Grain Brain

[Carol Newquist]

have you tried Apple Cider Vinegar? It may be of help...

Yes, but thanks for the suggestion. For people who have acid reflux due to low stomach acid production, Apple Cider Vinegar is of therapeutic benefit, but if your acid reflux is not due to that, it can actually be more harmful than good (overabundance of acid). Same thing goes for the suggestion of grapefruit.

[Carol Newquist]

Here's a video of a physician from the Mayo Clinic who specializes in EE. It's informative and concise, however, about half way through he indicates that some people respond to treatment for this condition with PPIs, but it's only 30% and he doesn't say to the extent it's managed with PPIs for those who do respond to their use. But, and this is the interesting part, he says PPIs can be used long-term with no ill effects....and that is a bald-faced lie. This is a big part of the problem with the healthcare providers. They are led around by the pharmaceutical companies and they take Big Pharma's talking points about their proprietary drugs as gospel.



justdrew, the reason taking acid doesn't work with this condition is because this condition constricts the esophagus thus causing food to get stuck and move slowly through it, or even resulting in the food getting impacted. Taking any acid, Apple Cider Vinegar included, would be like pouring lighter fluid on a fire....it would only serve to inflame the esophagus further and increase the pain and discomfort. That's why diagnosis is so vitally important, and gastroenterologists are failing in this endeavor. Mine didn't even consider it even after I told him that certain foods did this to me.

[Asta]

Okay, one week into Salt Loading based on iodine deficiency. Results: I no longer have a runny nose, that is, before the Salt Loading, I couldn't even bend over without out my nose just behaving like a faucet. Gross, I know, but at least it was clear and not some repulsive color of green. No infection, just a box of Kleenex a day kind of runny nose.

My annoying and embarrassing eye twitch stopped. Just stopped.

My coughing stopped.

I no longer camp out in the bathroom. I went out to a local restaurant yesterday and was able to enjoy the meal without frantically seeking the ladies' room after the meal.

I have lost 4 pounds.

After only 6 days of Salt Loading. I am going to complete the protocol another week before taking Iodoral by Optimax and I'll tell y'all how that goes.

This is the best I've felt since being diagnosed with Lupus (1996), and I continue to thank the members of this forum for their generous sharing of information. I'm 60 and I feel much younger. Again, thank all of you for your rigorous intuition.

[Carol Newquist]

Asta, that's great news....keep on keepin on. The key is not to relapse into old habits....and that's very easy to do (relapse). This System rewards all the wrong behaviors. This must become a way of life for you. It sounds like you're highly motivated and now you're seeing positive results. Don't rest on your laurels.....in the past I've done that, but I am determined to not do it again.

Related to the diagnosis of the condition of EE and PPIs, this is a relatively new diagnosis and many gastroenterologists still don't know about it, or if they do, they're so thoroughly entrained and set up to look for other things, they marginalize this and don't even consider it. And that can be damaging. The symptoms of this condition are similar to the symptoms for acid reflux because acid reflux is a part of this condition. As I've mentioned, gastroenterologists are quick to label many things as acid reflux without drilling deeper and just treating you automatically with PPIs. You don't need a fancy medical degree to do that. I could set out a shingle and tell every person who comes in my office who is experiencing symptoms of indigestion to go buy some Prilosec or Prevacid and call me in the morning....oh, and that will be $200 for that advice, thank you.

The problem with this is, many insurance companies won't cover drilling deeper, or they'll fight you tooth and nail every step of the way if you have a conscientious physician who believes in getting to the root and not just treating symptoms with inappropriate medications. If anyone has read about any of this thus far, you will note that the research suggests there is a correlation/connection between this condition and allergies, be they food or airborne allergens. It's a known fact that the long-term use of PPIs results in an increased frequency of food allergies, so treating this condition with PPIs will actually make it worse, and further, treating those who have acid reflux because of another underlying condition (remember, acid reflux is a symptom, not the problem itself) stand a much greater chance of ultimately contracting this condition because the PPIs increase the chance for food allergies.

[Elvis]

Excuse me if I haven't paid close enough ettention, but I don't see much mention of the role of body pH in the grain question. My girlfriend bases her diet primarily on the pH effects of foods*, and wheat is definitely in the acid column (a slightly alkaline condition is best). Since adopting this approach a few years ago, she's been her healthiest ever, feels better, sleeps better, and stays slim and fit.

I bring this up because I'm somewhat convinced that body pH is a hugely overlooked factor in diet, health and medicine generally.

The Western diet, particularly in the US, seems to be heavily acid-producing, and there's good evidence that the acid environment is most conducive to sickness and desease.

There are some useful charts online that rate different foods' pH effect, if anyone wants to look into it.


*(not the pH of the uningested foods themselves)

[Carol Newquist]

I bring this up because I'm somewhat convinced that body pH is a hugely overlooked factor in diet, health and medicine generally.

It is scientific fact, easily measurable and not an indirect quantitative assessment, that diet does not alter our body's pH. Of course, when we refer to the body's pH, we are referring to the pH of the blood which transports life-support to our tissues and organs. If positive health benefits, i.e. weight loss, lowered blood pressure and lowered cholesterol are observed with an Alkaline Diet, it's because it's a nutritious diet, not because it alters the pH of the blood. It appears it's just a marketing gimmick to sell yet another diet.

Here's a link to WebMD about it:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/alkaline-diets-what-to-know

Alkaline Diet: What to Know Before Trying It

Potential Risks and Benefits of the Alkaline Diet

By Sonya Collins

Trying out the latest diet is practically an American pastime. The more health benefits the diet supposedly provides, the better. We don't just want to lose weight; we want to cure arthritis, diabetes, and cancer, and slow the aging process, too. Some web sites touting the alkaline diet claim it does all these things and more.

Is it true? Here's what you need to know.

First, some background information. Our pH is the measure of exactly how acidic or alkaline we are. A pH of 0 is completely acidic, and a pH of 14 completely alkaline. A pH of 7 is neutral.

You don't just have one pH level. For example, the stomach has a pH ranging from 1.35-3.5. It must be acidic to aid in digestion. However, blood must always be slightly alkaline, with a pH of 7.35 to 7.45.

The theory of the alkaline diet is that eating certain foods can help maintain the body's ideal pH balance to improve overall health. But the body maintains its pH balance regardless of diet.

For instance, your diet may affect the pH level of your urine. But what you eat does not determine your blood's pH level.

What's in the Alkaline Diet

The alkaline diet is mostly vegetarian. In addition to fresh vegetables and some fresh fruits, alkaline-promoting foods include soy products and some nuts, grains, and legumes.

Web sites promoting the alkaline diet discourage eating acid-promoting foods, which include meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, processed foods, white sugar, white flour, and caffeine.

The alkaline diet is basically healthy, says Marjorie Nolan, RD, an American Dietetic Association spokeswoman.

"It's a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of water, avoiding processed foods, coffee, and alcohol, which are all recommendations for a generally healthy diet anyway," Nolan says. "But our body regulates our pH between 7.35 and 7.45 no matter how we eat."

Potential Benefits

Diets that include a lot of animal protein can lower urine pH and raise the risk for kidney stones. So eating a diet rich in vegetables, as with an alkaline diet, can raise urine pH and lower the risk for kidney stones, says John Asplin, MD, a kidney specialist who is a fellow of the American Society of Nephrology.

Researchers have speculated that an alkaline diet might slow bone loss and muscle waste, increase growth hormone, make certain chronic diseases less likely, and ease low back pain. However, that hasn't been proven.

There is also no concrete evidence that an alkaline or vegetarian diet can prevent cancer. Some studies have shown that vegetarians have lower rates of cancer, particularly colon cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. But vegetarians often have other healthy habits, such as exercise and abstaining from drinking and smoking, so it is difficult to determine the effects of diet alone.

"Clinical studies have proved without a doubt that people who eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and hydrate properly do have lower rates of cancer and other diseases," Nolan tells WebMD, "but it probably has nothing to do with blood pH."

Potential Risks

Because there is no evidence that diet can significantly change blood pH, a highly irregular blood pH is a sign of a larger problem -- perhaps kidney failure -- not a dietary issue.

People with kidney disease or medical issues that require monitoring by a doctor, such as severe diabetes, should not attempt this diet without medical supervision.

"If someone's blood sugar is not being monitored properly -- especially if they're on insulin if they're type 1 or they're a severe type 2 diabetic -- you're potentially running the risk of your blood sugar dropping too low after a meal if you don't know what you're doing," Nolan says.

It all comes down to balance, Asplin says. The alkaline diet could potentially over-restrict protein and calcium.

"Vegetarians can be completely healthy in their diets as long as they make sure to get adequate supplies of essential components to a diet. But it is also true that many Americans over-consume protein and get much more than they actually need," Asplin says.

The Red Flags of Diet Fraud

Several web sites that appear at the top of "alkaline diet" Internet search results ask users to subscribe with their email address or buy diet products from the site. These are red flags that the promoter of the diet may only be interested in selling something, experts say.

Be wary of diet web sites that require a monthly fee for recipes or information. There are numerous complaints online that these subscriptions are easy to start but virtually impossible to stop.

William Mundell, MD, vice chair of the department of general internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., also advises people to beware of any diets that:

1. Want you to buy only their product. You should be able to get the foods for any healthy diet on your own at the supermarket.

2. Focus on a narrow spectrum of foods, whether it's to eliminate all fat, all carbohydrates, or all proteins, or just eat grapefruit.

3. Claim that science has kept something a secret or that a single person has discovered something that nobody else knows about.

[seemslikeadream]

does an Alkaline Diet help with rotting onion skin condition? Will it make one more edible? Allow one to become savory enough to be privileged to speak with the Holey Knocker?

[Project Willow]

^ Since WR usually delivers this message, but is away for the weekend, I'll say it, cut it out SLAD.

[justdrew]

good roundup on something big developing...
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3876219.htm

[Sounder]

It will be surprising if this bit of counter narrative finds any legs within MSM. The advocates are easily discounted by their associations and lack of credentials.

Despite these types of murmurings of discontent, we remain generally quite well entrained by our current chemical and symptomatology based medical model.


From the comments;

Tim Sullivan - 24 Oct 2013 9:47:22pm

While is impossible to cover all the flaws in this misrepresentation of current knowledge in 500 words here are a few thoughts. Firstly, why not discuss the qualifications of your so-called experts in more detail? Secondly, why choose experts who have not published a scientific paper (they have written dubious books - Dr Sinatra's latest effort is a cracker: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... ffect.aspx) between them? Thirdly, why show an incomplete cross-section of current evidence? Fourthly, why misrepresent the evidence you do present (countries weren't omitted from the initial studies discussed as claimed, they were reported sequentially over time as the results became available (this was pre-internet), irrespective of this, the trends still support the initial finding)? Fifthly, why skew the time attributed to the protagonists vs the antagonists?
Sixthly, why not probe those criticising current understanding for definitive evidence? Seventhly, why edit/exclude the information provided by those opposing your editorial slant into oblivion? I could go on. Sadly, I suspect that the incompetence will continue next week. Hopefully the Australian public will see this story for what it is.

Anne Turner - 24 Oct 2013 9:35:08pm

Thank God some are talking the truth. I was put on increasing amounts of statins over four years because on the pills it kept increasing. I got so sick I could not stand up or move my muscles at the end. I kept asking my doctor was was wrong and all I got was more pills. I read some books and then went to a specialist who told me within 5 minutes it was the statins. All my family has high cholestrol yet they live long lives My healthy brothers who live well have high rates. I am so mad at the science community and Ansell Keys that I hope he is turning in his dam grave at the lies he told.

Kevin Williams - 24 Oct 2013 9:34:02pm

Brilliant!!As a naturopath & nurse with a physiology major qualification I have followed this belief for 30 years.The demon's are sugar,omega 3 fats due to their propensity for oxidation & stress.The answer is to reduce stress by relaxation/meditation,reduce sugar consumption & eat a mixture of omega 6 to omega 3 fats about 55-60% omega 6to 40_45% omega 3 fats.Not rocket science simple good science which has been shown to work by good naturopaths for 50_ 60 years at least.

[coffin_dodger]

Roundup Linked to Global Boom in Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance
http://sustainablepulse.com Feb 19 2014

Celiac disease, gluten intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome are on the rise worldwide, and that rise has taken place in parallel with the increased use of glyphosate (Roundup) herbicide, shows a new US peer-reviewed paper from Dr. Anthony Samsel and Dr. Stephanie Seneff. The review has been published in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Toxicology.

cont - http://sustainablepulse.com/2014/02/19/ ... tolerance/

[Sounder]

Lori wrote in the comments over at the linked site....

I followed the link and read the article by Samsel and Seneff. While the subject may be worthy of further study, this work lacks any real credibility. Samsel is a retired scientist/consultant with no current institutional affiliation and Seneff is a research scientist at MIT in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, with no background in cell biology, biochemistry, or metabolism. In my mind, they are more activists than subject matter experts. While activism is fine, they shouldn’t be making scientific claims. Their article was published in the journal “Interdisciplinary Toxicolgy”, which, though peer reviewed, is published in Slovakia. This is a red flag in my mind. In the article, the authors explain how Roundup works and how it can theoretically disrupt digestion and metabolism in humans, but it is apparent that they have not done anything tangible (experiments, computer modeling, etc.) to study this phenomenon. They published a similar study last year in “Entropy”, but this is not a peer reviewed journal, and many scientists took issue with this article and discredited the work. Until there is an actual study on this subject rather than speculation, my feeling is that this is junk science.

I am a follower of a gluten free diet, but agree with Lori. This is junk science.

[Asta]

Glad this thread resurfaced. Back in October of 2013 I said I would give an update on any and all (or none) progress/changes. Besides taking the iodine supplement (iodoral), I also drink a warm glass of water with a tablespoon of lemon juice first thing in the morning, and take a probiotic later.

My life has totally changed.

No more muscle spasms or facial tics, lost 5 pounds but stopped losing my hair, no symptoms at all of IBS, finger nails no longer brittle, improvement in eyesight (the floaters are dissipating it seems, although I have never heard of that happening for anyone), less bruising, wounds heal faster (I own a parrot, there's always a new bite taken out of me), and I've noticed that my ability to remember numbers, names, dates, etc. has really gotten better.

The only thing that is bugging me are the very vivid dreams, but having a cannabis flashback in my sleep was a real treat since I haven't had a toke in over 25 years. Probably the best dream I've ever had, so I shouldn't be complaining. It was a free ride, and I didn't have to worry about getting busted.

[Sounder]

Asta, It's great to hear you are doing so well.

I 'think' I feel more sharp since I quit wheat, but then again my rate of doing 'stupid' things does not seem to have changed much.