Nutrition

PCOS: an introduction

PCOS: an introduction

Trying to unravel the causes of PCOS is like trying to find the start of a mobius strip, with conditions and symptoms continuously looping back on themselves.  It’s a “chicken or egg” scenario, but in this case you start to wonder if maybe it was actually the chicken coop that came first.  Or that bag of chicken feed.  Or perhaps even the friendly farmer down the road who first put it into your head that owning chickens would be your jam.

The Most Important Supplements for Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis

The Most Important Supplements for Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis

You want to heal through diet.  You'd LOVE to flush all those immuno-suppressants down the toilet.  But you're still confused by the strict food rules and how animal fats became so essential.  And what happened to all that soothing white rice?!  

The Science of Detox

The Science of Detox

Our body is carrying out detoxification processes constantly.  Every minute we’re building up and breaking down hormones, enzymes, proteins, and a bajillion other compounds.  These actions cause reactions.  Reactions include byproducts.  Byproducts and compounds that can’t be used or recycled must enter the detoxification pathways.  It sounds exhausting; it can be for certain organs in your body.

Elimination Diet: Phase I

Elimination diets are not for the faint of heart.  They’re very restrictive, last longer than convenient, and generally require extra prep time in the kitchen or more money at the store.  Still, the potential benefits are huge.  From autoimmune disease to autism (to IBS, leaky gut, food allergies, depression, neurological issues, etc.) elimination diets can induce remission, heal the digestive tract, pinpoint food allergies, jumpstart weight loss, and restore overall health and vitality.

SCD GAPS IDK WTF

I first came across the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) about five years back when my husband was hospitalized for a major ulcerative colitis flare.  He had lost a disturbing amount of weight and his digestive tract was so ravaged that he wasn’t even allowed to gnaw on ice chips.  It took four days on IV steroids to calm his immune system and restore some order to his colon, and colon removal surgery was narrowly avoided.

Goat Milk; All the Fuss

I’ve long heard that goat milk is “better” than cow milk but not being a big milk drinker, I never bothered to wonder why.  On the rare occasions I noticed goat milk in stores, it was either in yogurt form or far too expensive for my frugal self.  Besides, should the occasional milk craving arise, we’re able to buy raw, grass-fed cow milk in our local market.  So what's all the fuss about goat milk?