I'm desperate for advice.

[Dulcimina]

I'd say go to a doctor and get checked out. I know there is a cost issue, but all those supplements cost a lot too, and they're not going to help if they are not targeting what you need. Eleven hours of sleep per night seems like a lot, and combined with cold extremities reminds me of when I was first hypothyroid. But I can also get that way when I'm too low-carb. Can your parents give you a break on rent while you save up for a doctor, or can you work more hours?

[Nstocks]

I'd say go to a doctor and get checked out. I know there is a cost issue, but all those supplements cost a lot too, and they're not going to help if they are not targeting what you need. Eleven hours of sleep per night seems like a lot, and combined with cold extremities reminds me of when I was first hypothyroid. But I can also get that way when I'm too low-carb. Can your parents give you a break on rent while you save up for a doctor, or can you work more hours?

Well I could keep trying at the Doctors, but if I just tell him I still have mild acne and feel bloated, he will probably tell me to eat more/less fibre. He's really not useful with any of my family. There's no way I'm buying more supplements, I haven't found a single supplement yet to be useful and I've tried a lot! What exactly should I ask the doctor for, test wise? He probably won't 'recommend' any extensive tests, but if I suggest them, he's more likely to believe I have issues.

I do get a lot of sleep and heres why: I work one day per week and whilst I work most days on leaving that job, I don't exactly have a lot to wake up for. (not in the depressing, I hate my life way, but in the, "Ok, I have 14 hours of my day, what can I do all day?") Also, if I get up at a normal time, I will need to eat more and that will cost more.

Although my cold extremities have gone down, I still get them. I went to the doctor's 3 times about this and he just said "It's normal, even my daughter get cold hands and feet". Yeah, not helpful.

I get as much overtime as I can, but the superstore (leading store in the UK), don't give out much overtime. They just moan about only making £xxx BILLION compared to last year and the fact that their profits fell 3%.

I'm seriously considering selling my car but insurance doesn't finish until September. I pay £60/month insurance and I doubt I will get much back. The family already know I'm selling my car after insurance is up because I don't use it much. (so there's about £3,500)

[Zach]

Muscle meat, pufa and fiber can all be extremely inflammatory if gut health is subpar. Ketosis and glucogenesis are both inherently stressfull states to be in. All these things also lower thyroid hormone and suppress thyroid function.

Yes, everything you know is a lie. Insteas of going over why for the hundredth time on here i suggest you just take a leap of faith and give it a try. Sugar cant possibly kill you in a week can it.

[Nstocks]

Muscle meat, pufa and fiber can all be extremely inflammatory if gut health is subpar. Ketosis and glucogenesis are both inherently stressfull states to be in. All these things also lower thyroid hormone and suppress thyroid function.

Yes, everything you know is a lie. Insteas of going over why for the hundredth time on here i suggest you just take a leap of faith and give it a try. Sugar cant possibly kill you in a week can it.

Ok, so for the next week would it be better to try whole fruit or buy fruit juice? I do fairly well with butternut squash and I've found a good recipe with that: http://thehealthyfoodie.com/2013/03/...-chicken-mash/

[Zach]

Ok, so for the next week would it be better to try whole fruit or buy fruit juice whilst eating meat or fish just once a day and don't eat vegetables? (maybe just some salad?)

Fruit and fresh juice would be best. Try for tropical and juicey ripe fruit. Grapes, citrus, pineapple, mango, bananas. Pulp free OJ would work too. I would recommend you go without any vegetables for the week so you can get a feeling if its the fiber thats causing it. Dont worry, fruits are actually way healthier then veg anyway. You can have other protein meals but keep muscle meat to only once a day. Dairy is really good for you and also gelatin/beef stock, get these in daily as well. Potatoes of any kind is also fine.

[YogaBare]

I agree with Zach - what you're doing clearly isn't working, so it would be worth trying something else. However, I would recommend that you make the change very gradually. Introduce foods one by one so you can see how they effect you. Start with potatoes maybe: Personally I'm extremely prone to bloating and I find they actually reduce it.

[Nstocks]

Fruit and fresh juice would be best. Try for tropical and juicey ripe fruit. Grapes, citrus, pineapple, mango, bananas. Pulp free OJ would work too. I would recommend you go without any vegetables for the week so you can get a feeling if its the fiber thats causing it. Dont worry, fruits are actually way healthier then veg anyway. You can have other protein meals but keep muscle meat to only once a day. Dairy is really good for you and also gelatin/beef stock, get these in daily as well. Potatoes of any kind is also fine.

Got it. I've made a list (tomorrow parents go shopping so for once they can absorb the majority of my grocery bill!)

Pomegranate Juice (no added sugar!)
Orange Juice (no added sugar!)
Blueberries
Pineapple
Sweet Potato
Kiwi
Oranges
Raspberries
Red grapes

I have plenty of bones in the freezer and I've been drinking 2 cups a day for the past month. (this made no difference either) but I'll keep it up.

I'm really looking forward to this experiment! It's a long time since I stopped looking at carb/sugar content! It's going to make me look silly now that I have fruit juice, when I tell my brother to stop drinking it! (although he is obese and this is the only 'fresh' food he eats)!

[Dulcimina]

Whatever Nstocks does, it needs to be systematic and what yoga11 suggested about meat and veg for a while, then adding different foods back one at a time, seems to be the most systematic. Otherwise, the poor guy keeps jumping from suggestion to suggestion without knowing for sure what helps or hurts: Low carb! High carbs! Lots of dairy! No nuts! Histamines! Coconuts!

For example, he mentioned that he doesn't eat coconuts except coconut oil because coconut yogurt and flour bother him. But in the last two weeks he's had coconut 10/28 meals in the form of coconut curry meatballs, coconut curry chicken, coconut bars and coconut mint.

He may have a problem with histamines, but he did not eliminate histamines from his diet. Instead he took a supplement which did not work.

Each tablet contains: Vitamin C (as Calcium Ascorbate) 250 mg, Quercetin Chalcone 250 mg, Bromelain (600 GDU) 250 mg, Grape Seed Extract 150 mg yielding Proanthocyanidins 142.5 mg, Dimethylglycine HCI 100 mg, Perilla (Perilla frutescens) Seed Extract 75 mg, yielding Polyphenols (3%) 2.5 mg, Rosemarinic Acid (1.5%) 1.13 mg, Luteolin (0.1%) 80 mcg, Other ingredients: stearic acid, vegetable stearate, croscarmellose sodium, silicon dioxide, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose.

Can we now conclude that he has no problems with histamines?

He works one day per week, gets 30 mins/week of sun, is worried about finances to the extent that he doesn't want to get up earlier and have to eat more? Can we rule out stress and/or depression as a factor?

Does the store-bought sauerkraut have live cultures or was it pasteurized?

[Zach]

You can shoot me a PM anytime if you want/need advice. Also i can direct you to some very interesting reading that will help you get away from the sugar is evil mentality.

Tell your bro to try it to, it helps for fat loss as well!

[Zach]

Whatever Nstocks does, it needs to be systematic and what yoga11 suggested about meat and veg for a while, then adding different foods back one at a time, seems to be the most systematic. Otherwise, the poor guy keeps jumping from suggestion to suggestion without knowing for sure what helps or hurts: Low carb! High carbs! Lots of dairy! No nuts! Histamines! Coconuts!

For example, he mentioned that he doesn't eat coconuts except coconut oil because coconut yogurt and flour bother him. But in the last two weeks he's had coconut 10/28 meals in the form of coconut curry meatballs, coconut curry chicken, coconut bars and coconut mint.

He may have a problem with histamines, but he did not eliminate histamines from his diet. Instead he took a supplement which did not work.

Can we now conclude that he has no problems with histamines?

He works one day per week, gets 30 mins/week of sun, is worried about finances to the extent that he doesn't want to get up earlier and have to eat more? Can we rule out stress and/or depression as a factor?

Does the store-bought sauerkraut have live cultures or was it pasteurized?

All that stuff is valid and this is why people with severe problems should get help from a professional. Unfortunatelywh in the diet and health world, thats a pretty hard thing to find. My advice should help the majority of the problems and would just need to fine tuning along the way.

[Nstocks]

Whatever Nstocks does, it needs to be systematic and what yoga11 suggested about meat and veg for a while, then adding different foods back one at a time, seems to be the most systematic. Otherwise, the poor guy keeps jumping from suggestion to suggestion without knowing for sure what helps or hurts: Low carb! High carbs! Lots of dairy! No nuts! Histamines! Coconuts!

For example, he mentioned that he doesn't eat coconuts except coconut oil because coconut yogurt and flour bother him. But in the last two weeks he's had coconut 10/28 meals in the form of coconut curry meatballs, coconut curry chicken, coconut bars and coconut mint.

He may have a problem with histamines, but he did not eliminate histamines from his diet. Instead he took a supplement which did not work.



Can we now conclude that he has no problems with histamines?

He works one day per week, gets 30 mins/week of sun, is worried about finances to the extent that he doesn't want to get up earlier and have to eat more? Can we rule out stress and/or depression as a factor?

Does the store-bought sauerkraut have live cultures or was it pasteurized?

I'm not sure if you are trying to help me or criticise/put me down (no offence!)

The coconut thing, I should have been clearer. It's shredded coconut and coconut oil for the past few months. 2 years with the oil. The yoghurt is just a few days and I will never touch coconut milk again.

The histamine supplement was taken a long time ago, when I barley ate any coconut products at all.

Stress/depression? Not sure what you mean? I'm not stressed/depressed because I only work one day a week or stressed/depressed because I can only work one day and earn so much money? I think everyone worries about money, but in the context to what I earn, all the money I can spare goes on high quality food. If I can't afford food, I sell things I don't longer need. I'm generally happy that I don't have the 'corporate burnout' that most of my family have and I love not having to moan about my boring job. It's not my career and it pays the bills so I'm happy!

The store bought sauerkraut is raw, unpasturized, organic, chilled when shipped.Cultured Probiotics

[Nstocks]

You can shoot me a PM anytime if you want/need advice. Also i can direct you to some very interesting reading that will help you get away from the sugar is evil mentality.

Tell your bro to try it to, it helps for fat loss as well!

Thank you! I appreciate your change in perspective compared to what I always seem to find on occurring blogs about Paleo/ancestral health and healing.

[Nstocks]

All that stuff is valid and this is why people with severe problems should get help from a professional. Unfortunatelywh in the diet and health world, thats a pretty hard thing to find. My advice should help the majority of the problems and would just need to fine tuning along the way.

Exactly and nobody know me really, nobody knows what's going on inside of me. If I don't how can anybody else right? I'll give it a few weeks (though it may take longer and I know that by now), and they I'll keep nagging my doctor to get some tests done.

Thank you so very much everybody. I hope that the variety of dietary changes suggested will help me figure out what has upset me so much. There is never "one size fits all" and I'm definitely starting to learn that.

[qqemokitty]

*hugs*

It's so sad to feel lost and so restrictive, and you're only 22! Crikey.

Never the popular opinion around here, but I'm going to agree with Zach. You're a young, slim, healthy young man with a moderately active lifestyle. You don't need to be low carb, and it might even be hurting you. You might see yourself pack on some desired pounds by increasing carbs because your body may be starving for energy. Fruit is not the enemy. :*(

I know you said fruit sometimes makes you sleepy. That seems strange to me, and maybe indicative of some underlying condition?

Re: adult acne, I get it on my chin and jawline too, and I know its because I tend to rest of my face on my hands a lot, even when I am trying not to! What has worked really well for me is baking soda and coconut oil. Sucks out all the dirt and leaves my skin baby butt smooth. :P

[Dulcimina]

I'm not sure if you are trying to help me or criticise/put me down (no offence!)

Nope. Not trying to put you down. I don't respond to a lot of threads (mostly just stick to my journal) so what I said might have come out wrong. Let me try again.

You've tried a lot of things, spent a lot on supplements, gotten tests at the doctor's, and you are still in the same position you were in before. Everyone, including me is giving you advice to try this or eliminate that.

But I'm just not sure you can rule out some of the causes that you have ruled out. The example I gave before was histamine intolerance. My question was whether you could rule out a histamine intolerance if you were eating a high histamine diet while taking that supplement.

The coconut thing, I should have been clearer. It's shredded coconut and coconut oil for the past few months. 2 years with the oil. The yoghurt is just a few days and I will never touch coconut milk again.

The histamine supplement was taken a long time ago, when I barley ate any coconut products at all.

I wasn't trying to link coconuts and histamines. But I was asking the same question as before. Let's say you have a problem with coconut yogurt, coconut milk and coconut flour. If shredded coconuts make their way into a third of your meals in the last two weeks, how will you rule out whether shredded coconut is causing a problem?

Stress/depression? Not sure what you mean? I'm not stressed/depressed because I only work one day a week or stressed/depressed because I can only work one day and earn so much money? I think everyone worries about money, but in the context to what I earn, all the money I can spare goes on high quality food. If I can't afford food, I sell things I don't longer need. I'm generally happy that I don't have the 'corporate burnout' that most of my family have and I love not having to moan about my boring job. It's not my career and it pays the bills so I'm happy!

Not trying to get into a pissing match with you about whether you are or aren't depressed/anxious. Part of the Primal message is that diet is only part of our health issues. Stress, sleep irregularities, family support, lack of play, being out in nature, all play a role and can have a confounding effect on what you are doing with your diet.

Something in your posts resonated with me enough to respond, maybe because i can remember being just as desperate over my own health problems. So good luck. Please check back in after your high fruit experiment. I'm curious to see if that will help.