More Digestive Enzymes

Since the Papaya Enzymes were working so well, I decided that it was time to go up a notch. I purchased a full spectrum digestive enzyme supplement. The owner of our local GNC takes them as well and really encouraged me to give them a try.

After doing lots of research, I decided to go with a vegetarian pill. The non-vegetarian pills contain bovine bile. With my history of rejecting everything bovine, I decided I would not risk it. I ended up buying  Jarrow's formula of vegetarian digestive enzymes. These are AMAZING and I have had zero side-effects. If I forget to take one before a meal, if I feel any discomfort after eating, I pop one and it works in about 30-60 secs. Within five minutes, I feel entirely normal. I have been able to eat anything without any stomach upset. After taking them for almost two weeks, I've noticed that I can even eat a meal without needing them every time. I am having less and less issues. I can drink coffee again in the morning without any pain. It's wonderful. My appetite is increasing and although, I am still not gaining weight, I am eating more. The weight should come.

I was planning to try another therapy on top of digestive enzymes but these are working so well, I do not think I am going to try it (Mastic gum) right now.


BTW, this is one article that really inspired me, Digestive Enzymes in the Modern Diet by Jon Barron. I highly suggest anyone who is having stomach discomfort to read this article.

Another resource that I liked Ways to Increase Stomach Acid.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive compensation if you make a purchase using this link. All proceeds will go to supporting this blog. Thank you.

Low Stomach Acid?

I noticed anytime I was starting to feel sick that the first symptom was this feeling of food sitting in my stomach. I remember that all these problems STARTED here, years before the stomach flu of 2014. I would especially notice it anytime that I drank alcohol. I could never figure out what was going on until now. Here is my theory.

Hypochlorhydria- Low Stomach Acid.

As we age, our body makes less stomach acid and digestive enzymes. It even decreases when one is infected with H.Pylori. The bacteria suppresses the body's ability to make stomach acid because guess what people, stomach acid kills the bugger. 

Even though my test for H.Pylori was negative, I wonder: 

1. Is a blood test a good measurement?

2. Could it have been present in the early stages at the time of test?

3. Did I test positive for the bacteria but not enough to be considered positive?

All questions to ask my doctor. Yes, I know and I will. 

Back to Hypochlorhydria:

My entire life, I have had issues digested food high in protein and fat usually processed beef like hot dogs. At age three, I was informed that I should stop eating hot dogs as my body could not process the fat. My the time I was in high school, I could not digest beef at all and sometimes pork. At this time, my doctor told me that maybe I do not make the enzyme to digest it. Around the time I left college and started my career, I started noticing a lactose intolerance. I started using lactaid tablets which contain enzymes to digest lactose. It solved my problem.

Then just two weeks ago, I accidentally ate a tiny bit of beef. I knew that I was doing it too but thought, I should be okay with just a little. Oh, but I was not. All the symptoms that I had as a child came back: burping, indigestion, stomach cramps, and waves of nausea (I did not puke though, came close, and I so wanted to it was that bad). 

Then, it dawned on me. In a great laugh, I realized that I am an idiot. It's all the same problem. ONE PROBLEM I'VE HAD MY WHOLE LIFE. I am not digesting my food properly! I either lack enzymes or acid, or BOTH. 

In my first step while I researched and before starting taking supplements, I did one thing. I decided to go back to a full primal diet (no dairy). Can you believe that all my problems disappeared instantly? I had one or two cases of not feeling "right" after a large protein meal and taking a papaya enzyme worked. Whew. For the first time in a year, I am eating without getting sick afterwards or without fear getting sick. It's amazing.

Some other things I am working on: sitting down to eat my meals and slowly chewing my food. Sound ridiculous? I have three kids 5 and under. Momma doesn't get to sit and eat often. :) So, we have a new rule, when mommy sits down with her meal, she does not get up until she's done, all requests must be held.

Please continue to follow my journey! More information on supplements coming! 

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive compensation if you make a purchase using this link. All proceeds will go to supporting this blog. Thank you.

Breathing Life Back Into this Blog

So it has been almost three years since my last post. THREE YEARS! Eeek! Life just got really busy! In early June 2012, when my second child turned 1, I found out that I was pregnant again!  Baby number 3 was born in early February 2013. It took me two years to adjust to this life with three little ones. Whew! I also started and grew my own business. Busy times indeed.

Over the past two years, I maintained a semi-primal diet. I honestly had issues maintaining weight while purely primal and extended breastfeeding. I ended up adding a few bit more carbohydrates (rice) into my diet so I could just keep weight on. Then, I definitely started cheating more than I should have... open that door just a little and it flies open.

Then, March 2014, we all were infected with the stomach flu. This was the second bad case for us in two years. But this case, in particular, was different. My stomach never really went back to normal. I am not sure what exactly what happened but here is my current theory. I had a Norovirus which inflamed and damaged my stomach lining. Then, once I felt better, I hurt my hip; which unfortunately, does not take much due to pregnancy injury. I remember when this happened and I remember thinking as I swallowed three 200mg ibuprofen pills, "you should really eat something with this dummy." However, I am sure I was distracted with three energetic children and I did not eat. Next thing I know, I am going down the path of a peptic ulcer: constantly nauseated, vomiting after meals, weight loss, and pain.

When I finally decided that it was bad enough, I visited my doctor (September 2014). She did lots of tests: cholesterol, vitamins, blood cell count, and H. Pylori. Everything was beautiful. I had an abdominal ultrasound to check the gal bladder and it was perfect, no signs of stones or sludge. Slightly off topic, this all says so much about the primal diet. People always ask me what my cholesterol levels are like:  high in good cholesterol, low in the bad!

So she decided that it was probably the start of an ulcer and she put me on a long term dose of Prilosec. It worked great! Once I stopped it, it took about 3 weeks for me to feel back to "normal" (not 100% but not sick all the time). I was finally cured! Well... not... quite. One night, I ate some dairy and I thought I was going to die. I have always been sensitive to dairy but now I am EXTREMELY sensitive to the point that I am SCARED to physically touch it. If I ingest it, I get severe stomach cramps and sometimes I vomit. I usually feel like stomach flu sick for 12 hrs and then slightly miserable for 3 days. THREE DAYS PEOPLE!

After this happened, I figured that it was my ulcer again since my doctor warned me that something like this could happen. She knows that stomach problems run in my family and she said that I should always keep Prilosec on hand. After taking it, I instantly started feeling better until day 8, then nauseated again. All my symptoms returned ON Prilosec. What on earth was going on? I had to force myself to take the pill every day because I was so scared to find out what I would feel like off of it. I would wake up feeling great and then sick again after taking it. Once that two week pack was done, I stopped it. Then, I ate dairy again, accidentally this time. I wanted to die... Again.

So this went on for weeks and weeks, back and forth. So I started researching. What does Prilosec actually do? Why was I feeling this way? What is really going on?

The things that I do know are facts:
1. After I eat a meal, I feel bloated and full. It feels like my food sits in my stomach for way too long. 2. Ginger Tea will alleviate this full feeling and it makes me burp... like really burp people, it's gross but feels good to get it out.
3. Even tiny bits of dairy makes me feel awful but it takes like 1/2 serving of something to make me really ill.
4. I have zero heartburn. Everyone says Priolsec is for heartburn. I haven't had heartburn since I started the primal diet (okay, other than late stages of pregnancy). However, back in September before Prilosec, I would a constant burning sensation in my stomach that would put me on my side in the fetal position.

So what do you think?

Well, I am NOT a doctor but I have my theories and I want to share my experience with you. I plan to take my theories to my doctor.

Would you like to join me on my quest to cure my stomach?

Favorite Kitchen Items #2

Instead of constantly buying Pam in a can, my husband found a refillable oil sprayer. You can put any kind of oil you want in it, pump it up and spray! It works wonderfully and it doesn't cost that much!!

Favorite Kitchen Items Post #1

I am going doing to do a series of posts of my favorite kitchen items... machines, tools, and pans.

The first one today is my Kitchen Aid Mixer. I never thought that I would use it as much as I do when I first got it. I use it almost daily if not several times a day. It makes the process of creating everything from scratch that much easier. It is easy to clean and always (so far) works. I have had mine since Christmas 2010.

I highly recommend it! The best part is that there are so many attachments, you can lose several pieces of equipment in the kitchen. It saves you counter space and time!

One word of caution, however, the baseline models like the ones sold at Walmart are not of the same quality has the more expensive models. I hear that they will even leak oil into your food. So save your pennies!!

This is the model that I have:

Chocolate Banana "Ice Cream"

• 1 large very ripe banana
• 1 heaping tablespoon of Dutch Processed Cocoa
• 5 tablespoons of Whole Organic Milk or Coconut Milk 

1. Slice banana and place on parchment paper in a single row. Place in freezer for at least 2 hours. 
2. Take banana out, place in food processor with the cocoa and milk. 
3. Mix until smooth. 
4. Eat right away! This will not freeze well. 

Pizza Frittata

This is a tweaked version of Mark Sisson's Pizza Frittata found in his book: Primal Blueprint Quick & Easy Meals. This is good cold or warmed up the next day!


Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground sausage
• 6 eggs, beaten
• Handful of finely chopped fresh basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4-1/2 a mix of Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Feel free to add in anything else you like, like chopped tomatoes, mushrooms...
• Chopped fresh tomatoes (in season) or pizza sauce at the end (winter)
• A skillet that is oven-safe.

Steps:

1. Preheat Broiler to high.
2. In a skillet on high, cook sausage until complete.
3. Turn down to medium, add tomatoes, if using, and saute for a minute. 
4. Add Eggs and herbs. Stir Quickly!! 
5. Then let eggs sit and cook undisturbed until set. 
6. Sprinkle cheese on top (if using).
7. Put under a broiler until golden brown about 3-5 minutes.
8. If you did not use tomatoes, place a little pizza sauce on top of the frittata. Mmm!