Month One of GAPS Diet

Having now read the GAPS book, I have gotten all grain, sugar, and starchy vegetables out of my diet in an effort to restore my poor, depressed gut.  My gut has been very happy with the changes I have made, but the rest of me hasn't been too thrilled.  The probiotics have been doing their job:  marching in and killing off the "bad" microbes in their path.  However, those naughty microbes are not going down without a fight!  No siree!  They are scattering their dead troops all over the terrain as they flee. 


So far, I've seen my sinuses clear up, my ears improving, and my stress hormones stabilizing, but  I have also had uncomfortable detox symptoms:  nausea, weakness, body aches, and lethargy.  Being the fighter that I am, I am encouraged that these physical hurdles are being crossed.  It shows me that there is progress being made.

My next step is to make live culture yogurt from raw milk. 

It takes guts.

Sticking to my "No Non-Stick" Commitment

I have known for years that cooking on a "non-stick" pan is detrimental to my family's health.  I keep ignoring that little guy with wings who sits on my right shoulder and warns me to not use those pans.  The little guy in the red suit on my left shoulder keeps reminding me of how convenient those pans are.

I finally made a commitment to use the non-stick pan only for pancakes until I can purchase a cast iron griddle.  I use my cast iron skillet for all other frying, and I do like it.  Even if it's not as convenient as a non-stick pan, at least I know my skillet is not off-gassing carcinogens and that I am not ingesting Teflon coating in the various flakes that usually peel off of the surface of the pan.

Yes, this change is way over due, and I know better than to put off the inevitable change.  I have altered my food choices and food preparation choices in many ways through the years, but I held onto this "non-stick" convenience out of stubbornness.

If you are just getting started in the use of cast iron, be sure to season your pan well.  A good-seasoned and well-used cast iron skillet will turn black.  For the first seasoning, we usually apply a layer of flax oil on the skillet and heat in a 150-250 degree oven for a couple of hours.  From then on, after washing and heat-drying the skillet, we reapply the oil and heat on the stove top on low for about five minutes.

Cleaning:  do not use soaps or metal scrubbers in your cast iron.  Instead, use hot water and a plastic scrubbie.  After rinsing, heat the pan on the stove top until dry.  If the seasoning is wearing out, give the pan another coat of flax oil at that time and heat through.

Another cooking option is to use stainless steel or ceramic cookware. All of our pots are stainless steel, and I have a ceramic skillet on order.  I am interested in hearing of anyone with experience using ceramic.

Be slick.

Dangers of Teflon

Is Teflon Dangerous?

Ceramic Cookware

Note:  I have used shortening on occasion to season the skillet.  I do not advocate the use of shortening in baking or cooking.  The amount used in seasoning the pan is very small.  Flax oil is another alternative for seasoning cast iron, and it yields a somewhat more durable coat.

Autism -- Is It Curable?

In the late '70s, we nursing students were taught that one in 10,000 children was born with autism.  The rate of incidence for autism has increased exponentially since then. Reports vary from country to country, but now about one in 150 children has one of the autism spectrum disorders.  What happened to cause this dramatic increase?  Usually when I address this subject, someone responds with, "That's just because they are better able to diagnose autism now."  If that's the case, then that means that the children who were misdiagnosed in the '70 are now in their 40s.  Do one in 150 of these adults have autism?  No.  Clearly not.  Therefore they were not misdiagnosed as children.

Since autism is spreading so rapidly, it is not following the "rules" of genetics.  Genetics cannot change a population that rapidly.  If genetics is not the cause, then there is even more hope of a cure (and better yet, a prevention) for autism.

I am very excited to have come across a book by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, who is a neurologist and nutritionist.  Her book is Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural treatment for autism, A.D.D., A.D.H.D., dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, and schizophrenia.   In her book she explains how poor gut health causes leaky gut syndrome, and due to the gut-brain connection, toxins wreak havoc in the brain.  This weakened immune system is then further damaged by the introduction of immunizations and other toxins at an early age. 

Treatment primarily involves dietary changes which promote gut health.  Dr. Campbell-McBride not only shares how she cured her own child of autism using this method, but she uses her extensive medical knowledge to give the rest of us that same hope.

Be well.

factors in autism

interview with Dr. Campbell-McBride