Q & A: August 19, 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.

Be sure to sign up for my email updates so you never miss a post:

Enter your email address:

1. Question: Rosacea and Inflammatory Foods?

Hi there,

I know that rosacea can be caused by foods that are inflammatory. If I’m trying to heal rosacea, is it best to try an elimination diet, a cleanse, or a GAPS diet? What are the differences?

Thanks so much,
Julie

Answer

The GAPS Diet is what I recommend. It includes an elimination diet. Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride, who wrote the book, Gut and Psychology Syndrome, calls her version of the elimination diet the “Intro Diet”.

I would avoid “cleanses” as they are typically not very nourishing. The GAPS Intro Diet is very cleansing but at the same time extremely nourishing.

If you do the elimination diet for at least a few weeks (ideally 4-6 weeks), you should see a reduction of symptoms. Then you can start introducing foods back in one at a time and see what happens.

2. Question: Diet for Puberty?

Hello,

My 12-year-old son has just started puberty, and I was wondering if there is a special diet I should feed him to give him the best and most nutrients his body needs at this time? I’ve looked all over the web and I’m not finding anything that goes along with the Cheeselave style of healthful eating. Help!

Jill

Answer

I recommend a wholesome, nourishing diet of real, traditional food, along the lines of the Weston A. Price Foundation diet. It’s the same thing adults should be eating, but with even more of a focus on fat-soluble activators and minerals.

Focus on organic grass-fed meats and dairy (cheese, butter, cream, milk, yogurt); seafood, particularly shellfish, ideally 2-3 or more times per week (look for wild-caught/sustainable); organ meats such as liver, heart, etc. at least once per week.

You also want to include properly soaked/sprouted whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat, corn, quinoa, etc. Whole grains are a great source of minerals — just make sure they are properly prepared. Other carbohydrates such as potatoes, when served with plenty of grass-fed butter, cheese and cream, are a great way to get in those very important fat-soluble vitamins.

Incorporate plenty of good fats into his diet, such as coconut oil, butter, cream, and pastured lard or tallow.

Include small amounts of fermented foods every day — from yogurt and kefir and sour cream to fermented salsa or kombucha. Properly soaked beans, nuts, and seeds are nutritious as well.

A variety of vegetables and fruits are good to include, but don’t stress over whether or not he eats spinach. If he doesn’t like it, skip it. Make sure all leafy greens are cooked and served with good fats (such as coconut oil or pastured lard).

Bone broth is full of minerals so try to incorporate it into soups, stews, and gravies as often as possible. Jello is also a great dessert if you make it from scratch with powdered gelatin. Another great dessert is panna cotta — which is also made with gelatin.

So what I’m saying is, your focus should be on good fats and plenty of minerals. A dinner of grass-fed meat with mashed potatoes loaded with grass-fed cream and butter would be far better for him than skinless boneless chicken, steamed broccoli and skim milk.

Make your own chicken nuggets with pastured chicken (and ideally, if you can swing it, chicken livers), sprouted or sourdough bread crumbs or sprouted flour, and fried in coconut oil. Mac and cheese made with grass-fed cream, cheese and butter, and brown rice pasta. Nachos made with homemade chips fried in coconut oil, refried beans made with lard or coconut oil and grass-fed cheese and sour cream, and some lacto-fermented salsa.

A great lunch would be whole grain sprouted or sourdough bread with tunafish salad (made with homemade mayonnaise) or liverwurst, or perhaps a grilled cheese, and some grass-fed yogurt or potato chips fried in lard. Or you could send him to school with a thermos full of chili or stew made with grass-fed beef/heart and chicken stock, with a side of some whole grain sourdough bread slathered thickly with butter. Or chicken noodle soup made with chicken stock, pastured chicken and brown rice pasta or homemade sprouted flour noodles.

These are foods kids love. And these foods are absolutely loaded with nutrients.

3. Question: Urinary Incontinence?

Hi Ann Marie,

For years I have experienced urinary incontinence. I once tried to not have gluten or any kind of wheat for a few weeks and I noticed the incontinence was gone for that period of time. But I don’t know for sure if that was the real reason I didn’t experiment the symptoms. This weekend I have eaten cookies, brownies, cake and bread and I developed not only difficulty to contain urine but also pain while going to the bathroom (cystitis).

I am very interested to hear what you think and if you know if something in particular in food that helps the incontinence. Thank you for taking time to answer questions like mine. I really appreciate it.

Catherine

Answer

Some people with urinary incontinence may benefit just from giving up gluten. For others, it may not work.

Either way, it sounds like it’s probably caused by abnormal gut flora. The answer is to incorporate more good flora (beneficial bacteria, in the form of probiotics and/or fermented foods) into your diet.

See my Reversing Food Allergies site for more information.

I am going to be starting a new free blog on the Reversing Food Allergies site site within the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned for updates.

4. Question: Saving on Reversing Food Allergies?

HI! Thank you so much for doing a Q & A. OK I’ve seen ads for your Reversing Food Allergies class tons of times since starting GAPS, and my son has food allergies to milk, egg and peanut that we are trying to solve with GAPS (among other things).

Thing is — we are so strapped trying to follow GAPS that I can’t afford your class. I couldn’t even afford it if it was 75% off (I know it’s sad, but worth it to give my son a chance to be rid of his problems). I’m sure I’m not the only one who has this problem.

So my question is, are there any tidbits of reversing allergies info that you can give me, above and beyond the basis of following GAPS? If not, could you offer a giveaway or something to allow someone to take your class for free?

God Bless,
— Rose

Answer

Hi, Rose! Your timing is impeccable. I’m starting a new blog over on the Reversing Food Allergies site within the next week or two. The blog will be written by me, and just like CHEESESLAVE, only it will be all about reversing food allergies. Stay tuned — I’ll announce on CHEESESLAVE when I launch the new blog.

5. Question: Problems with US Wellness Meats?

Do you get meats from US Wellness in Missouri?

I just received my monthly order of fresh, unfrozen hamburger — and it is very brown. Looks very unappetizing.

I’ve been getting fresh meats like this for the past two years. Always it has been fresh, blood red — until this time. I opened a package and it smells okay. Just looks real bad.

US Wellness hasn’t got an answer. I’ll give them a few days to respond.

What do you think?

Thanks.

Michael

PS: I’ve lost my faith in US Wellness — too much strange stuff has been going on. Over the past few months, I’ve gotten bad bacon and hot dogs. I suspect they’re having problems. I’ve always expected top quality meats from them. Do you?

Answer

I’m sure you’ve probably heard from them by now. I’m very behind in my Q & A posts!

I’ve never had anything but good experiences with US Wellness Meats. I’d be shocked to hear anything different.

Please comment below if you have an update.

6. Question: Organic Pastures Prices and Cheese?

Hi… Thank you so much for posting part of Organic Pastures’ prices, and how much it would be at the store on Rossyln on Saturdays.

I was curious if you by chance knew the price to all their products? The raw cheese? The colostrum, the cultured butter, the raw cream? Curious if you did.

Was trying to find prices online at their site, but none, so curious if you might know. At least now I know how much to bring to a farmers market etc, to buy 1 gallon.

Have you tried their cheese etc.?

David

Answer

Just go to their website, get their phone number and give them a call. They’ll answer any questions you have.

7. Question: Trouble with Hormones?

I have been eating using the WAP principles for a little over three years now. Overall I feel much better and but I have recently run into a gigantic issue.

I am 26 now and stopped taking my birth control pills one year ago after being on them for about ten years (yikes!). Since getting off the pill, my period has “regulated” to a miserable 12-13 day period with 14-15 days between cycles. This has been consistent for the past four months.

Do you think this is just the result of my hormones changing after being on the pill for so long or is there another possible cause? I am meeting with a doctor in a couple weeks to get some blood work, but I want to go in to the appointment armed with some ideas.

Also, I am concerned about my iron levels. I have been trying to eat more red meat and liver but can you think of any other consequences that I should be aware of? Any thoughts?

Thank you so much!

Answer

Not sure what you are eating. You may need to increase your carbs if you are eating too low carb. I’ve written a number of posts about this — type in “carb” or “low carb” on my search bar to find the articles.

Are your iron levels low? If so, red meat and liver are great options. Clams are the best. They have the highest iron content of any food. If you don’t like steamed clams, try them breaded and fried in coconut oil or lard.

8. Question: Melasma and Weight Loss?

Hi. I was reading some of your blog. I have been having melasma issues and weight loss problems.

I run 6 miles 4 or 5 days a week. I’m 39 years old. It was so much easier for me to lose weight 3 years ago. Have you been able to lose weight doing the supplements you mentioned? And has your melasma stayed away?

Thanks,
Jodie

Answer

I had pretty bad melasma when I was in my late 30s. I started eating a traditional food diet based on the principles of the Weston A. Price Foundation in late 2007 (when I was 39). Within a couple of years, my melasma disappeared and has been gone ever since.

I credit plenty of nutrient-dense foods such as good fats including butter, cream and coconut oil, as well as eating more whole grains (properly prepared) and organ meats. I also take cod liver oil.

I think, prior to eating this way, I had melasma due to lack of good nutrition (mainly due to a low-fat, low-nutrition diet), not getting adequate rest. Smoking cigarettes and drinking Diet Coke probably did not help.

Losing weight is not something that I have been able to do but I was on a low carb diet for the past few years which I think really screwed me up hormone-wise. I’m now working to heal my hormones. Please scroll back on the blog and read my recent posts abouts how I’ve abandoned low carb and how I’m now following Matt Stone’s Diet Recovery plan. I am not trying to lose weight right now — I’m trying to heal my hormones. Once I heal my hormones (which, according to many who have done it, can take years) then I think I will be able to eat normally and and maintain a naturally healthy body weight.

It sounds like you are running way too much. That can cause adrenal burnout — which I think is the root cause of melasma. You probably need more rest and more food.

Please read Matt Stone’s Diet Recovery.

9. Question: Vaccine Reaction and Teen Depression?

Ann Marie,

I have 3 kids and I am worried about Spencer. He had a bad reaction to vaccines as a young child including spiking a fever of 104-105. He has had issues with constipation his whole life, but his gut seems OK lately. He’s almost 14 and he’s 5’10″, 120 pounds.

He had been doing well in school, but his performance has really dropped off and is showing signs of depression. I’m working with his teachers, his guidance counselor, his doctor, etc., but its slow going.

His older brother had similar issues at this age and was on prescription antidepressants for years. I don’t want to go that route with Spencer.

Is there someone who could counsel me on diet for Spencer? I was somewhat into Weston Price for the last 5 years, giving my kids raw milk, grass fed meats, some CLO, and I sneak in some organ meats when I can, but also giving them some SAD (mostly Trader Joe’s). You suggested I look into Matt Stone and I have been reading his stuff, enjoying it, but not sure what to eat myself anymore.

Can you recommend anything that might help him? Can you recommend anyone who could work me and my son on dietary approaches that could help?

Thanks,

Imre

Answer

Of course, I’m not a doctor or nutritionist and I can’t advise anyone on diet/nutrition in regards to health issues.

That said, what is his bone structure like? Does he have a narrow palate? That can be a primary cause of depression.

We’ve recently started seeing Dr. Dean Howell and he explains that a narrow palate and bone structure that is not symmetrical slows the delivery of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and dopamine) to the brain. This makes a lot of sense to me.

You might want to consider working with Dr. Howell or someone who has trained with him and practices Neuro Cranial Restructuring. I’ll be publishing a guest post by Dr. Howell in the near future — stay tuned! You can also watch some videos here.

You might also want to look into The Mood Cure by Julia Ross. However, if your son has structural issues, Dr. Howell would be able to help with a more permanent solution.

10. Question: Carbs and Panic Attacks?

I am going to make this question short and sweet, despite the fact that it has been complicating my life for some time now.

Firstly, I was low-carb paleo for about a year. I felt great for a while, then not so great (re: tired, worn down, sluggish, weight gain), and was even told that my thyroid levels were on the low side.

Since then I have been adding back healthy carbohydrate sources like sweet potatoes, lots of fruit, yogurt and cheese, gluten free bread, quinoa, etc. BUT, I have been experiencing symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks since doing so. Usually the panic and anxiety begin shortly after eating, almost like reactive hypoglycemia. Any thoughts on why this might be would be very helpful.

-Nicki

Answer

If I were you, I would read Matt Stone’s Diet Recovery. He does Skype consultations, too. I’m sure he can answer your questions.

Got a Question?

Please submit your questions to questions AT realfoodmedia dot com. I’ll answer your questions every Sunday in the order I receive them.

NOTE: I apologize but all the questions I had got lost when we moved the site to a new host. If you sent a question and haven’t seen me answer it yet, please resubmit your question to questions @ realfoodmedia.com.

Thank you!

Photo credit: Sirwiseowl on Flickr
Disclosure: cmp.ly/4 and cmp.ly/5