  If only to make the frosting.  Even my DS likes it and he is SUPER picky.  I have to make it without him seeing though or he'll see the avocado and refuse.

I haven't been too active here lately.  I keep meaning to catch you all up.  I have lost 6 lbs so far bringing me back to pre-pregnancy weight and pre-marriage weight!!!!  I also let go of dairy which my body thanked me for with the weight loss.  I never ate that much since my DD is GFCFSF but I would sneak it in.  No more sneaking and I feel great!  I've been sticking to more grain free and not "mostly" grain free since a ND recommended it for DD's leaky gut.  We are just trucking right along over here!

[suzukiaustin]

I haven't been here in a while, either.  :(  Glad to see you all are sticking with grain free living! 

Karen1968, you and I both have babies born in November (am I right?).  Have you started any solids?  I tried to give my gigantic baby some solids and his whole face broke out.  Guess I'll stop those for a while.  Also, are you eating any starches?  What does your daily menu look like?  Curious, because I have the terrible butt itch too.  It started a few months ago, and it's just been a nuisance ever since.  My hemmoroids are red and inflamed and I can't figure out what the trigger is.  And I have IBS, too...sigh...I don't know what to do.  Maybe we are long, lost twins.  :)

I've been Paleo (with butter only for dairy and with sweet pots, yams, squash, parsnips, carrots, beets for roots...no white potatoes) and I've been eating eggs maybe 1-2x a week, nuts 1-2x a week, the rest meat and veggies with lots of fat...I thought pretty good for Paleo, but my 'roids and colon think otherwise.  Maybe too much fiber?  Or (should I say) too much meat?  I can eat 2 pounds a day. 

The pluses to my way of eating are my skin looks fantastic, and my muscle tone from eating this way for the last couple of years is amazing.  I look "cut" and lean all over, except for my post baby belly (with my 4 inch diastasis.  It has gone down from 8 inches, but it's not budging anymore.)  I want to get a tummy tuck - SO not au natural! 

Anyway, I can only imagine the ill health I would be in if I were SAD.  There are so many other life factors that are coming into play with my health that I can't say that a pretty clean diet is going to cure everything.  Maybe when I go to bed at a decent time, sleep through the night again, and stop stressing all freaking day (kids screaming, husband getting on my nerves, no help around, too much housework on my 5 acres), I will be at my peak...let us pray.  :)

[ocelotmom]

Originally Posted by suzukiaustin 

Karen1968, you and I both have babies born in November (am I right?).  Have you started any solids?  I tried to give my gigantic baby some solids and his whole face broke out.  Guess I'll stop those for a while.  Also, are you eating any starches?  What does your daily menu look like?  Curious, because I have the terrible butt itch too.  It started a few months ago, and it's just been a nuisance ever since.  My hemmoroids are red and inflamed and I can't figure out what the trigger is.  And I have IBS, too...sigh...I don't know what to do.  Maybe we are long, lost twins.  :)

Just out of curiosity, were either of you GBS+?

I have it, too. Probably the most TMI thing I've ever admitted in a public forum. 

Is this a widespread paleo side effect no one talks about?

[Toolip]

I have had an itchy butt in the past (several years ago) but it is gone now. I don't know if it is the lack of grains that has helped or not but I certainly wouldn't blame primal eating -- at least not for my experience! I have switched to family cloth, maybe that is what has helped....

I'm recommitting to be more seriously grain-free but I've been heavy on dairy, which I seem to be fine with, so I'm ok with it. I'm milking a cow and several goats and the milk is so tasty that I can't resist!!

I've been a little down and doubtful lately as several of my favorite blogs have been talking about how fat is not as great as everyone makes it out to be. I've really convinced myself that fat is healthy and that I need to be getting more of the good stuff, but this wave of contrary opinion from people that I tend to trust, has sort of shaken me. Oh well. I don't actually think that I eat THAT much fat, but I don't really know, because I don't restrict it at all. And I can (on occasion) eat butter by the spoonful!

[Panserbjorne]

My experience is on par with Toolip's.  I occasionally had issues in that department that were infuriating.  It would last for weeks and be super intense.  Anyway, hasn't happened once since I've been grain free-even if I cheat.  I'd not blame the diet.  The terrain has to shift before you can really appreciate the gifts.  IN the beginning your body is still working stuff out.  If anything I'd say what's happening (in this particular instance with the itchiness) is that the diet is bringing an existing issue to your attention.

I'm not militant in that I think you can explain all symptoms associated with a grain free diet away as part of healing.  I don't.  However that symptom in particular I see as a healing phase consistent with stuff being eliminated from your body as things shift.  My two cents.  If you were having stomach cramping, hair loss etc. I'd be singing a different tune.

I will also say that it took me a LONG time to heal to the point where I could do raw veggies and have my gut be happy.  Cooked veggies were even an issue in the beginning.  Nuts weren't a problem for me, but they are for many.  I will say I always used blanched nuts too, which makes a difference.  If you have IBS I would consider reducing the fiber for now.  I can tell you that my experience was I needed a lot of meat, fat and time before I could tolerate fiber.  And when I say a long time I mean it was maybe 2  years minimum before I was comfortable eating raw veggies.

[CCJWGM]

I personally don't worry about fat.  We honestly eat really heavy meat (fats) plus nuts, seeds, coconut oil, and other fats.  And I have never felt better!    If I felt bad then I might worry about it.  Granted, I've never had a blood test to check for cholesterol, etc.

  I'm working on a more Ayurveda eating plan.  I'm not there yet but it helps give me a guideline.  DD needs more "fire" so I have stopped giving her ice water and smoothies.  The interesting thing is after a week of nothing iced/cold for her we went for sorbet.  She couldn't stop coughing while eating it!  The people I was with even asked if she was having an allergic reaction.  Quite interesting.  She also now asks for warm water to drink and not cold.  Her body is adjusting to it well.  I am experimenting with a "warm" smoothie.  I added frozen fruit, OJ, and hot water.  The hot water made it a good temperature and she still drank it. 

My big problem right now is fruit.  With Oregon strawberry season starting and my new found love of raw vegan desserts my fruit intake has skyrocketed.  IMO too much fruit is when the diarrhea starts.  I think someone asked how much is too much fruit and no one answered.  Or at least I didn't see an answer.  Maybe I skipped it.    We obviously have hit the "too much fruit" problem in my house.  This worries me because the whole point of adding "fire" to DD's belly is to get her to digest and NOT have diarrhea.  I guess we got pretty excited over the start of berry season. 

Thank you everyone for your itching convo.  I've had some problems myself with itching.  For me it's white sugar.  I start itching anytime cane sugar sneaks in my diet.