OMG!!! Been spinning since my parked car heat blast Saturday afternoon.

Stopped spinning instantly an hour ago.

My husband suddenly decided to juice (on our juice extractor) carrots, apple and 5 cloves of garlic. I couldn't finish the whole 8oz cause it burned all the way down from the garlic.

No more spins!

Then he finds on the internet this excerpt from a Cancer doctor using enzymatic therapies for cancer patients and altering diets to balance the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems:

"We have found that specific nutrients and foods have specific, precise and predictable effects on the autonomic nervous system. For example, a vegetarian diet emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly leafy greens, and contains large doses of minerals such as magnesium and potassium. It has been shown in many studies that magnesium suppresses sympathetic function, while potassium stimulates parasympathetic activity. Furthermore, a largely vegetarian diet tends to be very alkalinizing, and the neurophysiologic research documents that in an alkalinizing environment, sympathetic activity is reduced and parasympathetic activity increased. So, whatever other effect a vegetarian diet has, in terms of autonomic nervous system function, such a diet will reduce sympathetic activity and stimulate the parasympathetic system.

A meat diet is loaded with minerals such as phosphorous and zinc, which tend to have the opposite effect. A high-meat diet stimulates the sympathetic system and tones down parasympathetic activity. Furthermore, such a diet is loaded with sulfates and phosphates that in the body are quickly converted into free acid, that in turn stimulates the sympathetic nervous system while suppressing parasympathetic activity.

So, by the careful use of diet, we are able to effect major changes in autonomic function, and bring about balance in a dysfunctional nervous system. We find, further, as the autonomic system comes into greater harmony and balance, when the autonomic branches are equally strong, all systems – from the immune system to the cardiovascular system – work better regardless of the underlying problem. In essence, we are using diet to bring about greater physiological efficiency. For cancer patients, long experience has taught us that it is not enough to load patients with enzymes; the question of autonomic imbalance must also be addressed. In terms of pancreatic patients specifically, a plant-based diet provides all the nutrients to correct autonomic dysfunction."

The entire article is on:
http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/clinical_pearls.htm

I think I might be on to something!!! We will see!!!

That's great you feel better! I just want to add for others that I believe garlic can be a big no-no for those of us with hypotension. So just make sure you monitor your bp!

I used to juice and did get some good benefits. Maybe I'll start looking into that again....more fruits and veggies certainly can't hurt! I do agree with dsdmom though on the garlic. I avoid that since my bp runs pretty low. Thanks for the info -

Me too.

I have really low BP, so maybe juicing minus the garlic. Or maybe I will experiment and see what happens with and without?

I'll let you know!

I am glad your vertigo stopped!

I think that there are many food combinations that we just don't know about that can be helpful. Also, glad garlic did not harm your bp. I am the same. I can take all the garlic in the world and it does nothing to my bp. Others, please be careful.

I have been a supporter of a vegetarian diet and/or a compromise of one for a long time. In my case, it took away the excess weight and caused me to no longer be a candidate for diabetes, hypertension and painful arthritis. In the end, I believe I have undiagnosed allergies, which caused inflammation in my body, setting off a host of ailments. I am going to a allergist soon to finally get to the bottom of it. Most of my successful and long term treatment has been through food changes.

Right now, because of a stroke scare with my sister, I returned to my strictly vegetarian diet, while increasing fruit and veggies for the rest of the family. My young son, now on florinef, concerta and ritalin has already lost 10lbs. We are hoping that a whole body approach will give him a fighting chance against the constant fatigue he battles.

Also on florinef, we received strict orders to keep the potassium rich foods high in his diet to avoid taking potassium supplements. Most of those foods figure heavily in vegetarian food choices.

For those of you who think you can't do it, you can if you want to. When I was faced with hospitalization and needles, I did it.

My best advice? Start small, be consistent and don't eat anything you don't like the taste of. Read up on what the foods can do and remember balanced food sources are best.

BTW, I just bought a Jack LaLanne juicer from Target. Carrot juice from that thing is heavenly, and I froze the pulp to bake with or sneak into spaghetti sauce.

Judi

This is very good info to know. Similar claims have been made in research re: an RSD/Fibromyalgia diet--saying low meat high veggie diets work best--and that these diseases are rarely mediated without proper diet control. Also caffeince and sugar are no no's.

This is a VERY simple list of healthy food do's and don't's from the Fibromyalgia.RSD research center here in Florida that REALLY helps.

http://rsdrx.com/four_f's_diet.htm


http://rsdrx.com/four_f's_diet.htm

JudiElise,

Us too. We got our Jack LaLanne from Costco online. Great juicer, way better than the prior one we had (Juiceman).

Yesterday I tried it again and it didn't work. But I also didn't eat as healthy the rest of the day, so I will try to be more diligent.

Thanks for the input!!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sandy Sims:
Similar claims have been made in research re: an RSD/Fibromyalgia diet--saying low meat high veggie diets work best--and that these diseases are rarely mediated without proper diet control. Also caffeince and sugar are no no's.
QUOTE]

Thanks for the sites. I will look into them. Funny you should mention RSD. I developed RSD after a fractured tibia, and am now in remission. I don't get ANY flare-up of nerve pain when I am sticking to a veggie life. So many things go away, like my chronic sinusitis, ear infections, headaches/migraines, joint aches and swelling, fatigue, etc. And I gave up caffeine so many years ago.

Funny thing that throughout my life, I have made choices that if added up, would point to allergies and/or a sensitive nervous system, but NO ONE, including parents, ever thought about it. I have been tested for fibro, RA, lupus and lyme with no positive results, but now that my young son has dys/POTS/CFS, I am convinced that he got is nervous system from me. His nervous system has become dysfunctional while mine is just sensitive.

I will let you know how my son does as I slowly whittle down the meat and raise the whole grains, fruits and veggies. Along with the rest of his treatment, I hope it will contribute to whole health.

Judi

quote:

Originally posted by ArizonaGirl:

Yesterday I tried it again and it didn't work. But I also didn't eat as healthy the rest of the day, so I will try to be more diligent.

Thanks for the input!!

The body is such a strange, sensitive machine. I can tell when if I haven't eaten as healthy that a natural suppplement will not work as well.

Also, I don't know about you, but hormonally, some parts of the month feel more productive while other parts of the month seem sluggish, like I have to work harder at keeping up stamina and that feeling of health. Does that make any sense? Maybe it is just part of the normal ebb and flow of life. Now I sound philosophical. LOL!

Anyway, keep it up. Everything works together.

Judi

Judi,

I was just thinking that. I am about to start my period, and about 10 days ago my vertigo kicked in big time. Heat triggers it, dehydration triggers it. Every morning is worse, and I was thinking about it.

My body is bloating up, breasts tender, uterine lining etc. Should start today, so I will see if any better, but if I do have low blood volume like I am suspecting after everything I have read, what a loop my period must throw me. I have always had very heavy periods.

I am my own guinnea pig! I think I will start tracking all of this and see what connections I can make!!

My periods actually triggered responses that showed up on my brain waves! But when I tried to tell my doc that the severely abnormal EEG was during my period --when I felt worse--a later normal one was not--I got that "you're crazy look."

For years I was on seizure meds--but am not now. Had awful PMS, Swelling, cramps and heavy flooding with irregular timing. I think this is known now to be part of the dys syndrome. it IS a promlem for my mother and daughter--even tho I was VERY carefull NOT to set mydaughter up to expect such troubles--and I too was not told to expect such troubles--they came anyway.

Even as a young person I got dizzy and had low BP with other typical dys symptoms worse with periods--but back then even Neuro docs didn't think periods had anything to do with it.

Now it's "thing" one on neuro lists for agravating factors--someone has figured it out since--probably a female doc with monthly seizures would be my bet! <chuckles>

In my 30's endometriosis and cystic disease led--eventually to total abdominal hysterectomy--again usual for this dys stuff. Ok it was a tough surgery to get over--but it REALLY stopped those monthly swimgs and helped my overall health! I do NOT regret it for ONe MINUTE!

For me birth control pills helped--some--but also caused some side effects until I got on the very low dose ones that are easier to find now. IUD was a TOTAL washout!

Anyway, so you won't think you're nuts. Do a search on the subject of neuro disorders and menstral periods and it'll jump right out there for ya!

Hope this helps!

I had to reply again to this.

Right now, I am convincing my doctor that my high bp is worse right before and during my cycle and lower during the 2 weeks that follow. He has documented it a couple of times, but will always shake his head. He doesn't seem to want to put 2 and 2 together or dig deeper.

I do know I responded to the bp med Avalide and not to other hypertension meds. Obviously, Avalide fixes a faulty hormonal system that in turn causes my hypertension. I can use it with NO side effects whatsoever that we have been able to document. A beta blocker nearly sent me to the hospital.

I am my own guinea pig too, so don't feel bad. In fact, with my son having dys/POTS/etc., it has actually given me a direction to go in about my own issues.

Just another example how our autonomic system and hormones play a large role in our health. Something goes wrong and it is hard to figure out where in the system the error is.

And, Sandy, I too, don't have the same results each cycle. Sometimes, the bp changes are small, others, over the top. My doc thinks it is the craziest thing. I almost want to take my bp med only two weeks a month.

Food for thought.

Judi

Sandy,

Have you ever heard of catamenial seizures?

hugs

How dumb can someone be!!!

If you swell before your period no doubt your BP will go up!!! DUH!

If you lose fluid--esp if you have heavy period like most do--DUH of course you'll be more hypovolemic and have symptons there too!

This is so "plain as the nose on your face" stuff to me--always has been. But I too had no luck convincing a male doc that it was the case. Maybe you need to look for a female doc? Or,and GAWD I hate to say this--figure it out yourself with your meds--just do it VERY slowly, carefully, with fluid loading and no stress and watch the BP often!

It really ticks me off sometimes that NO One hears us!!!

I now have a BP cuff that records and saves all my BP readings--with time and date. I took it to my last cardio appt--when he got "that" look I offered to show it to him.

LOL THEN He came around quickly. Maybe that's a plan for you too???

I have now! <grins>

This was 20 years ago--I don't have this problem now since I had the total hysterectomy.

I know docs now understand this--but the one I had back then did not--at all!!

A shame--but gives hope that any day they'll understand dys better too!