Congrats Mrs. Wilson! Can you get used to being called a MRS? Never could, makes me feel old(er).
Well, Arielle, didn't know our conversation would start such a debate here, wasn't my intention, only trying to share info. Anyway, we have access to whole raw milk from a reputable, inspected farm, and they sell it in stores as well. Also raw goats milk. And raw mlk cheeses. One of the pleasures of living in Maine. People here are just not afraid of that stuff, and surprise, most of the obits list folks well into their 80s and 90s. Almost all of those are farmer types. The ones who die younger, in their 60s and 70s are mostly the "city" folk. And younger than that, probably an accident or rare disease. So there is something to be said about eating whole foods and being outdoors and working til you drop from exhaustion.
No, the Paleo diet is not vegetarian, can't remember who brought that up. By all means you can eat all the lean meats you want. Surely the doctor who came up with it is in it for the money, of course he is! But it just makes sense, and as I stated before, there are those of us who are purists, which I am not, and those of us who will alter the diet to our personal tastes. To us, the diet is just a springboard, and a good one at that. It just makes sense to eat sensibly. Just cuts out a whole lot of junk and a lot of us may have food sensitivities we don't even know we have. This diet eliminates all of those things, like gluten, sugar, grain flours, etc. Yes, and dairy too, many folks may have a lactose intolerance and wonder why their digestive system always feels like yuck, I do not have that problem, so I indulge in raw dairy products.
And Arielle, I don't know how you feel about this, but the diet does eliminate legumes. I know they are very starchy and can cause a spike in blood glucose, and we do eat them maybe once a week because they are just so darn good for you otherwise. Of course the Hub with diabetes has to watch his intake, but being so high in fiber, and served in a small portion with another high fiber food, I really don't see the harm in it. We had a neighbor who ate beans every friggin' day, always dreaded being invited for dinner because legumes were always the main course. One can only eat so many beans. She was bone thin, too, and active, but always seemed lethargic to me. Would think overloading on any one food would not be the right way to go.
Ar, have you tried Miracle Noodles aka Shiratake? We just love them, and of course they taste like absolutely nothing unless you let them soak in some kind of flavor. If you haven't tried them, they are available thru vitacost.com and many other places, but we find their prices to be more than fair and get all of our paleo ingredients thru them. Let me know if you, or anyone else for that matter, want to order from them, can invite you as a friend and get you some $$$ off. No, I do not work for them, not a distributor, and am not associated with them in any way. Just doing y'all a favor, and of course I get a bonus from it too LOL! Anyway, back to the Miracle Noodles, they are made from the root of a particular yam plant and contains only the soluble fiberous part of the plant, no carbs or calories, no gluten, no soy, no real nutritional value really other than iron, but they do fill you up, and Hub likes them because he thinks they have the texture of fresh pasta (I do not, they are like rice noodles to me). Their theory is they stay in the system longer due to their makep, and you are not hungry an hour later, like when you eat oriental rice noodles. There is no sugar spike because there are no carbs. I know this will start a whole new debate, why would we eat something that has no nutritional value, but apparently the far east have been eating this stuff for thousands or years for its health benefits, so...But they are filing as a SIDE dish, and can be used a gazillion ways. Don't be discouraged when you take them out of the package, they smell a little, but you rinse that away, let them dry a bit on a towel, and then put them in whatever you are cooking, any sauce, and leave them in there for a bit to absorb the flavors, otherwise they taste like nothing. Hub is fooled that it is pasta even tho he knows it is not, that old brain playing tricks again. Anyway, that is my find for the paleos, and kelp noodles as well.
I know a lot of you will say diets don't work. Well, of course they don't, because almost no one can stick to a "diet" their whole lives. Our bodies and minds have become so conditioned to other unhealthy foods that we actually crave that junk. Just like trying to withdraw from caffeine, soda, bread, cravings big time. Someone said, don't give me a slice of bread, I will eat the whole loaf, and that is KEY. Hub has lost over 30 pounds in about six weeks, the diabetes DX scared him, and he has many other health issues. He's a big sugar person, but has gotten used to Stevia, and says he doesn't like that taste of sugar anymore, it's too, well, sugary! It's a miracle! Last night made coconut flour carob chip cookies, and altho they are nowhere near the real thing, he was happy with them, with a small glass of ice cold WHOLE milk. Will try carob brownies today with coco flour and see how it goes. Did do a carob layer cake with coco flour a few weeks back, it was yummy. He can't have chocolate because it irritates his bladder, but for those who can eat chocolate, I envy you. And both are good for you anyway.
So the whole diet debate is really a moot point, I think. What works for one, works, but there's no reason to get all upset about it. I believe a 30 pound weigh loss for hub secures my side. Personally, I am naturally thin and always have been. When you stop calling it a "diet" but rather just a life style change in the way you eat, you may stop saying "I'm on this stupid diet" and embrace the change. Bad carbs and junk foods are the enemies, and whatever "diet" you choose to get away from them, more power to you!
As far as the medication debate that seems to be starting up here, medicines are sometimes a necessary evil. We have destroyed our bodies and are paying for it thru drugs. Drugs can fix you up, and with a good, healthy way of eating and plenty of activity, many things can be fixed and the drugs can go away. But for some, drugs are necessary to survive. Hub takes about a dozen, sometimes more, but he abused himself so much for so long, he is paying the price. He's a very sick man. Thank goodness I can at least take care of him for now, he's not bedbound yet, and is truly working at feeling better. Hopefully we can reverse the diabetic aspect at least. Statins, that is a whole other issue. Personally, I have had high bad cholesterol my entire life, it's just my norm, but my good cholesterol is off the charts, so I don't even worry about it, and my doc agrees. Plus family history, no real heart issues, no strokes, etc. At 57, I take no meds at all. If I were to go to a different doctor, I'd probably be on many meds. Positive rheumatoid factor (my mom, her mom), arthritis is setting in, fibromyalgia, unnoticeable except for flares which are excruciating and not much else. Movement helps me get thru the flares, and they only last a few days. It's always there, but I have learned tricks without meds, but with food. A good hot cup of herbal tea or coffee works wonders to make one feel better and soothe. Did have a dr. tell me years ago that I should be on statins, but I know my body. My counts were high as a child. It's just my normal, and altho I'm young HA! yet by some standards, folks in my family just don't live that long. My genetics are something I have no control over. Cancer is the big threat for me from genetics, but I hope to at least postpone that thru diet and staying active. If and when the big C comes to call, at least I know that I did everything I could to try to avoid it.
Doctors, doctors, please. There are good and bad doctors just like everything else. We are fortunate to have an FNP to take care of us, and he is wonderful. Half holistic, half traditional. His wife is a hospice nurse, so we have the best of both worlds for hubs pain control. He will tell us if he thinks one specialist is good or not good for US. Trust me, we've seen plenty of both. We are now venturing onto the holistic trail, not giving up on traditional, but Hub wants a new outlook, he's sick and tired of being sick and tired. Maybe some acupuncture, Hub thinks he would like to try hypnotism for his pain and get away from the narcotics, even just a little. We are in touch with a world renowned herbalist/holistic and he wants to take Bob's case because it's so rare. Our NP knows when we come to him asking whaddya think, that I have done extensive research before even asking him for a recommendation, and he just says go for it, let's see if it works. As long as it doesn't interact with the meds, it's harmless anyway. But believe me when I say this, and please medical people reading this, no offense, there are some horrible doctors out there, we've seen more than our share, and you can tell from the first (and last) visit. If a doctor doesn't listen, doesn't even know what bedside manner is, poo-poos or dismisses you, it's time to look elsewhere. 'Nuff said. Please don't start a debate about doctors, there are plenty out there that we should show our utmost respect for, and nurses and all other medical professionals as well. Yes, we are the patients, this body is mine, and you can always say no thank you at any time, it is your right. Weren't for them, most of us would not be here.
On a different matter, I told you all I had brought in six healthy duck eggs from a cannibal female, but did not have an incubator, and put them in a styrofoam cooler with a heating pad, soft warm blanket and misting them, watching the temp and humidity. I believe 4 have died, the veins are gone and they are not growing. Will have the funeral today. The other 2 still look viable, good veins, and some growth. It will be a week today, so will give them a few more days. Pretty sure they will probably not survive, but at least I tried. And YES, going to buy an incubator today online, will have it in a day or two, so don't yell at me. Money was an issue. So then can get serious about hatching some little duckies. Removed all of the eggs from them yesterday so will have a fresh start. They were none too happy, they are very possessive of their eggs, but tough, they had their chance and blew it.
Has anyone had Buff ducks? Gosh, they are some beautiful. Do they have pretty much the same temperament as Pekins? I do love my Pekes, they are super friendly and super comical and ridiculous, and very well behaved. Will also be ordering some chicks, more RIs and Goldstars, the best of the best eggers, and mix up with a few of the prettier ones I used to have, and get a ROOSTER, OMG, I miss my rooster so much, and want some bambinos naturally. My little Dominique that passed was the best setter, the best brooder, and hatched a lot of roos for the freezer, thru no fault of her own. Gosh, it's amazing how we miss our favorites. She probably will not be replaceable, but sure will try. My RIs and Stars are a few years old now, but among the 9 of them, still get about 5 eggs a day, plenty for us. They are amazingly hardy, but now their days are numbered at this point.
Had a lot of egg customers at one point, back when I had my flock of 70 or so, but since the economy crash, everyone ran out and got their own chickens. Hoping that most of them have given up on that dream and will be back for business. We shall see, I can always barter off excess hens with a neighbor for goats milk, he ought to be birthing about now, or real soon, and he's got a mess of beautiful little goats. He sold a bunch to someone who owns an island off the coast, they wanted to populate it with goats, it's been a few years. Will have to ask him how that's going. We wanted a pair at one point, but with Hub being ill, it just wasn't feasible, I can't do much more than I already am, my plate is full. Oh well, maybe someday...
'Nuff for now, eat well, stay busy and ignore the rest.
