breif synopsis of bethany

hi friend.

I may or may not know you.

I just wanted to say hi and welcome to my blog.

Here is a quick backgound of my healing adventure.

Birth--2009 Super healthy. Generally wokeup between 5-6 AM to exercise. Always on the go. Super active, healthy and happy.

2010-- Became really sick for no known reason. No one could figure out why. Diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Homebound/bedbound. Living in Michigan.

2015ish--figured out we had mold in our home

2016-18--we get rid of most of our possessions and remediate our home (on a few occasions)

2018-- Sell our house. Move into a condo in Michigan. I still feel awful. We conclude it has to do with the outdoor environment, combined with my body still being super sensitive to molds. Michigan is very wet, humid and muggy all the time.

Aug 2019--move to the southwest. Work with Mold specialists, Dr. Mary Ackerly and Dr. Krystal Tellier.

Nov 2019-- Begin DNRS. (Dynamic Neural Retraining System)

Febr 2020--Diagnosed with POTS/OH @ Mayo clininc

also introduced LD Naltroxone succcessfully and began Nemecheck protocol.

March 2020--Ability to exercise returns to me

April 2020--Ability to eat more foods without crazy bad reactions. (like grains and beans).

This is basically where I'm at right now. I still have excess cortisol and androgen production... hello acne on my face.  I still have mast cell issues, and can't eat tomato sauce without getting itchy.  (despite being on 4 different mast cell tamers). Oxelates still bother me a bit.

But that's okay... I'm sure it's going to get better.

I would love to hear if any of you have success stories including DNRS. I like to think of this that I am going through my transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Right now, I'm in my little cocoon. But, watch out. That butterfly is going to bloom and turn into a beautfiul butterfly one of these days!

The fromfatiguedtofantastic instagram account will try to capture my succeesses, my failures, my progress--however slowly that may be.

Thanks for reading! See you around!

ANS disorder, Neural Inflammation, and Nemecheck Protocol

Hi folks.

It's been a while.

How have you been?

It's COVID, riots, and Black Lives Matter-ing these days.

I had to take a break from blogging. Nothing to do with societal issues at large; rather, life kind of spiraled out of control right before COVID struck (yes, while in Arizona).

Turns out I have an ANS disorder. (Autonomic Nervous System Disorder). My mold doctor referred me to a Cardiologist who sent me to Mayo Clinic. Went through the rigmarole of testing all over again.  Thank goodness for insurance!

  I guess nervous system disorders are on a spectrum.  To one extreme is POTS, which can mean being in a wheel chair, inability to stand up without getting dizzy, etc.  I was scared that that was going to be me.  BUT, thankfully, it's not me. However, I was diagnosed with O.H. (Orthstatic Hypotension) which is on the very mild side of nervous system disorders. Fancy way of saying, when I stand up, I have low blood pressure and blood pools in my legs instead of flowing properly to my heart. Also, my sympathetic/parasympathetic responses are a little out of whack.

ANS disorders can be caused by and/or related to:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (Concussions, head injuries, etc. hello Bethany's car accident a few months back)

• Trauma in general. Big T and little t traumatic life events. (Psychologist Peter Levine and several others have made a connection between nervous system disfunction and traumatic life events)

• Toxic Mold exposure (also actually considered a Tramatic Brain Injury)

• Limbic System impairment (for those suffering from MCS, PTSD, Lyme, Mold. The limbic system has been high jacked, and now the brain is perceiving everything is out to get it. The Fight/Flight is switched permanently to the ON position, unwittingly). 

 I have experienced all of the above, I guess we could call it the perfect storm; as such, I guess it's no wonder that I was diagnosed with a nervous system disorder. 

Other than my yoga and compression pants, (if you saw my previous instagram post), do you know what helps me to conquer this ANS illness? Other than DNRS, and taming my mast cells, I also think that the following has helped me neurologically--

THE NEMECHECK PROTOCOL! 

I would like to introduce Nemecheck protocol because it helps all forms of neural inflammation.  Which is a commonality among several brain disorders: Autism. ADD/ ADHD. Parkinsons. Depression. CFS. ANS disorders. Plus several others.

Nemecheck protocol in 2 minutes:

Watch that embedded link to wet your interest.

Super Science-y and interesting 10 minute presentation and explanation of how Nemecheck protocal helps with brain disorders. Watch this embedded clip to learn more the relationship between Olive oil and neural inflammation.

Here's one screen shot from the 10 minute youtube clip.

I find it interesting that the treatments for CFS is often related to Autism treatment. I'm not sure why those two are correlated, but they are. (Probably the brain inflammation, but still. Kind of weird those two illnesses are connected in someway).



SO MANY success stories on the FB group. Over 24K likes and success stories posted!




Check out Nemecheck protocol if you want to learn about taming neural inflammation!

Really quickly: how does one implement consuming inordinate amounts of EVOO? (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) Especially if someone is persnickety about food. (Hello Autistic kids!) Heck, I can't stand the peppery taste myself!

I have mine with melted chocolate. ;o) Or, on top of my salad dressings. The chocolate is really yummy. With the vanilla and salt and melted chocolate chips, you don't taste the olive oil!

Anyone else do Nemecheck? How do you consume your olive oil?

Why I don't like singing and why I don't like blogging...

Don't get me wrong, I love music, and I do love singing. But, I swear, there's something about it that makes me feel unsettled and uncomfortable about performing.  Not only my obvious vocal imperfections,  I think it's also because I am sharing a part of myself. I simply feel very vulnerable. Maybe people are judging me and thinking to themselves, "Man...she sounds like a dying cat," or maybe they are thinking to themselves that perhaps my vibrato is a little too wobbly, or maybe those high Gs are a hair out of tune, or maybe my breath support isn't rock solid.

It's more than just my obvious imperfections, I am exposed. I am sharing my personal self with an entire audience. It's not just a song--it's me.  I am sharing my time, my talent, and basically my soul. When I sing, it is apart of me.  I give my talent/gift, and who knows if anyone will even appreciate it, or even like what I am sharing.  (Admit it: you all think critical thoughts to yourself when you hear someone perform from time to time. Ha. I got cha. I know I do too, sometimes!)  

Likewise, writing a blog about all of my personal experiences, and it is a little frightening for me to openly share them. I feel inherently vulnerable, left to other people's judgement, whether good or bad. I am keenly aware of my weaknesses: everything from my inept grammar skills, to my many punctuation flaws, to not understanding the complexities of the body/mind, to my incredible lack of super-cool blogging skills.

More than my weakness though, I'm putting myself out there, and sharing what is precious to me, what has helped me, and it probably might seem a little weird to other people. Most of this is unconventional and alternative. But like I said at the beginning of this post, I felt impressed to share these things with others. So, I am writing this blog with that intention: here is what happened with me-- is there something for my experiences that can help you? If not, okay. If so--great! I accomplished my objective!  

So, do I cease performing?  Maybe I shouldn't write because my writing isn't amazing, and my blogging skills are probably archaic compared to others. Nope.  Who cares what y'all think about me, anyway. But, in all seriousness, I have carefully pondered  why I'm composing a blog.  It boils down this: my goal is to share and hopefully help someone. My goal isn't seeking to please others, or to make myself look good or important. If that were the case, I sure as heck would not be putting myself out there!  So my apologies in advance, next time you hear me sing and if my high notes are a wee-bit wobbly. Also, recognize when you read this blog, and see my obvious comma splices and run-on sentences, just know I'm doing my best. I am not perfect,and I know it.  My mission isn't to be a perfect blogger-- my mission is to openly and vulnerably share my experiences, and hopefully in the process, help someone else. I think Brene Brown would be proud of me choosing to be vulernable. Haha. I hate it.

  

Does it ever bother you to share what you know or have with others? 

Different Diets for Different Ailments

The theory of Bethany goes something like this: there are a lot of different diets that can help a person, depending upon the condition.  I have a hard time making a cut and dry conclusion, because I think there is alot of truth in alot of different literature. It boils down to--what is the ailment?  Everybody's body is different, our genes are different, and therefore, it is fair to say that a one-sized-fits all approach  is not neccessarily ideal.  (Everyone should be vegetarian or Everyone should be keto, etc.) Nah, I don't buy that. Plus, the way we methylate is different for some people (MTFHR) and so processing folate affect ones' mental and physical health. (detox system, etc.) We are all prone to a different health conditions, so why not study the condition that you are most effects you?

Also, I am fully aware that no one likes to be "told what to do."  When someone is suffering, the last thing you want to do is to say to that greiving person, "Gee, you know, you really should try X, Y or Z to fix your problem." The first thing they need in empathy, a good listener and love, no mattter what the problem or condition is.  I know, on more occasions than one, I have been a guilty "fixer" or giving "suggestions" although with good intentions.

 So, I thought I would just put this stuff out there into the blogging world. If we want to get information, what do you do?  You ask.
  So, here you go. By virtue of you coming to my blog, you are, in a sense, asking what I know and I am freely and fully sharing. You are more than welcome to reach out to me, leave a comment, and I will gladly direct you to any other resources that I might be aware of.   Happy learning!

 If someone had heart disease, I would look into a plant-based, vegetarian diet.

 Please watch the Netflix movie, "Forks Over Knives."

Also, you might want to look into Dr. Gundry talking about lectins and power of polyphenols.
He has alot of information published about heart disease. 



The information might seem to counter each other. One advocates plant-based, no meat. The other advocates no plant-lectins, and yes to grass fed, free range meats. I'll let you learn about it. :)   But, just so you know, I have read how instapots can help to eliminate plant lectins, from the steaming and heating process.  I found that fascinating.

From cancer, I would look into the Series Called The Truth about Cancer. (I'm not saying don't see an oncologist. I'm just saying, here are some other alternative things,in addition, could they be helpful to you)

 I think I would either go vegan, do the Gerson Therapy, or maybe even Ketogenic, and argue that might be helpful in dealing with Cancer. Vegan is a detoxing and cleansing diet. Protein, meat, is a building diet. (Think Body builders, they eat lots of meat and protein isolate foods, so that way they can build the muscles. But do you really want to be giving the cancer extra amino acids to survive and grow?)  The other theory with Keto, in a nutshell, is that cancer loves sugar. It thrives on sugar.  So, if you cut out virutally all carbs, would that, could that, help the cancer to not grow and to not spread?

If someone had an autistic/dyslexic child, I would suggest more of a G.A.P.s diet style or specific carbohydrate way of eating. GAPS is an acronym for Gut and Psychology Syndrome.

It's a focus on healthy fats, meats, and nutrient dense bone broth. Essential Fatty Acids are really critical to anyone with any sort of mental inflammation. Whether it's autism, ADHD, depression--our brains need the fats to bring down inflamation and to function properly.

Honestly, if I had an ASD kiddo, I think paleo is probably more doable and is very similar to Full Gaps. I don't think I could do bone broth with a picky eater kiddo. (And boy, are they picky sometimes!)  At very least, GF/CF (gluten free/ casein free) is better then nothing.  Why? Wheat and Dairy both can cross the blood-brain barrier and increases neuro-inflammation. 

If you want more of a sciency feel for why being GF would be good for any mental malady, I highly suggest reading this book, Grain Brain.


I realize this isn't about diet, but recently, I have come across the Nemecheck protocall for kiddos on the ASD spectrum.  My functional doctor suggested I look into it for my gastroperesis. It's about stimuating the vagus nervee (for adults) and bringing down brain inflammation.  Looks like there have several success stories of kiddos being able to speak again. He is so bold to suggest that his protocall of essntial fatty acids, is all you need, and you don't need to be GF/DF.

Our family is Gluten free dairy free because mold illness is an inflamatory illness, and those are the most immatory foods that we react to. We figured it out before knowing why, and then after getting the mold diagnosis, it all made sense. (Because the first thing the doctor will tell you to do, as a mold patient is to go gluten free... but we already did!)

Consistent battle with inflammation or autoimmune? I would suggest paleo as well.  Or, at very least Gluten free/Dairy free. Check for nightshades.

  First of all, eliminating anti-inflammatory foods-- like wheat, dairy, soy, corn, peanuts, ALSO unsoaked beans, unsoaked grains, unsoaked nuts. 

Why? The phytic acid in the unsoaked  grains/legumes take away the building blocks, minerals and vitamins, for neurotransmitters. (But if they were soaked, you wouldn't necessarily have to eliminate complete food groups.)  

Also worth noting--cooking grains and and beans in the instapot destroys anti-nutrients. (ie Lectins or phytic acid). 

There could be a link between lectins and arthritis.  

Personal note: the inflammatory foods which paleo cuts out, (wheat, dairy, peanuts)  if I accidentally eat them, I have debilitating rheumatoid arthritis-like symptoms. Maybe that's just me, but if someone has debilitating joint pain, I would definitely suggest eliminating wheat and dairy and seeing where it goes.

Want to Lose weight? I would endorse either Bright Line Eating OR Joel Fuhrman Eat To Live. (which is more vegetarian style). Check out the Amazon Reviews on each books. Both have had high success rates. I like the blood sugar control mentioned in BLE, cutting out flour and sugar. It makes a lot of sense.  And Eat to Live, the highlight and take away for me was nutrient density of foods.

BUT... Caveat right here. If you are prone to depression, I would not necessarily recommend Eat to Live.

  

It has been said once, "what is good for the heart is not good for the brain. What is good for the brain is not always necessarily good for the heart." (Dr. Albert Mensah, MD. Psychiatrist). 

With all of the greens, lectins, phytic acid, folate inherent in a traditional vegetarian lifestyle, it can be tricky for someone struggling with mental health issues. Not for all, but for some.

Heartburn or IBS?
 Please check out Fast Tract diet. 
       

It was extremely helpful and prevented my IBS flares much more effectively than FODMAP. FODMAP is usually suggested by the GIs.   Fast Tract diet calculates the fermentation potential of foods, how long it takes to go through the digestive system, and uses a simple mathematical formula which calculates the glycemic index, carbs and fiber, and therefore how long the food will stay in your system.  The longer the food stays, the more uncomfortable an IBS patient would be.  It is dependable science to prevent the horrible pregnant-sized, uncomfortable bloating that I inevitably experienced if/when I was not careful.  Instead of simply low-Fodmap, which is not all together bad,  I would highly suggest checking out one of Norm Robillard's books, "Fast Tract digestion." (Heart burn or IBS)

 Also worth mentioning if you have SIBO, the elemental diet also proved helpful for me.  Google "Dr. Siebecker, Elemental Diet." Basically, it's eating feeding tube materal, and not giving the bacteria any change to live or thrive.  They die off. It was more effective than antibiotics and prokinetics.  (Which I did several times over, without success.).  Elemental diet, although not fun or easy, really helped met overcome SIBO!  

Struggle with MS?  Chronic Fatigue?  I would look into Dr. Terry Wahls story. Amazing-out-of-the-wheel-chair stories. I love how she uses the science of food, and all the anti-oxidants, nutrients, to prevent further aging. 

Here is a 17 minute TEDx talk and YouTube Clip with Dr. Wahls telling her out-of-the-wheel-chair story-with-diet, when all other medicine failed her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjgBLwH3Wc

In general, just "healthy eating" in general, this book, The Maker's Diet is chalk full of sound guidelines,  if you are already healthy to begin with. Prevent disease before it strikes!  Jordan Rubin had an extreme case of Crohn's disease and went to 80+ doctors, traditional/western and alternative medicine.  Ultimately, It was his diet that made the difference and brought him back to life.  This book really resonated with me.  It's not terribly extreme and just teaches sound pronciples. 

Ketogenic diet.  I would recommend this for someone who struggles with severe neurological issues. Ie Epilepsy, seizures, ALS, Alzheimer's, bipolar disorder, Parkinsons disease, to name a few. The keto diet was formed in the 1920s by a doctor at John Hopkins and it proved helpful for children with seizures.  The essence of the diet is using ketones for fuel instead of glucose.  It is still efficacious 100 years later. Would I recommend this for everyone? No, not neccessarily. Someone with a brain disorder that is hard to treat with medicine? Yes.  And, I would throw in there, I believe that the keto diet is less efficacious when it includes dairy and wheat. (Wheat and dairy are inflammogens)  

Check out this book Keto Clarity and also the movie, "Magic Pill" on Netflix. The magic pills just teaches how fats are essential nutrients for those with brain disorders.

  

Whether we want to admit it or not: Food is very powerful! Food brought me back to life when medicine didn't. Trust me, I took every medication I was given; however, it was futile. (And then... in the rest of the story, I started recovery with foods, then meds and good doctors PLUS a pristine environment. I needed all of those things to ultimately helped me to become me again !)

  However, if I decided to eat wheat or dairy or unsoaked/unsprouted grains, I seriously pay the consequences: I either have overwhelming fatigue, to the point I can't get off the couch OR my joints will suddenly feel like they are on fire or popping. (Can you tell I've accidentally found out these the hard way?)   

 If a teeny pill has so much effect on your body, think about the amount and types of food you are consuming, day-in and day-out.  Are they good habits?  Are they living foods to promote a living body? However, and unfortunately habits can be hard to change.  I feel like food is sacred to most people.  It's almost like their religion: it's tied to family traditions, holidays, and comfort.  And most people don't really want to change from the lifestyle they grew up with.  But, if you are willing to change and to learn... there's more out there that could help you with whatever ailment you are struggling with. Also, I'm not claming these diets are cure-alls; rather, they are a tool and sort of a crutch to help your illness be less-debilitating. 

So.. I guess I just rest my case:  rather than saying one blanket, and one-size-fits-all diet-- I'll just give you a sampling of the things I have learned.  I'll let you judge and figure out what you feel is truth for you and for your family at this time.   I guess with all the ailments out there, there might not be a "one size fits all" approach to diet.  

And so my dietary journey begins...

My dietary story in a nutshell. It's been a journey. It started with plant based, candida diet, then onto GAPS, then it was FODMAP, elemental, and Fast tract. I learned about different diets for different conditions throughout this journey. Check out another post, "Different diets for different ailments." where I go through an assortment of dietary guidelines for different conditions. 

 When I first became mysterioulsy-ill and going through tons and tons of diagnostic testing, I know that I felt guided to a plant-based vegetarian lifestyle. Like, I really felt that God had guided me to this way of plant-based eating and it felt in sync with the Word of Wisdom. The people who came into my life at that time, and also being drawn to vegetarian literature, I really felt like this would be best for me. Sugar and wheat really exacerbated my fatigue without a question. 

Fast-forward six months, there were still no conclusive answers. Not MS.  Not Lupus. Not Lyme disease. Not Hashimotos. I had some Herpes virus of sorts, (not STD variety) but that wasn't neccesarily known to cause the debilitating fatigue I was experiencing. However, despite the diagnosis, antiviral medication didn't help at all. 

Other than the  virus, nothing that could be pinpointed.  The best diagnosis I was given, was by an infectious disease doctor. "We will call this Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. There's no known cause. There's no known cure. Take your vitamins and rest kid."  Talk about a depressing diagnosis!  I was 25 and my life was swept away from  me. No hope. No cause. No Cure. I had totally thought it was taking too many antibiotics. While I do think that contributed to my digestive woes, that ultimately wasn't the root cause of my lack of energy.  I was still bedridden with fatigue and wasn't able to leave my house much. If I did, it was in a wheel chair.  (And yes, I was on Iron and B-12, so the lack of energy wasn't contributed to the fact that I wasn't having too much animal protein incase any of you are wondering). 

Anyway, my church congregation and family fasted and prayed for me Aug 2011, that I would be able to get some answers, some guidance and some help. 

Help came all right, but in a very unexpected way.  

I thought my doctors would miraculously figure out what was wrong with me, give me a medicine, and ultimately find a cure. Or maybe I would see a naturopath person, and after taking IV vitamin infusions, I could get my life back. Or maybe, God would see fit to just deliver me out of my bedbound state, and I would be like one of those people you read about in the Bible and Book of Mormon, who, when Jesus blessed them, they would rise. In my case, after the fast, I thought I would miraculously have my energy back. ("Heck, if it happened back then," I thought to myself, "then why not to me? Why not now?"  I totally had the faith of a little child, if it was God's will to heal me, then healed I could be). 

Instead, none of the aforementioned healing ideas presented themselves.

Three times within that very week of the fast, I was sent a link to this book. 

My friends, all independent of one another, would say something like, "Bethany, I felt like I should share this with you." One emailed me on a Monday. The next day, another friend, independent of the first friend, wrote me on a Tuesday with the same link. Then again, Thursday or Friday of that week, I think my sister or sister-in-law sent me the exact same link to this book.

First time I looked at the book, I dismissed it right away. "Gut and Psychology syndrome. How to Heal your Digestive System Naturally. How to help mental health with food. Hmm.. Thanks, but no thanks. I have a fatiuge problem, not a digestive or a mental health problem." I thought to myself.

Friend #2, the next day, sends me the same link, to the same darn book.

I look into a little more. "Hmm....interesting, okay.  Chicken Broth.  Not typically what I would think of to heal fatigue. Plus, it wasn't plant-based at all. It was meat-based, specifically eating organ meats. Um yeah, NO thank you! And plus, being kind of closed-minded, I dismissed it again. 

Friend #3 (Not knowing that 2 other friends sent me the same thing the same week) sends me the same link.

Perhaps I should seriously consider the repeated messages?!

I swallow my pride, I seriously read all about it, I look into it, pray. 

I remember being in my knees and having a warm, unmistakable light feeling.

I'm thinking to myself: "What the heck, God?! I was wanting to just whip out of the wheel chair, lickedly-split, not have to eat this bone broth, saurkraut, and weird food!  And plus, I am not really seeing how this ia aligned with the word of wisdom!"

But, I started doing it.  It was my answer. Unmistakably so. 

So, I followed the steps and the diet to a T. 

Miraculously: my energy began to be restored. I was no longer enervated from unloading the dishwasher. I could drive to and get my family's groceries from Kroger, in one of those, "old-people-wheely-carts."  I wouldn't collapse afterwards.  And best of all, I could pick up my son from half-day kindergarten. (That was my goal all along. If I could just do that, I thought to myself, I would be so grateful).

Remember, I had already tried every supplement from A-Z from the health foods store.  I tried every medication the doctors gave me. But, to no avail. Nothing have my energy back. Until now. Doing this GAPS diet. It was nothing short of miraculous. (In hindsight, it was probably because I cut out anti-inflammatory foods and all Lectins). 

I was live and die by diet, however. I was super strict and didn't have any sugar. Nothing refined or out of a box. Only bone broth, well cooked veggies, and probiotic foods. Only berries for fruits. That was it.

At the time, I didn't know it, but I had SIBO and SIYO.  Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Small intestinal Yeast overgrowth. I was super sensitive to sugars, and the smallest amount would cause debilitating fatigue. (Guess what? GIs didn't help me at all with these conditions! It was the functional medicine that did. But, I digress.)

Fast Forward sometime.  I began to work with functional doctors who discovered the mold.   Light-bulb. Ahah! It all made sense!  There's a candida and mold connection! With further treatment, I wasn't as much, "live and die by diet," and I could slowly tolerate more foods and more fruit. (Hallelujah!)

Then I morphed out of GAPS around this time, and started learning about all other forms of diets for all sorts of conditions. Diet for SIBO. Diet for gasetroperesis. Fast-Tract Diet. Elemental Diet. Juicing Diets. Heart Disease Prevention. Cancer Diets. Neurodegenerative diseases. (MS, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, Bipolarity, depression, etc.)

This is how my food journey began folks. I began to learn everything and anything I could about food, about nutrition, and about pesticides, toxins, and our current environmental dilemna. 

So without further ado, I invite you to read my next entry blog called, "Different diets for different ailments," where I go through several illnesses and introduce different dietary literature to educate and empower you in whatever condition you may (or may not) have.  Like I've said before, I'm totally not a doctor. Just sharing what I have learned!

Food is powerful.  Have you had any experiences with food affecting energy?

Are you using your foods and meals to help and to heal your body?

What is a healthy diet?

What is healthy?

Well.  Huh.  That's an interesting question.

It depends who you ask, really.

I think we can all agree that Pop-tarts and McDonalds probably aren't a food group in the pyramid.

Is high-fat better? Or is it low-fat? 

Protein intake? 

Some argue you need to be 'in the zone' and others claim you don't need too much of it.

Butter or margarine?

And the list goes on and on....

I'm not here to banter, to argue, or to contend.  I'll share my thoughts and feelings on the matter.  Perhaps I am right.  Perhaps I am wrong.  I have read quite the dichotomy of books: from Mary Enig/Sally Fallon to Joel Fuhrman/Dr. McDougall. For those of you who don't know, let's just say, they are complete opposites.  Compared persuasiveness of Atkins/versus Raw Vegan.  And yet they BOTH have "evidence" and "statistical facts" that prove their way is superior.

And my opinion after all this study?

  Nature's food, in season, is best. 

 Far better than man-made synthetic foods.  Whole Foods, Better.  

Soaked, sprouted foods, Best.  (even with out going through the trouble of sprouting, cooking in an instapot can neutralize alot of the anti-nutrients associated with plantfoods) 

 I'll talk about soaked and sprouted in another post. But to give you an idea... here is an example of what sprouted foods are. 

Sprouting Lentils 

Notice the cool tails by the 4th day. And there are sprouts on the lovely salad pictured below.  Yumm! 

MLXLS​​

SXLLM​​

I realize I'm a little eccentric and odd for finding food so fascinating. You must be my friend if you are taking the time to actually read my bamblings about food.  I have felt drawn to learning about foods over the past several years. Studying everything and anything about food, mostly because I learned it affected my health an energy so profoundly. 

 Some topics I have studied include:

• GMOs.  (Watch OMG GMO on Netflix)
• Pesticides usage. 
• Glyophosate contamination. (Pesticides and Glyophosate will be explained further in a post entitled "Environmental Toxins")
• Hormone/antibiotic in the feed.    
• Grain-fed vs. Grass fed.chickens.   (Michael Pollen's Literature) 
• Grass fed vs Feed lot cows 
• Aspertame.    
• Monosodium glutamate.   
• The importance of organic. 
• The miracle of sprouted foods.

 I'll share what I have learned and then let you figure out truth for yourself.   I have learned in this seek-and-find-journey, that I need to be open-minded and not assume I know it all.  Also not to be quick to jump on a band wagon and believe that all truth can be found in one book.  I honestly felt like I found truth in all of the books I've read (although alot of them argue why their way is right).

  I'll share what I have gleaned.

The theory of Bethany goes something like this:  perhaps certain diets are right for certain people at certain times in their lives.  That's my theory at least.  

Please check out a separate post entitled, "Different Diets for Different Ailments." In it, I discuss different literature I have come across concerning dietary interventions for cancer, heart disease, ASD, mental health, weightloss, IBS, heart-burn, SIBO (Small Intesestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) MS/fatigue, and neurological deficiencies. I'm not claiming these will cure the malaides, rather, I feel like food can be a bandaid to help us bridge the gap between welness and medication/supplements. 

If I may be so bold as to come to my straight-forward conclusion after all this studying, and pondering, it is this: I would believe that a whole-foods, plant-based diet is best. Why? Plants are full of antioxidants! Look at those colors!  Antioxidants scavenge free radicals! Sulfer veggies help your body to detox from the toxins we inevitably encounter in our unclean world! However, let me clarify:  I'm not promoting extreme veganism that includes fake meats, frankensoy products as the staples, or being a breadgetarian that is high carb and non-nutriatively dense. I like whole foods. Real foods. Colorful foods. Nature's food. And for my weaker digestive system, cooked is better than raw for me.

 For the average person, I prefer to cook recipes that are vegetable heavy and not meat-centric, if that makes sense. I like to do stir-fries with a little meat in it, but not a huge steak and a carrot stick on the side. Or another example, I would rather consume a large salad, with chopped eggs, and if you want a little chicken on it-- rather than just eat an entire rotisserie chicken, forgetting about the veggies. Like I said, I'm not against meat. I simply just don't think it's great/healthy to overindulge it.  That is just my peronsal opinion, also coinciding with the Word of Wisdom. From my understanding of vegetarian literature, an over-consumption of meat can lead to acidifying the blood, which in turn can lead to several diseases and also leaching calcium out of bones.  Also, it can increase plaque and the hardening of the arteries (heart attacks). Other studies by Esslestyn and Campbell demonstrate the over abundance in meat and dairy contribute to the growth of cancer.

Peronally, I do a modified form of Terry Wahl's MS protocall, based upon her book, "Minding your Mitochondria," which calls for 9 cups of colorful and sulfer veggies each day. If I cook grains/beans, I try to either sprout them (lentils) or cook in the instapot to eliminate the lectins and anti-nutrients. 

With all this said, if someone feels best on Keto or GAPS another diet that is heavier on the meat side, I am supportive. I know first hand, because of the MTFHR gene, that some people have really have adverse effects on folate. (Beans, lentil, dark greens, etc. )  In this food journey of mine, I need to be open minded and accepting at whatever helps an individual.  I judge not anyone! Food is powerful.

We are all entitled to our own opinion.  Maybe I'm right, maybe you are.  But, this is what I have concluded after my years of research and learning.  What do you think?  What is your opinion?

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