Could It Be B-12?

Megaloblastic anemia (B-12 Deficiency)

 Here I am again, climbing back out of a weekend of exhaustion on my road to attempting to feel better.  It took me two days (Saturday and Sunday) to finally feel human and now it's back to work after a holiday weekend.   I was told 2 years ago that I was depleted of B12 and I would need to have shots each week for 12 weeks and then have them each month until I built my "stores" up. I was ever so grateful for the physician that told me this after viewing my blood results, however, the taking off work, driving 35 miles from work and then back to work (since they were not open on weekends or after work for patients) became too cost prohibitive as I am a single self-supporting woman.  I am writing this personal story in hopes that this may help someone else who is searching and not getting answers. I am also writing this down so I will not forget what has happened to me.

Growing up as a young child in the country, I would catch the school bus daily.  I loved school, was an avid reader, and loved my friends. I began reading the newspaper in 3rd grade and watched the nightly news with my folks.  We were in the middle of Vietnam and I was very well aware of the goings on.  By 3rd grade, I began having tummy troubles. I would be fine one minute and then, all of a sudden, I had horrifying abdominal pain that was unrelenting. Nothing worked to ease the pain, nothing.  I would have to stay home from school, missing my friends and my studies.  My digestion was horrible back then and I was always constipated to the point of causing bleeding. By high school, the pain was so severe that I would pass out.  Years later at 23 yrs of age, I would discover on my own that I was lactose intolerant.  The tummy troubles did not end though, in fact, they worsened. 

At 20 yrs old, I was sitting at a table eating dinner at a restaurant when a companion mentioned that I was sighing. I took that comment in and realized, I WAS sighing.  I then began to notice that what I was really doing was breathing in to get a full breath. I couldn't stop!  I NOW know that I had shortness of breath. I do the same thing now and recognize it; this has brought back many memories.

At 19-23 yrs of age I dabbled in vegetarianism. 

At 25 I was working in southern California for a large corporation.  I continued experiencing excruciating  abdominal pain, & fainting. 

28 years of age hit me like a TON of bricks....I had a beautiful baby daughter (delivered by c-section) but within 3 mos, I was bedridden and in so much back pain I honestly could not walk. I did not know what to do. I was finally able to go to a sports rehab Dr who ran all kinds of tests and gave me muscle relaxers which I did not want to take. I went to him for a couple of weeks and finally one day he was out on vacation. His replacement Dr took one look at me and told me he had a cure! I was slightly excited but wondered how he could possibly have a cure.  He brought in a back brace and slapped it around me, telling me to jump off the table. I told him there was no way!  He then took my hand and yanked me off the table; I braced myself to fall to the ground, but alas, I was able to remain standing.  He said loudly, "you're cured!"...I asked him, "but wait, how will I shower? When I remove this thing, I will fall to the ground". He wasn't concerned..he then asked me if I wanted surgery...I said "for what?" and he answered, "for your back!" "No I don't want surgery, what's wrong with me?", I asked.   He said he didn't know.

At 29, I was notified by my gyno that I had abnormal cells on my cervix. I was floored; back then, no one ever discussed this and I was so scared.  I went in for my appointment and I had cryotherapy.  I couldn't believe it. My doc told me I would be fine now and not to worry. I then began taking birth control pills to regulate my monthly cycle as mine was heavy and was lasting longer, and longer. I had never taken them before and although they did regulate my cycle, they made me extremely ill and nauseous. I tried taking them for three years with the Dr switching my prescriptions and finally gave up because they made me so ill.  I hobbled along in life and then at 30 yrs of age, I was hit with excruciating migraines. Mind you, I had never had a headache before then. I had no idea how to stop the pain and they would last for about 2-3 days.   I got them about two or more times a month.

At 32 I noticed I was having difficulty remembering things (short term), and I would find myself quietly repeating some things, which I found very odd and disturbing. I thought I must surely be losing my mind. But I had a high pressure job that I loved and I have always been a hard worker and knew I would do anything I had to do to make this work.

Life went on, I remarried, left the company, dabbled at work at home and then home schooled my daughter. I still got migraines but being at home made it easier to deal with.  The horrible abdominal pain continued.  I recall being in my bed all weekend once, hearing the kids laughing and playing and being in so much pain I thought I would surely die.  Mind you I had long before stopped all dairy products. It was during this time period that I was reading my Bible preparing for study later that evening and then upon arrival at the Bible study, I opened my Bible to follow along and I couldn't read the words on the page. I mean they were completely blurry.  From early afternoon with no sight issue to early evening not being able to see writing on a page. It was mind boggling to me! I was 41 yrs of age.

One day (my late 40's), after knocking on a clients door, I stepped back and collapsed on the ground flat. She came out and I remember laughing but nothing was coming  out of my mouth!  I could see everything going on, could hear it, but could not move a muscle.  She reached for my hand, I said a quick prayer in my spirit, and then the moment she touched my hand, I was up. It was the most bizarre thing I had ever experienced. We then went to breakfast (after I dusted myself off), and we discussed her house plans like nothing had happened. I went to my local Dr the very next Monday and explained what had happened. He seemed concerned and scheduled an appointment with a neurologist. The neurologist hooked me up to some wires, ran some tests and said there was nothing wrong with me.  I told my Dr I wanted to find out what was happening but he assured me I must have slipped but I surely did not.  He had run some bloodwork and I will never forget him telling me "Other than your red blood cells being enlarged, you are healthy as a horse!"  He must not have realized that enlarged red blood cells is a late sign of advanced B12 deficiency.

In my late forties, I was running into walls and I called it "left leaning". I thought it was funny and I was just being clumsy, I had a lot on my mind. I even told the Dr, showing him a bruise on my shoulder. He asked me, "why are you running into the doorway", I said, I have no idea! We both laughed!

I was working at a job I dearly loved when I realized I could not remember things. It was embarrassing but they were such dolls and we just joked about it. The movie Fifty First Dates came on and I watched it laughing with my sis saying, "I almost know exactly how she feels!", I said.  Many times, my sis (who has a steel trap memory)  used to tell me what we had discussed previously and I would have no memory of it, whatsoever.  Her reaction would always be to call me "Grandmother" because our Gram (long since passed) had dementia and couldn't remember us or much of anything.  I never took it personal, we just laughed about it and I would say, "every day is a new day!" It was also a little joke at work and my supervisor (and dear friend) would say, "Really, Kelly does NOT remember the discussion."  It was a fact too.  I also had horrible brain fog and I could be in the middle of a thought or a sentence and would lose the entire thing, I have a pretty good sense of humor so I would just laugh about it.

I had a hysterectomy, & had my gallbladder removed in the coming year.

(early fifties) I had to begin a new position in a field I knew very well and I noticed that my memory lapses were worsening. I was concerned because I would walk 10 feet away to get information and by the time I was half way back to my desk, I had forgotten the answer! I would have to turn around and go back and ask again...if I did not have a notepad to write something on (which I could not remember to take with me), it was impossible to recall what I had been told.  Still, I kept working and I guess I could hide it pretty well. (I think).

In my early fifties, I awoke one morning and realized that I could not see anything! I was quite concerned and I walked by memory through the house to the mirror in the hall, willing myself to see but I could not. By the time I made it to another mirror, my eyesight returned. It was most bizarre and lasted all of 5 minutes.  I went immediately that morning to an ophthalmologist who checked me out and found nothing wrong, once again. He referred me back to my primary care physician and insisted that he test me for a heart condition.

Also in my early fifties I began falling, falling flat!  One morning I awoke, got out of bed and fell flat! Also, I was becoming more and more exhausted;  I couldn't do anything but drive home and crawl into bed! I had no energy to do my dishes or anything else.  I continued to fall.  I would sleep through the weekend, and by Sunday have a little energy to visit with family. I tried to ride my bike but one time and I literally fell twice blaming my repeated fall on my driveway (to this day).  I fell so badly one morning in the winter that I smashed my face on a brick planter, not fun.  To this day I am constantly tripping at home, thankfully thus far I have been able to catch myself on a counter or simply fall onto the bed or a couch.

For as long as I can remember, I have been calling my left hand my 'alien hand' because I simply can't grasp and hold anything of any weight with it, it will seriously simply drop something even if I think I have a grip on it.

Last year, I had another abnormal pap and received a note from my gyno to get into her office.  I had just received a vitamin drink and I drank it heartily. I also started back on B12 (methyl-cobalamin) orally.  I went to the gyno that week and she was prepping me for the procedure. She had a microscope type thing looking inside me and then she said "that's odd", I asked her what she was talking about and she told me there was no problem, it must surely be a lab mistake.  I ended up not getting the cryotherapy this time. I was relieved.  It felt like a miracle!

I attributed the instant healing to my vitamin drink and happily started buying it and drinking it and telling my friends about it.  I was also taking my B12 orally and getting shots once a month by now.  I really believed in my liquid vitamin drink and decided I would forgo the injections as they were costly and I don't like needles anyway.  Slowly, I slipped back into the utter exhaustion, forgetfulness, etc.  One day I simply awoke from the brain fog knowing that I had better do something and do it now! I asked around and found a day spa that gave the injections. I began getting them once a week and I started feeling better. In fact, my short term memory improved and there were no more jokes about me or my memory but instead, people would come to me about things they had forgotten!

I decided I had better stop messing around with this (now that I could think clearly) and I would once again go to a Dr.  I received a transfer to a more local Nurse Practitioner who listened to me and 'heard' what I was explaining. I gave her the book "Could It Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" and she accepted it and is reading it now.  I have more blood work to get completed and I will be doing that soon. My little sis is  a nurse and she gives me my weekly injection now. I highly recommend the below book.


http://www.amazon.com/Could-It-Be-B12-Misdiagnoses/dp/1884995691

Also, I recommend the below video,especially if you think you might have this deficiency and want more information now.Watch the video Diagnosing and Treating Vitamin B12 Deficiency here. This is a video you can show to friends and family that will clearly clue them in on how serious this deficiency is and can be.  It's also easy to share with others who might be suffering similarly and have no idea that there might be help for them.

To sum it all up, many of the symptoms above have everything to do with B12 deficiency.  From the exhaustion, abdominal pain, digestive issues, shortness of breath, fainting, back pain, abnormal paps, memory loss, forgetfulness, brain fog,  poor eyesight, falling, tripping, etc. Believe me, the list goes on an on.

What can you do if you think you might have a B12 deficiency? GET TESTED.  Most patients who have B12 deficiency symptoms or are at risk for B12 deficiency never get tested. People over 65 are frequently misdiagnosed because doctors blame their B12 deficiency symptoms on preexisting diseases and comorbid conditions.  See below for suggested tests.

I am only now starting to really talk about what I have been going through because honestly, I am only now understanding how much of the above is connected.  Feel free to comment or ask any questions. I wish you the very best of health.

 Kelly


PS   as a note, sadly, autism, mental illness, Parkinsons, Alzheimers,  congestive heart failure, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome and postpartum depression/psychosis. It can make men or women infertile and cause developmental disabilities or autistic—like symptoms in children. and many other diseases are being diagnosed when in fact, many times, it is simply a B12 deficiency.

Groups of people at high risk for B12 deficiency include vegans, vegetarians, alcoholics and people with celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, gastric bypass, anemia, autoimmune diseases and AIDS. The use of certain drugs such as proton pump inhibitors, metformin, H-2 blockers and nitrous oxide can also cause B12 deficiency. **Your body must absorb enough vitamin B12. A special protein, called intrinsic factor, helps your body do this. This protein is released by cells in the stomach. If your body does not produce intrinsic factor, you will be B12 deficient.**

***  Please remember to watch this video!! ***

There is also a link to the book "Could It Be B12, An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" in the blog post below, as well as a link to B12 that most bodies can absorb. If you or anyone you know has some of these symptoms, please find a Dr right away. This can be deadly but it is also very treatable if caught in time.  Remember, your serum B12 might show that you are just fine  when in actuality your tissues are not absorbing the B12. It's imperative that you be tested.   

Symptoms:
You may not have symptoms. Symptoms may be mild. Symptoms can include:

• Diarrhea or constipation
• Fatigue, lack of energy, or light-headedness when standing up or with exertion
• Loss of appetite
• Pale skin
• Problems concentrating
• Shortness of breath, mostly during exercise
• Swollen, red tongue or bleeding gums

Signs of B12 deficiency: Tingling or numbness, sore mouth or tongue, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, depression, weakness, abnormal gait, mental impairment, visual disturbances, migraine, orthostatic intolerance, chest pain, tachycardia, difficulty breathing, edema, elevated homocysteine, elevated MMA, stomach and GI problems, blood abnormalities, neurological lesion, Limb movement disorders, Psychosis, thoughts of suicide.

Risk Factors of B12 deficiency: vegetarian diet, pregnant, age over 50, low stomach acid, celiac disease, food allergies, eating disorders, parasites, use of acid blockers, use of birth control pills, use of metformin, nitrous oxide anesthesia, pernicious anemia, autoimmune disorders, pancreatic insufficiency, stomach surgery, intestinal bacterial overgrowth, peptic ulcer, transcobalamin deficiency.

GET TESTED. Remember, growing older and losing your memory is NOT normal, and it is NOT funny. You deserve good health, take care of yourself and be your own health advocate.   Some Dr's will only want to do a B12 Serum test, but this can be flawed. This might show you have plenty of B12 when in fact, your body is unable to absorb it. Then there is a huge chance you could be misdiagnosed.  Go to this helpful link to discover tests that you should take to determine if in fact you have a B12 deficiency.  Click here.

Good Videos Regarding B12

Dr Chandy - B12 Patient recovered from an MS misdiagnosis

B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 - Is Your Brain Shrinking?

Autism & B12 Deficiency

Depression, Bipolar, ADHD, Schizophrenia and B12


Dementia, Alzheimers Disease & Parkinson's - B12

B vitamins and Alzheimers Disease 

Could It Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses

I have been reading Could It Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses by Sally M. Pacholok and Jeffrey J Stuart.  I must say I highly recommend this book for anyone and everyone interested in their health and the health and well being of the loved ones. This comprehensive guide provides up-to-date medical information about symptoms, testing, diagnosis, and treatment.  This detailed book outlines how physicians frequently misdiagnose B12 deficiency as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, mental retardation, Parkinson’s disease, depression, or other illnesses.

From my own personal experience, I was diagnosed with B12 depletion 2 years ago and only after reading this book was I able to understand symptoms I have experienced/suffered through since I was 20 years old, if not earlier.  From vertigo throughout my life, mysterious sharp pains that came and went in my twenties, on to debilitating back pain, and migraines which began in my thirties, female issues and pain in my thirties & forties, collapsing for no apparent reason in my late forties, to short term memory loss, brain fog and utter exhaustion in my fifties.

I now take B12, B6 and folic acid on a daily basis being sure to supplement the B12 with methylcobalamin and I have begun to notice a major difference in how I am feeling physically to how I 'am' in the world.  No more brain fog, back pain, constant migraines.

After reading the book, I now understand that we should all be tested for B12 deficiencies by using a urinary MMA test, this non-invasive, simple test, gets right to the point so there can be no misdiagnoses.  If you have gotten a blood serum test and it shows your B12 levels are fine, insist on a urinary MMA test for B12 deficiency.

It was interesting to note that B12 only comes from meat, which I have been sorely lacking in my diet.  The vegan sources touted as providing B12 (soy, etc.) give a false reading when a person is tested for B12 deficiency.

It is important to note that if you have anemia, you might have a B12 deficiency and having a blood transfusion or iron added will only temporarily mask this deficiency, but it will still  be there. Pernicious anemia is another thing to be concerned about and you need to see a physician that is really aware of B12 deficiency.  It was recommended that some people actually get the shots (which I had to start with until my B12 stores were built up).  Thyroid conditions are also an indication that there might be a  B12 deficiency and this should be checked out immediately. This deficiency is also being linked to breast cancer.  Sadly, autism, mental illness, Parkinsons, Alzheimers,  congestive heart failure, and many other diseases are being diagnosed when in fact, many times, it is simply a B12 deficiency.

Do you get nitrous oxide at the dentist or for surgery? Be aware that receiving nitrous oxide instantly depletes your body of B12 and the only way to get B12 back is IF you have it stored in your body, if not, you need to supplement.  On another note,if you have an autoimmune disease, or you have had gastric bypass surgery, you are more than likely deficient in B12.

It is important to note that the liver may not convert cyanocobalamin, the common supplement form (found in your local drug store) of vitamin B-12, into adequate amounts of methylcobalamin the body may need.

I hope this helps someone who has been unable to find the answer to their mysterious health issues. And I wish you all good health!

Kelly

Here is a link (to Amazon) for the B12 

Here is a link to the book I read, Could It Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses

Finally, a REAL BPA FREE Bottle

I have been out of the baby realm of life for quite some time, although I hope to have grandchildren someday. I might even have great nephews or nieces again some day soon. Actually, come to think of it, I have three baby showers coming up the middle of this month! So, why am I all of a sudden thinking about babies? The answer to that is ever since I became a mother myself, I was always concerned about having the best for my child, whether it was the food or drink they consumed to the container it was held in.  Fortunately, nowadays parents have options for much better quality control over food and containers. 

Here is the link to a bpa free baby bottle! The site also has containers for mom and dad.

Remember, “If you don’t take care of your body, where are you going to live?”  ~Unknown

“In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.”  ~Author Unknown

It's In The Water

Have you ever thought about what you are drinking? I have, ever since I was a little girl. I loved to drink water and milk, but I later learned that milk was making me really sick (lactose intolerance). Water then became my main squeeze (drink-wise) and I grew up on fresh well water. I also loved a good glass of iced green tea, but later, I learned that the tea was making me sick as well (not quite sure if I still believe that but for now, while my body heals itself, I am staying away). For me, I simply do not care for the taste of tap water. I pay for it every month, but I can hardly bare to choke it down. So, I have been buying bottled water for quite some time now, although I recently purchased a portable water filter bottle.

The documentary Tapped is about the bottled water industry and about a dirty little secret being kept from all of us. Did you realize that most of this industry is unregulated? I mean that when this information was brought to the public in 2009, there was one woman at the FDA in charge of protecting us as consumers when it comes to bottled water, and that was not her only job at the FDA. Maybe you already knew about this, but I can't help thinking if people knew all about it, why didn't anyone tell me? So I am sharing this information with you.

Bisphenol A is in many plastic bottles and I vaguely recall hearing about it as BPA. Of course, I have seen BPA-free (on products) and knew I should choose that instead of the item that would have BPA in it. You can read about the chemical (because that's what it is) above in the hyper link. I want you to notice what number is in the triangular symbol underneath the bottle you are drinking or the large plastic container you are storing your food or drink in. The link above shows the symbols that represent the conent Bisphenol A. Look for the number 3 or the number 7 (located inside a triangle-like symbol). I was at a friends house on Saturday and was telling her what I had learned and her husband walked over to their 5 gallon water container in their dining room and said out loud '3', the number 3 is in a triangle. My heart sickened because I knew that meant that they had been drinking water (as had I) that was stored in a container made with Bisphenol A. Their adult daughter was in the room with us and said aloud, "I give my baby that water" (she also had it in her home). I then recalled being so proud many years ago when my baby daughter (just toddling 24 years ago) was able to toddle over to the water source and push the button to get her own water. Little did I know that I was serving a volatile cocktail to not only myself but my daughter. By the way, I checked the 5 gallon water bottle at my office (different company) and it has a 3 on it as well, ughh. And as far as plain old individual serving bottled water (regulated by the FDA), look at the bottom of your bottle, if you see PET or PETE, it IS a petroleum based product (Polyethylene terephthalate).

BPA has known links to reproductive disorders, as well as cancers in both sexes. My daughter and I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and I have recently read that benzene is attributed to the increase in this syndrome in women. While you are researching, be sure to take a look at this page on Benzene, go down to the graph that shows what is derived from Benzene and you will find Bisphenol A. These bottles are being made in petro chemical plants.

I recently found the New Cell Stainless Steel Portable Water Ionizer Pod and the information I have been reading makes sense. I learned years ago that cancer simply can't live in an alkaline environment, so the goal for all of us would be to make sure our bodies are not acidic, within reason. And I JUST found a bamboo portable water container with a GLASS insert called Bamboo Bottle!

We, as consumers have choices we make every day, and I really believe we are the ones with the control. As my friend told me on Saturday, I am going to call the company and tell them they can pick up this water container until they can bring me one without BPA in it. THAT type of thing is what gets action from corporations, because after all, for a corporation and it's investors, it's all about the money...bottom line, and it's in OUR water.

To your health,

Kelly

Nutritarian?

I was reading the past few nights and found a few interesting sites and I have chosen to share them with you. First, I re-watched (is that a word?) Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead.

It's a Joe Cross film. Joe happens to be Australian and had lived a good life (financially speaking) until he came down with a skin disease, 'chronic urticaria'. He was over weight, sick, on all kinds of meds and knew he needed to get help quick (he had even been hospitalized). The movie follows him as he takes two months off of work and travels to America to see how we eat, what we eat (he really knew, he has been here many times and loves America, in fact, he was eating like most of America eats, while in Australia), and why we eat it. During his journey, he is tracked medically by Dr Fuhrman who has a book out entitled Eating Like A Nutritarian. See the book on Amazon to the right. Here's a link to Dr Fuhrman's website http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/article17.aspx Anyway, I digress, as you will notice in the future THAT is my style. ;) So, Joe stays in New York for the first 30 days drinking ONLY fresh juiced vegetables, all the while being tempted by the wonderful food smells of the street vendors and the ethnic shops in the city, yikes! On day 31, (after having lost 26 POUNDS!!) he breaks free of New York and begins traveling the rest of the country, seeking out the average Joe or Jeannie (if you will), and asking them questions about their diets and lifestyle. For me, it was like looking at myself in the mirror at different times in my life. WOW! I highly recommend the short movie, and I promise, I have not spoiled it for you by detailing a few tidbits above, there is more to see and a sweet ending. One interesting note is Dr Furhman's comment that we don't have to succumb to dementia, or stroke and we can even reduce our risk of cancer, simply by changing the way we eat.

I was a vegetarian from 19-23 years of age (following the Laurels Kitchen Cookbook out of Berkley, CA), but each time I would begin to eat healthier, I would be lured into that old habit of unhealthy eating...to say the least, it has been a vicious cycle. And yes, I DO know better, so I am more fortunate than most.

After watching the movie the other night, I wanted to know more about Dr Fuhrman, an M.D. I presently have a Dr that understands about the healing properties of vegetables but those kinds of Drs are few and far between and my previous M.D. doles out antibiotics like they were going out of style, which is what finally prompted me, all while in a health crisis of my own, to seek out better care for myself, as well as to start eating better again. (see what I mean, there I go digressing again).... Dr F. is all about nutrient density, something I first heard about (I mean really listened to) on December 31, 2011. Or, as Dr F. puts it.. "the adequate consumption of phytochemicals is essential for proper functioning of the immune system and to enable our body’s detoxification and cellular repair mechanisms that protect us from chronic diseases. " (quoted from the above website) WHOA! Chronic diseases! THAT's something I have (a chronic disease--interstitial cystitis) and my poor father also has a chronic disease (myasthenia gravis), as well as other relatives (diabetes Type II),--do we see a pattern here?! Here is my question of the day.....is the way we are feeling simply attributed to what we are putting into our bodies? Dr F's website has over 1,000 nutrient dense recipes. And TONS of info on the subject, I highly recommend his site. And what is a nutritarian you might ask? According to Dr Furhmans website, a nutritarian is a person whose food choices are influenced by nutritional quality.

All the above brings me to another movie I just finished watching called Food, Inc. It's tame on the grossness factor (thank goodness) but packs a punch in the reality factor. Again, I highly recommend it. I just jumped onto Netflix and started a free trial for a month and got to watch this movie for FREE (you can watch others too, right on your home computer), yes I am being dragged into this century, ha ha. ;)

So, this morning, I made my own almond milk (have been doing this for about a month) see my Pinterest link... Almond Milk and I also made my own smoothie (see my Pinterest link) Almond Milk Smoothie It was quite quick, tasty, and yes, I was invited out to breakfast this morning where I would have consumed my usual Denver Omelet, hash browns (extra crispy), whole wheat toast with orange jelly and a glass of water....SEE? I TRY to be healthy...a glass of water...lol But, I chose not to go, so instead, I took a walk with my sweetheart (via telephone) and walked down the street to a local neighborhood park and back. I then came home and made my smoothie. YUM!

I think for lunch, I will juice some kale, pineapple, apple, celery, purple grapes, and spinach. Actually, I have been doing this for the past month or so and have really been enjoying it. And because of my IC, I also brew a tea out of one bunch of parsley and one entire bunch of celery, my Dr tells me it's anti-inflammatory and that's what I need. All I can tell you is it has kept the pain away after the first 24 hrs of my first drink, so I am all over it! ;) Here's how I do it, in case you are hurting from inflammation and think you might want to try it. I take a soup pot and pour in filtered water and then I add the cleaned parsley and the cleaned celery (the water should cover the top of the veges). I then boil the water until the celery is fork tender. Remove the veggies, then pour the liquid into a container to put into your frig. I prefer the hot brew, it tastes good, but I drink the refrigerated brew every day after the first batch is boiled. I make enough for a week and repeat the process each Sunday afternoon (making a fresh pot for the week). By the way, I simply drink a small glass in the morning and a small glass at night.

I was thinking for dinner tonight, I might just make a long noodle (like a lasagna noodle) and wrap it up with a light chicken and veggie filling, and maybe fix some broccoli slaw with some fresh made Roasted Jalapeno Ranch Dressing. Doesn't that sound YUM? See my Pinterest recipe links below.

I plan on grating fresh veggies and adding to this recipe....
Lasagna Noodle Roll Up along with my new homemade lasagna noodle :)

Here's the Jalapeno Ranch Dressing mix...YUM! P.S. I do NOT use mayonnaise in this recipe, I substitute plain yogurt.

On the above recipes, once you get to the pin, simply double click on it and it will take you right to the link with the actual recipe :) Enjoy!!

To your health,


Kelly