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.
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1. Question: Will The GAPS Diet Heal Hypoglycemia?
I am 46 years old and was on a low carb diet for several years mostly to help with my hypoglycemia. I, too, experienced strange side effects with regard to my cycle while following the low carb diet, etc…
I followed the diet outlined in Fertility Cycles and Nutrition for three months including flax seed oil and opti-vite supplements. While I was only seeking to regulate my cycle, HAPPY SURPRISE, we ended up pregnant! There is a five year gap between this child and my previous one. This is my 10th child and am due in May.
Now, I am purchasing the GAPS book and plan to try the diet to the best of my ability at this stage. (I’ve tried similar things for the short term). While I would love to include grains in my diet my gut still has a lot of healing to do to be able to continue due to the hypoglycemia.
In your opinion, do you think the GAPS diet will heal hypoglycemia?
Thanks,
Carol
Answer
I’m not a doctor so I can’t prescribe treatment for anything.
I haven’t heard of anyone doing GAPS for hypoglycemia. I think the answer for hypoglycemia is just eating regular meals at regular intervals, making sure you don’t skip meals.
2. Question: Thoughts About Hair Loss?
My hair has been falling out and this is extremely distressing to me. It’s been going on for years, possibly started by going on the pill (back in 2005, I was on it for around 2 years), or possibly caused by thyroid. Or who knows what. Any suggestions here?
Best wishes and thank you again.
CB
Answer
I’m not a doctor, so I can’t say. However, hair loss is often caused by hypothyroidism. I’d look into thyroid function if I were you.
3. Question: Help With Making Homemade Yogurt?
Hi,
I am sure you had a step-by-step guide on making yogurt, but i can’t find it. Can you point me in the right direction?
Thanks
Louise
Answer
I have a video on making yogurt in my Reversing Food Allergies class. I don’t think I’ve ever published anything on this blog.
4. Question: Suggestions To Help Husband With GAPS Diet?
Hello!
I just wanted to say that I am a huge fan of your blog and videos! I follow both you and Nourished Kitchen, and I just learn so much from you ladies!
Unfortunately, I am worried about my dear husband’s health. He and I are both overweight, but he also has major digestive issues and possible food allergies. The doctor says he has IBS, but all they do is prescribe a muscle relaxer to make bowel movements less painful. I think the problem goes deeper. He can’t digest lettuce, and just this morning, (sorry if this gets TMI) I found four whole peas in the toilet, and they were cooked when we ate them! We had them with dinner two nights ago! It really freaked me out.
I’m trying my best to acclimate us to eating better food, but I’m having to go incredibly slow. We drink some form of kefir everyday (he won’t drink kombucha on principle, lol), and we’ve been doing that for a couple of months now. I also bought a grinder to grind our own sprouted wheat flour and am planning to use it 50/50 with white flour to make the change gradually. I’m just afraid that’s not enough.
I talked to him about doing GAPS, but he’s veeeerrrryyyy resistant to that. I just want to do what’s best for us without getting bossy. If slow and steady will win the race, I’ll keep it up, but can his gut heal without GAPS? Any advice is appreciated…
Thank you so much!!
Jessica
Answer
Digestive problems can be caused by leaky gut/gut dysbiosis, but there can be other root causes such as hypothyroidism. I’d work with a holistic practitioner if I were you. I would not do GAPS unless you find that you really need it (i.e. nothing else works). GAPS is a tough diet and it’s not easy to get family members on board.
I’d personally start just by taking a quality probiotic and increasing the fermented foods (yay for the kefir!).
5. Question: Advice On Adrenal Fatigue?
Hi Ann Marie!
I just finished reading your post on Lunaception. This is a fascinating article and I’m going to give it a try too. I was struck by a comment you made (in the comments section) about adrenal fatigue and temperatures. I decided to email you rather than reply there as this gets off the topic of lunaception.
I’ve been recovering from adrenal fatigue for years as well and am doing fairly well, although still have a ways to go. I started tracking my temp about 8 months ago and noticed that my BBT was chronically low. No one could tell me why and just suggested that it was “my norm”.
In The Garden of Fertility (on fertility charting) I read that this is an indication of low thyroid function. I should mention that I started a paleo-style just over a year ago, and have been on full GAPS since September (and GAPS intro for 6 weeks).
I’m 43 and, like you, am hoping to have a (my first) baby this year. About 2 months ago my BBT came up nearly .5C and has remained stable at this higher level. My doc suggested that my rise in temperature was a shift towards menopause. Not the news I wanted to hear! But I take conventional medicine with a grain of salt. I am encouraged by your comment that a rise in your temperature is a sign of improved health. This is how I interpreted my own temperature shift too, but no one I know has any idea what I am talking about. Not even my holistic practitioners seem to know what to say! I think it’s a pretty big deal and want to understand what’s going on, but when I talk about it, I just get looked at like I have two heads.
So I’m writing to you to ask where you have learned about the connection between temperature, adrenals and so on. I really want to learn more as I have to be the chief advocate of my own health. If you know of any great books or websites that you could direct me to, or if you just have personal experience to share, I’d be very grateful! It’s been a long, lonely road figuring this all out and it’s exciting to come across someone else who’s on that same road. I hope lunaception works well for you and wish you the best of luck in your baby efforts! Now I’m off to duct tape garbage bags to my window…
Warmest regards,
H
Answer
I recommend Matt Stone’s book Diet Recovery. Matt’s the one who taught me the most about thyroid function, body temperature, hormonal balance, etc.
I also recommend Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic by Dr. Mark Starr.
I don’t recommend low carb if you are trying to raise your body temperature and balance your hormones. Increasing my carbs and overeating as Matt Stone suggests is what really helped me over this past few months.
See my post: Why I Ditched Low Carb.
6. Question: Suggestions For Helping With Depression And Increasing Serotonin?
Hi
I’ve been following your blog and wondered if you knew of natural remedies for depression and increase serotonin. I’m currently nursing but need something for my mood swings and depression.
Thank you
A
Answer
I would avoid caffeine — that depletes serotonin. Make sure you eat balanced meals — 3 squares a day, plus snacks if you need them.
Please don’t do low carb or anything like that. Eat balanced meals with adequate amounts of protein, complex carbs like whole grains and potatoes, fruit, etc. and good fats.
Get plenty of rest (10-12 hours per night if you can swing it — if you can’t, then sleep when the baby sleeps during the day).
Julia Ross recommends an amino acid blend for mothers who are nursing. I’m not sure if this is the one she recommends — you could call her office and ask.
You should also read Ross’ book, The Mood Cure: The 4-Step Program to Take Charge of Your Emotions–Today
7. Question: Recommendations For Cookware?
You mentioned in a post about nickel leaching out of stainless steel when cooking acid foods. I currently use Pampered Chef non-stick cookware and I’m sure that is not the best cookware to use. Is stainless steel cookware not safe either? What recommendation do you have for cookware?
Thanks,
Andrea
Answer
Stainless steel is fine. I have a set of stainless steel cookware, and I also use Le Creuset enameled cast iron, and regular cast iron.
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@Louise,
Making yogurt at home is pretty simple. Step 1: Heat milk up to body temperature. Step 2: Add a little bit yogurt you already have to the milk. Step 3: Keep the milk plus yogurt mixture at body temperature until it reaches the consistency and tanginess you prefer, usually 6-24 hours.
That’s it. There are a lot of tips for pulling off step 3 on the internet that involve crock pots or coolers. Really, do whatever works for you. And BTW, a lot of old-fashioned recipes will tell you that you need to “scald” the milk at the beginning. You don’t. Whether you’re using raw milk or pasteurized milk, you can skip that step.
Yeah, yogurt is dead simple. Please follow instructions like this or Google it.
You can also get a yogurt maker relatively inexpensively, which gives you little jars and holds the milk at the correct culturing temperature.
Does anyone know if the “Orgreenic” pans are safe? It says they’re ceramic. ???
I have seen those pans. Walgreen’s has them around here. Unless you can’t lift a few pounds or something, why would you want to cook with a nasty, cheaply made pan when good, often already-seasoned, often even antique cast iron skillets are readily available under $20 at flea markets, auctions, rummage sales, and thrift stores? And they will last you the rest of your life, if you take care of them just a little.
Carol, I had issues with hypoglycemia before I went on GAPS. Gone now!
Kate
Me too Carol! Increasing good fats and decreasing empty sugars really helps, but I think my body also just works more efficiently now and I don’t have the big swings in blood sugar I used to. I couldn’t survive 3 hrs without snacking, and now I can be an hour late (5-6hrs between meals) for a meal and not notice.
Hair loss is related to hypothyroidism as Anne Marie said, but it can also be due to low ferritin levels which are your iron stores. An iron supplement can up your levels and stop or minimize hair loss.
Full GAPS fixed my hair loss within just a few months!
One of the benefits cooking with stainless steel cookware is that it does not have chemical reaction with acidic or alkaline foods such as tomato, asparagus, onions, etc. I use my stainless steel pot to make pasta sauce and it’s perfect.
There is no reason to not go low carb for the treatment of depression the two have nothing to do with each other and in fact, I give credit to my low carb paleo diet in assisting me with my severe clinical depression which I can now say is finally gone, after a lifetime of misery.
The biggest help came in the form of the following supplements: Vitamin D3 (5,000 IUs/day), B-100 Complex, and Magnesium.
Prior to adding those supplements I found a little relief with 5-HTP but nothing permanent and lasting until I changed over to the above vitamins instead. Now I feel amazing. I should also note that as I follow a paleo approach, I do not use artificial sweeteners which I believe also can be detrimental to hormone balance and mood stability.
Carol,
I have struggled with hypoglycemia for years. A D.O. told me it was due to adrenal fatigue and treated me with supplements. They helped some (especially taking chromium with meals) but didn’t eliminate the symptoms completely. I went off caffeine in February and by May I was no longer hypoglycemic (with no other dietary changes.) For me, it was a very gradual change. I hope you can find something that works for you; it’s no fun to have major mood swings all the time.
I read that using cast iron pans to cook for men is not a great idea because men have a harder time expelling iron. Is there any truth in that?
I personally would not worry about it.
As for hair loss, I just ordered some black currant seed oil, and lots of reviewers were saying that it helped with that.
I love cooking with stainless steel cookware. It’s durable and versatile. Can be used on any cooktop and in the oven. Easy to clean. Doesn’t have chemical reaction with acidic food. Has good heat conduction. I season my pan to make it non-stick and maintain its durability.
How do you season stainless to make it non-stick?
Idiot proof yogurt (I’m the idiot who proved it)
1/2 gal milk in 4 quart crockpot/Lid on at all times
Turn on LOW for 3 hours.
Turn OFF and allow to cool for 3 hours.
Mix 1/2 to 1 cup of your choice of live cultures yogurt in 2 cups of the cooling milk
Return thoroughly mixed yogurt starter/cooling milk to crockpot
Gently, but thoroughly, stir in – try to avoid creating milk bubbles.
Wrap a bath towel around crockpot and leave in a draft free spot between 12-24 hours
The longer you allow fermentation, the tangier and richer the yogurt.
When you place the finished yogurt in containers and refrigerate, reserve 1/2 to 1 cup as your starter for the next batch.
Optional: for Greek style, thick texture, allow whey to drain through a coffee filter. Whey may be used fresh or frozen as a flavor enhancer/protein source in soups, stews, smoothies, broths, etc.
To sum up:
Turn on, turn off, mix in, wait, enjoy.
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