 I have fibromyalgia because I have pain. I don’t have pain because I have fibromyalgia. Fibro-Facts: Fibromyalgia is not classified as a disease. Fibromyalgia is deemed incurable according to Mayo Clinic and medical professionals. Fibromyalgia is an insurance code that gets a doc paid and stops any further investigation of cause. Fibromyalgia describes my pain, but it is not the cause of my pain. I knew I was sick, but so many doctors told me I wasn’t that I began to doubt myself. It was so defeating, not to be believed and to be dismissed. It was embarrassing, so I told no one.
To be told I was getting fat because of my age and that a painful body was part of the aging process was an insult. Then without missing a beat the offer of antidepressants was on the table because of my “obvious depression”. After hearing the same thing a dozen times, I remember tearing up in front of one of my last hope doctors. He said, “See you are depressed”. I said, “I’m depressed because no one believes me, not because I have depression.” Traditional medicine failed me. Because doctors didn’t believe me, I kept quiet. Telling no one how hard I struggled to keep up with others. I was using more than the energy I had to try to look well socially, but I knew I would pay for it during the next week or more it would take to recover. For years I got out of bed and showered, then got right back into bed until I could grasp getting up to put on make up or do my hair. Then back to bed until finally I could get dressed. I would lay down after dressing and then head out the door. There was something wrong. I knew I was not crazy. There was something seriously wrong. This went on for years. Still no one knew I was sick and still there was not a doctor that believed me, but then, something changed. During the 15 years I’d been complaining, fibromyalgia came on the scene. Instead of dismissing patients with chronic pain and illness, doctors were assigning fibromyalgia to anyone that said “ouch”. I didn’t buy it the first time I heard it and I didn’t buy it the 12th time either. I knew instinctively that there was a cause for my pain and that it could be found. I continued to see doctors only to be disappointed and frustrated. The few people who knew I didn’t feel well, had no idea of the extent of my pain. When I mentioned looking for help and moving away from traditional medical services they were suspicious, asking if I was seeing a “real” doctor. It was never important to me that others understood. I didn’t need validation. I wanted help and guidance. That was never to come, but I did get well and others can too. Just for the record, the source of my fibro-like pain was from long term poisoning with mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic. The mercury was from childhood fillings that were replaced annually and represented about 35 years of exposure. The lead, cadmium and arsenic were from dinner plates that I used for about 15 years. I personally believe that much of what we call illness and chronic pain has roots in the poisons we live with daily. The levels of contaminants allowed by governments are far more than the body can withstand on an ongoing basis. Because the damage can take years to manifest, the culprits are rarely recognized. Finding the cause of your pain is very personal and can be difficult. When the reason was not obvious, I personally sought to clean up my body as a line of defense. My thought was that the body knows how to heal and if I could give it maximum nutrition and minimal poisons, we might have a fighting chance.  When your body craves sugar, there is a reason. Again I find myself craving sugar and feeling the painful effects of it. Every joint aches and the pain is overwhelming, but I cannot stop. I use what I call the antidotes for sugar inflammation which is usually turmeric, bay leaf tea, peppermint oil as a topical for pain, CBD internally and topically, probiotics, prebiotics and still I’m not able to fight the cravings of sugar.
Then in a quiet moment, I remember. How could I ever forget? Cravings for sugar can come from many things, but the fix for me is magnesium and minerals. The lack of either can cause severe cravings and pain. I use a liquid form of minerals and a 100% pure spray magnesium oil. It does not take long for my body to adjust. When your body is balanced, you can look at sugar and laugh. It just does not call your name any longer. If you use bottled or treated water, it is often void of minerals. The same is true of your food sources. The vitamin and mineral content can be low even though you eat and live well. There is always a reason your body misbehaves. Search for the Cause, Not Just the Cure.  If your kitchen is adding to the toxicity of your body, random pain and illness can find you. Finding toxic-free cookware is tricky, but it can be done. We all know to keep away from cooking in grandma’s clay pots, old Fiesta Ware, aluminum and non-stick materials. We also know that vintage dinnerware is suspect of containing high levels of lead, arsenic and other heavy metals that weren’t regulated in the past. The stories about lead based glass keeps us on our toes, but few really understand the seriousness of the issue. Most think the stories are history and that heavy metals are not allowed in your kitchenware. Not true.
Eating from plates with lead, or other contaminants, allows food to absorb the toxicity. Storing food on these plates or heating on them, increases the opportunity for exposure. Cutting plated food with a knife will also help to break through safety glazes into contaminants. For this reason, chipped plates or cups should be a concern. Can you imagine the exposure from pouring hot coffee into a lead contaminated mug everyday? It’s fairly common to be poisoned by dinner plates and cookware, but it is rarely understood as the resulting illness is usually not attributed to poisoning. Heavy metals are rarely suspected. Most continue to use their existing kitchen utensils and never remove the contaminant while illness lingers. If you ask a salesperson to direct you to their lead-free products, you will likely hear that all goods are absolutely lead-free. That is because salespeople believe what most of us believe. We can’t imagine a government agency allowing something as dangerous as lead or cadmium and other heavy metals in our kitchens. What they don’t know is that in the USA, the FDA has an allowable limits for contaminants, including lead, in your dinnerware. They regard these limits as “safe.” What the FDA doesn’t know, is that your body has no allowable room for lead or poisons. It sounds crazy but having been there and done that twice, I can give clear warning that it is not only possible, but it can kill you. My first encounter was with dinnerware I brought back from Mexico with the guarantee that they were lead free. The toxicity took 15 years to be enough to keep me in bed full time, but there were many years of illness and misdiagnosed chronic conditions before I finally discovered that I was eating lead, arsenic and cadmium with every meal. It seems impossible, but I did it again when I replaced my plates. Shopping at the most expensive store I could find, I asked for lead-free plates and used those for another 15 years, while trying to detox regularly. I was losing the battle and lead levels would not go down until, I connected the dots and investigated. My very expensive plates also had lead. Although the levels were acceptably by law, they were high enough to maintain dangerous levels in my body. The pursuit for clean, cleaner and cleanest living goes on and so I like to pass on any good finds that help keep toxins out of your day. This product seems to quality. Xtrema is the brand name and the two brothers who run the company are committed to providing hand-crafted cookware, teapots and mugs that are lead and cadmium free. That is a claim that few manufacturers will put into print. The products are coated ceramic that is meant to withstand extreme temperatures without damage to the glaze. Consumers can not only cook in the product, but can store in it without danger. I’ve enjoyed mine and especially like the relief I have at using a safe teapot and mug everyday. I receive no financial gain from this referral. Xtrema can be contacted at 301 824-3219 or at www.ceramcor.com.  Dogs with Candida are often misdiagnosed. Visits to the vet usually provide comfort for symptoms without the cause ever being addressed. That is why we Search for the Cause, Not Just the Cure . This is Teddy. His family has taken him to the veterinarian nearly a dozen times in his three years for the same skin issue. His skin shows redness, scaling and hair loss, while the dog is clearly bothered by itching and painful sores. He is treated topically and with antibiotics after each office visit. The treatments offer relief for a few months only to have the skin erupt again.
Of course diet was considered early in the effort to correct Teddy's troubles and modified many times. Finally a two ingredient dry food was chosen with only meat and vegetable. The goal was to eliminate all possible sources of the trouble, but the skin problems returned. In recent month this active three year old has shown signs of lethargy and disinterest along with the usual skin eruptions and infected sores. He is more agitated and the hot spots have returned. He clearly is in misery, but another trip to the vet seemed useless. Finally the dots connected. These are the classic symptoms of candida. This is not different than a human body with skin eruptions and fungal infections which almost always have a component of candida at its base. With the improved diet, candida was not considered, but the the investigation was not over. A closer look at the food ingredients gave the final clues. The dry, two ingredient food contained meat and sweet potatoes. The sweet potatoes are sugar for candida and that alone is enough to feed the bacterial that can so easily overgrow in the gut to cause an endless list of problems. Teddy has been switched to an all meat diet and is taking probiotics. It is understood that the fix won’t be instant or that the cure is secure just because symptoms stop. Long-term candida overgrowth can become systemic and can lead to a leaky gut. The return to health might take months, but in the end the problem will be solved from the inside out instead of the outside in. Common symptoms of candida in dogs is bad breath, lethargy, smelly poop, digestion issues, bowel issues, hot spots, rash, hair loss, itching, joint pain, itchy eyes, coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, oily skin or inflamed feet. Candida manifests differently in each body. You won’t see all of these symptoms and might see others that are not listed. Don’t be surprised if your vet does not address these symptoms as candida. Most vets prefer to use antibiotics to treat symptoms because candida is not on the radar of traditional, Western medicine. Those who understand candida know that antibiotics exacerbate the problem, while symptoms may disappear for a short time. If understanding human or canine candida is important to you, learn more by searching candida, leaky gut, IBS, fermented foods and canine candida on this site and others.  Stevia was the perfect gift from nature for those willing to give up sugar. It's pure, 100% natural and has no reported ill affects to health. Why then are manufacturers adding ingredients that cause damage to the body? Just because the package is green does not make it stevia.  Stevia is a plant by the same name. Its sweetness is about 200 times that of sugar and so, only takes a tiny bit to sweeten. There are no reported connections to cancer or diabetes, yet manufacturers found a way to package problems for your body under the promise of offering you the safety of stevia. You must read every label now to find out what exactly in the product packaged to look like stevia. Without a doubt, if you are using an individual serving package the sweetener has been extended with something. Pure stevia in that quantity would overpower any single use. There are many products being used as extenders to create a teaspoon serving and to lower production costs. Most of these are things you would rather keep out of your body. Many are corn products that are produced from GMO crops which bring another set of issues to the unsuspecting user. Some of these products include:
 Probiotics and Protein in a Power Packed Pie I cannot be credited with this recipe, but I also do not know who to credit. A quick video passed by me on the internet and I put the basic idea into this recipe. The amounts are general and can be altered to your taste, but the effects are a brilliant source of probiotics and protein to feed your gut, fight candida, heal leaky gut and reduce body pain without even trying.
The choice of nut can be altered with some slight variation to the outcome. Almonds eaten in quantity can be inflammatory, which is important to know if you are attempting to reduce pain. I’ve made this with walnuts and almonds, but many types of nuts can work. Your choice of ingredients matters. Yogurt must be free of added sugar and without carrageenan, which is a highly inflammatory additive used as a stabilizer. Honey that is not raw, lacks the benefits that raw, unfiltered honey provides. Peanut butter should be free of sugar and additives to avoid adding inflammation. If you can buy non-GMO products you can limit the pesticides that travel with these crops and cause damage to the body. You can also turn this recipe into a beautiful single serving dessert in lead-free wine glasses or parfait glasses. Using leaded products will allow the lead to leach into your food, so avoid them at all cost since these need some resting time in the glass container. To make a parfait instead of a pie, layer about 2 inches of filling with about a 1/2 inch of crust material and repeat with 2-3 layers. Chill. These will last several days in the refrigerator. Recipe: Crust 1 cup almonds 1/3 cup raw, unfiltered honey 1 tbls. cocoa Filling 1 cup peanut butter, crunchy or smooth 1 cup cultured plain yogurt 1/3 cup raw, unfiltered honey, optional Grind almonds to rough stage in food processor. Add honey and cocoa and grind to a smaller, uniform cut without grinding to the point of becoming butter. Press this mixture into a pie pan. If the mixture is dry you can add more honey. Mix peanut butter with yogurt and honey and pour into crust. Chill for several hours so crust and filling can join for serving.  Pain, IBS, Fibromyalgia and many chronic conditions feed off of inflammation. Eliminating carrageenan can save hours of pain and illness. Carrageenan is quickly becoming the organic food additive to watch for on ingredient lists. Count on it instigating inflammation in your body that can turn into chronic conditions, chronic illness, fibromyalgia or IBS. Unchecked inflammation is the breeding ground for permanent damage to the body. When additives become common in our food supply, so do the symptoms they produce.
Carrageenan is organic. Is it an extract from red seaweed that has no nutritional value. Its use in the marketplace is as a stabilizer or thickener, providing a creamy consistency. You will see it often in yogurts, soy products, low-fat or fat-reduced products, shakes, soups, chocolates, baby formula, nut milks, prepared meats, cheeses, salad dressings and even in medications and toothpaste. Because it is organic it is widely used in “all natural” or “organic” products. Even though America’s FDA and USDA are not concerned by it’s use, the European Union has eliminated it from baby food. The link will take you to a list of manufactured food that use carrageenan www.cornucopia.org/shopping-guide-to-avoiding-organic-foods-with-carrageenan/  Balancing Candida is Fairly Simple It just takes Change If you have tested for candida and are ready to clean up your gut, these simple steps can help. There is no pill for candida which is why Western medicine does not address it often. Change and an improved diet is what heals the gut. It’s pretty simple. If you don’t overfeed candida bacteria, it cannot take over your gut causing chronic pain, illness, inflammation, skin disorders, lethargy, brain fog, infections and more. See
https://www.searchforthecausenotjustthecure.com/blog/symptoms-and-causes-of-candida Your goal is to balance the “good” with the “bad” bacteria in the gut. The truth is, you need both, but we refer to candida overgrown as the “bad” bacteria. Following the protocol you should notice improvement within one to three weeks. Some believe they can work on improving gut health a little at a time. Don’t be fooled. Cutting down, instead of cutting out sugars will only extend the time necessary to balance your gut. Candida can live on very little fuel. Eating 1/2 your normal amount of sugars will not take you to wellness. If you take medications, have mercury fillings or are detoxing metals, your body has an environment that suits candida growth. You may have to work more aggressively and find that the delicate balance is difficult to maintain. You might be managing rather than healing, but the benefits are not lost as candida left out of control can lead to leaky gut syndrome and autoimmune disease. See www.searchforthecausenotjustthecure.com/blog/your-sexy-gut-is-leaking Steps to Improving Gut Health 1. Test Test your gut before starting and often after you begin the protocol. You will get to know your body and gut health easily if you do. See https://www.searchforthecausenotjustthecure.com/blog/candida-testing-at-home 2. Diet Zero sugar Zero flour No dairy Limited rice and potatoes work for some. Your testing will tell you. Meat Vegetables Fruit should be limited as too much fruit can feed candida, your testing will tell you Whole foods No processed foods 3. Supplements Probiotic capsule 1-2 times a day 1-2 Tbls. fermented foods* 3-6 times a day *Fermented foods contain live cultures that feed “good” bacteria and can include: raw vinegar miso sauerkraut kimchi fermented pickles kombucha cultured yogurt (no added sugar and no fruit flavors) See recipes for some fermented foods at https://www.searchforthecausenotjustthecure.com/blog/category/recipes www.searchforthecausenotjustthecure.com/blog/your-sexy-gut-is-leaking  Got diarrhea, cramps, bloating, chronic or fibromyalgia-like pain? A common food additive in "natural" products can be the culprit. Maltodextrin, a common food additive, can provide symptoms that mimic many other conditions. The symptoms can be so intense, you might believe you have IBS, the flu, chronic pain, fibromyalgia or worse.
Maltodextrin naturally promotes the growth of bacteria in the gut. That bacteria will encourage inflammation and ultimately chronic pain and a variety of symptoms. Cancer, Crohn’s Disease and kidney malfunctions are also linked to maltodextrin. Additionally, it spikes the blood sugar without nutrient value and can easily be stored as fat, causing weight gain. Read the labels that surround your food supply. You will likely find maltodextrin in many of the processed foods you buy. It is used as a thickener for foods and pharmaceuticals. Because it is made from rice, potato, barley, corn or wheat, it can be found in products advertised as “all natural,” but use caution as these can be GMO produced resources. You will likely find it in salad dressings, frozen yogurt, candy, baked goods, fat-free products, sugar-free products and even Cheetos. It, like many other additives, has inundated our food supply. |
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