Great-full and Thankful!!

(Original post: 11/25/2013)
Hi friends, today is my first vacation day since July4th. MG slaughtered my last 3 week long vacations (thanksgiving, Christmas,New years & July4th).

As thanksgiving approaches, I'm freaked that some horrible MG attack will come and f me up despite that I feel pretty darn good!

2013 has been one weird year!----MG diagnosis, scary doc appts, MRIs, CAT scans, blood tests, disability leave Dec-April, 3month stints of double vision & weakness, month long colds, prednisone, mestinon, cellcept---and THEN nutribullet-ing, MG fb groups, acupuncture, 32 days of juice, colonics, going Paleo AIP, kicking coffee & the infinite quest for good health!

Well it's thanksgiving week, I am grateful and full of greatness! I am thankful for many joys and prosperity in my life. I am thankful that my MG is under control. I am thankful that I'm working, rocking and getting to enjoy being a mom. I'm thankful (yet terrified) to continue to taper off the prednisone (I'm at my last breakthrough level (but holding strong).

Grateful for today as my Mom reminds me of the saying "yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, that's why they call today the present"!

Holi-daze!

Just came home from a celebratory end of the year dinner (fun but unhealthy food & drink). Also-- been (stress) eating since turkey day (cheese, hot chocolates, wine, pizza, even some gluteny cookies).

It's official: I feel like crud! Gained 10lbs. And my eyes are twitching and weak. Booze makes it worse.

Gunna get back in the juice train tomorrow!

Good Eats: Pink Himalayan - Minerals

Minerals in Himalayan Pink Salt - Spectral Analysis

Below is a spectral analysis of Himalyan pink salt as it is typically found. The list shows all the trace minerals, electrolytes, and elements contained in Himalayan salt. Himalayan salt is a rock salt popular among health food advocates who seek it for the nutritional value of its fairly abundant trace minerals.

 

Juice on!!

My last 32 day juice fast was great. I saw so many improved health benefits juicing (including regaining my vision). Been raw paleo since (some chicken & fish). And now reducing my meds!

Starting a preventative/ maintenance today for 21 days. Woot!!

Here is my previous "before and after" from the last fast. I still look and feel like the after! With complete full strength.

Lets see what goodness these next days will bring! Cheers to the power of juice!!

BAD EATS: MSG (& other alias)

BAD EATS: MSG

Names of ingredients that contain processed free glutamic acid (aka MSG):

Glutamic acid (E 620)2
Glutamate (E 620)
Monosodium glutamate (E 621)
Monopotassium glutamate (E 622)
Calcium glutamate (E 623)
Monoammonium glutamate (E 624)
Magnesium glutamate (E 625)
Natrium glutamate
Anything “hydrolyzed”
Any “hydrolyzed protein”
Calcium caseinate, Sodium caseinate
Yeast extract, Torula yeast
Yeast food, Yeast nutrient
Autolyzed yeast
Gelatin
Textured protein
Whey protein
Whey protein concentrate
Whey protein isolate
Soy protein
Soy protein concentrate
Soy protein isolate
Anything “protein”
Anything “protein fortified”
Soy sauce
Soy sauce extract
Protease
Anything “enzyme modified”
Anything containing “enzymes”
Anything “fermented”
Vetsin
Ajinomoto
Umami

Ingredients that often contain or produce processed free glutamic acid during processing:

Carrageenan (E 407)
Bouillon and broth
Stock
Any “flavors” or “flavoring”
Maltodextrin
Citric acid, Citrate (E 330)
Anything “ultra-pasteurized”
Barley malt
Pectin (E 440)
Malt extract
Seasonings

Ingredients suspected of containing or creating sufficient processed free glutamic acid to serve as MSG-reaction triggers in HIGHLY SENSITIVE people:

Corn starch
Corn syrup
Modified food starch
Lipolyzed butter fat
Dextrose
Rice syrup
Brown rice syrup
Milk powder
Reduced fat milk (skim; 1%; 2%)
most things “low fat” or “no fat”
anything “enriched”
anything “vitamin enriched”
anything “pasteurized”
Annatto
Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
certain amino acid chelates (Citrate, aspartate, and glutamate are used as chelating agents with mineral supplements.)

GOOD EATS: AutoImmune Protocol and Spices

I am currently a 90% raw VEGAN, paleo (no dairy, no grains, no legumes). I'm allergic to nuts. Refined processed salt is my nemesis and I have reactions to shellfish, though  look forward to eating fish in the future.

With all the Paleo AIP restrictions (no seeds, no booze, no night shades, no egg) making my interesting, tasty meals seams to be quite the trick. But it is possible. And you're probably saying? What can you eat?

 

What helped me was finding a good list  ....and ThePaleoMom.com has did it again... a beautiful summary list. I've pirated hers and added a few thing to it. So, go ahead and spice up your life (or NOT!)

Starting with the GOOD stuff:

 

Safe Spices (Leaves, Flowers, Roots, Barks)

• Balm (lemon balm)            Leaf of Melissa officinalis L.
• Basil Leaves (Sweet)         Leaf of Ocimum basilicum
• Bay Leaves (Laurel Leaves)   Leaf of Laurus nobilis
• Chamomile                       Flower of Anthemisnobilis L. or Matricaria chamomilla L.
• Chervil                               Leaf of Anthriscus cerefolium
• Chives                                Leaf of Allium schoenoprasum
• Cilantro (Coriander Leaf)    Leaf of Coriandrum sativum
• Cinnamon/Cassia               Bark of Cinnamomum spp.
• Cloves                                Bud of Syzygium aromaticum
• Dill Weed                          Leaf of Anethum graveolens/Anethum sowa
• Garlic                                 Bulb of Allium sativum
• Ginger                               Root of Zingiber officinale
• Horseradish                    Root of Armoracialapathfolia Gilib. *(Read ingredients list for horseradish sauce!)
• Lavender                         Flower of Lavandula officinalis Chaix.
• Mace                               Aril of Myristica fragrans
• Marjoram Leaves            Leaf of Majorana hortensis Moench
• Onion Powder                 Bulb of Allium cepa
• Oregano Leaves              Leaf of Origanum vulgare/Lippia spp.
• Parsley                            Leaf of Petroselinum crispum
• Peppermint                     Leaf of Mentha piperita
• Rosemary                       Leaf of Rosmarinusofficinalis
• Saffron                            Stigma of Crocus sativus
• Sage                                Leaf of Salvia officinalis/Salvia triloba
• Salt                                 Mineral  (PINK HIMALAYAN or CELTIC)
• Savory Leaves                Leaf of Satureia montana/Satureia hortensis
• Spearmint                      Leaf of Menthaspicata
• Tarragon                        Leaf of Artemisia dracunculus
• Thyme                            Leaf of Thymus vulgaris/Thymus serpyllum/Thymus satureioides
• Turmeric                        Root of Curcuma longa

 

AND NOW a list of BUMMERs that you should avoid: 

 

Be Cautious (Berries and Fruit)

• Allspice                           Berry of Pimenta officinalis
• Star Anise                       Fruit of Illicium verum Hook
• Caraway                          Fruit or Carum carvi Maton.
• Cardamom                      Fruit of Elettariacardamomum
• Juniper                            Berry of Juniperus communis
• Black Pepper                  Berry of Piper nigrum
• White Pepper                 Berry of Piper nigrum
• Green Peppercorns         Berry of Piper nigrum
• Pink Peppercorns           Berry of Schinus terebinthifolius
• Vanilla Bean                  Fruit of Vanilla planifolia/Vanilla tahitensisMoore

Avoid (Seeds)

• Anise Seed                     Seedof Pimpinella anisum
• Annatto Seed                 Seed of Bixa orellana
• Black Caraway (Russian Caraway, Black Cumin)    Seed of Nigella sativa
• Celery Seed                   Seedof Apium graveolens
• Coriander Seed              Seed ofCoriandrum sativum
• Cumin Seed                   Seed of Cuminum cyminum
• Dill Seed                         Seed of Anethum graveolens/Anethum sowa
• Fennel Seed                  Seedof Foeniculum vulgare
• Fenugreek                     Seed of Trigonellafoenum-graecum
• Mustard Seed                Seed of Brassica juncea/B. hirta/B. nigra
• Nutmeg                          Seed of Myristica fragrans
• Poppy Seed                   Seedof Papaver somniferum
• Sesame Seed                 Seed of Sesamum indicum

Avoid (Nightshades)

• Capsicums                    Seed of Capsicum spp.
• Cayenne                       Fruit of Capsicum annuum
• Chili Pepper Flakes      Many Varieties, fruit of Capsicum genus
• Chili Powder                Blend of fruit of Capsicum genus
• Curry                             A spice mixture typically of coriander, cumin, fenugreek, red pepper.
• Paprika                          Fruit of Capsicum spp.
• Red Pepper                   Fruit of Capsicum

Some Common Spice Blends–In general, avoid spice blends--often the ingredients list doesn’t tell you everything that’s in it. Common spice blends you might have in your kitchen with components to worry about:

• Curry Powder             A spice mixture typically containing coriander, cumin, fenugreek, and red pepper.
• Chinese 5-Spice         Contains Star Anise, Peppercorns, and Fennel Seed
• Garam Masala            Contains peppercorns, cumin seeds and cardamom pods
• Poultry Seasoning    Often contains pepper, nutmeg
• Steak Seasoning         Usually contains pepper, chili, cumin, and cayenne
• REFINED SALT       It's more evil than you think

GOOD EATS: Cuckoo for COCONUTS

I love fresh young coconuts! (That sounds funny! Ha. Lol) They add a lil fun to a fast when my friends are drinking wine.

Nutritionally: coconut water is loaded with B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pyridoxine and folates. It is packed with amino acids, enzymes, dietary fiber, vitamin C and minerals such as potassium, magnesium and manganese. It is also has anti viral and anti bacterial properties.

The cytokinins in coconut water has anti aging-effects and is great for skin in general.

Coconut water is also a natural diuretic. Urologists recommend kidney stone sufferers drink coconut water every other day to reduce the size of stones.

Basically it's a mega superfood! Enjoy!