Healthcare - Health Scare

I've been pretty determined to avoid traditional American healthcare, prescription medicine and over-the-counter drugs for the past 8 years. The only thing I have used my doctor for is physicals, cholesterol checks and blood tests to check for vitamin deficiencies. That was until this past June.

Ten days after a camping trip on Memorial Day weekend I came down with fatigue, blurred vision, earache and fever. I went to my naturopath for a seasonal acupuncture session and told her about my symptoms. I was prescribed some natural herbs for possible Lyme infection and it was recommended that if my symptoms did not subside within a few days I should seek medical attention.

I let another few days go by. The fever did not break and the ear infection became intolerable. I had not taken any pain relievers in 8 years, but finally broke down and took Tylenol on a Sunday. First thing Monday morning I made an appointment at the doctor's office. They took 3 vials of blood and prescribed an antibiotic for the ear infection and possible Lyme Disease. It took a full seven days for the fever to break. I was scared! I barely had the energy to heat a pot of canned soup and still had to attend to some chores like laundry and dishes. I missed a rotation of work and a highly anticipated vacation with my daughters.

The following Monday I returned to the doctor's office. I was still weak, but the fever had broke and I was feeling on the upswing. They took more blood to check for more possible causes. All tests came back negative. My illness was a mystery. After 3 weeks I regained my strength and was able to do all the things I enjoy doing. I continue to have ringing in my ears; I have been told it is tinnitus and should eventually go away.

This was a learning experience in many ways. First, our health is so fragile. Even if we try to do everything right you can still be caught off-guard. Second, though I was disappointed a cause could not be immediately diagnosed I still put my faith in my doctors, both naturopath and general practitioner to heal me. I was relieved when the antibiotic was prescribed and thankful the Tylenol reduced my fever and eased my pain. I would have liked a set in stone diagnosis, but it didn't happen. I have to live with the thought that these symptoms might reoccur; I still have the tinnitus to contend with also.

I guess what I am trying to say is, I don't think taking a pill is the answer to everything. I believe diet and exercise are the answer to most of our health problems. But, there is a time and a place for modern medicine. I am thankful to live in a place where we can choose both (for the most part).

If you had known me 10 years ago

10 years ago you would have a hard time believing that I am the person I am today. A natural food store was where "granolas" shopped, all chiropractors were quacks, holistic medicine practitioners  were charlatans and I had no idea what a naturopath was? I would have told you that your doctor knows everything; they are the experts. How little I knew about the world and health. I'm still learning, but those days seem like a century ago.

It's amazing what relentless pain will do for you. I had turned to my doctor for his expert advice and he in turn had sent me to specialists for tests, invasive exploration and in the end recommended the same dietary advice, prescription and non-prescription medicines that had sent me back to him in the first place.

I was discouraged, without hope, thinking I was going to live with constant pain for the rest of my life. I would talk about my situation with anyone that would listen. One day a coworker loaned me a book he thought I should read "Natural Cures: They don't want you to know about." It opened my eyes to other possibilities; I could envision a pain-free life.


The Natural Food Store:
I wanted to get all the chemicals out of my food, body care products and water. My children told me to check out the natural food store near my house. Much to my surprise the people inside were welcoming, helpful and friendly. I could ask them any question and they had answers. It was easy to find organic food and read labels with ingredients I recognized. My daughters had enlightened me to the dangers of deodorants (they were still in high school and knew this stuff). It was more expensive, but I was more comfortable knowing what I was eating or putting on my body and I believed it would make a difference; still do!

Naturopath, Chiropractor, Holistic Health:
I scoured the internet for information; I bought books; the more I read the more questions I had. Suddenly, holistic and Chinese medicine were no longer foreign to me; I liked the concept of whole body preventive medicine versus treating the sick. I  made an appointment with a naturopathic physician.  She listened intently as I described my symptoms.  She described what the medicines had done to my body and what it would take to get back to normal. Together we worked out a plan to be successful. Over time I also requested seasonal acupuncture and still do that on a quarterly basis or when needed.

During this same period cycling was causing me to have lower back pain.  I decided to give a chiropractor a try. It was a bold move considering all the negative things I had heard throughout my life.  The experience was life altering! I proclaimed him a miracle worker after the first visit and returned on a regular basis for six months. He also provided me with stretch exercises that I still do today (though not as religiously as I should).

Eventually, I hired a holistic health coach to help me lose weight. There was more to the coaching than food. I learned how to relax, take care of myself, manage stress, have healthy relationships and eat foods that nourish the body.

Pain opened my eyes:
To a world I dismissed as meaningless, hokey or a scam. These people made a difference in my life and changed my future. Without them I have no doubt I would still be living in pain, on prescription medicine and have had at least one surgical operation. Instead, I live pain-free with all my original body parts. I hope this knowledge helps you to open your mind to the world.

What is Healthy?

We all have our own idea of what healthy is.

Our ideas are based on things we have learned over time, either through the media, magazines, friends, family, school or experience. How do we know what healthy is? When did it all become so complicated?

Let's start with FOOD:

According to Michael Pollan's book "In Defense of Food" it all became complicated back in the 1970's when the government tasked a Senate Select Committee led by George McGovern to find out what was making American's fat. The committee responded that Americans need to eat less red meat and dairy. Interested groups lobbied and things were changed; specific foods are no longer called out. Of course there is much more to this than just meat and dairy. Another of Michael's books "The Omnivore's Dilemma" tries to follow the food from the field to the plate. He does this in 3 different settings and it is a very interesting story to follow. Most of us have no idea where our food is coming from or what is in it.

Our food also changed in the 1940's when Fritz Haber invented chemical fertilizers which has led us to the world we live in today. Chemicals used to make bombs are the fertilizers of today's world.

My interest in becoming healthier started when I began my search to  resolve my acid reflux and stomach pains. An experiment to give up meat and dairy turned into a quest for better health. I found a new type of doctor called a "Naturopath", a doctor who practices natural medicine. The book "Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About" brought awareness of all the chemicals in our food, water and body care products from pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics and prescription drugs. I became aware of GMO's (genetically modified organisms) that are added to our food without our consent or knowledge.

I began reading about food and our food system; watching movies (Supersize Me, Food Inc, Food Matters, King Corn) on the same subject matter. I learned things I didn't really want to know about large-scale farming, factory farming, animal abuse on a large scale, and how these so called farms produce our food.

How about EXERCISE?

I'm a work in progress. We've all heard it "Get regular exercise". For the most part, I have always been semi-active. My hobbies include cycling, hiking, snowshoeing and kayaking; however, I am mostly a weekend warrior. I have a sit down job and  getting my heart rate up once or twice a week just isn't enough. I set a goal to ride 100 miles on my bicycle a few years ago. At first it seemed impossible, the best I could do at the time was 30 miles. When I began reading about long distance cycling I learned the importance of keeping my heart rate in check and my pedaling at a consistent rate or rpm. I had been pushing my heart way out of it's threshold whenever I exercised. I started wearing a heart monitor and found if I was consistent and kept my heart rate within the parameters for my age I felt better longer. I also switched from water to an electrolyte drink. In the beginning I bought one from Clif; then, I started making my own with a recipe from "Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life ". Eating a little protein or energy bars every hour or so while exercising provides important energy too. Not only did my bicycle riding get better, but so did my hiking,  snowshoeing and energy levels in every day life. In 2010 I accomplished my first 100 mile bicycle ride at 52 years old and have done several since. I feel better when I exercise and it doesn't have to be much. A 30 minute walk or bicycle ride makes me feel great! Several hours, bonus!

Think much about STRESS? Both mental and physical 

Stress affects our health every day. This is an area I struggle with. Both my naturopath and holistic health coach taught me ways to de-stress or unwind. An unhealthy diet can also stress our body. Proper nutrition, exercise and some type of meditation are all beneficial to our lives. It does not have to been practiced meditation. Since I was a young boy I have always found comfort in walking in the woods alone. For some, it's listening to classical music. Others find painting or sewing relaxing. I have a favorite place I like to go and sit. What ever it is, it is important to find the time to relax your mind and body.

Am I healthy? What is Healthy?

I guess we all need to find our own answer to that. For me, it was reducing the amount of chemicals I put in and on my body. Preparing my own meals from scratch using organic, non-gmo ingredients. Attempting to get consistent and regular exercise. Enjoying my hobbies more often. Practicing some kind of stress relief methods and remembering to laugh. I think we all need to remember to live in the moment and enjoy life.

Hopefully you find this interesting and helpful.

Nutrition vs Eating

Most of us are never really taught about nutrition when it comes to food and eating. Food preparation and eating habits are a learned practice from family, friends or self taught. I took Home Economics in high school, went to vocational school for Hotel & Restaurant Management, and worked as a prep chef and short-order cook in local restaurants. When I left home I took some of my mother's best recipes, borrowed recipes from friends and bought magazines like Cooking Light and Taste of Home.  I've joined Weight Watchers twice, done the Atkins Diet, counted many calories and tried several fad diets. We have all been repeatedly told to eat a balanced diet. Nowhere was I ever taught about nutrition; were you?

If you have been following me for a while you know why I changed the way I eat. If you are new to my blog then the quick answer is to resolve my acid reflux. When I became vegan suddenly nutrition was important! I needed to know if I was getting enough protein, calcium and vitamin B12. Shaky and weak after exercise or tired for no reason, I would look for answers. What was lacking? What did I need to do to be stronger. I am no longer vegan, though I eat many vegan recipes weekly. I've done lots of reading and follow some interesting people. Terms that were foreign to me like macro-nutrients, living enzymes, pH foods, nutrient-density, nutritional-stress, empty-calories, omega 3's, omega 6's and factory-farms are things I think about when purchasing food and preparing meals now. Effort is made to try to use whole foods, natural sweeteners and organic, gmo-free foods as much as possible. I look for ways to "boost" a recipe to make it more nutritious. Things like adding pumpkin seeds or seaweed to a salad or stirring greens into a recipe at the end, just until they wilt.

There is a new term out there "Superfoods", each year the list grows longer. I wish they just called them "Nutritious Foods". These are foods that have been identified as having a powerhouse of nutrients, eaten for centuries from all over the world. I buy "Superfoods". Many of them are perishable and have been dried or made into powders that can be added to recipes or smoothies. Others can be found at your local store or co-op and are easily added to your diet. Like most living foods if you can buy them fresh and *unpasteurized (see note below) they are more beneficial to your health. I did a search on "nutritional value of food" and one of the links provided is from Whole Foods Market 100 Healthiest Foods . Incorporating these foods into your everyday life will definitely make a difference. Of course, the way they are prepared makes a big difference too.

For most of us in the United States eating is about taste and filling a void. We eat for pleasure, boredom and habit. How many of us eat when we are not even hungry or just because it's time or there? We drool over decadent foods that have little nutritious value at all. What if I told you there are delicious decadent recipes out there that are nutritious too! Like this No-bake Brownie Recipe from Julie Morris (another of my favorites). 

Home-cooked or "prepared from scratch" meals have been consistent throughout my life. I thought I was making healthy choices, using nutritious recipes, serving balanced meals. With the education I had I was giving it my best effort. Knowing what I know now I would do it completely different. 

First, I would make sure I was serving organic or gmo-free foods. There would be no high fructose corn syrup or aspartame in anything we ate or drank. The meat would be grass-fed, preferably local or wild, pesticide and antibiotic-free. My eggs would be from free-range pastured chickens.  And I would serve more whole foods, especially at breakfast. The crap that is sold for breakfast products is ridiculous! The sugar laden (gmo beet sugar) cereals would be off the table, fast food restaurants like McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King would not even be an option. Soda is another chemical concoction that would be gone.

Second, I would give more thought to nutrition at dinner. Choosing quinoa, sweet potatoes, or wild rice over white potatoes, white rice or pasta. There would be more living food; such as a variety of salads, vegetables and fresh fruits. All gmo-free or organic.

Third, there would be less dairy. I thought dairy was the only source of calcium. I have since learned that it is not even the best source of calcium "non-dairy-sources-calcium " and our bodies have trouble absorbing calcium from dairy. There are many delicious dairy alternatives that can have a healthy impact and satisfy the palate and an abundance of foods to get calcium from. I feel like one of the best things I did for myself was to minimize the amount of cheese and ice cream I have in my life.

The Standard American Diet is considered an acidic diet. Acidic diets have been linked to chronic conditions and illness "Diet and the Acid / Alkaline Balance ". Start eating more foods that help the body's pH like fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Even fish helps the body's pH.

Brendan Brazier has been one of my biggest educators of Food, Sports and Nutrition. In the two books I have "Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life" and "Thrive Foods" he dedicates the first portion of the books to nutritional stress, pH and nutrient density of foods. The first book is geared towards athletes with recipes for energy bars, electrolyte drinks, recovery smoothies and pre-workout drinks and foods. To be honest I make one of the electrolyte drinks often, a breakfast recipe before big hikes or bicycle ride, protein recover smoothie recipes after. I have not tried many of the other recipes. The second book is geared more towards making healthy delicious foods for everyday life. He also has a free website called Thrive Forward . It requires a sign up, but has lots of good tips and information to help anyone interested in living a more nutritious and healthy lifestyle.

This journey started 8 years ago for me; living in constant pain, prescription and non-prescription medications failing to bring relief and doctors with no answers. If it wasn't for the internet, Google and people posting their stories I would still be living a life in constant pain and dread. I hope you find this information useful.

* There is a debate over pasteurized vs unpasteurized food. Pasteurization is done to make our foods safer. In the process it alters the properties of the food, reduces the nutritional value and kills the living enzymes in the food. I could only find this one informational link that is about milk, but applies to other foods too. Vital info about pasteurization and homogenization 

Your Brain needs Cholesterol

Did you know that?

After being a vegan for several years I returned to my doctor for a physical. When the results were in he jokingly asked, "why are you wasting my time". Everything checked good and my cholesterol was 140. I requested the results be sent to my naturopath and I made an appointment to see her for a follow up.

Can you imagine my surprise when she told me that my cholesterol was too low? She added that she would like to see a target range of around 170. This is when I learned that our brains require cholesterol to function properly. She told me to add healthy fats to my diet like avocados and nuts. Woo Hoo! How often does your doctor tell you to add fats to your diet?

Searching on cholesterol, brain, and good fats brought up all sorts of articles, studies and information. Most agree that you need healthy fats in your diet; the debate is, what fats are healthy? If you search just on "brain foods" you will get a certain list on varied sites. If you search on "good fats and brain foods" you will get a different list.

At home I use coconut oil, olive oil, hemp oil and flax seed oil. I choose to eat organic butter on toast or vegetables; if I can find it I use goat butter. There is a question whether any extracted oils are good for you and I tend to lean toward the belief they are not. I think the closer you eat food to its natural state the better.

In 2012 I made the decision to add organic free-range eggs and wild caught fish back into my diet. Both have higher counts of omega 3's than the conventional eggs and fish that have little or no omega 3 fatty acids. Having the proper amount of omega 3's and 6's in your diet is crucial to good health. At the same time I was reading conflicting information about soy and wanted to reduce the amount of soy I ate. One year later, I had my cholesterol checked again and it came back at 173. I enjoy plenty of fish, eggs, nuts and avocados along with other healthy fats.

Our bodies need fat to function properly. Michael Pollen's book "In Defense of Food" is a great book to bring awareness to the food we eat. I encourage you to give it a read.

I think this is probably a good brain food! Raw Pumpkin Spice Cookies from Rawmazing.com

Raw & GMO-free

I consider myself cured of Acid Reflux Disease. It has been ages since the last episode back in 2012, it seems so long ago. It's nice to live without pain, medicine costs, insurance hassles and food restrictions.

I continue to read and learn about food and water. Many of us do not realize what an important part food and water play in our overall health. I make my best effort to eat food and drink water that is free from pesticides, antibiotics and other toxins. I also do not want my food genetically modified, I want it labeled so I can make an informed decision.
 
I still cook mostly vegan and like to try a variety of raw recipes. I added wild-caught fish, organic free-range eggs, organic butter and beer back into my diet in 2012. Recently, I have also had wild game (moose meat and venison) and organic grass-fed beef. I do not want to get into the habit of eating dairy again, but I have had cheese occasionally on sandwiches or pizza. If I have a choice I choose goat cheese. I find cheese very addictive and it is easily one of those things you can over eat, especially in an American diet.

I am making my own nut milks now. It started with almond, then hazelnut. I use the nut mash to make chocolate truffles. No waste! And a delicious energy snack. I took a Raw Foods class and learned how to make a Raw Chocolate Mousse. Mmmm!

There are so many delicious, healthy recipes out there I just want to share my knowledge with everyone. To make everyone aware that the "low fat" diet is a scam. That the "American diet" is making us sick! That "big money" is controlling our food system and popping pills is not the way to good health. The FDA is shorthanded and leaving safety testing in the hands of the companies. Chemical company stooges have infiltrated the FDA and allow safety standards to be weakened or overlooked.

I read a book "The Ethics of What We Eat". The author was not interested in any particular diet. The book was more focused on the quality of our food and variety. The premise was we all get into a rut and eat the same foods over and over again; the reasons are many. My goal for 2014 is to add as much variety to my weekly diet as possible. I still intend to focus on vegan and raw recipes; the possibilities are endless! My body pH also interests me and I want to eat a more alkaline diet as well. Have I tweaked your interest yet? Are you thinking of ways you can live a healthier life?

There is more to it than food. Getting outside for some healthy fun is crucial! I plan to continue hiking, bicycling, camping and kayaking; along with photography and visiting every town in Vermont. I joined the Vermont 251 Club last year and intend to start visiting historic sites and photographing each town I visit.

After years of suffering with acid reflux, being in constant pain and giving up most foods that I enjoyed, taking pills and drinking antacids it seems nice to say I have been off prescription medicines and over the counter drugs for 8 years. I asked my doctor why he didn't suggest a vegetarian diet and he responded "I didn't think it would work". I think it is more likely that he didn't know. Doctors are not taught about nutrition and food. Don't assume that your doctor knows what it best; ask questions, do research, check with a naturopathic doctor, a nutritionist or someone that practices Chinese medicine; you just might be surprised! There are many food sensitivities and food allergies are on the increase.  With 80% of the American diet being genetically modified foods it's no surprise. You are what you eat!

You can find my full story within these pages or you can follow this link  Overcoming Acid Reflux to my first post.


Stay healthy and be aware!

John