Q & A
This page as an open thread for reader questions, especially questions about personal health concerns.
I am putting this page up as a way to share knowledge — my knowledge with questioners, but also so that others with similar concerns can read the conversation, and readers with relevant knowledge can chip in with their own thoughts.
Please keep in mind that I can’t research questions in any depth, so my answers should be considered tentative, incomplete, and subject to later correction. Also, I am not a doctor, and nothing I say should be construed as a substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment. I am only sharing opinions about disease origins and general therapeutic strategies which may or may not be applicable in any given case.
To get the page started, I’ll put up a few questions from recent emails. Here is an index by disease, with clickable links:
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
- Bloating, acid reflux, anxiety, depression, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, fatigue
- Lupus
- Depression
And here are my answers.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Paul,
Been following your work on the PHD before the publication of the book and commented on my CLL and the usefulness of Vitamin D once on your blog and you responded to keep an eye on my Vitamin K intake, which I do now.. Am fortunate in a way to have my form of CLL as it indolent which gives me the opportunity to experiment without the pressure of undergoing conventional treatment. The PHD, I think, is helpful in this regard.
Wonder if you could point anything out to me that may be useful. Anything at all. And I will be happy to share with you my results.
Surely you know of the helpfulness of green tea with CLL. You may not be familiar with research that points out that those with low levels of Vitamin D need treatment for CLL far sooner than those with elevated levels.
Feel strongly that your version of a ketogenic diet would be helpful but also feel I need some direction in this area. Do you have any suggestions?
Warmest Regards,
A
Hi A,
I remember your comment, thanks for writing back. I’m glad you’re enjoying our diet and wish you the best.
Thanks for the tips about green tea and vitamin D. Neither one surprises me.
Most likely CLL is caused by a viral infection. So enhancing viral immunity is probably a good idea. Good strategies may include: (1) low-protein dieting, which inhibits viral reproduction and can promote autophagy; (2) maintaining high vitamin D levels; and (3) intermittent fasting, which promotes autophagy.
Some food compounds have been reported to have antiviral effects. An example is green tea catechins, eg http://pmid.us/16137775, http://pmid.us/18313149, and http://pmid.us/18363746, and this could be why green tea is helpful against cancers, http://pmid.us/21595018, which are usually viral in origin.
I might search Pubmed for herbs and spices with antiviral effects, and use them abundantly in cooking, along with antiviral foods. Turmeric / curcumin is a good choice, this needs to be taken with black pepper to enter the body. See http://pmid.us/21299124, http://pmid.us/20434445, http://pmid.us/20026048.
Coconut oil / lauric acid also has some antiviral properties, so inducing ketosis with coconut oil could benefit you even aside from the ketosis. You could also try monolaurin supplements which may enter the body better and which some people have reported to help viral infections.
You might also try HDL-raising tactics as discussed in this series: HDL and Immunity, April 12; HDL: Higher is Good, But is Highest Best?, April 14; How to Raise HDL, April 20.
Another possible tactic is high-dose riboflavin with UV exposure on the eyes. This requires going outdoors at midday and not wearing glasses or contact lenses. Riboflavin+UV is toxic to blood-borne viruses, and the retina is a location where UV can reach circulating blood cells. Sun exposure will also help you optimize vitamin D.
That’s a few ideas, at some point I’ll do some research to come up with more and do a blog post. Do keep me posted on your results!
Best, Paul
Bloating, acid reflux, anxiety, depression, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, fatigue
Just came upon your website and had a question for you. I have had some health concerns for the last four years, bloating, acid reflux, anxiety, depression, hypoglycemia symptoms, female complaints (I am in my forties), thyroid antibodies at 333, weight gain around my middle and too tired to work out like I once did. I used to be fikiiled with energy and great health no depression or anxiety. My doctor thinks these symtoms are all from peri-menopause and wants to treat me with Zoloft.
Needless to say I have tried to avoid the Zoloft. I have tired every avenue out there to cure myself. Most recently the Primal type diet. When I eat no grains or dairy I get horrible hypoglycemia symptoms and don’t feel great like everyone else on a low carb diet. I feel weak and more anxious. Do you think your diet would be easier for me with the addition of rice and potatoes?
G
Hi G,
Yes, I do think our diet will be better for you. You should eat enough starches to avoid hypoglycemia.
The key thing for you is treating the infections which are consuming so much glucose and making you glucose-deficient if you don’t eat enough carbs. Whatever pathogen(s) this is, it seems to have infected your gut and caused the various gut problems; circulating pathogen-derived toxins and immune cytokines are probably responsible for the anxiety and depression. Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism may be either due to circulating toxins or a thyroid infection.
I would suspect some kind of protozoal or parasitic infection due to the hypoglycemia, but what I really recommend is getting your doctor to have a stool sample analyzed for pathogens. Metametrix has a good test. Once you know what pathogen to treat, and get on a better diet like ours, you should improve quickly.
Lupus
I am writing on behalf of my mother … We live in Dhaka Bangladesh …
Before her illness, my mom was 105 lbs, 5 feet tall and always 10ft tall in spirit…. When she was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 30, we were all overwhelmed and out of our depths. My beautiful, athletic mother was in a wheelchair and given 6 months to live….
The doctors has advised her to eat literally nothing, minimum protein (1 small piece of chicken/fish, limited to 20g protein per day), only 2-3 types of vegetable and 2-3 fruits and of course lots of carbs to apparently compensate for her failing KIDNEY and LUPUS. She is on tons of medication, no food except the wrong foods (carbs) and in chronic pain. She currently weighs 139 lbs.
Please advise. — S
Hi S,
I believe lupus is a catch-all diagnosis for a variety of conditions which are probably caused by undiagnosed infections. In the US the infections are usually bacterial. I’ve known several people with diagnosed lupus who were cured by antibiotic treatments – in one case the problem was Lyme disease (Borrelia). I have no idea what the likely pathogens would be in Bangladesh. If she does better on low carb and coconut oil, that indicates bacteria; if she does better on high-carb, that indicates protozoa.
A healthy diet is very important. It is very bad advice to “eat literally nothing,” it is essential to be well nourished. Protein is necessary for healing and immune function, and 20 g/day is too little. Fasting is good, but it should be intermittent – not starvation! She needs healthy fats, more protein, and lots of micronutrients. Eggs, shellfish, seafood, bone broth soups, vegetable soups, and fermented vegetables may all be helpful. Coconut milk is probably good for her. You should basically follow the program in our book.
I would try to put her on a good diet, give her a little time for kidneys and other tissues to heal, and then try antimicrobial medicines. Usually, if they’re not working, then you don’t notice an effect. Any strong effect, good or bad, means they are working. Bad effects mean that pathogens are dying and releasing a lot of toxins as they disintegrate. If this occurs, detox aids (salt, water, and one of cholestyramine/charcoal/bentonite clay; also glutathione supports and vitamin C) will help.
Please stay in touch and let me know how things go.
Best, Paul
Depression
I’ve suffered from depression for decades. A few months ago, I decided to try the Dr. Kruse protocol for jumpstarting leptin sensitivity and 2 interesting things happened.
When I went very low carb – below 50 gm -. I had half-day periods where the depression suddenly lifted (something that has rarely happened otherwise). However, I also suffered from darker than normal periods.
I stopped the Dr. Kruse protocol after 6 weeks, and went back to regular paleo (approx. 200 – 300 gm. Carb/day). I’m now generally more depressed than usual, without the good periods.
These changes seem to indicate that I can have an influence on my depression with diet, but not sure what diet to try. Thoughts?
Hi Jersie,
I think your experience on very low carb is diagnostically telling.
I would interpret it this way:
- Your depression is caused by an interferon-gamma mediated immune response in the brain, probably caused by a viral or bacterial infection. This leads to tryptophan being directed away from serotonin and toward the kynurenine pathway. So you have a serotonin deficiency and kynurenine excess.
- A ketogenic diet is both therapeutic (promotes immunity against bacterial and viral infections) and mood-improving (clears kynurenine).
- However, you are at risk for hypoglycemia in the brain (especially if the infection is bacterial) and hypoglycemia causes irritability/anxiety and can aggravate depression.
So the very low-carb diet had mixed effects (ketosis, hypoglycemia).
What I would do is follow our ketogenic diet advice. Eat at least 50 g/day carbs from starches to get sufficient glucose, plus sufficient protein to reach 600 calories/day protein+carb, but add in large amounts of MCT oil or coconut oil. Also, do intermittent fasting – eat all the carbs within an 8-hour window; eat at least half the MCT oil in the 16-hour fasting window.
Once on a good diet, I might experiment with antibiotics to see if they relieve symptoms.
Please let me know how things go.
via this link:
Hi There Paul and gang,
I am hoping someone has some insight for me…
I had to go Gluten Free 3 months ago and it quickly resolved several chronic issues – chronic face rash/eczema, “IBS” & peripheral neuropathy, and VERY low vit D. Within 48 hours of going GF the rash was gone and my stomach settled down. Doc also suggested PHD, so I started incorporating in a little rice and potatoes with Ghee. (I have eaten some gluten free products- Udi’s bread etc occasionally)
…Now, I have GAINED weight and am distressed about it. I do not eat tons of food and work out regularly and am petite and try to stay fit so 4-5 pounds feels like a lot. I am wondering if anyone else had this happen – My knee jerk reaction is to cut the carbs out, but agree that I do not do well with NO carbs ( used to eat whole grain bread and brown rice)
Also, I had a few weeks about a month ago when I developed white spots on my skin and started bruising like a crazy, but that has stopped …so I am hoping maybe this weight gain is just another temporary phase…My vitamin D levels are up! But in addition to the weight gain (4-5lbs) I am also having a hard time sleeping, teeth clenching and am constipated …I went from feeling great early on with my new diet – to a new batch of problems…any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.
I know weight loss requires a calorie intake/expended ratio but I am not sure where I could cut calories… if I cut fat out, I am usually starving and I think no fat on the rice for instance, just raises its glycemic,
if I cut carbs out I have no energy and other problems…
if I just don’t eat I get low blood sugar really fast…):
thanks !!!!
It’s normal to bloat up after reintroducing safe carbs; its just water weight as body stores are replenished. It will take time to adapt to the new feeling.
From the symptoms, I think you need to eat more / supplement with magnesium!
Thank you MachineGhost –
Starting Magnesium this week (:
Hi Anne,
This is not an uncommon experience. Basically, you have a bad gut flora – think of it as a gut infection. Instead of a healthy, beneficial flora that helps your body, you have bad microbes that cause trouble.
Bad flora is often associated with gluten intolerance – the bad flora damage the intestine and cause inflammation, and the damage leads to undigested gluten fragments entering the body and the inflammation makes the immune system jumpy, so you become gluten sensitive.
When you gave up gluten-free products, you got rid of the gluten-related symptoms but still had the bad flora. On low-carb, you didn’t feel well because you were starved of glucose. But on PHD, the carbs are feeding the bad microbes so you see a different set of negative symptoms from them. The weight gain reflects inflammation caused by the heightened bacterial activity.
The solution is to further improve intestinal immunity. Try this:
– Supplement vitamin A as well as vitamin D, zinc, iodine, and vitamin C. These will support mucosal immunity.
– Place greater emphasis on collagen-rich soups and stews made with bones, joints, and tendons. These will support intestinal healing.
– Take probiotics and fermented foods, to provide alternative gut flora species.
– Emphasize circadian rhythms and intermittent fasting, these will help reshape the gut flora.
It takes some time to address these. In severe cases, you may benefit from antibiotics or a fecal transplant. A stool test would be appropriate before trying antibiotics, as it may identify parasites or other pathogenic species which could guide you to the right treatment.
You can also look at our constipation post to see some things that might improve the constipation.
That you experience hypoglycemia during a fast indicates that you have SIBO – a small intestinal infection that has probably spread to the pancreas. This is more evidence that antibiotics may help. Doxycycline is not too disruptive to gut flora. Discuss this with your doctor.
Best, Paul
Thanks Again Paul,
I really do wish you guys would make a vitamin!
But I am going to try the supplements and the other suggestions and seeing my doc next week to discuss Sibo and my latest odd symtpomTMJ.
On a good note, saw my regular ENT today to verify I didn’t have a sinus infection making my jaw/face sore and he said my sinuses/nasal passages looked “perfect”….I have long suffered from BAD non allergic rhinitis so this was a REAL stunner and am quite sure a good effect of going gluten free. Thanks!!!!
hi all,
Anyone used Zopiclone sleeping pills (Imovane, Zimovane, Imrest) in the past?
Were you able to replace them with something more natural?
This particular sleeping pill is the only thing i have tried/found that helps my sleep. This may be a clue to someone smart re my personal sleep problems. As i think there must someone peculiar to its mechanism of action which works to ‘fix’ my particular sleep issues.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zopiclone
I do not have a problem falling asleep, just with sleep maintenance.
thx for any feedback/comments/ideas…
Hi Paul
I love the book and have been on your plan for a week now…. However I don’t eat seafood (had a bad food poisoning experience as a child and can’t eat it!). Will I still get the benefits? Should I take otter supplements??
Thanks
Lisa
Hi Paul,
Earlier question here: http://perfecthealthdiet.com/q-a/comment-page-58/#comment-147664
Thank you for the advice back then, I have been following them and improved my digestion. I eat kimchi with every meal, 2-3 times per day and find it delicious, and take a probiotic in the morning. After taking your latest advice i saw a drop in TSH from 2,3 to 1,4. Also my cholesterol went down during spring. 2.4 they were: tot: 8.6 ldl: 6.2 hdl: 1.98 trig: 0.80 mmol/l. Two months later: tot: 7.8 ldl: 5.5 hdl: 2.0 trig: 0.5. Unfortunately this improvement seems to have been seasonal since they went back up during autumn, 15.10, tot: 8.1 ldl: 6.0, hdl: 1.82 trig: 0.5 fasted bloodglucose: 5.5 mmol/l CRP > 10 mg/l. Blood pressure 125/69 Resting heart rate ~69.
Your advice last time was spot on, I realised I had a gut issue only after it started to heal. But im clueless about the cholesterol. Is there something else I could try or do you have further thoughts concerning the diagnose? A cholesterol free version of PHD maby? Although I have cut down on eggs already to one per day. Doctors are putting pressure on me to take statins and claim that my elevated lipids seems to “just have happened” cause I dont have dyslipidemia in my family history and tried to cut down both dietary fat and cholesterol. I can neither afford to see any private doctor cause im a student. If I try to avoid dietary cholesterol all together, do I need to supplement anything else than choline and copper?
Thank you again for taking the time.
Hi Everyone,
Does anyone have any experience being on Paul’s diet while taking supplements for an enlarged prostate?
I came down with chronic constipation about 2 months ago and it is much better through this diet and some other supplementation. But I stopped my prostate supplements just to rule out that it had any cause of my digestive issues.
The supplements are called ProstP10X and its main ingredients are Saw Palmetto, Vitamin D (1,000IU), Quercetin, Zinc, Cranberry, Stingling Nettle.
Also, I’ve heard that normalizing Iodine could help with prostate issues.
Any knowledge on any of the above would be appreciated. 🙂
I wouldn’t trust proprietary multi-ingredient formulas, especially from less than top tier manufacturers. You don’t know that any single ingredient dosing meets what was shown effective in studies. Fairy dusting for labeling purposes is very common.
Anyway, the root cause of prostate issues is the aromatization of testosterone into excess estradiol. That must be addressed.
Hi Machine,
I have not heard of what you said re. the prostate (aromatization of testosterone into excess estradiol). Can you share more information on how I would address this? I am very interested in getting a handle on it. 🙂
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2008/nov2008_Dangers-of-Excess-Estrogen-in-the-Aging-Male_01.htm
I have recently been diagnosed with a brain cyst. I am interested in knowing if anyone has experience changing to PHD and mitigating similar conditions.
Hi Paul, is triglycerides around 400 a very high level? Could this be because this was taken not in the fasted state?
Does this mean I would need to go even lower carb?
Dear Paul,
I was wondering what the thoughts are re unsweetened chocolate during fasting hours–either unsweetened cocoa or melted unsweetened chocolate itself. The coconut oil by itself gets a bit dull. Cream helps a lot in a hot drink, but maybe a teaspoon of cocoa….
Thanks,
Jamie
I have just purchased your book and as I have had a weight problem all my life and tried every diet going [I am 69 ] I am excited that I have finally found the answer.I have coeliac desease so I don’t consume any wheat but could you please tell me if the weights for protein or starches etc. are for raw or cooked.Also,can 3 whole eggs be eaten rather than just the yolks daily.
Hi Denise,
They’re for cooked in water (rice, potatoes). Meats are cooked. Yes, 3 whole eggs can be eaten.
Hi Paul,
I purchase local eggs and went to their website. They said the chickens are pasture raised and in addition to what chickes find on pasture they are given a ration of local non-GMO corn, soybean meal, alfalfa meal and calcium for shell buildng. Corn is 1/2 of mixture. We eat eggs everyday and MY QUESTION IS: Are these the right kind of eggs. Are egglands best eggs better with add omega 3?? Thank you, Sylvia
I thought I would answer since we raise chickens
http://themodernhomestead.us
As long the chickens are really on pasture most of the time ( as opposed to simply having acces to pasture) the local eggs would be better than Egglands. Even better would be another legume in place of soy in the feed. But still, hens eating insects and living green plants on pasture will produce a better egg than one fed a vegetarian feed as Egglands so proudly announces they do
Thanks for your input Ellen. We live in a northern climate,so these chickens will get this feed in winter. Is that a problem for us?
Thanks, Sylvia
No.
Hi Paul,
My family has been following along with your book and there’s some really great nuggets in there so i’m so glad i decided to get it. I was on the PHD for my second child and he is giving me more sleep and has way less tummy troubles than the first babe.
However, My kids and I most definitely have gut infections and i don’t know what test to start with (SIBO or parasitology). they are very expensive especially when ordering for all 3 of us and from canada on top of naturopath fees. Can you please advise what tests we should start with based on the following?
-bloating after meals
-anxious, irritable, lots of worries, aggressive or clingy(the oldest alternates)
-nasal congestion
-bed wetting (5 year old boy, and me when i eat lots of chocolate)
-tend toward constipation
-we all get hypoglycemia symptoms between meals, even with snacks.
Thanks, you are a gift!!! i’m very grateful.
Hi Kelly,
Some keys are:
– Vitamin A and D for mucosal immunity. Be sure everyone eats 1/4 lb liver per week, lots of carotenoid rich plants (spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, persimmons) and optimizes D status. If someone refuses liver, have them supplement preformed A 20,000 to 30,000 IU per week. For K2, eat aged cheese, fermented foods and if it is affordable take supplements.
Supplement zinc to balance the copper, 100 mg/week. Supplement iodine 225 mcg/day, and eat seaweed and seafood.
Get adequate choline. In anyone who doesn’t eat 3 egg yolks per day, supplement 500 mg choline per day.
Make bone, joint, and tendon soups for collagen, and drink water flavored with vitamin C powder (pure ascorbic acid).
Tend to circadian rhythm strategies as discussed in chapter 42. Do intermittent fasting (not the young kids, but anyone for whom it is comfortable).
Read our constipation post.
The hypoglycemia is probably due to the same small intestinal infection that is causing the bloating, anxiety, irritability, and maybe other symptoms too.
Best, Paul
Hi Kelly,
I just read your question to Paul, and if I may add a suggestion,
I would look into a low oxalate diet if you are still having issues.
What caught my eye is the bed wetting after eating chocolate. Chocolate is a very high oxalate food that can cause bladder issues.
There is a ton of good info on Trying Low Oxalates yahoo groups.
Good luck,
Sandy
Sandy, I am also a member of that group and did low oxalate for a long time for vulvodynia and interstitial cystitis. I still try to keep most of the very high oxalate foods out of my diet, but it is so restrictive of so many healthy foods it is pretty hard to do on top of PHD, it restricts potatoes as well as many other very healthy veggies.
AFter being healthy for about four years, I did get into a ton of trouble last spring when I went on a very low carb diet, within two weeks I had a massive flair up that resulted in a trip to the ER, antibiotics for what turned out to not be a bladder infection, followed by months of recovery. For me, keeping carbs between about 80 and 130 and not worrying too much about oxalates has worked the best. But then that was after a few years of being very careful about oxalates.
Ann, I agree with you, I find my sleep gets very disrupted on such a restricted carb diet. I too am tring to keep the very high oxalate foods such as nuts, spinach, excessive chocolate, etc out of my diet, but feel I do need the starches for my well being!
Sandy
thanks Paul,
interesting that the little ones need as much as we do. are you saying the 2 and 5 year olds should also have the 100 mg/wk zinc and iodine recommendations?
I’m actually using 30 mg/D of zinc and feel so much more calm.
thanks Paul,
i’m keen to try IF however with the hypoglycemia i tried using coconut bark to tied me over in the morning and found i got gas, bloating and stomach upset. is there anything else you find works to keep low blood sugar symptoms at bay during IF?
thanks
This question may be a first, but I am completely serious. What would any of you think of the problem of gender dysmorphia and diet? Young teen who, for several years, has dressed like a boy and has recently said she sometimes thinks she would like to be a man, is now struggling with suicidal ideation. When others assume she is a boy, she rarely speaks up to correct them. I think if she could throw a switch and have it done, she would in a heartbeat, but she is a bright kid and knows that surgery is surely less than perfect.
Just thought I would ask. Lots of big issues for our kids.
Lana, I am sure there is some connection with diet. We are seeing so much more of it in recent times and I do not think that is just because it is more accepted. It is more widely accepted because everybody know someone with some variation on this theme
One thing that I think is a likely suspect is the proliferation of GMO foods. That and of course crappy food in general. Both of which increased in tandem with the rise in gender complications. And it has been shown
that GMOs affects our genes and probably our hormones. We don’t know all the ways GMOS can affect us, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if gender dysmorphia were one of them
Also glyphosate (Round Up) causes endocrine disruption. It is not just in people’s yards, it is sprayed on round Up Ready Crops, so it is the food.
Thanks Ellen. I tend to agree. Hadn’t thought about the GMO thing, but it is so troublesome. Just delivered my ballot here in WA state, with hopes that we will pass the GMO labeling bill. My student is struggling with significant depression related to her eight year wish to be a boy. This past summer, while on vacation for six weeks, she managed to convince a collection of kids her age (14) that she was a boy, and now she misses that pretend time. Eventually, someone blew her cover. Now, back to real life, she’s very down. I’m thinking that a real food diet may help with her emotions and depression. Thanks for your thoughts.
This is a great paper on the effects of roundup on gut bacteria by MIT researcher Stephanie Seneff.
Glyphosate’s Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases
Full text:
http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/15/4/1416
If you think about PCOS, that is caused by hormone disregulation in adults (and there is a male equivalent). Dietary causes are high-carb diet plus high omega 6/low omega 3, with gluten and soy isoflavones potentially aggravating.
Imagine a PCOS-like syndrome in a growing child.
See http://caloriesproper.com/?p=3973 for some ideas.
However, gender issues of the type you describe are as old as time; the suicidal ideation is the main concern.
Show her these pictures
http://twistedsifter.com/2013/09/albanian-women-that-live-as-men-jill-peters/
Hi! My Wife, my cat and I started having some weird symptoms in the past few months that included hair loss, congested noes, inflamed eyes , extremely dry skin, loss of appetite, fatigue, anxiety, etc. Initially we associated these symptoms with the change in the diet but lately we discovered that we have been exposed to toxic black mold which was all over our new apartment. We moved and got rid of all our stuff a week ago and now we feel better. But still quite sick.
Could you recommend any treatment to recover from mold toxicity?
Hi John,
Eat lots of fiber (eg potato salad) and supplement charcoal or bentonite clay once a day. You can supplement other supports for bile, such as taurine and vitamin C, to further support excretion. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and zinc will help with liver support.
Glad that you discovered the problem!
Hi! Thank you Paul !
One question – how exactly do you recommend to use bentonite clay?
I bought some recommended brand but the instructions are only for external use…
Dear Paul,
Would it be possible to include unsweetened chocolate or unsweetened cocoa into the fasting hours? I make a delicious coconut oil drink by melting unsweetened chocolate with the oil and adding some cream.
Thanks,
Jamie McEwan
Unsweetened chocolate is as acceptable as cream or coconut oil, so that would be similar to the people who eat cream and coconut oil rich coffee. It is not the same sort of fast and it is not my recommendation, but if you are healthy and active I think it’s fine.
Hi Paul,I am 100% PHD since reading your book.
I have high ferritin level 142, I believe that it should be below 100 if not around 60-70. I have
R Arthritis and the hormone hepcidine I understand, prevents release of iron from ferritin stores to protect the system in the presence of inflammation – bacteria thrive on iron.
My question is: is the high ferritin level not a cause for concern,(as it usually would be re organ damage) if this is the case because the iron is not being released?
Obviously my focus is to reduce inflammation and I can do without actively trying to reduce ferritin levels which are part of the inflammatory picture and possibly end up being anemic. What would your advice be?
Thank you again for being such a support.
Hi Lynne,
High ferritin is usually a marker of either inflammation or iron overload. If you have an excess of iron (usually not the case in menstruating women), then you can donate blood. If it is inflammation, you want to fix the underlying cause of inflammation. PHD is good for that. You are right that you don’t want to become anemic. Ferritin of 142 is not that high, and you could easily become anemic if you tried to reduce it while having an inflammatory condition.
My main advice is to tend to nourishment and immune function via liver and carotenoid rich foods (spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots), vitamin D optimization, collagen-rich stocks and stews made from bones, joints, tendons, vitamin C, zinc, iodine, and the rest of the PHD diet advice, and intermittent fasting and circadian rhythm entrainment.
Have progressed to PHD from paleo for a couple of weeks. I must be doing something wrong. I am really hungry an hour to hour and a half after eating a substantial meal. I take lots of supplements, but will have to tweak some for the right mix. I just feel overwhelmed that I can’t get this right.
I had a problem like that until I made sure I was eating enough starch (and protein)as well as the extra fat. I had had a starch and fat ‘phobia’ to overcome!
Maybe I am just sooooo afraid of gaining weight. The scale has gone up a little since I started this. I feel excited to get the carbs, but feel like I eat too many, maybe patience is called for. I just feel something is not right.
Yes, I recall I gained a few pounds before I lost 15. Paul advised about 1300 calories daily for weight loss, 800 from starch (not counting green veggies) and protein combined(about 500 from starch, 300 from protein) and the rest in fats, preferrable ones that are in the recommended foods (like beef, eggs, butter, avocado, nuts, chocolate). I can now eat a little more than 1300 calories without gaining weight (with no hunger, even fasting 16 hours of 24) i.e. I don’t gain back the weight I lost. Even if I eat what I know is considerably more than 1300 for a few days, the scales may move up a pound or two, but immediately go back when I cut out the excess. I would have to be more disciplined to lose another 10 lbs I think, but I’m just enjoying not struggling with hunger and fear of weight gain for now.
Thank you Donna, when you have been afraid of food for so long it takes a lot to do it right. People d
Who don’t struggle with weight don’t realize how much of a mind game it is. I really feel better w/this plan, that is the whole purpose,the weight loss will be just the added benefit if I will just get out of my own way. Thanks again.
Hi
I would really really like some help. I have rosacea and a chronic fungal infection. I have been experimenting with diet to try and curb the rosacea and not eating any sugar to try to get rid of the fungus but it isn’t working.
I believe paul has had both of these problems so would really like to know what your suggestions are
Thanks
Henry Stewart
Hi Paul,
My college son is wants to gain weight and has decided the GOMAD diet is the simplest and fastest way for him to gain weight. Basically the diet is adding a gallon of whole milk daily to ones current diet. I’m sure this would help him put on some weight but I am concerned about possible short term and potentially long term negative health effects. What are your thoughts? Any suggestions to make substantial weight gains without so much reliance on milk.
Thanks,
SC
Hi Paul, do you have any recommendations for Pregnant women? In terms of what food to concentrate on and what not to do?
Hi Spar,
The most important thing women need in pregnancy is more choline. I would supplement 500 mg per day and also eat the 3 egg yolks per day and 1/4 lb liver per week recommended for all on PHD. The liver, red meat, and seafood should be enough to take care of iron needs. Iodine supplementation is also desirable in pregnancy — 225 mcg/day is good. Vitamin K2, carotenoid rich plants and liver for vitamin A, and sun or supplements for D are all important. Sufficient zinc and magnesium. Then, tend to circadian rhythms — exercise daily, bright natural light in the day, dim red/yellow light at night, good sleep.
My son and I both have Celiac Disease and experience auto-immune reactions to dairy and have several other food sensitivities. We have been following GAPS and we did benefit from that but we both seemed to get stuck where we just stopped making progress. We are moving to PHD now after reading your book and experiencing great results with rice (for him) and potatoes (for me). My big question is that my son has weird reactions to probiotics (we use only dairy free, soy free probiotics). After a few days on a supplement however, my son begins to develop an eye tic. Initially we thought it was due to bifidos or d-lactate and tried removing both of those and any probiotic still seems to cause this. So next I focused on fermented foods but when I upped his sauerkraut amounts, he started to develop an eye tic again. It generally takes about a month off the probiotic to see it completely resolve. What would cause this? Is it possible it is from die off and I should just push through? I have just stayed focused on the whole foods diet for him the last few months because I just wasn’t sure what the right thing to do was and we do not have a Dr who understands anything beyond removing gluten to cure celiac.
Paul,
Can you help me to understand the difference between these two MCT oils?
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/ProductComparison?submit&compareItem=SWU847&compareItem=NWF331
One is twice the price of the other but I can’t figure out from the supplement facts what that difference is.
Which should I buy?
Thanks.
I think you pointed out the difference. I would go with NOW brand vs. Swanson.
Hi Paul,
As someone who eats eggs and seafood but not other meats, is there an alternative that provides the nutritional benefits of bone broth? I’m concerned with this because I’m recovering from a meniscus repair and I’d like my diet to support long term joint health.
Also, though I don’t eat liver, I’m unclear whether I should be supplementing copper. A typical day’s menu looks like:
Breakfast: Coffee
Lunch: Eggs in coconut oil with spinach & tomato
Dinner: Fish with rice and veggies
Snacks: Handful of nuts, square of dark chocolate
Do the nuts/chocolate provide sufficient copper or should I supplement? I’ve avoided zinc supplementation also because I don’t want a zinc/copper imbalance.
Any help would be appreciated. Keep up the fantastic work,
Sam
Hi Sam,
You can try the classic Asian dish, fish head soup. And fish bone soup.
The menu looks OK as far as it goes but it seems a very small number of calories. I would add potatoes to lunch at least.
Thanks!
Hi Paul,
I’m reading your book right now and keep looking for the chocolate recipe. How do you make the chocolate you recommend eating as a dessert? Thanks!
We don’t make chocolate, we buy 85% dark chocolate at Trader Joes. Other good desserts are fruit (we’re enjoying persimmons now), ice cream, rice pudding.
Hi Paul,
I am a 53 y/o female (menopause) and have hypothyroidism/constipation/GERD. It runs in my family (mom/both sisters).
Not sure when, but a number of years ago I began taking taking Synthroid for a while, then money got tight, but my doc would not let me take Levothyroxine (less expensive), so I quit taking it for a few years. Then about 2005 I began to notice poor wound healing in my legs and colds lasting 3 weeks instead of one, etc.
At present, I have been taking Levothyroxine for the past 2 years and Lansoprazole. (My doc put me on a Statin for high cholesterol but after my liver enzymes became elevated, I took myself off them and told her I would rather deal with high cholesterol.)
I have recently been having heaviness in my legs/feet, sometimes numbness in my feet, which goes away with rest. It’s not consistent. But it has scared me enough to do something drastic. Like your diet.
I’m a high-fat lover from ‘who laid the chunk’ so I have no problem with that part of the diet so far.
I just started it this past Saturday. I have yet to get all the components together. Just cleaning out my fridge/cabinets and replacing them with good stuff has been major.
What specifically would you recommend for me to do regarding what I am calling peripheral neuropathy (for lack of a diagnosis from 3 doctors I’ve seen this past month)? I am scheduled for a muscle/nerve conduction test next Friday. Is there any nutrient I need to concentrate on?
I’m currently off Prevacid since last Saturday and have had less heartburn than before, although it still is a problem daily. I take Levothyroxine 75mcg per day and am taking supplemental liquid Vitamin B complex and liquid Vitamin D3 1000 IU daily. I was taking Cal/mag citrate until I found it had fructose in it!
I really need to get back on my feet full time and work. And I’m scared. How long does it take to see a difference? Thanks!
Ginny
Hi Ginny,
The first thing I would suggest is getting off the Lansoprazole. Proton pump inhibitors block production of stomach acid, which you need for protein digestion and also for absorption of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 deficiencies produce neuropathy; immune activity in response to undigested protein might contribute also.
There are other nutrients for nerve function but I think PHD and our recommended supplements should cover it. Tend to circadian rhythms also.
Best, Paul
Thank you Paul!
The evening I wrote my comment, I had the worst heartburn since starting the diet. (I figured portion sizes were in part to blame, and have since cut portions considerably – and fasted – with some improvement.)
I also noticed a return of a feeling of burning and pain at the same part of my esophagus that I had 2 years ago before starting Lansoprazole. (Smaller, well-chewed bites have since helped this.)
Then I read a comment in Chris Kresser’s article on how to eliminate heartburn in which he stated that if there is esophageal damage, eliminating Lansoprazole is not a good option.
So, that night I took one dose of Lansoprazole 30mg. I did not take it yesterday and did not really need it, although I did have heartburn again despite fasting for approx 18 hours.
I will contact my PCP about a slower reduction, if possible, of this medicine. I think my muscle/nerve problems may possibly be due in part to magnesium deficiency from the Lansoprazole, so it makes me sad that I may not be able to come off it altogether. But without it, I have difficulty with foods getting stuck at a certain point in my esophagus and occasional heartburn.
I wish this process were easier! Thanks for your help!
Taking all the supplements for constipation listed on constipation and causes. Taking all other supplements in supp recs.
I’m suffering from constipation as well as undigested food in my stool even when taking betaine hcl doses.
I also suffer from Dandruff and acne, I know Dandruff is supposedly fungal and acne as well. Been using only olive oil and butter, avoiding coconut oil per your recommendations on candida. Been trying to eat low fodmaps, am now taking 50 billion CFU megaflora probiotics. Was eating ~ 500-600 carb calories a day, usually two bananas and two potatoes, sometimes a third. I’ve been on PHD since august and Paleo since 2011, still suffering. Any reccomendations beyond a doctor? I’m not interested in taking pills that wont actually help and will cause long term damage to my body, and as an 18 year old cannot afford a lot of doctor visits. Thank you so much Paul and Shou-Ching!
I forgot to mention I’m also bloated constantly after eating!
I JUST FOUND OUT I HAVE hashimotos. So happy to finally know what’s wrong! I’m assuming I need to follow an Autoimmune protocol for awhile?
Hi Paul,
I was wondering if Garden of Life Raw Protein would be an acceptable food
To add to my diet. Lately it seems as though I’m having a difficult time digesting
Animal proteins, such as outbreaks of rosacea, and indigestion. I have tried taking
Hcl , but a few hours after eating I have issues. I’m working on gut dysbiosis with probiotics, and staying away from sugar and grains, so it’s getting hard to figure out what to eat if I can’t eat eggs and meat. I also have trouble with bone broths as well….
Maybe it’s an histamine issue.
Any thoughts would be great!!
Thanks so much!
Sandy
Please give an idea where to start, 55yo,male 6″ tall, 221#’s, bp-139/90, A1c-5.9, Cholesterol-200, LDL-95, HDL-125, Triglycerides-145, LDL ratio 1:5
I am interested in losing at least 40#’s. Recently started to lift weights and bike riding, can’t run knees hurt lololol. I have been very healthy over the years, time is catching up and I know I need to make adjustments. I would like ideas about a better diet.
Hi Paul,
For those of us who naturally sleep a good 8 hours a night, is it foolish to use an alarm clock (either sound or light alarm) to cut sleep back to 7 hours a night so we can gain some extra waking time? I spend a lot of time at work and it would sure be nice to have an extra hour in every day.
Hi Paul,
Do you know how much, if any, carb can be consumed during intermittent fasting and still maintain its benefits? For example, I like to drink a tablespoon of coconut oil in hot water with half a lemon. Half a lemon has 2.5 grams of carb with .7 grams of that being sugar. Similarly, one tablespoon of cacao powder has about 3 grams of carb (but no sugar). I’m wanting to have coconut smoothies with some added things to hide the taste of the coconut.
Thanks.
Hello Paul,
what are you thoughts on the following desert.
Big bowl of whipped cream with dried coconut shreds.
Hello Paul,
what are you thoughts on the following desert.
Big bowl of whipped cream with dried coconut shreds.
Or, taking heavy whipping cream, whipping it, adding stevia, then the dried coconut shreds.
Currently i tend to polish off a bottle of whipped cream a week.
Paul,
A neighbor dropped off some eggs from their coup last week, truly organic i suspose.
I compared to the ‘organic’ ones i have been purchasing from Costco. Big difference is the thickness of the albumen, much much thicker. why? does this signify a ‘healthier’ egg?
Fresher and better fed chickens
Hi, Paul. For certain food sensitivity issues, my normal diet is very low in copper. I have tried supplementing, since I’m worried about being deficient, but it seems that taking supplemental copper causes rapid mood swings. I stopped pretty quickly because of this. Recently, even eating liver seems to have had a similar effect. I’m not even sure what’s going on (if it’s really the copper), but I wonder if I may have some sort of copper overload, or the opposite. My TSH is high, yet I don’t seem to have Hashimoto’s, and also my neutrophils are a bit low (maybe some of that is related).
Hi, Paul. For certain food sensitivity issues, my normal diet is very low in copper. I have tried supplementing, since I’m worried about being deficient, but it seems that taking supplemental copper causes rapid mood swings. I stopped pretty quickly because of this. Recently, even eating liver seems to have had a similar effect. I’m not even sure what’s going on (if it’s really the copper), but I wonder if I may have some sort of copper overload, or the opposite. My TSH is high, yet I don’t seem to have Hashimoto’s (this is from before the diet, I think), and also my neutrophils are a bit low. Maybe some of that is related.
Hello Paul. I have SIBO,LIBO and intersticial cystitus. I also can not digest veggies beyond pureed carrots and peeled cucumbers. I am trying the starch, but really bad IBS stuff happening. So can I eat a gazillion carrots a day without ill effects. My intersticial cystitus flares with anything acidic or fermented or spicey. Things are not great at all. What do you recommend for this state that I am in. Not sure what to do, feel like all food is my enemy.
Hello Paul,
I am a big fan of the PHD book. I have chronic yeast/fungi problems which I have suspected for a long time but were confirmed by a stool culture test, and I know that you recommend avoiding ketosis, but my doctor says I should strictly limit carbs at least while starting on antifungals. She also recommends whole grains with a low glycemic load as opposed to safe starches, which I use as my main carb source due to the lack of antinutrients. I already attempted a very low carb diet but I got worse with time and even developed a secondary eating disorder over it. The conflicting advice is quite confusing so I’m unsure what I should be eating as I undergo treatment for my overgrowth. Fibre seems to aggravate things as well and I wonder if I don’t have some opportunistic bacteria.
To complicate things further, I tend towards hypoglycemia and I have trouble digesting fat. I suspect some kind of liver congestion that might be causing my abdominal pain. I also did a test that came back positive for heavy metal toxicity. I know my situation is quite complicated but you seem knowledgeable about yeast/fungi issues, so any advice would be appreciated.
Hi – I’m curious – why white rice?
Is brown ok?
Thank you.
Can you give any advice on eating starchy veg for people with gut problems?
Due to years of disordered eating (anorexia followed by extreme bulimia) my digestive system is very messed up and I suffer from bloating and heartburn. I have not had any tests done for SIBO or anything like that and it is not likely that my doctor will consider it.
For the past 4.5 months I have been “paleo” and for the last 2 months of that I have been nut and FODMAP free. I eat bone-in meat, bone broth, low starch non-FODMAP veggies, coconut oil ghee, oily fish and liver. That has helped me a lot and my heartburn is better. However, I do feel healthier and I think it is better for my long term health when I eat plantains, sweet potato, parsnip taro and (true African) yams. The trouble is that consuming any of these is a guarantee of bloating and heartburn and a heavy feeling in my stomach. Even after a week of eating them every day it doesn’t get better and I have to cut them out again.
Do I need to just do more time on a VLC diet or do I need to do something else in order to be able to eat these vegetables? Is there a way of preparing them that is better? Currently I pressure cook them until very tender in stews along with meat and bone broth. I really want to be able to eat them and I don’t know what to do any more.
Btw I should say my heartburn has IMPROVED but not cured.
I’d like some help on this problem too. I’ve DEVELOPED the problem after being on PHD for a couple of years now. Somewhere I read that eating apple slices with the meal helps. That’s certainly not low FODMAP, but seems to help. Also, apple cider vinegar, 2 T. to a cup of hot water, sweeten with stevia. That also seems to help, but doesn’t cure it. I’ve been dealing with this now for two weeks, and can’t make any sense of it.
This brings up a question – is Stevia ok on the PHD diet? Thanks.
It’s acceptable but it’s not encouraged.
Paul sorry to bug you but do you have any answers for my above question on adding starchy veg when you have problems with bloating? I am really trying to do it and it is very hard. Parsnips I find I tolerate ok, or so it seems. Right now I am trying to sneak some sweet potato in. I miss plantain and taro but I am scared my heartburn will get really bad again.
Hi Jenni,
Some key steps for digestion/bloating/heartburn:
Vitamin A (1/4 lb liver/wk plus spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, persimmons);
vitamin D (sun, supplements)
zinc, iodine – our normal recommendations
vitamin C to near bowel tolerance
circadian rhythm entrainment (chapter 42 of our book)
intermittent fasting
choline – 3 egg yolks /day, liver weekly, plus supplements – for gut motility
B vitamins (B1, B5, biotin) once per week
Collagen from bone/joint/tendon/tripe soups and stews
Don’t eat VLC – get carbs – but find carbs you tolerate. White rice is often good, if not then try dextrose powder if need be. You need carbs for immunity, gut barrier integrity, and mucosal integrity.
Best, Paul
Paul thanks for the reply. I am pleased to say I am basically doing all that. Have slowly started to add starchy veg back in after a few months of going without. Parsnips as I say are fine. Yesterday and tonight I tried sweet potato. So far not too bad. I am going to try taro in a week. Previously I was eating 2 large bananas every day to get carbs. Now I am down to one as I increase the starchy veg.
What are your thoughts on the theory that most IBS and GERD stems from SIBO which must be treated with VLC or specific carb diets to starve the pathogenic bacteria? I found low carb/ avoiding certain carbs (sugars over starch – and by that I mean banana over potato and the like, not actual sugar) gave me immediate relief but don’t want to stay on it long term. The question is, can nasty bacteria in the gut be defeated without VLC? I’m putting all my faith in PHD as it seems to make the most sense to me. I am just so worried that going back to eating more carbs will get my guts fermenting again and then I will be in agony.
Hi Jenni,
I don’t agree with that theory. I think supporting immunity is more important and VLC doesn’t support immune function adequately. Starving germs doesn’t eradicate the flora, just reduces the numbers, and they can come back. VLC improves symptoms immediately but doesn’t cure as effectively as other approaches. Immunity, vitamin A, vitamin D, circadian rhythms, intermittent fasting, these are more important.
You are doing well, keep feeling your way and gradually adding back carbs while you support immunity and attempt to change the flora with fermented foods.
Hi Paul,
I have been following a combination of Paleo and PHD for roughly 2 years. Brief history, I have Celiac disease and a long history of chronic constipation. After changing the way I eat, the constipation has dramatically improved, I no longer rely on anything to help me go and am very regular. The new GI symptom I have now is excessive gas. I don’t have bloating or heartburn, just many burps that creep up on me about 1-2 hours after I eat, and last pretty much all day long. I am very happy that changing the diet has changed my bowel movement patterns, however, I find it so embarrassing that I now burp all the time. On occasion, the build up of air is so strong, that I begin to have chest pain and a prominent heart beat. Both symptoms resolve immediately after I burp. Can you give me any insight as to where to go from here in order to relieve this excessive gas? Your thoughts are much appreciated!
Melissa
Melissa,
You may have to add some ox bile supplements if you have increased
Your healthy fats. Belching is a tell tale sign your gall bladder may not be
Handling the extra fat well.
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
Thank you very much for your reply. It makes sense, but if you don’t mind me asking what are ox bile supplements, and where do you get them? Also, do you think it’s related to certain types of foods? I’ve had an extremely hard time trying to pinpoint a particular food that may be the culprit (ie: cruciferous veggies, FODMAP, so forth)…thanks again!
Melissa
Mercola.com sells a great digestive enzyme that contains ox bile (among other enzymes). Helps digest fat. Bile is produced by the liver and held in the gall bladder until needed to help digest fats. I’ve read that anyone who has has their gall bladder removed should be taking a bile supplement.
Melissa,
Ox bile is simply the bile extracted from an ox. You can also take taurine, but include some B6 with it. I take both of these everyday along with digestive enzymes that contain pepsin.
Cruciferous veggies especially cabbage could really cause problems to people who are in the gut healing process. I would cook these very well or stay away. Some do ok when fermenting them. I think for you a good old fashioned elimination diet is needed to see what bothers you. Start a food diary. I can eat boiled broccoli but can’t touch raw..I feel like it simply won’t digest. I’ve also learned I cannot touch raw apples. I’m going to try cooked to see how I do.
Good luck to you!
Sandy
I suppose I’ll start with an elimination diet. Thank you for all your suggestions!
Hi Paul!
You occasionally recommend people to use bentonite clay to combat some kind of toxicity – what would be the safest way to use clay as a daily supplement?
Does it absorb nutrients?
Take some as a water solution while fasting. It helps clear fungal/mold toxins and parasites. Yes, it can caused increased excretion of nutrients, eg bile.
Hi, Drs. Paul and Shou-Ching,
I have been doing really well following your protocol for the past couple years. I have an issue I wondered if you (or anyone else) would comment on. Because my family has been feeling well, we have discontinued getting the flu shot. I am conflicted in my belief as to whether or not it’s beneficial for me, my husband, and my four-year-old.
My beautiful niece is currently at Stanford receiving radiation and chemo after having a brain tumor (medulloblastoma) removed a month ago. My brother has asked each of us to vaccinate as the physicians urged him to have us do so and because she is so immunocompromised. I absolutely want to do what’s best for my precious niece, but I’m not going to lie–I feel bullied into this decision. I will most likely bite the bullet and get the vaccine, but wondered what your opinion about this is. Is there anything I can do/take/eat to mitigate the supposed garbage put into these vaccines? Thanks for your time and ALL your help.
Hi Laura,
I’m afraid I don’t know much about vaccine risks or whether anything can be done to mitigate them. I think vitamins A and D (liver, orange and green vegetables, sun, supplemental D) are an excellent defense against flu, plus circadian rhythm entrainment and generally healthy living.
My best wishes to your niece. PHD and ketogenic dieting, and circadian rhythm strategies, are probably helpful for brain cancer. I hope she recovers.
THANK YOU, Paul! I will keep on keeping’ on. I have mentioned your work numerous times to my brother and sister-in-law. They are so mired in SAD it’s…sad. Thank you for the well-wishes. And thank you again for you constant hard work and dedication. So admirable.
What a difficult situation….Some stuff I’ve read – Dr. Russell Blaylock: if you’re ever forced to get this — or any other — vaccination…since the vaccine can send your immune system into overdrive and cause your inflammatory response to go haywire, your goal should be to head off your body’s immune reaction. Before you get the injection, be sure to load up on flavonoids. They’re particularly powerful at suppressing a long-term immune reaction. You can get these from green tea and ginkgo, but if you really want a boost, take a supplement that contains curcumin, quercetin, ferulic acid and ellagic acid. If you’re not already taking fish oil, now’s the time to start. Taking it an hour or so before your injection can limit the amount of brain inflammation. Vitamins C, E, and D are also powerful anti-inflammatories. (I have read advice to start Vit C a few weeks before vaccine).Immediately after your injection, put an icepack where they stuck you. This blocks your immune reaction. Take one with you to the doctor’s office so you have it ready. 1. The Cochrane Collaboration website (no industry funding) –“In the relatively uncommon circumstance of vaccine matching the viral circulating strain and high circulation, 4% of unvaccinated people versus 1% of vaccinated people developed influenza symptoms (risk difference (RD) 3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2% to 5%). The corresponding figures for poor vaccine matching were 2% and 1% (RD 1, 95% CI 0% to 3%). These differences were not likely to be due to chance. Vaccination had a modest effect on time off work and had no effect on hospital admissions or complication rates. Inactivated vaccines caused local harms and an estimated 1.6 additional cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome per million vaccinations. Conclusion: Influenza vaccines have a modest effect in reducing influenza symptoms and working days lost. There is no evidence that they affect complications, such as pneumonia, or transmission. “The review showed that reliable evidence on influenza vaccines is thin but there is evidence of widespread manipulation of conclusions and spurious notoriety of the studies.” 2.Dr. Osterholm’s study showed that flu shots prevent about 60 percent of flu cases. This is the number that was widely reported in the media. But if you dig into the actual results, you would find that they only prevent the flu about 1.5 percent of the time.”
Aside from untested trivalent and quadrivalent viruses this year, the other chief concern with the flu shots is the toxic preservatives, namely mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, squalene, etc. So a prudent thing to do would be to prepare your body with heavy metal chelators before and after the shot. Alpha-Lipoic Acid, organic cilantro, cracked-wall chlorella, xanthum gum, bentonite clay, etc.
Thank you, Donna and MachineGhost! I sure wish I had read your posts prior to receiving the vaccination (which we received the next day). I took my kiddo to her pediatrician and she and I received the flu mist. Wasn’t prepared for me to receive the vaccination, but was urged to do so.
Shocker–we’re home sick. Sick, sick. No, it probably didn’t “cause” my sickness, but I’m certain it tipped my already-in-overdrive immune system over the edge. Thanks to each of you for your kind responses. I will take note should I ever have to get another flu shot/mist. (At least I have appeased my brother and his family, right?)
Hi!
You wrote before that legumes are not so bad with the right kind food preparation (24 hours soaking, boiling ,etc).
I am going on camping for about two weeks and I can only take nutritious non- perishable food with me and I do not have the tools to soak anything.
Do you think that a “store -sprouted” lentils will be fine (like this one:http://www.amazon.com/Your-Health-Sprouted-Flour-Co/dp/B007VF167I) ???
In general, do you need to soak sprouted lentils??
Hi,
Do you have any specific recommendations for easing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis? I am still awaiting diagnosis but thinking it must be what is wrong (stiffness/pain in hands and feet, especially in the morning). Initially I was treated for carpal tunnel and thoracic outlet (due to pins and needles, which have subsided), and the physical therapy moist heat, and bracing did ease the symptoms, but the stiff joints are still a problem, and the nerve conduction test found no pinched nerves. I have loosely followed the perfect health diet/ Nourishing Traditions for the past 3 years. I did occasionally eat sprouted grain bread (which I have now eliminated). I am 35 and am otherwise in excellent health. Thank you.
Hi Kathryn,
Number 1 is circadian rhythm entrainment. Circadian rhythm disruption leads to arthritis/joint disease in animals, it is the most prominent symptom. Get sunlight every day, bright natural lights indoors, red/yellow/amber lights at night, eat food only during your “day,” exercise daily, social interactions daily.
PHD and good nutrition should help. Vitamins A, D, K2, C and magnesium and a few other minerals are crucial. Eat collagen-rich soups and stews.
Hi Paul,
I am wondering if you have read Grain Brain and if you disagree with any of his diet recommendations?
Thanks, Jennie Sue
hi Paul,
im sure you know something about olygomere procyanidine(OPC).what do you think about it and may it help against my rosacea?
Frank
Hi Paul, Is sauteeing considered high temperature cooking? I imagine it is if done too long but I’ve not found a way to release the oils from onions, for example, without sauteeing. And, I find that veggies taste better when I first sautee them. Cooking veggies in water with oil add during or after isn’t quite the same. But, I’m concerned about the dangers of high temperature cooking and I’m not sure what to do. Thanks.
Hi Paul,
A friend of mine told me that your original book had a whole vegetarian section which has been taken out for the most recent book. Is there a link to it anywhere?
Thanks,
Nicole
Hi Paul,
I just bought your book and am reading through it now. I really like how you explain the science behind the diet. I was on a low carb Paleo diet since mid March and lost some weight. Lately I was waking up in the middle of the night 2-3 times feeling very thirsty. I am increasing my carb intake after reading the reader report about drying out. However, it’s too soon to tell the difference. My son is 17 and he has psoriasis on his back and legs. He received some light treatments but they didn’t help. The doctor recommended to take Methotrexate but we declined due to the side effects. He is on a Paleo diet since May, 2013 plus auto immune protocol since September. He was away in July and couldn’t keep the diet. We thought if we cook the eggs well it should be fine but I took the eggs out after reading your book about egg whites being difficult to digest. His psoriasis is better than it was last winter but still not good. I also increase his carb intake lately. Can you please tell me what else I can do to help him heal? I am really concern about his long term health and the psychological effects it has on him. Thanks a lot for all the hard work you and Shou-Ching did.
I’m not sure why, but this is what I did that finally rid me of 55+ years of psoriasis (since age 4). 1. no gluten, sugar, dairy, eggs, nightshades, corn, mold containing food for quite a while (and low fructose) helped quite a bit; 2. Mercola probiotics and digestive enzymes (still on)and some fermented vegs and drinks; 3. Then 3 months on Dr. Eric Berg’s protocol – no starches – PSORIASIS GONE.(large amounts of green veggies and 12 cups salad / day, minimal fruit [lemon juice, a cup of berries a day], virtually no starch, some eggs, small amounts of protein and PHD type fats. 4. Now on PHD over a year with about 2 cups of starch a day and intermittent fasting, eating 8 of 24 hours – no return of psoriasis.NEVER thought I would EVER be rid of psoriasis. Dr. Eric Berg’s diet (you can google) worked very quickly to get rid of the last of the psoriasis. But I don’t know if all the other stuff I did first was / would have been necessary. I’m pleased that resuming some starches did not cause a return of psoriasis [except for a couple of bumps on my scalp]. I have immune issues as well.
Thank you Donna, I will look into all your suggestions.
Hello Everyone,
This is a question for any and everyone. I miss mayonnaise. Any recipe suggestions? When I use olive oil it overwhelms the flavor balance. Has anyone tried it with avocado oil perhaps? It would be a great PHD food because of the egg yolks and lemon juice. I just need a more neutral oil…
Nick,
I have used MCT oil..it has no taste at all. It’s a little expensive but worth it if you miss the mayo!
Sandy
I have used avocado oil. It is especially nice in a mayo with just lemon juice, and salt because you get a lovely delicate lemon flavor. I do use olive oil in a recipes using mustard, vinegar and lemon juice for a more robust flavor.
If you’re just looking for a better flavor, as opposed to a neutral one, then I suggest looking at the late harvest oil here: http://www.chaffinfamilyorchards.com/farm-products/extra-virgin-olive-oil/. I don’t taste it as quite “buttery” the way it’s described, but I hated olive oil mayonnaise until I made it with this oil. It’s a non-bitter, non-overpowering taste.
Using ghee makes a delicious mayonnaise as well, but somehow it’s so rich I can’t use all that much, and it does solidify in the fridge.