Topic: what are good snack choices for Lyme people?
MannaMe
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posted
My husband is gluten and egg free, also low sugar.
What are some good choices for snacks? Most gluten free substitutes are all starch which is not good.
He likes potatoes chips,which is not a very good choice either!
He needs to keep something on hand for a quick snack due to hypoglycemia from adrenal fatigue.
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avocado (guacamole) and a FEW GF crackers or chips .. a FEW!!
granny smith apples
boiled eggs
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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scorpiogirl
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He sounds like he is in the same boat as me! The list my LLMD gave me of what I cannot have pretty much eliminates EVERYTHING. For example, no gluten, dairy, or sugar. Nothing that grow under ground either...
I guess I could eat protein, corn, brown rice, etc... but I have no idea what to do for snacks! Maybe other folks have some ideas for us to try.
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sammy
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Plain greek yogurt, top with cinnamon or frozen berries Green apple with peanut butter String cheese Cottage cheese Nuts Fresh veggies like red bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots
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posted
Pop your own popcorn on the stove with coconut oil. It is delicious! Please don't eat the microwave popcorn!!!
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scorpiogirl
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why do you guys get to eat nuts? I don't get to eat nuts or peanut butter for that matter. I will have to ask my LLMD why again b/c I do like nuts!
-------------------- Posts: 1391 | From Lyme Land | Registered: May 2011
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posted
Nuts of all types Peanut butter Cheese Whole grain crackers/bread Coconut oil (mixed in with the above) Avacados
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Razzle
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posted
Beanitos GF bean & flax chips (they make several flavors, pinto bean or black bean) Nuts Hummus on Beanitos chips Carrot or celery sticks with almond butter or hummus Tomato chunks or cucumber slices marinaded in olive oil, lemon juice (fresh squeezed), and herbs Raw Zucchini slices with raw garlic & fresh basil
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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BoxerMom
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I can't eat nuts or nut butters either! They make my blood sugar crash! Same with avocados.
I am also grain-free, though most people can tolerate some whole grains.
My snackables:
Yogurt with cinnamon and/or berries Whey protein shake Slices of meat and cheese Just the cheese Just the meat (I lived on salami for a year) Veggies Small salad Tuna salad on celery sticks
These are seriously lame snacks. I would kill someone for a scone!
posted
I'm surprised that so many peeps mentioned beans. Beams are very high in carbs (bad for candida).
Olives are great, but most come packed in vinegar (also bad for candida).
Scorpio - I have no idea why someone would say not to eat nuts. Peanuts are different because they're actually legumes, are higher in carbs, and can be moldy.
posted
Vegetables.....lots of vegetables, with dips. Hummus (if you can do legumes), eggplant dip, yogurt-based dips (if you can do dairy), even dips made from good quality truly fermented tofu.
Roasted red pepper dip is awesome. So is pesto.
Susie
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MannaMe
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Thanks for all the wonderful ideas....... I need to go grocery shopping!
I read the list to my husband and he was hoping for more ideas for none perishables, that he can keep up by the bed. (maybe we need to get a little dorm refrigerator?) He spends a lot of time resting in bed - doesn't have the energy to come down to the kitchen for food so often.
Which kinds of nuts are best? I could grind / blender the nuts & make nut butter with real sea salt & coconut oil.
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James1979
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posted
Brazil nuts are probably the healthiest, especially for Lyme patients. They have tons of zinc and selenium, and other good stuff.
Almonds are great, especially because they're alkalizing. They're also a good source of protein.
Cashews are great because they taste great!! If your hubby is a little chubby, you might want to limit the cashew intake.
Walnuts are great sources of omega-3's, but they don't taste too good.
Macadamias are very tasty, but very greasy (even when dry-roasted). Also not recommended for those with love-handles.
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nefferdun
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Low glycemic index foods: Nuts and seeds vegetables with dip Beans are not high carb - great food for diabetics berries plain organic yogurt with berries
Almond flour/meal is good for baking. Sweeten with stevia of a small amount of honey or maple syrup. My son is diabetic and controlling his blood glucose with diet. This is something I make for him that does not raise his blood sugar.
I make a crust with half whole wheat and half almond flour, coconut oil and ice water. It doesn't roll so you have to press it into the pan. You could probably use all almond flour.
The filling is blueberries (purchased frozen) with 2 Tablespoons of honey and 2 Tb of corn starch to thicken. You can put a crumb topping on it with oatmeal, almond flour and coconut oil.
If I use strawberries I crush half of them and cook on top of the stove with half a cup of pomegranite juice -thicken with corn starch. Pre bake the crust and line with the other berries. Pour sauce over when cooled and refrigerate.
Make a smoothie in the blender with organic plain yogurt and frozen berries. If it is too tart add half a banana. You can add some supplements.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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nefferdun
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Here is the run down on beans. Foods with a GI of less than 55 are considered low.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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MannaMe
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posted
nefferdun, Thanks for your pie recipes! I will try them.
Do you bake any kind of crackers for your son? My husband loves graham crackers with nut butter. I am looking for good substitutes that TASTE good too!
He had food allergy testing done, which showed wheat, rye, oats, soy & spelt were not good for him.
I do use some almond flour but its very expensive. A couple times the girls at the checkout wondered if that price is right?
James1979, he's gotten a little chubby around the middle. Otherwise he's not fat - always was slim. Hoping once the Lyme & co leave, so will the pudge! Where can you find brazil nuts at a good price?
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posted
You guys are eating a lot of carbs and sugars ... don't forget the yeast!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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James1979
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posted
MannaMe - I get my brazil nuts from Amazon.com. I use "Bergin Nut Company", but I'm sure there are other good brands available. I just make sure that they're raw and not roasted.
I agree with Lymetoo.
Nefferdun - you are correct about those foods being good for diabetics, but people who are taking abx and/or are fighting yeast infections generally have to be more cautious about the carbs.
For people who are fighting yeast infections, most beans are considered VERY high carbohydrate foods.
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MannaMe
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We try to follow Dr. Diana Schwarzbein's way of eating. A balance of fats, proteins & carbs.
My husband doesn't have a real sweet tooth.
And yes, since he's on abx I need to be more cautious about the carbs & sugars.
Most of the gluten free substitutes are so starchy I refuse to buy them. So many of them leave a lot to be desired in taste that he'd rather go without.
We get raw milk off the farm - guess I could make yogurt with that and add extra probiotics to it.
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kidsgotlyme
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I bought a air popcorn maker. I buy organic white popcorn in bulk. After I make it, I spray cooking spray(canola, not olive because it doesn't taste good) then I use real salt. The cooking spray helps the salt stay on.
I also purchase raw nuts in bulk and do the same thing. I hate unsalted nuts, and I don't like to have them roasted. Raw is best.
We grind our nuts up in the food processor to make our own raw butters. I also add real salt and coconut oil. It's great!
We eat hummus and organic tortilla chips sometimes.
We do not eat any sugar, dairy, gluten, or yeast.
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
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Carol in PA
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quote:Originally posted by MannaMe: We get raw milk off the farm - guess I could make yogurt with that and add extra probiotics to it.
Raw milk? You could make kefir!
I use the kefir starter powder, which I get from Amazon. You can read about making it from the grains at kefirlady.com.
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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James1979
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These last few days I've been having EXTREME cravings for food! I feel like I'm literally starving.
Today I was so hungry that I was ready to eat anything in sight. The closest edible item to me at the time was a pot of parsley. So I pulled handfulls of raw parsley and ate it like it was a steak! I felt strange, but I was VERY hungry.
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James1979
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These last few days I've been having EXTREME cravings for food! I feel like I'm literally starving.
Today I was so hungry that I was ready to eat anything in sight. The closest edible item to me at the time was a pot of parsley. So I pulled handfulls of raw parsley and ate it like it was a steak! I felt strange, but I was VERY hungry.
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MannaMe
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James1979, Do you think the extreme hunger thing is something to do with Lyme & Co? There are times my husband is saying he's STARVED! But not sure what he's hungry for.
He'll be standing in front of the open fridge saying "I'm STARVED!" It seems to be in cycles. Though he hasn't really noted the exact cycle time. Just that its happening again. It may last a week or so.
When he is craving a certain food - we try to figure out what nutrient it is that his body is asking for. Like the time he wanted yogurt - he doesn't even like yogurt, but said if we had some he'd eat it! We decided he needed probiotics!
Chocolate cravings = magnesium potato chips = salt and /or fat
Lymetoo, When we started eating Diana Schwarzbein's way, my husband said he felt so much better. It helped stabilize his blood sugar. It was in reading her book that we learned about the adrenal fatigue also.
When following her program and still not able to recover from the adrenal fatigue, the health care professional we were working with suggested Lyme / co testing as some co infections attack the adrenals..... so our journey continues.
Does anyone know which co is most likely to attack the adrenals??
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MannaMe
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Carol in PA, How does the kefir taste? I've never had any. Is this one of the high probiotic foods/drinks?
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kidsgotlyme
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My daughter is ALWAYS hungry, even when she has had a good meal with protein and fat. I don't understand it.
The only time she really feels full is when she's eaten a ton of food at once.
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
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James1979
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MM - I've heard that the feelings of hunger can come from the antibiotics. I'm on doxy right now, and I've heard that the doxy can do that.
Also, it might be because we're following such a strict and abnormal diet... I'm not sure about that theory, though.
That's interesting what you wrote about the chocolate/potato chip cravings. I just wanted to mention that there are other reasons besides those that people might crave those 2 foods.
Chocolate has addictive substances in it. Some people might crave chocolate because they're addicted to some of those chemicals. Also, the body craves chocolate when the serotonin is low, because some of the chemicals boost the serotonin. That's why depressed people have cravings for chocolate. It's notable that Borrelia have the ability to lower our serotonin levels.
About potato chips, sometimes those can be carb cravings, and sometimes those cravings can be brought on by Candida albicans. I'm not suggesting that that's what's going on with your husband, but I know that strong cravings for ANY carbs can be due to candida.
Concerning the adrenal issues, IMO, borrelia alone can drain the adrenals. Maybe some co-infections drain them faster, or maybe multiple infections drain them faster, but I know for sure (from what I've read) that borrelia alone can also do this. But also, in general, any chronic infection or illness can drain the adrenals.
Kefir: Milk kefir tastes like yogurt, only less sweet and sometimes more acidic (depending on how long you leave it). This is one of the best probiotic foods in existence, and it's actually much more beneficial than yogurt.
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"About potato chips, sometimes those can be carb cravings, and sometimes those cravings can be brought on by Candida albicans. I'm not suggesting that that's what's going on with your husband, but I know that strong cravings for ANY carbs can be due to candida."
Amen, brother!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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MannaMe
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So how do you tell if you have candida?
About chocolate cravings: for myself, if I take magnesium supplements, chocolate doesn't bother me at all. I prefer dark chocolate and if I'm magnesium deficient, no chocolate is safe from me!
My husband hasn't been depressed. I'm amazed at how well he has handled all this. Not to say he doesn't have discouraging moments, but no real depression.
When his MD's didn't know what else to do, they'd put him on antidepressants and anti anxiety meds. Which did NOT help his fatigue & headaches. The anti anxiety meds did take the edge off the anxiety, but never took it away.
He's been off all antidepressants & bp meds for several years and the anti anxiety med for a year.
He's been taking probiotics and coconut oil to avoid candida.
I will check into making kefir. I think he will need as many ways of getting probiotics into his system to keep ahead of yeast since he's now on antibiotics.
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Catgirl
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Lymetoo, granny smith apples? What about yeast?
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James1979
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Yeah, I eat granny smiths also. They're allowed on some anti-yeast regimens because they are high in acidity and lower in sugar than most other fruits.
Everybody's different, so some people might not be able to tolerate fruits at all. Many fruits give me problems, but granny smiths are always fine.
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posted
If I am really fed up with all of the usual I will eat an Atkins bar. Certainly not "all natural" but okay once in a while. Usually a half is enough. It is like eating a candy bar minus the sugar. You need to read the labels though because some types have loads of sugar alcohol. The oatmeal fiber bar is the best.
Beanitos chips...just discovered these. They are great!!
Anything new tastes really good when you are on a limited diet eating a lot of the same foods.
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Carol in PA
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quote:Originally posted by MannaMe: Carol in PA, How does the kefir taste? I've never had any. Is this one of the high probiotic foods/drinks?
I've been making kefir with the starter powder, which I get at iHerb or at Amazon. It tastes like a zippy buttermilk.
I use pasteurized whole milk. just warm it up in the microwave. The instructions say to use one packet of powder per quart, but I have good results with one half packet.
I have a one quart jar that I set in a cupboard for 24 hours, and it's ready. Stir and refrigerate. In the winter, when the kitchen is cold, it takes 48 hours to ferment and gel.
Raw milk must be heated to a certain temperature to kill the existing bacteria. Pasteurized milk has already been heated, and the bacteria killed.
I did try making kefir from an existing batch, but it wasn't as good. The flavor was much less complex, and I figure that not all the strains of bacteria replicated.
I read about making kefir from the grains at Dom's kefir site. It's not difficult, but if you forget about the grains, they run out of food to eat and they starve. Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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