TF isn't making us any healthier - Page 2

[Gale Force]

I'm sorry, caedmyn. I know you've worked hard over the years. Definitely try the bone broth. It's the season anyway, so there's no loss.

Amanda

[tanyalynn]

To me, it really sounds like you've got something else going on. Good eating can only get you so far if you've got an underlying problem. Ours is heavy metals, I'm sure there are lots and lots of others out there, I don't know as much about the others. Something like a hair test would be simple and not overly expensive ($75-ish from DDI if you call Direct Lab Services and mention the autism-mercury yahoo group) to look into that specifically.

Since you've got problems with things like salicylates and amines (am I remembering that correctly?) that sounds like a detoxification problem, and I'd look into other detoxification-type problems (ours is also basically detoxification but I don't know if it can manifest like it has for you). And/or maybe something odd in how your bodies work that uses those specific detoxification pathways--maybe you need a lot of something in a way that's just different from most people (similar to pyroluria and zinc).

TF/Price would not be getting the results that we are with supplements. I really think we need good foods, but without our supplements, I don't think we'd really be getting better, just maybe treading water. And I agree with the previous posters that things would likely be worse without TF.

[nicolena]

Hey Caedmyn--

Remember me? Do you do sea salt/epsom salt/baking soda (one or all) baths?

We were gluten and dairy free (soy free anti-candida etc) for almost two years. After dd3 was born (what a fabulous healthy babe--at 9 months she weighs more than the twins did at 2 years--tho she does have mild allergies), the girls, still nursing, were fabulous for awhile, but then got sick and deteriorated into heavy adhd symptoms. Up at 4.30am til 8pm, kicking themselves to sleep; violent; incontinent; no energy;all kinds of sensory isues; it was awful. That's when I tried FAILSAFE--did you try that? It is completely at odds with NT; I had canola oil in my home. After two and a half horrible months on that, we could tolerate gluten and dairy again. (After we got down to four foods, I said "$*&^ it," and made some oatmeal in the house. And we were no worse--better it seemed.) I don't know if I recommend that diet, but it is very interesting. Be careful with the broths if you're sensitive to amines. I know that people used to bathe "sickly" children in bone broth--dead sea salts would be similar, right?

I've come to believe that these issues with our children are primarily a problem of impaired nutrition (we all know that), and that our various deficiencies lead to our unique issues (compounded by added toxins, vaccines, etc). Even after we could "tolerate" gluten and dairy, my girls didn't have solid stools. I'd been seeing a homeopath for almost two years, and while he helped me, still no solid poops for the girls. I've done some research into homeopathy and knew he had the right remedies (dd1 is hyoscamus and dd2 is lycopodium, for the most part). Anyway, I fired him but used his remedy types, putting the girls on very high potencies. right now were on LM5s, 3 times a day. I feel we need carcinosin as an intermediary because their remedies don't stick. Bottom line: solid poop for a month!!!!!!!! (I want to post in health and healing but haven't had time.) Noy only solid poop, but DD1 no longer spikes fevers, dd2's wounds/scratches actually heal now; i'm getting hugs and kisses. My children are healthier. We're not done, but the difference is amazing. Something has to happen to help the body assimilate the food you put in. For us, it was homeopathy. I also know some people have had success with herbs.

I know how hard and how long you've been working. If you want me to help you find a remedy, just email me.

Could she be cal carb? Most homeopaths won't go to high potencies; the lower ones just aggravated my girls. Amy Lansky's _The Impossible Cure_ gave me the dosing ideas....

Gotta run so dh can check election info!

mehera

[OceanMomma]

Nicolena, when you mentioned the remedies not sticking. I had a homeopath for dd who I think got the right remedy. & gave it once at 1M. It worked like a charm for about a week. Then she ( the homeopath ) sort of lost the plot & misread her notes & sent her MMR remedy ( even tho dd has never been vaxed ) & it kinda went downhill from there so I stopped seeing her as it was too much $s for those sorts of mistakes. It was incredibly frustrating. There are no other homeopaths who are any better where I live. I can't find that book in our library so can you maybe expand on the dosage thing? You can PM me if you don't want to take the thread too much off topic.

[kangaroomum25]

I dont know if someone already mentioned it, but could you have gluten or dairy allergies?

ETA, never mind

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by WuWei

What about adding back mama's milk? Ds came down with whooping cough within months of weaning. I truly think it makes a huge difference!


Pat

The underlying problem isn't going to be fixed just because I nurse her longer, it'd just show back up once she stopped nursing. Anyhow, as of the last few times I tried several months ago she's not interested anymore, and I can't go back to the restricted diet I had when nursing her. It was too hard on me mentally.

[caedmyn]

nicolena--hi again Glad to hear your DD3 is healthier than your other two and that the twins are doing better. I sure hope this babe is healthier than DD!

DD is largely Failsafe although she actually has a pretty good amine tolerance, but not a very high salicylate tolerance. I don't think it's incompatible with NT, at least not if you can tolerate some amines--after the elimination diet I started soaking everything and I use high oleic sunflower oil & butter for cooking/baking, stuff like that. I just used ghee for everything during the elimination diet and used maple syrup as a sweetener and didn't soak grains/legumes.

Anyhow, I have tried one homeopath which didn't seem to help her. I'll send you a PM, I would be interested in trying to find a remedy for her. I have to be very careful what I feed her (like no legumes or whole grains, although the same grains ground into flour are fine) or she gets mushy poops, and she still hasn't "outgrown" any of her food intolerances, in fact she now reacts to oats and she didn't used to. She does get an epsom salt bath about once a week to get magnesium into her. I used to do them more frequently but they didn't seem to make any difference.

[tanyalynn]

I just realized I sorta missed a whole half of what you were asking--illness. We've done illnesses. My son (2.5yo now) gets sick relatively normally most of the year, but from the start of October to late Dec or mid Jan, last year and the year before, he's been sick almost constantly--like, we get about 4 or 5 days totally healthy each fall/early winter season. Funny thing--the first year (he was 6-8mos old) he was in daycare, but the next year (18-20mo) he was still nursing and now home with me (I'm no longer employed) and it was the same--no improvement in the number/intensity/duration of illnesses. :

It's possible this year will be different, we've only had 1 mild stomach bug so far. I think the biggies for us are: zinc (I supplement a lot), vit D (CLO wasn't enough, I got him out in the sun this summer and I think that really helped) and maybe part/much of it is that _I'm_ finally doing better, physically and mentally/emotionally and I think there's a spillover effect onto him.

[momma_unlimited]

Although my TF kids have robust health, I still have issues I'm working on. Ayurveda gave me a lot of insight... my practitioner explained I have a hot dry constitution and need sweet, lubricating foods- grains & dairy- but that meat was too heavy for my constitution more than once per day (can have all the bb I want) and fermented foods (including hard raw cheese) were sour which is drying, to avoid. And honestly I hate sour tastes so it has worked for me- I just do primal defense instead of ferments. And I have to avoid "hot"- even spices I wouldn't have considered hot like basil, orgeano, garlic... in favor of cooling- peppermint, dill, fennel, mint.... dh loves hot and spicy so it was a big change to switch to my cooling, lubricating diet but I thought this complemented my TF knowledge and helped me suit my particular needs.

Weston Price Foundation is working with a homeopath- Joette- who we really like and got our kids through scarlet fever without drugs, very quickly. She also mentioned to me some "bowel remedies"- nosodes made from the unhealthy bacteria that flourish in the bowels of those who took antibiotics back when they first became popular- to antidote irregular stools in patients who have been on a lot of abx. Not sure if this helps or confuses... so many options in the natural health world- but figured it might stimulate a new concept of how to make TF work for you and compensate for your pre-TF years?

[suzukiaustin]

The amount of time and effort you have put into achieving health and wellness for your dd should never be underestimated. Perhaps you cannot see the changes you have made for her, but they are there...they are there for your future grandchildren, they are there for your dd's peers (they are being influenced by your changes, too), they are there for your community, for this world...I know it sounds corny, but you are doing so much not only for your dd, but for everyone and everything around you...

You are a wonderful mother, so loving and dedicated, and inspiring to so many of us. Please do not give up...know that you are on the right path, that you are doing what is right in your heart. Enjoy your family, eat what makes you feel nourished and trust that you are doing what is right.

I will pray for you and your dear family...

Hugs.

[EmeraldGardener]

Aside from the diet and all, have you looked at what you and your family might have in the home itself that could cause sickness? I found that our shower was leaking under the house, and had been for about 4 or even more months. When we went to replace it we had a small mold and mildew problem that had to be taken care of. I have very severe allergies to mold (of any kind, I can't even have Blue cheese due to the penicillin cultures ) I took quite a while to clean that mess up and get things going right again. and some of my problems were the same as your DD's( the constant catching of bugs and sniffles)-- so it might not hurt to do a crawl under of the house and look for things that might be "growing" under there, or even look at any new (if you have them) appliances that have too much plastic-- certain plastic and treated wood furniture will "off-gas" and cause problems too.
Not sure if this will help but it might not be all food related.
By the way I live in a one hundred year old farm house, no lead paint anywhere, but if you live in an older home it wouldn't hurt to check for lead problems either. Just a different direction to look in, it never hurts to cover all the bases. And I didn't even get to the laundry soaps and softeners and fragrances, etc..

[momma_unlimited]

I posted yesterday and then thought about it last night while I couldn't sleep (I think a crow was dying in my yard- what a hullabaloo).

I was thinking of plants and what makes them healthy vs. diseased, and how well it correlates to humans. You could give a plant the healthiest soil in the world (like TF foods for a human) but if it gets bugs chewing on it (like our candida, parasites, etc) it will still get sick (more so if it didn't start out with good soil, but then nice compost was added- starting out with good soil generally means bugs don't get too bad, which would also correlate with us). If conditions are too damp or dry or hot (like I was mentioning with Ayurveda and your own personal body "climate"), it still won't thrive. Then there is lack of sun (spiritual inspiration? happiness and joy in life)... or being "crowded" out which might correlate with stress, too much busy-ness... I'm sure there are more analogies to be drawn but I just thought it might be a helpful picture of ideas to get to "thriving" on your health journey.

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by EmeraldGardener

Aside from the diet and all, have you looked at what you and your family might have in the home itself that could cause sickness? I found that our shower was leaking under the house, and had been for about 4 or even more months. When we went to replace it we had a small mold and mildew problem that had to be taken care of. I have very severe allergies to mold (of any kind, I can't even have Blue cheese due to the penicillin cultures ) I took quite a while to clean that mess up and get things going right again. and some of my problems were the same as your DD's( the constant catching of bugs and sniffles)-- so it might not hurt to do a crawl under of the house and look for things that might be "growing" under there, or even look at any new (if you have them) appliances that have too much plastic-- certain plastic and treated wood furniture will "off-gas" and cause problems too.
Not sure if this will help but it might not be all food related.
By the way I live in a one hundred year old farm house, no lead paint anywhere, but if you live in an older home it wouldn't hurt to check for lead problems either. Just a different direction to look in, it never hurts to cover all the bases. And I didn't even get to the laundry soaps and softeners and fragrances, etc..

We've lived in three different places in two different states since I weaned DD and she gets sick frequently in all of them, so I don't think it's an environmental thing. We're pretty much fragrance-free here (no natural fragrances, either), other than DH's toiletries. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

It's possible this year will be different, we've only had 1 mild stomach bug so far. I think the biggies for us are: zinc (I supplement a lot), vit D (CLO wasn't enough, I got him out in the sun this summer and I think that really helped) and maybe part/much of it is that _I'm_ finally doing better, physically and mentally/emotionally and I think there's a spillover effect onto him.

She was getting a zinc supplement for a while and she still got sick, and she gets 2000 IU of vitamin D a day (except in the summer) I've also tried giving her extra vitamin A from fish oil when she gets sick but it doesn't seem to help. Maybe I'll try giving her a little vitamin C every day and see if that makes any difference.

[tanyalynn]

Originally Posted by caedmyn

She was getting a zinc supplement for a while and she still got sick, and she gets 2000 IU of vitamin D a day (except in the summer) I've also tried giving her extra vitamin A from fish oil when she gets sick but it doesn't seem to help. Maybe I'll try giving her a little vitamin C every day and see if that makes any difference.

I've been supplementing them with zinc for almost a year and a half at this point--I'm pretty darn deficient and the kids are getting more than healthy kids could tolerate for this duration.

More globally what I was going for--knowing what I'm dealing with, I know that zinc deficiencies are pretty normal, and it will take a while to get things back to closer-to-healthy. I had to have lots of things come together, and honestly for a long time, in order to make a dent in the problem--gfcf 1.5y (last fall/winter was just as bad as the one before, when we hadn't been doing anything), better quality food/TF prep (mostly), tons of supplements, and still it took time. I don't know if you've got a HCP around who could help troubleshoot and come up with ideas and maybe testing to eliminate some possibilities and maybe identify something.

My son was helped with vitA when his illnesses wore him down and he finally got a bacterial infection, but for us I had to give a lot in order to fix our acute problem (2-3d of about 80,000 IU) and I haven't seen it fix the cycle of illnesses (maybe the CLO has finally built up his stores of A by this point, hard to tell). I always felt like a failure when I had to do this, because although it worked, it made it obvious that fundamentally things were amiss.

And interesting idea about a stand-alone D supp. I am torn on that, but considering it depending on how the fall/winter goes. We get more intense sun than most areas (Houston-area) but I'm worried I didn't really do enough this summer. Thx for the reminder on that.

[TonyaW]

My son eats mostly TF, but with a hubby who eats SAD regularly, he also gets plenty of non TF foods. My son is healthier than all his SAD eating friends but he does get sick about 6 times a year. He is 23 months and not vaccinated. He gets mostly colds and a stomach bug or two. He has never had all the ear infections of his SAD eating friends. I think the things that work best for us is CLO, butter, and eggs. I make sure he gets plenty of minerals and has a good gut with lots of probiotics through yogurt and kombucha. I know you said you were dairy free. However, I think this is what works for us. Minerals are really important for both of you.

If you are tired and not feeling much better there could be a lot of things going on. I eat TF and still feel tired and not great. I do not get sick nearly as often as before though. I also found out I have adrenal fatigue and mercury in my body. I am still nursing my son too. These things contribute to a lot of problems and cannot be solved by just eating well. I have 25 years of pure crappy eating, vaccinations, and poor quality health to make up for as I am sure a lot of us do. So, there are just some ideas in there to work with. TF doesn't always show up in the first generation either as I understand it.

[newcastlemama]

s I know you have gone to great efforts to help your daughter. She is blessed to have you as a mother.

If it makes you feel better I don't think I could have healed my issues on TF alone. I had to go to a clinic and take lots of tests and supplements. (I still take supplements) I still have my food sensitivities but hopefully those will go away over time. We have a very good results on a TF diet (like we very rarely get sick) but my totally BFed/unvaxed/homebirth 7mo old had cellulitis (bad bacterial infection that can kill) in her toe so I don't know what is up with that. Life is complicated IMO.

I think what gets frustrating is that there is a message if you can just try hard enough then you will have perfect health. I am just not sure if that is possible..I am settling for being generally well because I also want to have a life and give my children childhood memories of me doing things besides cooking! KWIM? And wellness is much more than just what we do/don't eat.

I just want to offer my support..you are awesome
Jen

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by newcastlemama

I think what gets frustrating is that there is a message if you can just try hard enough then you will have perfect health. I am just not sure if that is possible..I am settling for being generally well because I also want to have a life and give my children childhood memories of me doing things besides cooking! KWIM? And wellness is much more than just what we do/don't eat.

Yeah I think that's my biggest frustration. I went into this thinking that if I ate healthy I would have nice healthy babies and not have health problems myself, and that certainly didn't happen. And then when problems showed up I thought if I just healed the gut and fixed nutritional deficiencies etc etc etc everything would be fixed again, and that didn't happen, either.

I don't eat as well as I should anymore, because at this point I have trouble believing that it really matters whether I'm 100% TF or 90% TF. And at this point, I would rather be able to enjoy eating food with friends or at restaurants, and occasionally letting DD have tortilla chips or some other food she really enjoys that she doesn't react to, than to continually stress over trying to "fix" things that really may not be fixable for us. We're not any worse off than we were when we were trying real hard to be 100% TF, and I'm definitely less stressed which I'm sure is better for all of us. I would rather enjoy a few treats now and then than continually try to make myself eat and like things I don't really like just because they're better for me.

[GoddessKristie]

Perhaps you just have some major catching up to do. Have you read the Eat Fat Lose Fat healing plan?

[Jimibell]

While I was reading this thread I was getting completely overwhelmed!!
Between the homeopathy, the gut talk, dry and wet foods, etc! My head is spinning. But I think that Caedmyn and Newcastlemama bring up very good points that stressing about every morsel that goes into your mouth cannot be healthy either. And also, those of with children need to be mindful of keeping a balance between BEING with our children and fermenting our grains, etc. I have an obsessive personality so I naturally want to do TF perfectly, so thanks for the reminder!
Our society is what it is and the way we function is so different than indigenous tribes around the world (well for me at least) so the diet is out of context in many ways. Don't get me wrong, I love cooking and grinding and soaking and baking, but it's good to keep it in perspective too.