Q & A: August 12, 2012

Welcome to CHEESESLAVE Q and A!

Every Sunday, I answer your questions. I’ll answer as many questions as I can each week. If I didn’t answer your question this week, please check back next week.

NOTE: I’m sorry I’ve been SO behind these past few weeks! Life has been ridiculously busy. I’m queuing them up for the upcoming weeks so please stay tuned!

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1. Question: Desiccated Liver vs. Cod Liver Oil?

Hi Ann Marie,

I have a two part question that I thought maybe you could help me out with. After a few failed attempts to cook and like liver, I am finally looking to get desiccated liver capsules while I still try to like liver in the meantime. I also currently take the Green Pasture’s fermented cod liver oil/butter oil blend. Would that be too much vitamin A if I were to take dessicated liver, as well as the CLO?

I noticed Radiant life sells a trio pack of dessicated liver, vitamin D3 drops and krill oil– do you know anything about this? How would this compare to just taking the FCLO and dessicated liver? Perhaps I should contact Radiant life as well? (I must say though, you’ve had such a wealth of information, I thought maybe you would know!)

Also, this is in light of the fact that I am building up my nutrient stores after having my first baby, if that is helpful information. Thanks so much!

– Krista

Answer

Hi, Krista, I think you could take the desiccated liver and the cod liver oil, sure. The people Dr. Weston Price studied typically got ten times more vitamin A than the people in his day (in the 1920s-30s). And they got a lot more than we do since animals were still mostly all pastured back then.

So I would not worry about taking too much.

I don’t know about the trio pack — please contact Radiant Life and inquire. They are very helpful!

2. Question: Probiotic Popsicles?

Hello! I am really looking forward to using some new BPA free popsicle molds for my toddler and myself. I’d like to use a little kefir or yogurt in some of the recipes but was wondering if the probiotics are retained during freezing or if I should just use raw milk instead for the recipes?

Thanks

Answer

Yes the probiotics are retained during freezing. Frozen raw milk and raw cream also contains probiotics.

3. Question: Where to Get Quality Rennet?

Hey,

Do you know where I could get quality rennet? I’m trying to make skyr from the leftover milk from making butter and it asks for rennet in the process.

Sincerely,

John

Answer

I buy rennet at the health food store.

4. Question: Advice on Buying Half a Cow?

Hi Ann Marie,

First of all, thank you for your wonderful blog. I’m in the process of transitioning to a REAL food diet and your blog as been incredibly helpful and informative.

I’m getting ready to purchase a grass-fed steer to split with two other families. Do you have any advice on the processing? What kind of cuts do you suggest? What about requesting the bones and offal? I’m a newbie at this, and honestly haven’t tried many organ meats, but I’d like to get the most out of my purchase.

Thank you so much,

Emily

Answer

I would definitely request the bones and offal! I’d take any cuts they have. You can use the tougher cuts for stews and pot roasts.

5. Question: Low Carb and Hormone Problems on GAPS?

Hi Ann Marie,

This may be a little long, but I’m a bit confused and was curious as to you thoughts. I started GAPS in January with my kids. We all have celiac, food sensitivities and can’t handle any grains without adverse reactions.

Prior to GAPS, I’ve had low thyroid and adrenal fatigue, but 3 weeks ago I had pretty much an “adrenal crash”. While my temp has always been low, my hair USED to fall out (when eating gluten), this “crash” left me drained with severe heart arrythmias, neurological symptoms and now more food sensitivities.

I’m working with my naturopath now and just got testing done. But given what you’ve gone through and what you are now touting about including carbs, I’m wondering how much of that actually is a part of the recovery process. I know when your adrenals crash you can actually develop more food sensitivities.

Three weeks ago I was able to have raw milk. No such luck now. I still react to grains and I can’t even eat potatoes now. A taste of stevia and even honey sends my heart into a tizzy. Regular doctors look at me cross eyed, but at least the naturopath understands what is most likely going on.

So to be specific about my question; per Matt Stone you’ve emphasized now your belief in the importance of carbs in the diet in relation to adrenal recovery. But what the hell do you do if you can’t even eat most of those things?

Kindest Regards,
Olivia

Answer

It could be that you are eating too low carb, for sure. Most people do well on low carb for a period of time, and after 6 months to a year, the “Low Carb Honeymoon” ends.

I’d try adding more honey and fruit to your GAPS diet, maybe also potatoes and squash, and see what happens. You may not feel great at first, but try it and see if over a week or two you don’t start seeing your temps come up. I told someone to do this who had been on GAPS for a while and she started eating more fruit and potato chips and started doing a whole lot better (you can get potato chips fried in olive oil or avocado oil).

Ice cream is also super helpful in bringing up body temperature. If you can’t tolerate milk or cream, try frozen yogurt or kefir sweetened with honey. Or try coconut milk ice cream.

The other thing I’d do is eat a lot more food in general, and get a lot more sleep. One of the things that helped me the most when I was recovering this spring was sleeping 10-12 hours per night in pitch blackness.

Of course, it’s hard for me to tell you what to do since I don’t know much about your situation, but that’s what I would try first. You could also consult with Matt Stone and see what he says.

6. Question: Healthy Hair Color?

Hi Ann Marie,
Thanks for all your great answers every Sunday to our questions. I have learned so much from reading your blog.

I am looking for a “healthy” hair color that I can use. I have colored my hair for about 15 years now. At first as a fashion statement and now to cover those pesky gray hairs. I have been looking for something more natural especially because I am hoping to be pregnant soon and I know that whatever I put on my body will also affect my baby.

Do you have any recommendations? Do you know of something I can use even while pregnant?

Thanks in advance!

Laura

Answer

If I had red hair or brown hair, I would definitely do henna. But there are not a lot of good options for blondes with henna.

I go to an Aveda salon. While their hair color is not perfect, it’s a LOT better than most hair colors out there. And I love their products.

If I get pregnant again (knock on wood), I will avoid coloring my hair while I am pregnant. I also avoid regular nail polish — I use the safer varieties of nail polish from the health food store when not pregnant.

7. Question: Hyperthyroid and Adrenal Exhaustion?

Hi, I have two young children, ages 2 years old and 9 months. Three months after my second child was born I ended up with hyperthyroidism and severe adrenal insufficiency.

The hyperthyroidism is under control with the help of a naturopath, herbs and supplements. The adrenal problems still have a long ways to go. In addition I have a gluten allergy and to a lesser extent an egg and dairy allergy. I’ve never been more worn out in my entire life.

Six years ago I had my colon removed due to ulcerative colitis. I also have very little appetite, struggle with eating enough throughout the day. I am trying to follow a WAPF type diet to the best of my ability but I am out of ideas about what I should be eating.

Any suggestions?

Thank you,
Alex

Answer

Hi, Alex,

Having babies and nursing is very hard on our hormones. It is especially bad in your case, because your children were not properly spaced (I know, it happens). I’m not surprised that your hormones took a nose dive due to this. Children in traditional cultures were spaced at least 3 years apart so that the mothers could rebuild their nutrient stores.

You have an even worse situation because you had your colon removed. It makes me so angry when I hear things like this. Doctors are so quick to cut things out! And I’m sure that greatly impacts your nutrient absorption.

If I were you I would eat as much as possible and eat things you enjoy. Low appetite can be caused by low zinc, so try eating more to reignite your appetite (it worked for me).

Ice cream (homemade, grass-fed — or made with coconut milk if you can’t tolerate the dairy) is especially nourishing, soups made with chicken stock, chili, that sort of thing. Potatoes cooked in coconut oil, baked potatoes loaded with butter (people allergic to dairy can almost always tolerate ghee), cheese and sour cream (if you can handle them — or add yogurt), popcorn cooked in coconut oil and drenched in grass-fed butter. These foods will rebuild your nutrient stores. (And they’re really tasty!)

Drink milk (raw, grass-fed — or kefir or coconut milk if you can’t do dairy) instead of water or soda. Kombucha is a good option, too. Or drink chicken stock, or better yet, fish stock (it’s loaded with minerals).

Add egg yolks to smoothies, take cod liver oil, and eat liver as much as you can. You need nutrients, and as much nutrient-dense food as possible to rebuild your stores.

Seafood is especially nourishing. Even tunafish sandwiches (on sprouted bread, with a healthy mayo — see my recipes or my resources page).

In addition, get as much sleep as humanly possible. Aim for a minimum of 10-12 hours per night, and make the room as dark as you can. Go to bed when the kids do and don’t get up until they do. If they are still nursing, consider sleep training them so that they can sleep through the night without nursing. If you can swing it, take naps when your littles do as well.

I know people will complain when they read this post because of my suggestion to sleep train. But you do need to take care of yourself and if you are ill, you cannot be a good mother. Nursing is very hard on you and on your hormones. My daughter was sleeping through the night without nursing for 6-8 hours when she was 2 months old. Babies who are over 2 months old can sleep for at least 6 hours without waking up to nurse.

You can still nurse throughout the day. Just please remember that nursing requires a lot more nutrients, so increase your cod liver oil (you may also want to take desiccated liver capsules) and eat more in general and rest as much as possible. This is NOT the time to clean out closets or start a new business or do a lot of playdates. Rest, rest, eat, eat, and rest and eat some more.

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