Green Tea

I'm constantly researching for solutions to my health issues as improving my health is a requirement if I want to live a joyful life full of energy. The inflammation that resurfaced while taking thyroid medications hasn't gone away. I recently read green tea can be an anti-inflammatory for anyone who is TH-1 dominant. Due to my sensitivity to caffeine I have always been leery of green tea. Yeah, I have experienced the anti-inflammatory benefits of chocolate, but it's never worth the risk of all the other side effects: nausea, mood swings, headaches, insomnia, cognitive impairment as if I've been drugged, violent shaking of every nerve in my body, and general malaise that lasts for days after consumption.

I recently read a post by a woman who said she had an "allergy" to caffeine. I'm not sure it's an actual immunoglobin response allergy rather than an intolerance or sensitivity, but I was intrigued. So I went searching and found an article called, "How Much Mental Illness is an Allergy to Caffeine?" Fascinating. I guess I'm not the only one who experiences violent reactions to this evil. You can read it HERE.

Many say green tea, although caffeinated, is different from coffee or black tea. It's hard to ignore the list of benefits:

Weight loss. Oh! Excellent! Lack of thyroid hormone slows one's metabolism resulting in weight gain. This is a constant complaint I hear from anyone who has Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism in general. Some of the thyroid medications even contribute to weight gain. Losing weight is difficult if not impossible for many. Green tea speeds up metabolism, mobilizing fatty acids creating fat loss and feelings of energy. Hooray!

Cell damage prevention. Green tea has the antioxidant catechin which reduces free radicals in the body. This helps prevent cell damage.

Cardiovascular disease prevention. Green tea improves circulation and lowers cholesterol lowering one's risk to heart-related diseases.

Blood sugar stabilization. Green tea stabilizes blood sugar which lowers one's risk of diabetes. It also helps with insulin resistance a common issue with Hashimoto's.

Cancer prevention. Green tea destroys cancer cells lowering one's risk for cancer.

Brain function. Green tea energizes the brain which improves cognitive function. This lowers one's risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Anxiety relief. Green tea has a calming effect due to the amino acid L-theanine. Since discovering I have a gene mutation that makes me prone to worry and anxiety, I've been on the look out for something that might help. I'm tired of being a worry wart.

Energy. Green tea has caffeine so it is advised not to drink it before bedtime, however, because of the theanine it has a synergetic effect which eliminates the "wired" feeling normally associated with caffeine. This balance between energy and calm makes it tolerable for many who are sensitive to caffeine.

Adrenal fatigue. Although it is suggested not to drink or eat caffeine if one has adrenal health issues, this is the exception. Green tea is considered a nutritional support for adrenals.

Death. Green tea reduces one's risk of death. Yep, that's what I read! Considering the benefits listed above, it certainly sounds like a miracle cure for any number of life-threatening conditions. Realistically, we are all going to die, but a product claiming to promote good health and extend life? Sounds good to me.

 

Let the games begin! I decided nothing ventured, nothing gained. Practicing my resolution to be brave. Slowly. I was worried (I can't help it! It's in my DNA!), but at the same time cautiously optimistic. Or irrationally hopeful. Unrealistically desperate. I bought one tea bag. Someone warned I might not like the taste as it has a strong "plant" taste...like dirt or composted weeds. I was prepared for the worst, but found it to taste like real, black tea. I haven't had black tea in years so it felt like a naughty treat! I started with four sips. Within minutes I felt energetic and found myself talking non-stop to a friend as if I were wired. BUT it wasn't a wired feeling and I didn't start shaking uncontrollably. I felt awake probably for the first time in a long time. No headaches or nausea, and I didn't experience any unusual insomnia that night.

I tried it again the next day, only four sips. I worried about the slight headache I had an hour later, but my irrational hopefulness made me believe it was because I waited too long to eat lunch. An hour after I ate, I drank some more tea, and another headache ensued. This one tormented me the rest of the day and all night causing nausea and general discomfort. Oops.

I usually experience a secondary, delayed reaction to caffeine so it wasn't too surprising when I awoke the second day with another headache and spinal pain. I've heard there is a decaffeinated green tea, but I'm so sensitive any amount of caffeine residue would give me grief.

Green tea is not for me. Oh well!

Bad, Bad, Bad, and Very Bad...

I volunteered at the co-op today. They had an Ice Cream Social...free ice cream/frozen yogurt/gelato/goat milk ice cream/dairy-free ice cream/sorbet samples of every flavor the store carries. What was I thinking? Well, I was thinking I was being helpful.

Before it even started all the volunteers were eating the ice cream and laughing it was a job requirement to taste all of the various flavors so they would be informed. People kept handing me samples and saying, "Try this one. It's wonderful!" I kept asking to see the containers to check the labels. I read the labels very carefully although I was lax on the sugar (BAD) and the dairy (BAD) knowing there aren't many ice creamy-type desserts that don't have these ingredients. There were a few selections that were dairy and sugar-free, but most of those had chocolate.

I was in charge of giving samples of non-fat frozen yogurt: peach mango, honey, berry, and blueberry. Sounds pretty safe so I stuck to sampling those. I studied the labels and sampled the berry. Oh, so delicious!  The woman next to me had the full-fledged ice cream with a variety of chocolate flavors: Double Chocolate, Banana-Chocolate Swirl, and Chocolate Chip Mint. Oh, they looked tempting and evil! Then the manager brought her another called Sea Salt Caramel. After studying the label, I deemed it safe and had a taste. Oh, my, heavenly. I scooped up another little spoonful and in the scoop there was a dark bit. I asked her, "What is that? A nut?" She read the label. Cocoa. COCOA? (BAD) Am I blind? How did I miss that? I must have been looking for the word "chocolate" and glossed right over "cocoa". I threw that spoonful away as if it were poison.

Then a few minutes later a customer came over and started reading the labels on my frozen yogurt containers. Out loud she said, "Natural flavors....hmmm...nope." She explained she can't have anything with "natural flavors" because that often means "corn" and she's allergic to corn. NATURAL FLAVORS!!! How did I miss that? That's often what they call gluten, too. GLUTEN??? (BAD) Oh, my god. I might have eaten gluten today. I was in shock.

I can only blame the heat. It was in the 90s today. This sort of heat is unusual in my neck of the woods even during the summer. There were a few times I thought I'd keel over from heat exhaust. I heard from others eating ice cream is a very effective way to cool down. I know that's not true but we as humans can rationalize anything. I guess I didn't eat enough sugar, dairy, chocolate and gluten to stay cool. Brain dead, for sure.

Still, I think I had a total of three tablespoons of frozen yogurt and ice cream combined so I don't expect a problem, but I'm kinda disappointed in myself. Other than my banana cream recipe, I hadn't had anything resembling ice cream for a long time. And it was GOOD!

I knew better. No willpower. I should have stayed away.

Glycemic Index and [Anti-] Inflammatory Ratings

The Paleo/Hashimoto's diet is really an anti-inflammatory diet. The basic premise is that grains, sweeteners and dairy products create inflammation causing autoimmune triggers. In addition, low blood sugar is a by-product of the thyroid response so keeping your blood sugar levels steady is another important dietary goal.


A friend of mine sent me a great website that has every kind of food imaginable with nutritional values including glycemic index and inflammatory ratings: nutritiondata.self.com  When I say every food I'm serious! If you look up "apples" you'll find three pages of anything with an apple in it from apple juice to baby food to Burger King's Dutch Apple Pie. It focuses mostly on processed and junk food because that's what the Standard American Diet (SAD) is, but if you search hard enough you can find raw foods, well, in most cases. The healthier foods are the minority and hidden among the junk. How SAD! There is no indication of organic vs. conventionally-grown foods either which would be an interesting comparison.



To better understanding what I am eating, I did some searches. For instance, dark chocolate which is supposed to be the healthier of chocolates, has a glycemic rating of 46 with an inflammatory rating of -473. The lower the glycemic rating the better as it indicates sugar levels whether natural or processed. The target inflammatory number should be a total of at least 50 or more a day, and obviously, chocolate is evil. (Where have we heard that before?)

The Kharrazian protocol says to avoid high glycemic fruits such as watermelon (3 glycemic, -7 inflammatory) and mangoes (8 glycemic, -15 inflammatory), with no mention of bananas. Bananas are 18 glycemic and -115 inflammatory! Granted, not as bad as the devil of foods, but much higher than watermelon.  I'm not clear why berries are on the Kharrazian diet, but not watermelon. Blueberries are 4 glycemic and -16 inflammatory so sweeter than watermelon. If anyone knows, please comment.

Coconut milk is highly recommended on the Paleo/Hashimoto's diet because of its natural fat content which helps stablize blood sugar and helps you feel full. It rates 5 for glycemic and -435 for inflammation. Wow. It's inflammation rating is right up there with chocolate. When I first started the Paleo/Hashimoto's diet I was sucking coconut milk down non-stop. Oversaturation! I rarely cook with it or use it now.

Broccoli is 3 glycemic and 53 inflammatory so one serving of broccoli satisfies your daily target inflammatory totals! Salmon is 0 glycemic and 116 inflammatory. 




Pecans are 0 glycemic and 202 inflammatory and most nuts are low-glycemic and anti-inflammatory. Almond butter is really excellent with 0 glycemic and 601 inflammatory. Super foods! Garlic is 22 glycemic, oddly high in sugar (!) and 4863 inflammatory, or rather, the SUPER ANTI-INFLAMMATORY.



I've been eating a lot of avocados lately and I was really surprised to see WHERE a food is grown has an influence on ratings. Florida avocados have a 6 glycemic rating and a 49 inflammatory rating, but California avocados are 4 glycemic and 181 anti-inflammatory. I wonder why?


Most of these foods I checked the raw form, but the ratings can also change with preparation methods. Hard-boiled eggs, for instance, are 2 glycemic and -139 inflammatory, but scrambled eggs are 5 glycemic and -219 inflammatory. At first I thought it was because of the added oil and milk, but then I looked at a raw egg which is 2 glycemic and -224 inflammatory so the inflammatory rating goes down with preparation. Maybe the salmonella is cooked out of it? A raw apple is 3 glycemic and -21 inflammatory, but cooked without sugar becomes 4 glycemic and -33 inflammatory, both ratings higher.


Fascinating. I think I'll go eat some garlic.

Chocolate is Evil

Right around any holiday the chocolate companies start advertising the health benefits of chocolate. For anyone who is addicted this well-planned propaganda seems heaven-sent giving us just one more rational justification for caving to the craving. I've heard chocolate decreases heart disease, improves mood, raises energy, reduces blood pressure, can provide relief from asthma by relaxing bronchial muscles and, last but not least, has an ingredient (phenethylamine) that mimics the feeling of falling in love. Who wouldn't want to feel like they are falling in love? Who needs a high-maintenance man for Valentine's Day when we can have chocolate? I'm sold! As I'm pulling my hair and screaming, "GIVE ME CHOCOLATE," in the back of my rational mind I ask, "Who paid for this so-called research? Mars? Hershey? Nestlé?" $ Cha-ching $ Cha-ching $

What they don't tell you is chocolate may cause headaches, migraines, fatigue, nervous system overstimulation, depression, mood swings, irritability, hyperactivity, feelings of rage, weight gain, premenstrual insanity, autoimmune attacks, heart palpitations, insomnia, heartburn, allergic reactions, acid reflux, sex drive reduction, diabetes, and cancer. It makes you feel in love, but reduces your sex drive? It improves mood, but makes you depressed...at the same time? Am I the only one who sees the contradiction?

I knew someone who was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, suffering greatly with episodes of fatigue and general misery. I kept telling him, "Give up the fancy chocolate, damn it!" AS A TEST He refused citing his entitlement to just one low-cost luxury. The addiction had him by the balls. After two years of treatments and thousands of dollars in medical bills, his liver failed due to all the antibiotics. Unable to function, he was forced to convalesce on the couch and eat very little which involved giving up his gourmet chocolate. His health improved miraculously.  Soon after recovery, he attempted to go back to eating chocolate - all his symptoms and suffering returned. It wasn't Lyme Disease, it was chocolate! Chocolate is evil.

Another friend had bouts of severe depression with thoughts of suicide. After losing her insurance benefits which paid for her very expensive anti-depressants, she desperately asked my advice. Too young to die, she thought, she was willing to give up chocolate and coffee AS A TEST. She made it clear it was only a test. The depression lifted. After a few weeks, the mocha lattes called to her - LOUDLY. She couldn't resist. Within the hour she was ranting, crying, and screaming at her boyfriend for absolute no rational reason. Chocolate is evil.

I'm fairly certain my ten-year old neighbor who suffered from migraines was reacting to chocolate. His mother said the pain was so bad he would hold his head and whimper because crying made it worse. Doctors had no idea why which always sends up red flags for me. As I stood staring at the enormous, half-eaten dark chocolate cake on the counter, I told her my theory and suggested eliminating chocolate from his diet. AS A TEST. She laughed like a maniac and said dripping with addiction, "Oh, he's not going to give up chocolate! He loves it too much!" Who is the parent here? If your child was suffering so greatly wouldn't you try anything? I had a bad feeling about this, but hey, I hardly knew the woman and I wasn't his parent. I couldn't accuse her of child abuse, although I was tempted. Chocolate is evil.

Notice in every story I'm emphasizing AS A TEST. Suggesting anyone to give up chocolate is dangerous. They become hostile.  I usually find myself repeating over and over AS A TEST, JUST A TEST, ONLY A SHORT TEST. Slowly back away.

What I was surprised to find out is chocolate is a cross-reactor to gluten, in other words, it acts like gluten in your system. If you suffer from any kind of gluten sensitivity, celiac disease or autoimmune disease, chocolate will incite an attack and contribute to any of the above mentioned miseries. It is said most people are gluten sensitive in some way.

If health issues aren't convincing enough, I remember years ago some study that came out about the percentage of rat feces and cockroach anatomy found in chocolate bars due to the vermin dancing on top of the wonderful smelling vats and, oops!, falling in. Eeeww! And of course, if it's not "fair trade" then do remember those little cocoa beans were harvested by un-fairly treated children and slaves. Oh yeah! It kills pets, too. That's got to be a clue.

Face it, chocolate is evil. Personified, it would be the devil of food stuffs. It tempts and entices. Few can resist. If you do manage to fight the craving, it calls to you like any drug addiction because IT IS a drug and has been used as such since the beginning of time. The capitalistic money-making machine saw fit to making it into a dessert. Addictions sell.

Kicking the habit is torture. Even knowing all these horrible things, the smell of chocolate can still make me swoon and forget about the rat shit. If you do see the light and are so inclined to give it up AS A TEST, it takes time.  Be patient and strong.  For me it was three weeks of pure hell. After that you will fight the urge for the rest of your life. It never stops calling to you, sweetly and seductively. Your willpower will come from feeling better without it.

I change my mind - maybe a man is less high-maintenance than a chocolate addiction?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Do you eat chocolate? Suffer from any of the above symptoms? Are you willing to give up? Why not?