posted
I have done a "Search" on these forums, and I am aware of the yeast or low-sugar diets. The LLMD I am going to see on Thursday has already told me that I will need to start one. I have done research online about suggested foods to eat- but it's going to be sooo hard! There's hardly any foods on the lists of "what to eat" and way more foods on "what to avoid."
Are any of you following this? How do you do it day to day? I am a major sugar addict- and I need help with suggestions on what to eat for lunch at work, as well as for breakfast and dinner. Snacks? Has anyone lost weight doing this?
I would do appreciate any help on this- I know this is going to be a major challenge for me!
Posts: 24 | From MS | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
I haven't read up on these diets though I'm sure I should probably be on it too. I am also a major sugar addict! I know that lyme and yeast thrive on sugar so I'm trying to limit quantities but haven't been able to eliminate sugar altogether.
The only diet I'm familiar with is the south beach diet which limits carbs of all kinds initially then reintroduces them later in small quantities. I've done this to lose weight and that's what I kind of follow when trying to limit sugar.
Hopefully someone else will post!!
Karen
Posts: 154 | From Medford, NJ | Registered: Jun 2006
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Monica
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
My LLMD has told me she advises her patients to follow the South Beach Diet.
Posts: 1757 | From Somerset County, NJ | Registered: Oct 2000
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luvs2ride
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Member # 8090
posted
Hi Jude,
Changing my diet brought about the most improvement of anything I did. All the abx and supplements in the world can't overcome the damage of a bad diet.
I was a complete sugarholic. Had been all my life. For 2 days after giving up sugar, I had a major headache and was extremely grouchy. Then I was over it and it was actually diary I craved the most.
See my recent link below about diet. Basically, the South Beach diet is probably a good one. Meats and veggies and fruits for desert. A favorite treat of mine is to blend one banana, fresh pineapple (1/2 cup), black cherries and soft tofu for a smoothie. It is really good. Any fruit will work. Banana, blueberries and strawberries are another.
Good luck! It is tough, but it is worth it.
Luvs
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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luvs2ride
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-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Judes26, Mainly fresh (or frozen) meat and vegetables is what you should be eating and they should be organic. Anything processed or canned will not have the "living nutrients" you need. Vegetables that are grown above ground are preferable.
Small amount of fruits is okay...it is best to eat them with a protein to keep the insulin spike down as much as possible. Do a google search on "glycemic index" or "glycemic load" if you have not done so already, because avoiding insulin spikes is very, very important!
Most Americans are sugaraholics and this is very hard, but you will be feeling better. For some it works best to go "cold turkey" (i.e. avoid all sugars except what are in the veggies) and they start feeling so much better they don't want to eat sugary stuff anymore...but I don't think this works for most people...you have to be feeling pretty bad and determined to get well! What reinforces it is going from really bad to feeling good again.
For those of us who are female this works so much better as we are normally the "cooks" and when we start making healthy meals, the rest of the family starts getting healthier. Before I had Lyme we ate a semi-healthy diet - I gave in to the "typical American diet" type things fairly occasionally, but now it is "rare" (as in a dinner somewhere else or when Grandma brings her famous choc chip cookies that the 17yo "craves"). I made brownies for a church potluck this weekend(lots of kids) and the 17yo said "these are too sugary"...Wow - it's working!!!!
-------------------- God's mercies are new every morning.
Karla Posts: 85 | From KANSAS | Registered: Jul 2006
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
Karla,
Here is another thought about fruit.
Fiber slows down the absorbsion of sugar and the resulting "spike" in our blood sugars.
Drinking fruit juices cause sugar spikes because the fiber has been removed. Eating whole fruit in the form it grew does not result in a sugar spike.
I believe with all my heart and soul that God knew exactly what he was doing when he created this earth. If we would eat our foods in the form they grew and eat as much of the entire plant as possible, we would be healthy.
It is when we alter the food form or we try to imitate it in a laboratory that we get into trouble. ie: margarine, fruit juices, hydronated fats.
I am not afraid to eat fruit and I enjoy it daily. My blood sugar has always been good and remains so. My blood pressure and cholestrol are low.
The pineapple which is high in sugar is also high in bromalain which reduces inflamation. It has been a godsend for me with my inflamed joints.
I eat whole foods that grew that way and I will eat something until I stop craving it, then I rotate to something else. I believe our body tells us what it needs and I believe God's kitchen is the one to eat from.
I also eat lean meats. I try to eat as much of it organically as possible.
Lots of cruciferous veggies.
Luvs
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
The biggest change is the amount of TIME you need to commit to planning and preparing your meals and snacks...you don't want to let yourself get to the point where you are starving and have nothing to eat.
We are used to american eating habits which require no thought or time.
So here are some things I have learned to do to help me be healthy.
I always have a supply of these in my fridge: I buy the huge bags of mixed organic lettuce, a variety of veggies, apples, seeds, and organic chicken breast, ground flax seeds, flax and olive oils, organic apple cider vinegar.
Also, a bunch of those plastic salad containers with lids.
Once a week, I grill a dozen or so chicken breasts and cut into bite size pieces.
I line up four containers and fill them with salad, veggies, seeds, apples and chicken pieces.
They keep very well in the fridge for 3-4 days. When I need a nutricious meal I pull one out and put some flax/olive oil and organic apple cider vinegar and lots of salt and pepper.
You can freeze the chicken pieces in zip bags and use for future salads--replenish your supply before the last salad is gone- vary the veggies or meats.
The other thing I learned to do is roasting veggies (I do two big panfulls- twice a week so I always have some on hand). I put things like onions, eggplant, whole garlic cloves, all color peppers, zucchini, yellow sqush, broccoli, asparagus, carrots, or any thing.
Spread veggis in large flat baking pans covered in foil. Coat with olive/flaxseed oils, salt pepper and spices-roast in a 375 oven for 30-40 minutes or till tender--stirring a couple times.
These roasted veggies are awsome on the salads or as snacks and with other meals.
Things I always have: raw almonds kefir plain yogurt spelt bread almond butter cottage cheese eggs
I probably shouldn't but I start the day with a bowl of organic oat bran and raisins....had to give up coffee due to GI probs.
I drink mint, orange, or ginger teas. Also, I just had a steamed milk with sugar free vanilla from starbucks and it was awsome!
Good luck, I found the diet changes to be very very difficult when I started treatment in Jan.
Hang in there, Kim
-------------------- We are spiritual beings on a human journey...
posted
Once you stop eating sugar you will stop craving it, really! The first week is the toughest.
I had really bad yeast problems that motivated me to get really serious about the diet. For one whole year I did not eat any sugar, fruit or grain except a small amount of rice a few times a week.
Now that the yeast is under control I have added a some grains including occasional bread, back into my diet. Fruit is problematic for me, too much sugar, causes a reaction and gives me a funny taste.
While on the strict diet my energy level got more stable, headaches & allergies disappeared. I still take heavy duty probiotics every day. Most importantly I'm making great progress recovering from Lyme.
So here's what I ate: Lots of organic vegetables (no sweet ones, mostly green was best) Some raw in salads, others cooked. I spend every morning chopping, mixing, cooking etc. When I was not eating any grain I needed to eat a lot of vegetables.
Organically raised grass fed meat. Order online from US wellness meats. Low mercury fish, sardines, smoked clams, oysters, mussels (easy, just open can and put on salad) organic eggs, pumpkin seeds, nuts. Beans (good in salad or stirfry), hummus, lentils.
My survival food was nuts. I kept them in the car and took them to work since there was very little else I could snack on and almost nothing I could get from the average food place. Great prices & quality at www.ohnuts.com
Now I am able to eat rice cakes which are a convenient snack. I've cut way back on nuts.
In the beginning of my treatment when I was herxing all the time I needed to eat more fat & cholesterol. Now I eat very little meat, my diet is mostly vegetables, eggs, pumpkin seeds, rice & beans. When I go back on tetracycline I'll probably eat more meat.
Hurry up and get through the first week so you can see how much better you will feel once you quit sugar. You can do it.
sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
Judes-
I started the yeast elimination diet about a month ago. Yes, the first week was difficult but not as bad as I expected, given how much I loved sugary things. After that first week, these rewards:
--lost 11 pounds (without exercising - am not there yet)
-- have lost all interest in processed or sugary food. It doesn't even LOOK good any more, which is amazing really.
--cutting out sugar has changed how food tastes. Carrots are incredibly sweet now- who knew?
I think what helps is to be really clear that by not eating sugar etc. you are not depriving yourself AT ALL. You are starving the BEASTS! And wow, at the same time you are also taking control of a hugely important aspect of your healing.
You can do it... And you do get to add back foods after a while. To celebrate my one month anniversary I ate a sandwich with 2 pieces of sprouted grain/unsweetened bread, hummus and a pile of vegetables- my first grains in 1 month. Yummy!!!!!!!!
Dilly
Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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Changing my diet brought about the most improvement of anything I did. All the abx and supplements in the world can't overcome the damage of a bad diet.
I agree!!!! And as hats said, the sugar cravings go WAY DOWN once you eliminate them for a week or two.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Aniek
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Member # 5374
posted
I've been off the diet a while because of other GI issues. But while on it, my main snacks are raw nuts and raw veggies. I cut up the veggies and bring them to work and snack all day.
Hard boiled eggs are a good snack or addition to breakfast and lunch.
You can get all natural hot dogs or chicken dogs (get the ones with no sugar and no preservatives. Hebrew National or from a health food store). I eat them plain, no bread.
Quinoa is a great high protein grain that can be eaten. It's very light. I like it just plain or with veggies.
Since I'm alone, I also used a George Forman Grill a lot. It was great for cooking quick protein.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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robi
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-------------------- Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy' Posts: 2503 | From here | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
WOW! The wealth of information y'all have given me is great! Now I will feel a little more prepared when I go to the grocery store this weekend. I have some questions about organics- where to you buy them, like fruits and veggies and meats?
Also, do you eat cheese or other dairy? Or is that something I should stay away from?
Posts: 24 | From MS | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
Is there a Wholefoods close by? They have a complete and wide selction.
I do dairy, mostly goat yogurt for the probiotics (goat as it less allergenic and easier to digest). Stopped cow dairy two years ago.
I also keep brown rice, millet and quiona on stock as I need some high glycemic complex carb to keep my weight and energy up.
Recently, I have fallen in love with my juicer. I juice about twice a day and add hemp protein powder and slippery elm/or ground flax seeds. My energy level has gone up, and its easier than eating loads of salads as I had done.
Posts: 628 | From the south | Registered: Dec 2005
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5dana8
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Member # 7935
posted
Great Job Robi!
thanks for the links I went looking earlier & couldn't find any
I remember you where the person who made my day once by telling me that dukes mayo has a brand that doesn't have sugar added to it
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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lymeHerx001
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Member # 6215
posted
No really everything everyone is saying on this board it true.
When I was younger I used to eat lots of sugar and bread,, I was a heavy kid and teen.
In my early 20s I lost a ton of weight through diet and excersise and then I lost my battle with depression and this disease. I got really sick and then started lyme treatment.
After that I could not have any sugar or breads or starches.
Doing so gives me lots of pain, brain fog, fatigue, depression, moodiness, allergies, tiredness.
Its bad all the way around. The worst symptom I notice if I eat any sugar or breads is neuropathy. I get burning in my feet as if I was walking on hot broken glass.
I must have got this symptom 1000 times in my life. I is true torture because your being tortured from the inside out. You cant see the hot poker being rammed into your feet.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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sometimesdilly
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Member # 9982
posted
Trader Joe's, if you have one near you, is pretty good- not the huge selection of a WholeFoods, but for many things, less expensive, and definitely less expensive than buying organic at a regular grocery store.
Also, maybe you have a natural food coop near you, and though not always organic, farmers markets (once a weekend in the AM in this town) have local fresh yummy produce etc. and its less expensive than the grocery store.
Dilly
Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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