Re: Does sugar & gluten increase the symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

[Guest guest]

[i know for a fact that sugar, and gluten increase my fibro. symptoms tenfold. Very good article. Carlene]

Q & A with Nutrition Expert Dr. Olson - From the Live Chat Held Jan 9

January 13, 2009

Welcome to ProHealth's Live Chat with Dr. Olson (`Dr. ') - a Naturopathic Doctor, expert in alternative medicine, author, medical researcher, and nutrition counselor. "Definitely not your typical doctor's advice."Spurred on by his patients' struggles with sugar addiction, Dr. was determined to learn all he could about sugar's impact on health, and find ways to overcome the addiction. The result of that study is his book Sugarettes, which describes the addictive qualities of sugar and the harm it does to our bodies.Welcome Dr. !_______________________________Dr. : Hi Everyone! When I was 16 years old, I picked up a book on diet (Pritikin) and was mesmerized by the thought that the food we eat had something to do with the diseases we might get. While it seems a bit stupid now, I had no idea that our food choices had anything to do with health. The Pritikin diet made claims of weight loss, but they also suggested that following their diet would stop or reverse heart disease. I was hooked!I have spent a lifetime reading every health book I could get my hands on, and that passion is what drove me to become a Naturopathic Doctor and the author of the book Sugarettes.

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Q: Doctor, can you tell me, does sugar in the diet increase the problems of a person with fibromyalgia? I was told I should stop eating sugar and white flour and this would help me. I tried it for two weeks and stopped because I can`t quit eating sugar - I love sugar! Help!Dr. : As you know, the underlying cause of FM is a bit of a mystery. What appears to be very common in people with FM and CFS is stomach problems: IBS, constipation… Sugar and foods that act like sugar are a feast for the bad bacteria that inhabit our guts.These can lead to "leaky gut," a heightened immune system, and a host of other problems. Our bodies are not designed to handle high sugar loads, or foods like grains.Yes, you should stop eating sugar, and I would suggest stop all grains. And, yes, it is hard, but gets easier.

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Q: What are the foods that act like sugar? And why grains? Aren't they supposed to be healthy?Dr. : This was the surprise when I investigated the glycemic index. There are certain foods that act just like sugar (and some that act more like sugar than white sugar) in our bodies. Which foods? Grains, especially processed grains (ground and turned into flour), some starchy vegetables, and some fruits. There is a whole list of these on my website: OlsonND.comThe way the glycemic index works is that a scientist will measure the blood sugar of a volunteer and then feed that volunteer a single food. After two or three hours, the volunteer's blood sugar is measured again. What scientists have discovered through this kind of testing is that certain foods increase blood sugar a little, others increase blood sugar moderately, and still other foods increase blood sugar dramatically.

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Q: A friend of mine who has type II diabetes says a special pasta she buys is processed so most of the carbs can't be absorbed & glycemic index is low. Can this be a healthy food?Dr. : Well in fact pasta, in general, is very low on the glycemic index. If you cannot stay away from grains it is good to choose pasta. The reason why it is low is a bit of a mystery, but that is what testing shows. Beyond that, if you must include grain in your diet, try to choose the whole grain, not the "white" version, and prepare it as most people make rice: boil and eat it. The whole grain with the lowest glycemic index is barley.

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Q: Hello Dr. - what supplements would you recommend for controlling blood sugar levels?Dr. : I like chromium and vanadium the best. Although I do like a change in diet better.

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Q: Do you need to completely eliminate sugar to kill Candida [yeast overgrowth]?Dr. : Yes, that is the only way to get a hold of Candida. You also need to (sorry to say) eliminate foods that act like sugar. These foods are grains, starchy vegs, and some fruits.

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Q: Lots of people are talking about how making our bodies more "alkaline" is a good thing, and we should eat the right foods for good balance. What is this all about, and is there anything to it?Dr. : Yes, eating for a more alkaline body is a great idea! This means including more fruits and vegetables in our diet. I recommend ideally a diet of 80% fruits and vegetables, 20% protein.You can easily test your own acid/base balance by using pH strips and checking your urine or saliva.

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Q: What fruits are acceptable?Dr. : Actually, most are okay. You want to choose the ones that are low on the glycemic index - The high sugar ones are bananas, watermelon, tangerines...

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Q: Do you recommend taking an IgG food allergy test to identify which foods are causing you problems?Dr. : The answer to this is: Somewhat. The blood tests are great at finding food ALLERGIES. This means that you are allergic to the food and your body is attacking it like it is a foreign invader. Blood tests discover this interaction.However, blood tests will not discover food SENSITIVITIES: foods that might not agree with you, but that you don't have an allergic reaction to. In my mind food sensitivities are a much larger problem than food allergies.The only way to discover all your food allergies is to go on an allergy elimination diet. The most common food allergens are wheat, nuts, corn, soy, eggs, dairy.

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Q: You suggest staying away from sugar. What about honey and maple syrup?Dr. : Maple syrup, honey, agave and other "natural" sweeteners all act the same as sugar in our bodies and should be avoided. They appear to be more natural, but have the same consequences to our health as does white sugar.

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Q: Any views on pros & cons of insulin pumps for diabetics?Dr. : I'm for insulin pumps because they mimic natural blood sugar control much better. The whole idea for diabetics is to avoid a spike in blood sugar. High blood sugar is toxic and destroys our blood vessels (leading to heart disease, eye disease, kidney disease… that are commonly seen in diabetics).

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Q: What is the safest low glycemic sweetener to use?Dr. : Low glycemic would be xylitol, but no-glycemic would be Stevia. Stevia has recently been approved by the FDA and should start showing up in products soon.

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Q: I saw a comment on your artificial sweetener story ["What Is Wrong with Artificial Sweeteners?"] that xylitol in very small amounts kills dogs. Can this be true??Dr. : Yes, this is true, but understand that chocolate will also kill dogs. Xylitol is generally considered to be a safe sugar in humans and does have some benefits in the body. My preference is that people avoid all sugars (including xylitol).

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Q: Do you think the sugar in dark chocolate outweighs the health benefits of chocolate?Dr. : Yes, sorry to say.

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Q: Is there sugar free wine on the market?Dr. : Wine will always have sugar in it. The only non-sugar alchohol is 100% pure grain alcohol.

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Q: I'd like to discuss gluten sensitivity. I'm new to this idea, but eating gluten free seems to be making a difference for me.Dr. : Yes, many people are allergic to gluten, more so in the ME/CFS and FM community.

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Q: I've had FM for years. Is it necessary to avoid ALL gluten, or just the obvious wheat, rye and barley? Is the little bit added into some sauces etc. a problem if I do NOT have celiac disease?Dr. : I would suggest a period of no grains at all. You can pick how long, but usually around 2 or 3 weeks. Then, slowly introduce one grain at a time.

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Q: I'm a little scared to reintroduce grains!Dr. : I actually don't think we should eat grains at all. The proof of this is to imagine how much of a grain you could digest if you didn't have any tools (nothing to boil or grind the grain). There is some research to suggest that upward of 40% of us are allergic to gluten.The best test, as you say, is to remove it yourself and see. I see a large number of diseases disappear with a change in diet like that. [but if you're going to be tested for celiac disease by a doctor, don't go off gluten beforehand, as this could cause the doctor to miss evidence of celiac if you have it.]

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Q: What about sprouted grains?Dr. : Sprouted grains are much better than non-sprouted. Higher in protein and better to digest. But there is still gluten in sprouted grains.

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Q: Doctor, what do you recommend for a digestive enzyme product?Dr. : I like a mixture of both enzymes and HCL (stomach acid).

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Q: How do you suggest a person "detox" from sugar addiction?Dr. : You have to consider sugar addiction to be like other addictions: Just as hard to kick as alcohol, cigarettes and even hard drugs. The best way to detox is to remove it from you diet, but be prepared for BIG cravings.

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Q: Are there any supplements to take that eliminate sugar cravings?Dr. : None work super-great, but I like chromium, vanadium, magnesium, B-vitamins.

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Q: Can steroids induce diabetes? I started having symptoms and was diagnosed after 6 weeks on prednisone.Dr. : Yes, this is a very common side-effect of steroids.

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Q: I was over 50 when diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (`juvenile' diabetes). Is this rare? And do you think diet or other factors are involved?Dr. : I wish this were rare. No, the older we get the HIGHER the risk for diabetes. It is now suggested that 35 percent of us will eventually get diabetes. That is a huge number! We should all do everything we can to avoid diabetes because having diabetes shortens our life spans.

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Q: Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, can you get over it or manage without drugs?Dr. : Diabetes, in my estimation, is completely preventable and even reversible by a good diet. But this means sticking to the diet and continuing monitoring your blood sugar.The sooner after you are diagnosed you convert to a sugar free diet, the better your chances. If you're diabetic, though, kicking sugar out of your diet also means you have to watch your blood sugar very carefully - as many people's gets too low.

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Q: What are your thoughts on dairy, both cow and goat?Dr. : I think that dairy is a great food. It is high in Biological Values and a good mixture of protein, fat and carbo. The only problem? High Allergy. Goat is much better for digestability.I suggest shopping the outside aisles of the super market: produce, dairy, meat, then get out!

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Q: My husband who has fibromyalgia did a water fast. He said that after the first couple of days he felt… clear headed and much less pain. Why might that be? Do you think he might have a food allergy?Dr. : There are many connections between our diet and our health. Yes, he probably has a food allergy. People with arthritis experience the same thing: fasting improves their condition.The thing to be careful about is, returning to normal eating can often cause symptoms to worsen. The best way to return to normal eating is to do an only-vegetable diet for a few days and then add in fruit. After that include proteins (one at a time).Staying on a diet that is free of grains and sugar can really clear up a lot of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

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[Read the rest of this article at the following link]

http://www.prohealth.com/ME-CFS/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=14231 & B1=EM011409C

[Guest guest]

What an excellent article. Thank you for posting it.

In my own case I have found (I AM NOT Celiac) that eliminating all sources of gluten and also (for ME) dairy has helped my IBS immensley. A lot of folks presume that going gluten free means eating bland type food. That is so INCORRECT.

Personally I stay away from shop packaged foods as much as possible. They are processed, denatured, and full of unhealthy chemical additives. Once you learn where all the hidden sources are gluten are, and you will be amazed..... and begin preparing your own foods from scratch, you will see such a difference. Not only in the IBS sympotoms lessening fantastically, but your taste buds will begin to notice wonderful flavours you had forgotten existed.

GREAT ARTICLE

Cheer's from Clare in Tassie

[Guest guest]

Thanks Clare - Also, congratulations on becoming our newest Moderator. It is so true...gluten free does not have to mean dull, boring, and tasteless. I enjoy a wide variety of fruits, berries, herbs, nuts, spices, salads, and vegetables. Including high quality proteins. I have long since passed my use-by-date regarding mass-produced, denatured foods. My immune system simply can no longer cope with nutrient-poor, processed non-foods.

Through the unwanted-gift of CFS/FIBRO/EBV/IBS I am now a lifelong student of higher nutrition. I have to medicate with foods, vitamins, and supplements. As traditional medicines are not an agreeable option, for me. I am so glad you have found a personal diet that works best for you, too.

Cheers n Smiles Carlene

>> What an excellent article. Thank you for posting it.> In my own case I have found (I AM NOT Celiac) that eliminating all sources of gluten and also (for ME) dairy has helped my IBS immensley. A lot of folks presume that going gluten free means eating bland type food. That is so INCORRECT.> > Personally I stay away from shop packaged foods as much as possible. They are processed, denatured, and full of unhealthy chemical additives. Once you learn where all the hidden sources are gluten are, and you will be amazed..... and begin preparing your own foods from scratch, you will see such a difference. Not only in the IBS sympotoms lessening fantastically, but your taste buds will begin to notice wonderful flavours you had forgotten existed.> > GREAT ARTICLE> > Cheer's from Clare in Tassie>

[Guest guest]

Sue - I am drooling just reading your healthy foods list. Which reminds me I forgot to include the good (almost trans fats free?!) oils you mentioned. "Olive oil, butter, and coconut oil." Although, I also use flaxseed oil in my blackcurrant recipe. I use millet flour as a thickener. I have read where coconut milk is healthy. It is sooo delicious!

I'll have to Google Child. I am filled with curiosity! I just cannot give up my pistacio nuts... they are heavenly! Normally, I never add salt to my meals. I relented at Christmas. The result... swollen feet, and ankles...NOT a pretty sight. It was scary - they are back to normal, now. Proves the negative effects of deviating from the tried-and-true.

Hugs n Smiles Carlene

>> I also do not eat anything with Gluten,no wheat,no grains,no sugar,no beans,no nuts,no soy,no oils except saturated,no potatoe,no corn and no dairy.> > However I do not have a boring diet. I have always loved to cook. I eat high quality grass fed meats,fish,shellfish {Maine after all} raw organic honey,veggies,fruit,olive oil,butter,coconut oil,coconut milk, rice and lots of other things that people don't think of. My whole family eats like this. If you go through Child she does not use garbage to cook with and I can substite rice flower for most places regular flower is used as a thickener. I don't miss the other stuff. Well I do miss my Dutch licorice and popcorn.> I DO notice, like at Christmas, a difference when I slip in flour or sugar. I get a yeast infection immediatley and terrible bloating,aches and bowel issues. The whole family knows. Believe me......> > hugs,> sue

[Guest guest]

Sue, for many years I stopped adding salt to my diet. I stopped using table salt about 10-years ago, and like you I switched to organic sea salt. There is sodium in my bought cottage cheese, and pistachios. Recently, I read where those with Fibromyalgia need to increase their salt intake. So, I started adding the sea salt to my soups. A short time later I developed swollen (and slightly aching) feet, and ankles.

It might not have been the sea salt that caused the problem. Just before Christmas my usual supermarket ran out of lightly salted (sea-salt) pistacios. I bought a packet from Woolworths which were - not only stale - but heavily coated in inferior quality salt. I do not know what dried in-land lakebed the so-called salt was mined out of but it was 'different' and addictive. I stopped eating those pistacios. I have since bought my usual pistachios, and not a problem.

Can you (or Geoffrey or anyone else) tell me whether I should be including some sea salt to my diet, daily? Sue, have you receiv advice from your naturopathic friend.? As people with CFS/Fibro. etc., do we really need to add salt in our diets? Other than in the foods we eat.

Your daughter, and your husband are fortunate that you are so nutritionally aware. Like you, I became very ill. The only direction I could go was to follow the sign-post that read...Improve Your Diet - Improve Your Symptoms. Healthy nutrition is such a fun subject. Even though it becomes a healthier 'way-of-life' I consider it a rewarding hobby. I can sooo relate!

Thanks & Hugs

Carlene

> >> > I also do not eat anything with Gluten,no wheat,no grains,no sugar,no beans,no nuts,no soy,no oils except saturated,no potatoe,no corn and no dairy.> > > > However I do not have a boring diet. I have always loved to cook. I eat high quality grass fed meats,fish,shellfish {Maine after all} raw organic honey,veggies,fruit,olive oil,butter,coconut oil,coconut milk, rice and lots of other things that people don't think of. My whole family eats like this. If you go through Child she does not use garbage to cook with and I can substite rice flower for most places regular flower is used as a thickener. I don't miss the other stuff. Well I do miss my Dutch licorice and popcorn.> > I DO notice, like at Christmas, a difference when I slip in flour or sugar. I get a yeast infection immediatley and terrible bloating,aches and bowel issues. The whole family knows. Believe me......> > > > hugs,> > sue>

[Guest guest]

Hey Carlene,

Noone can tell you this but YOU and how you respond to the

substance and if your body needs it. I have found for me that as long

as I eat quality proteins, lots of vegetables, small amounts of

fruits, beans and grains--I very rarely need and reach for the sea

salt that I bought. However if one is dealing with adrenal fatigue,

blood pressure or blood circulation issues, dizziness and many other

symptoms related to the kidney energy, then one may need to increase

salt intake( I get enough sodium on the diet listed above), or

decrease salt to bring one into balance. Onces in balance you may

need then to decrease it. You will know if you need more salt by the

intial taste of it in your diet. If it elicits tha " AH Ha " moment

deep in your gut--then go with it. You probably need it. If it

doesn't then proceed cautiously as your brain may be telling you

things that is direct in opposite to what your gut tells you. Salt is

very contracting and tends to bring us into our center quickly.

However, if you overuse it you can overcontract and go in the opposite

direction. REad Anne Marie Colbins book on " Food and Healing " . It

explains the effects of different foods and spices and condiments on

the body. It is my bible. Helped me through a lot of my big food

decisions to find a diet that works for me. At this point in my

life, I hardly reach for the salt shaker unless it is a vegetarian

meal which needs salt for me in order to keep me grounded and down

on earth instead of spacy and up in the heavens. We as fibromites

need to realize that everything that comes into our systems whether it

is a food, person, thought, emotion, animal, tv show has an effect on

us and we need to be in total awareness of that effect and what it

does to us as human entities of light and love. It is in these

moments of self examination that we get to know ourselves and what

works for us and what doesn't and then we can direct our own lives

from this knowledge--literally. You can manifest anything you want

from this space. So as to salt, I don't know if you need it in your

diet Carlene. Only you do. However if you are bloating and getting

swollen knees after eating it--either you ate too much of it or you

didn't need it at all. That is for you to figure out from your own

awarenesses and observations. Good luck!!!!

Geoff

> > >

> > > I also do not eat anything with Gluten,no wheat,no grains,no

> sugar,no beans,no nuts,no soy,no oils except saturated,no potatoe,no

> corn and no dairy.

> > >

> > > However I do not have a boring diet. I have always loved to cook. I

> eat high quality grass fed meats,fish,shellfish {Maine after all} raw

> organic honey,veggies,fruit,olive oil,butter,coconut oil,coconut milk,

> rice and lots of other things that people don't think of. My whole

> family eats like this. If you go through Child she does not use

> garbage to cook with and I can substite rice flower for most places

> regular flower is used as a thickener. I don't miss the other stuff.

> Well I do miss my Dutch licorice and popcorn.

> > > I DO notice, like at Christmas, a difference when I slip in flour or

> sugar. I get a yeast infection immediatley and terrible bloating,aches

> and bowel issues. The whole family knows. Believe me......

> > >

> > > hugs,

> > > sue

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Geoffrey for your indepth report. Anne Marie Colbins book on "Food and Healing" explaining "the effects of different foods and spices and condiments on the body" sounds delightful. I will check it out further. Really, you are talking about the intuitive factor. That inner knowingness that we all possess.

Around Christmas... when my ankles, and feet, became swollen - I blamed it on the recent addition of salt. My intuition was also trying to warn me that a recent, additional (single dose) vitamin may have caused the swelling.

Yesterday, I started back on the vitamin. Again, I had some swelling of the ankles. I started Googling, and found out that this particular vitamin can produce side effects (or allergic reactions) in some people. I am going to do some further tests just to be absolutely sure. I may, then, do a follow-up post. I appreciate your well-wishes!

Hugs n Smiles Carlene

>> Hey Carlene,> > Noone can tell you this but YOU and how you respond to the> substance and if your body needs it. I have found for me that as long> as I eat quality proteins, lots of vegetables, small amounts of> fruits, beans and grains--I very rarely need and reach for the sea > salt that I bought. However if one is dealing with adrenal fatigue,

[Guest guest]

Sue, I love the information you provided including Roy Moxham's full article. I am going to print it all out. At the end of 1997 - when my health deteriorated further - I almost completely stopped salt consumption. Prior to that my diet had contained a lot of salt. I then bought sea salt, and only very occasionally did I use a tiny pinch in cooking.

I am yet to find out if it is the salt or a particular vitamin that is causing the swelling. I am glad now that this happened because I realise that I do need to address any salt imbalance in my body. Your comments, and articles are a great start. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.

Keep warm, and careful in the blizzard. Hugs n Smiles Carlene

P.S. Hmmm... I did not know "the extreme value of salt." Yet, I grew up on a farm where we provided 'salt blocks' for our horses, and cattle?!!!

>> I don't want to be contrary or rude here. Clearly Geoff you have studied and have a great practice in healing and a lot of knowledge but I have to say here that people are not always tuned into their bodies as well as you are and do not know the extreme value of salt.> > "In recent years there has been much publicity about the need to reduce salt consumption in societies where salt is added to many processed foods (Denton 1984, 584-7). It has tended to be forgotten that some salt intake is absolutely necessary; that people need salt to survive: The chemical requirements of the human body demand that the salt concentration in the blood be

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

I don't believe you were being rude or contrary. You basically

reaffirmed what I was saying--everyone still needs to determine the

amount of ADDED salt to have in their eating plan. If eating a diet

of basically natural foods--meats, poultry, fish, bison, ostrich, etc

and lots of vegetables with some fruits, beans and grains and nuts and

seeds(if tolerated) then one would be on a minimal amount of salt as

these foods only have a small amount of sodium as compared to most

processed foods(even healthy canned soups have about 500mg of sodium

per serving). My comments were based on my own body and what I have

seen out there in my clients. I can't recommend for others unless

they are in my energy field in person or on the phone as when our

energies interact, I get these intuitive empathetic signals and

suggestions and even then I only recommend trying something as a

suggestion instead of it being the truth as the client needs to test

it out for him/herself. Quantity and Quality of the salt is very

important also and I thought I touched on that. Himalayan is a great

salt however I use the Celtic Sea Salt as it is cheaper and will do

the same as the much more expensive Himalayan--I did my research. You

can also buy the more expensive Fleur De Sol Salt and I've heard good

results with that also as it has all the vitamins and minerals that

real salt has however the Celtic Salt is as superior as any of these

mentioned above.

Again, I will say that just like anything here--and for all

fibromites--the question of salt is an individual thing. Try doing

without it for a week or two, get on a healthy nonprocessed food diet,

and then see how you feel. AS diet is only 25% of resolving and

coming into balance with Fibro, you will need to pay attention to it

and its effects on your body besides doing other things to bring your

body into balance. These other things will be different for each of

us as our body imbalances on all levels are different. So there are

no major guidelines here to offer except just stay in awareness and

pay attention--a hard thing to do sometimes for fibromites--and you

will be guided to the right people, the appropriate practitioners, the

appropriate healing modalites and the money will be there as long as

you go for the healing--a healer told me this back in 1991 and she was

oh so on the money there--LOL!!!

So go slow with this syndrome as you really need to pay attention

and see how your body reacts to things and how it changes to your

changes. And with salt, a little too much or too little can have

profound effects on the body. Throw away the Morton and iodized junk

and go to your health food store and get totally preservative free and

naturally occurring salt and use it sparingly--even though when I was

adrenally deficient, I needed a fair amount of it to aid my weak

adrenals and it helped.

Take care.

Geoff

> > > >

> > > > I also do not eat anything with Gluten,no wheat,no grains,no

> > sugar,no beans,no nuts,no soy,no oils except saturated,no potatoe,no

> > corn and no dairy.

> > > >

> > > > However I do not have a boring diet. I have always loved to

> cook. I

> > eat high quality grass fed meats,fish,shellfish {Maine after all} raw

> > organic honey,veggies,fruit,olive oil,butter,coconut oil,coconut milk,

> > rice and lots of other things that people don't think of. My whole

> > family eats like this. If you go through Child she does not use

> > garbage to cook with and I can substite rice flower for most places

> > regular flower is used as a thickener. I don't miss the other stuff.

> > Well I do miss my Dutch licorice and popcorn.

> > > > I DO notice, like at Christmas, a difference when I slip in

> flour or

> > sugar. I get a yeast infection immediatley and terrible bloating,aches

> > and bowel issues. The whole family knows. Believe me......

> > > >

> > > > hugs,

> > > > sue

> > >

> >

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>