Diet Priorities

Alzheimer's, cardiovascular, and other chronic diseases; biomarkers, lifestyle, supplements, drugs, and health care.
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Stavia
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Re: Diet Priorities

Post by Stavia »

Of course I get it Lillybun. I forgot to mention half a home baked cake and about 7 cookies as well this weekend.
It's about realising the few minutes of pleasure eating doesn't really balance out the feeling yukky for days.
Love you Lillybunny
Silverlining
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Re: Diet Priorities

Post by Silverlining »

Lilly, I can't strictly relate to full time caretaking, however I can relate to extreme family stress. My three adult children are in near constant crisis and then there's my mother. The angst I experience is ridiculous at times. I honestly keep thinking one day, surely things will "normalize ", however lately I've decided for whatever reason the cosmos and universe are against my family, which also means me! Close friends frequently say they don't know how I cope. I mention that to let you know my heart is truly shredded on a regular basis.

NOW, how do I cope? I've become very good at emotional detachment. All the hurt, worry, angst, frustration is eliminated much of the time because I just strip them out. I think practicing mindfulness has helped here. (Maybe that's frowned on in the psych world. I don't know. But it works for me). When I do "bad things", I don't get too hung up on it. What's the point of hanging around this world if you don't/can't enjoy it? I'm really big on finding peace with all of it. Also when feeling overwhelmed and in despair over lifestyle choices, just start back with one, only one thing you know is good for you. Try to make it happen for a few days, then add on another discipline. Eventually you'll be back on track until the new set of crises! Forgive yourself, don't get stuck in self-loathing, there are ALWAYS new beginnings. Oh, and be grateful, you know always actively looking for the non-obvious blessings and silverlinings. I hope I'm not coming off as preachy, just a human who struggles with life sadness. I know it's not easy. Big hugs Lilly!
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Re: Diet Priorities

Post by Thx4thegenes »

Lilly, I can relate, although currently I don't have the stresses that you are facing. I'm somewhat new here and have been wondering where you've been! I think staying onboard with your friends here might help, eventually. :)

Me, I am normally a black and white thinking kind of person. As a vegetarian for 25 years, I knew what to eat and what not to eat. Then something happened, not sure what, but I began to rethink my decision about being a vegetarian and began eating meat and fish, which was great, btw. Maybe a year or so later, I was tired of the extra weight I had accumulated and read about the Paleo diet, more notably, the effects of gluten and began to eat in that manner. I immediately lost that weight and at that time, I knew what to eat and what not to eat. Easy. No problem. But, after learning about my genetics, and seeing my numbers, maybe all of that saturated fat was not good for me, so I HAD to modify my diet some how. But, now that I know what I SHOULD be doing, I sometimes can't get my mind back in the stirrups either. I really wish I could, because it makes it so much easier and with no guilt. I totally understand where you are coming from. I know I shouldn't have a bagel and cream cheese, it's probably the worst thing for me, bacon, etc. but sometimes I go there, because, well, I want to enjoy life's simple pleasures. lol. I NEED to do better. I just have to get my mind adjusted!
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Re: Diet Priorities

Post by Lucy5 »

Oh Lilly dear...you have tons of company here!

When life gets overwhelming for me, I ALWAYS head for the carbs and sugar! I just went thru a 4 week tear ....pumkin pie, donuts, In-n-Out (WITH a choc shake & fries) and more. Just one bite of the forbidden and I'm off the wagon. (I KNOW this, and yet...). And it was a little bit of heaven: the birds sang, sky was blue and life WAS better. Until it wasn't. I had no energy, woke up every single morning with a splitting headache, felt foggy & low.

The answer for me is starting back in w/a 12hr+ fast. I get rid of anything tempting in the house. I keep nuts, protein snacks handy. I PROMISE myself if I'm craving sugar, to eat the nuts 1st before heading to the store.(baby steps). Mostly, it works for me. I'm 4 days in and feel SO much better. Night and day. Like Julie, I do keep dark choc around and eat a square when I'm at my limit. (with green tea & cinnamon sticks - fills me up)

So, don't beat yourself up- it sounds like many of us struggle with this. (And I really don't believe that the ccasional bad behavior is damaging in the long run). Hope you're feeling better soon, Lilly!! Good luck - keep us posted.
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Gilgamesh
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Re: Diet Priorities

Post by Gilgamesh »

Lil, God, you've been through so much. My parents are well right now so I'm knocking on wood, but I've been there.

Lucy mentioned nuts: excellent idea. I've been through a tough time lately and it's helped that I have a kind of "pro-active" falling off the wagon strategy. Steer the wagon to Lard Land, and fall off there.

As Stavia stresses: blood glucose control is critical. A fall onto a street made with simple sugars and carbs means a temporary huge jump in glucose, which might not be a big deal (might not), but it can mess up your gut microbiota for 2-3 weeks. That's more worrying. And research shows these gut changes affect cravings, ergo, one's more likely to fall off again....

So, 1) keeping that research in mind helps me not fall off the wagon at all. But 2) being able to fall off the wagon in a slightly controlled way, via fats instead of sugars, means I can get the hell off the wagon when needed (like now, as it happens -- though oxycodone is better than nuts). A huge bolus of fat might not be healthy (some people here would say it's not unhealthy at all -- not sure about that, myself), but I've seen no research taht it alters cravings, screws up microbiota long-ish term, etc.

A few days ago I had 1500 calorie or so (didn't care at the time -- checked it out on CRON-O-Meter later) bowl filled with:

- chopped macadamia nuts
- chopped Baker's unsweetened chocolate (have also tried using cacao nibs; good too, but Gundry might not like it)
- coconut flakes
- coconut oil (for good measure)

Now I'm drooling.

TINY amount of carbs from the macs, but tiny. Coconuts flakes adds lots of sweetness.

Did I need pizza after that?? No way! (Even forgot to take my oxycodone dose.)

So, to the question of recovery from the Sugar Street fall: buy some of the most decadent (for you -- in my case macs; might be something else for you) nuts you can find, and eat as many as you want. You have to get your microbiota to stop sending signals to the brain to eat sugar and carbs. Be prepared. Will take a couple weeks.

xo
G
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LanceS
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Re: Diet Priorities

Post by LanceS »

GeorgeN wrote:
LanceS wrote:With low insulin readings and high glucose, has a doctor ever tried to assess beta cell functioning? I don' t know if it is a question worth pursuing as it may not change how you have to live.
Lance, good catch. Could easily be type 1, 1.5 (LADA) diabetes. A flat insulin curve is indicative here. I know a number of T1's or 1.5's who had the illness come on later in life. One friend, a low carb veg guy, has been able to maintain a modest amount of beta cell function for 9 years (the "honeymoon" phase), even though he's been diagnosed as T1 and has antibodies. He uses a small amount of basal insulin, like 9 units/day. As an aside, suggested he might try Gundry's Matrix program https://www.apoe4.info/forums/download/file.php?id=635 for a bit and see if the antibodies regressed (since T1 is an autoimmune issue).
George,

I should know better, but ..... Peter at Hyperlipid wrote an interesting post about protein loads and beta cells.

http://high-fat-nutrition.blogspot.com/ ... otein.html

Interesting post, but in the comments Jack Kruse commented:

Blogger Jack Kruse said...

Peter take this people failing your protein test and put them on a high fat diet and tell them to look 15 degrees away from the sun rise when it begins for as long as they can........then tell me what you notice about their insulin and glucogon status. You will see a big change. Sun exposure through the central retinal pathways have massive effects on beta cell regeneration and on lowering glucogon release. It also lowers the liver release of glycogen but this requires more sun in the AM.......based upon location to get this effect the regeneration cycle needs two specific frequencies that do not show up until later in the AM.

4 Feb 2016, 17:26:00

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogI ... 838&bpli=1

Clearly there have to be about a million reasons why someone shouldn't get their hopes up. Very low probability, but Kruse sometimes makes sense to me... he is either correct or mentally ill. Not sure I'd bet my money either way. If someone gets up early and loves the sunrise, is in the "honeymoon" phase... I guess there is some low probability beta cells could be killed by the sun frequency absorbed by the eye, but I would guess there is not much to lose.

I know I shouldn't have posted this. Crazy nutty idea from a guy who is out there. Unless it works.
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SusanJ
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Re: Diet Priorities

Post by SusanJ »

(((Lilly))) Oh Lilly, we have all been there for some reason or another. Just try to do your best every day. Even when it is the day you eat sweets, blow off any thought of exercise, get angry at the world and lay on the couch watching some old movie (been there, can you tell?). Getting through that kind of day can just be heroic enough. Be at peace with that and just tell yourself, I'll get up and do my best again tomorrow. Someday, you'll find yourself in a place to saddle up again and we'll be cheering you on.
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Re: Diet Priorities

Post by marthaNH »

I appreciate so many of you writing about lapses from discipline, tracking fatigue, rebellion, lack of time, and all the other barriers to best behavior. I've been trying for a while to turn a corner myself. I want to maintain my improved state, stay alert to the possibility of useful tweaks, and generally maximize my health, but I also would like to have as much company as I can, take on consuming new projects, and stay clear of obsessing. It's an ongoing challenge. My biggest issues now are sleep, stress, and social life! Now that the weather is turning springlike I am feeling less isolated. That's a good thing. Best to all.
ABrain4Me
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Re: Diet Priorities

Post by ABrain4Me »

A great book, that is somewhat motivating is "Willpower Instinct" by Kelly McGonigal at Stanford. My favorite chapter: "If you eat that cookie, the terrorists win"

Seriously though, it's an evidence based look at the neuroscience behind willpower, what you can do to enhance it (exercise and meditation), and how our brains get hijacked.

It's a tough balance between what the science says is good for ApoE4 and not going into total deprivation. I too find it hard to come back from cheats/lapses and holidays are especially difficult......
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Re: Diet Priorities

Post by Hubbs »

Julie, my 12h fasting glucose range 84-110. Comparing my tracking data, it seems to connect higher fg with lower fat dinner the night before, more so than not. I hear you. I must prioritize blood glucose control. I will try harder to reduce pp bg spikes. Remembering you and others taking precious time to advice me will make it harder to throw my hands up in the air again. I don’t usually feel hunger at night. Normally I eat dinner late and no extensive workout between dinner and sleep. Fasting 14-16 hours has not been difficult, especially if I head to gym in the morning and stay away from my kitchen. I carry a bag of almond and macadamia nuts with me in case I need to snack on.

Lance, what kind of specialist will be able to assess my beta cell function? So far my primary care doctor only had me tested HbA1c a few times, but did order a glucose tolerance testing- unfortunately that test was messed up because the nurse couldn’t get enough blood sample out of me on time. My insulin level was lowered from 5 to 3 last year in 6 months but glucose level stayed high. Most of my life I ate many fruits/day without consideration of paring with fat or protein. Could that diet habit cause beta cell destruction? When I saw that a few slices of dried pineapple spiked my bg to 240+, I was horrified to imaging how much higher my bg must be for all those times I ate multiple bananas, oranges, mangos, huge melons…

Goerge, is it an endocrinologist I need to see to get accurate diagnose regarding type 1 or 1.5 or 2? Someone in my family wondered if my glucose problem actually has to do with type 1. In any case I have been looking at following Dr. Gundry’s diet plan. Looking meal examples you posted, I can see myself eat that way but two meals a day.
E3/E4
MTHFR compound heterozygous (C677T and A1298C)
A1c5.7/LDL-P1602
All advices appreciated :)
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