I have started doxy treatment a few weeks ago and cannot get into my LLMD until September, but have significantly changed my diet.
I have cut out all sugars, carbs, caffeine, gluten, etc. I have already lost 10 lbs and was thin to begin with.
I have no appetite in the morning but have been juicing. I ordered a protein powder so hopefully that will help.
This is all new to me so def overwhelming but I don't want to lose any more weight and would like to put it back on.
Can I eat any carbs besides what are in vegetables and sweet potatoes. I have had brown rice and rice pasta.
Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Abx made me starve. I was hungry all the time on them. You have to eat more gluten free grains, lots of veggies and some protein. Some people swear by protein powders.
Posted by Jaoconnor (Member # 41195) on :
Interesting....I wish I was starving..lol. I think I am still just stressed and have high anxiety so it is making me lose my appetite. Thanks for the reply
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Actually looking back, it was yeast from the abx that made me hungry all the time. The yeast wanted to be fed.
I hope you are taking lots of probiotics. Abx kill all the good bacteria and yeast in the body. My doc did not put me on enough probiotics (only 32 billion). I needed 200 billion minimum to start. Once you get yeast, it's an up hill battle after that.
Sweet potatoes give me yeast, so I hardly every have them. It's good to avoid anything that grows yeast while on abx. Have you checked out Burrascano's yeast free diet yet? It's in the link below.
Have you tried quinoa yet? It has more protein and is gluten free.
Try to de stress. Stress is really bad for lyme patients. Try some yoga, meditation, massage, whatever works. Light weight lifting works the best for me, and it is beneficial for killing lyme.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Be sure you are getting enough carbohydrates. As you say you cut out all carbs, you may mean refined carbs so just be sure that you still get plenty WHOLE carbs. Just in the form of lots of veggies, all colors, types, etc.
So, yes, in answer to your question: lots of carbs are actually required to fuel a body, including yours, even now.
As they come from the earth, though. That is the key. And low-glycemic. If you "do" any fruit, just a few dark berries at the end of a meal so they have other foods to balance it out. Dark berries are low-glycemic, such good nutrients and some can manage those if all other parts of anti-candida measures are on board.
Non-Gluten seeds and grasses that "act" like grains: as mentioned above - quinoa, regular, red & black.
Millet; amaranth; buckwheat groats; WILD RICE, black & red rices. In moderation, just1/4 cup - still with veggies galore.
Brown rice pasta, just now and then. It's rather "simple" and refined, too, by the grinding of the flours, even if gluten-free. So be sure the amount is tiny, compared to all the veggies that go with that, and the good proteins and fatty acids for glycemic balance.
Even up to 9 servings a day of veggies. GREEN, RED especially. The orange ones may have more starch but, in moderation with other veggies and other whole foods, they may also work fo you.
Protein from clean sources (and good fats, too). NUTS can really help.
Changes are this will level out. Often there is weight loss early on but (unjustified) gain later so I would not be too concerned, other than being sure you are getting enough good calories. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- In addition to avoid simple sugars, getting good whole foods and taking probiotics, either of these can be very helpful to prevent or lessen candida.
I found either of these then allowed me to have some dark berries and do just fine. I tried no fruit at all for a long time and felt that was detrimental. I did much better by upping the anti-candida supplements but then getting a fuller range of nutrients and antioxidants in foods. With the berries at the end of meal, that worked for my body.
Best to be on an herb similar to one of these for about week before trying a couple berries, though.
Diflucan, an Rx, can also be of help but I actually found either of these far better and easier on my body. I wish I hand known about OLE years ago, when I even had my first antibiotics as a teen. The last time I took antibiotics and took OLE first, and all through, no problem at all (still with a wise diet, of course, but I could do some dark fruits). It was amazing.
Why WHEY best alone, in water, not blended -
Posted by Jaoconnor (Member # 41195) on :
Thanks for all the info.
I was taking Garden of Life ultimate probiotic but then someone suggested I take Florastor. Are these ok or should I try something else?
I bought Jay Robb's whey protein. I made it today with almond milk. Is that ok?
You guys are correct- I am still eating carbs through vegetables. Really no fruit but I do miss it. The berries idea is a good one.
I am currently on 400 mg doxy.
I did buy quoina but haven't made it yet.
I was a long term runner - work out person before this happened. I did read where I cannot do that any more. I am starting a weight program with a personal trainer at my job on Tuesday. I am following Burascanno's one hour weight training program. I am looking forward to starting that.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Florastor is good stuff. Garden of Life makes good products too but I haven't tried their probiotic yet. It's good to rotate your probiotics too. You need some gluten free grains tho.
That is great you are starting a weight training program. Light weight lifting makes me feel better within 10 or so minutes. It is the best form of detoxing I know, even during a herx (flushes the lympatic system). It's great for depression too.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
I just wanted to mention to you that parasites are a huge part of lyme (another reason why I was starving all the time).
Parasites were recognized at the last annual ILADS meeting as being THE number one co infection. There is a great thread here called THE PARASITE WARRIOR'S THREAD with lots of great info worth reading.
Oh, and welcome to Lymenet!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Eat avocados and nuts!
The best probiotics are fermented vegetables:
Two of Our Favorite Beginners' Recipes
Version 1 3 heads green cabbage, shredded in a food processor 1 bunch kale, chopped by hand (optional): 2 cups wakame ocean vegetables (measured after soaking), drained, spine removed, and chopped 1 Tbsp. dill weed
Verison 2 3 heads green cabbage, shredded in a food processor 6 carrots, large, shredded in a food processor 3 inch piece ginger, peeled and chopped 6 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
To Make Cultured Vegetables 1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl
2. Remove several cups of this mixture and put into a blender.
3. Add enough filtered water to make a "brine" the consistency of a thick juice. Blend well and then add brine back into the first mixture. Stir well.
4. Pack mixture down into a glass or stainless steel container. Use your fist, a wooden dowel, or a potato masher to pack veggies tightly.
5. Fill container almost full, but leave about 2 inches of room at the top for veggies to expand.
6. Roll up several cabbage leaves into a tight "log" and place them on top to fill the remaining 2 inch space. Clamp jar closed.
7. Let veggies sit at about a 70 degree room temperature for at least three days. A week is even better. Refrigerate to slow down fermentation. Enjoy!
++++++++++++++++++
Here's a ten-minute video on how to make the vegetables:
Thank you, Catgirl.....this website has been wonderful and everyone is so helpful.
Thanks for the recipes Lymetoo......will have to work up to this - lol
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Be sure to do it sooner than later! Wish I had!
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Florastor alone is insufficient for probiotics. You need to take something else IN ADDITION to the florastor.
You want lots of different strains of probiotics, and Florastor is just one type.
I bought Jarro-Dophilus.
From p. 28 of Burrascano:
"Acidophilus: the best kinds are frozen or refrigerated to ensure potency. Usual dose is two with each meal.
Plan to mix together several different brands to broaden the spectrum."
My doc had me take Florastor at the end of treatment to restore my gut. I did not take it during treatment at all.
Posted by Crawgir1 (Member # 40229) on :
Juicing is fine and good, except it expels all of the fiber out of the veggies. If you can afford it, get a Vitamix, which grinds the vegs to juice including all parts.
The fiber is essential to slowing down you digestion so your body can absorb the nutrients.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
And if you are juicing, avoid a lot of fruit. While on antibiotics, you will need to avoid sugars.
I had to stop juicing because of the fiber issue. I now use a blender and make smoothies with lots of greens.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
Ditto on what Lymetoo said. Good carbs are okay but make sure you take lots of probiotics and watch the fruits.
Juicing is a good way to get lots of nutrition in fast. Brown rice is fine. Some of us are so insulin resistant we can't eat it, but you should to keep your weight up.
Posted by OtterJ (Member # 30701) on :
Remember to rinse the quinoa before you make it--just put it in a mesh strainer and rinse it well. It has a substance on the outside of the "grain" that is bitter and will wash off.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Adding to OtterJ's reminder about rinsing Quinoa - use a VERY FINE MESH strainer. The first time I rinsed it, it all just fell through.
Some might not need rinsing and it will say so on the package. Red, sometimes. Usually, the regular light one always needs rinsing. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- When using a juicer, be sure to add back in a good deal of fiber for a thick drink or even to sort of "spoon feed" yourself with that mix.
GINGER & a touch of Stevia can be nice. Other spices, too. Cardamom, Cinnamon.
Along with others' reminders to either avoid fruit or go very easy with it IF you can manage it (some can, some can't but if so, very little and only either dark berries or tart apples as they are lowest glycemic ones - even just 1/8 cup will go a long way with other foods)
some may use too many carrots. Remember one carrot can go with LOTS of (neutral green/white bulky veggies for the body of a smoothie) zucchini, cucumbers, celery, some cabage, too.
Bok Choy is excellent, too, as the "stalk" part of that is similar but softer than celery and adds water and the green part is valuable, too.
OTHER NEUTRAL foods that will add lots of body and are very low glycemic? Hopefully other will add their favorites.
Celery: when you trim the edges, don't cut all the way through so you can then pull off excess strings. Depending upon the strength of your juicer or blender, even those strings remaining can trip it up so cut shorter pieces of celery if that happens.
If you have anxiety or seizures, it may be best to go low or avoid cabbage due to its glutamic acid / glutamate content (as some other veggies do, too).
Or keep it low and with lots of other stuff. Balance is the key. And magnesium is the calming balance to glutamate's excito feature. -
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
You can buy organic pre-rinsed Quinoa. Much easier to use.
Posted by happydaychick (Member # 37799) on :
Hi Jaoconnor,
Since I started treatment last fall, I've dropped 28 pounds... luckily, I had some weight to lose but now, I am TOO skinny... When I didn't think I would lose MORE weight, I started an anti-candida diet 1 month ago. UGH! I'm trying like mad to maintain weight...and it has worked.
I've been eating lots of avocados/guacamole, soaked raw almonds and walnuts, pumpkin seeds, eggs (which I am so SOOOOO SICK of), and coconut bread. Oh, and a few tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil a day (Its high in calories, very good for you, and edible as long as its a liquid.)
Lemon coconut bread is low in carbs and is quite yummy since so many other foods are off limits. (I found coconut flour at Whole Foods) There are a ton of coconut bread recipes out there, but this one is the most moist that I've tried. I also add the zest and the juice from 1-2 organic lemons to the recipe. Also, make sure you use non-sweetened coconut milk.
I've been told quinoa flakes for breakfast are good too.
Good luck!
Posted by Jaoconnor (Member # 41195) on :
Thanks Everyone for your advice and comments. I will keep plugging away and hope for the best
I have been trying to eat an avocado a day as well. I think the food changes have been one of the biggest adjustments for me. Hopefully it will get easier as I get used to it.