Apple Juice, Fresh Grated Ginger
★★★★★
(USA)
01/09/2019
Hi Denise, I don't know anything about stevia. I would never use it. I suspect the half and half has contributed to more of your problem with tremors. You say you've taking it for years with no issues. You also said you've been having tremors for years. I think it contains carageenan which is not safe no matter what the "experts" allege. Other combinations of what you eat could have contributed. I don't know anything about "nutritional yeast" or "Vegan spread" and would not use them. I am old school. I use real butter w/out salt but add the salt we discussed. Whole wheat bread is not good. It caused me anger problems as well as my mom and step father. After being involved with a consumer group who had done some investigating into the "MSG issue" I learned when extracting anything or in the production of various foodstuff or supplement ingredients, a manufactured glutamic acid is created and can be more toxic that the monosodium glutamate alone. It seems that the more man fools with the food to make it "healthier" it is unknowingly becoming more toxic to us. This is just a hurried opinion after reading your post and thinking about it yesterday. I do not trust the HF stores although I had carefully selected purchases like the Real Salt and BSM. The video "God's of the New Age" declares HF stores are one of the main fronts of the NAM (New Age Movement). KT
https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/nutritional-brewers-yeast-pros-cons/ A great article to explain benefits and side effects and to help choose a better source of nutritional yeast, of course the best source of b vitamins is grass fed liver. KT, stevia, the plant, has many benefits, people are using for herpes treatment, the source as always, is of paramount importance. I have posted my nasty experience with 'naturally flavored' stevia (I was naive) and had no problem when using fresh from the plant or purchased organic dried leaf stevia. Grass fed butter is a staple in my house, contains vitamin k2, also grass fed ghee, for cooking.
Oh it's good to see you Kt, I miss everyone so much, that I've gotten to know here at EC. I'm re-learning the new site, and I think it is going to be good! Ok, I posted on where I am today with everything, so I won't redo that. It should show up today or tomorrow. The Half and Half you think, so I'll check that out. Tremors since I was a child, but it's progressed as I grow older. Stevia, yes, a few years, maybe 6, not sure but close. What I'll do, is more research. I'm back to whole wheat bread from Nature's own, I know it could be a problem for me, more research/and testing. Today I woke up feeling I hadn't slept, but I had to some degree. Up 4 times counting 5:30 a.m. when I gave up, and got up. I just don't know but I'll keep reading. I've added aromatherapy to my daily routine. I also get a bath with essential oils that makes me feel so wonderful. And I think will help my skin too. I understand why those "rich" Egyptians and Romans, and whoever else, was bathing all the time in the old movies, LOL! Just very glad to see your post, Denise
Hello Teena,
I am really struggling. My head starts feeling heavy in the a.m.'s before I eat breakfast. I start feeling ravenous and light-headed, but not dizzy, very shakey. My head feels achy but not anything to take an aspirin for. Blood pressure is fine and I can only find my symptoms as hypoglycemia. I'm sorry to say this but I just feel like crap, but not enough to put me off my feet so I just keep going. I use stevia, and it is this brand, so maybe you can tell me if that might be an issue. NOW, Better Stevia Organic Extract Powder and no other ingredients listed. I miss everyone, and miss regular posting.
Hi Kt, good to see you, I've been reading a lot about stevia lately and see the good and the bad things. Seems like every good thing for us has a bad side too. I can't afford the very best Stevia so I'm just going to have to go with honey or something. I couldn't handle the BSM in my coffee, I'm about to start drinking it black and say heck with sweetners. I hope you and your husband are doing good these days. God bless, Denise
Alright, new day, and glad I have another shot at this thing called life. I am stopping my 2 cups of coffee, and having Ginger Root tea I make myself, w/Blackstrap Molasses to sweeten. Plus, the BSM is said to be packed with nutrition, and I started using it due to an enlarged spleen. My spleen is still enlarged but it hasn't turned into any pain, just discomfort since it started a few months ago. Before I started EC and learning about healthy alternatives for healing. So we'll see how I do today after breakfast which is when the either hypoglycemic episode starts, or maybe low blood pressure. If anything gets out of hand, I do have an NP that will run tests. I'm going to check my blood pressure down at the Rite Aid Pharmacy today. I have some pretty amazing news about my Acid Reflux/Silent Reflux to report over on that thread. Hope everyone is doing fine and getting used to our new site. Denise
My blood pressure is 117/81. I'm told this is a good balance. I really feel more like the old sugar is low. I have these symptoms taking from the OP: shakiness, anxiety, sweating, hunger. None of the other symptoms. I realize this could be another issue causing the symptoms/hypoglycemia, and for now, I'm going to look at things I can do for that issue.
Today I am trying just honey w/a little bulk cinnamon for sweetner in my coffee (down to one cup only. Some might think it's the coffee giving me my issue, but I don't think so at this point. And I only want to test one thing at a time. I will read more about gluten today because I cannot seem to stop eating my breads. I don't do any other white flour at all. The only gluten I am getting (as far as I know) is in my bread. Thanks in advance for any input on this. I will keep checking here since I've set this up as my main page for Earthclinic so I can find it each day, Denise
(USA)
01/21/2019
(USA)
01/24/2019
Looking for a "reply" on my most recent post to Denise...I had converted to black coffee for years...then when I started making coffee for hubs and tasted it, it just became a habit. I drink mostly black and feel that is best...even tea. A tsp. of sugar is only about 16 calories but the cheaper sugars may have some fillers that are bad. Domino was tested and proven safer (cleaner) but more expensive...still worth it to me when I use sugar for anything.
Ok, Denise,
1. The Stevia brand you use, it is an extract, you unfortunately couldn't say it was even leaf, stem or root, it is a component of Stevia that they thought was better tasting or easier to extract or easier to market, something highly refined, and really not natural at all. That said there are probably worse options, you can likely use it sparingly til it runs out, then get some dried green leaf.
2. I saw that for your low blood sugar you are trying out cinnamon? My husband (diabetic) is currently using Ceylon cinnamon (low coumarin) to lower his high blood sugar, with great success. Some items are called blood sugar regulators, which in theory should mean adjusting low and adjusting high, however the only product I've heard of that stops your blood sugar from getting too low is the herb gymnema silvestre. I would encourage you to check your blood sugar often if you try anything said to have any effect on your blood sugar.
3. I've been thinking of your spasmodic torticollis, and how with your food changes you have had great improvement, I was wondering, when you first had this affliction, had you recently had any type of emotional or physical stress, illness, bug bite, antibiotics use even, just before your diagnosis, eg it could be from low immune system, whereby we could focus on that, or heavy metal exposure, from dental work eg, and we could otherwise focus on that. You don't even have to reply to me, it might just get you thinking and remember something to help you. Dr Carolyn Dean recommended 700 mg magnesium for women 1000mg for men, magnesium relaxes muscles, and directs calcium out of soft tissues, I would see if 2 cups Epsom salts baths nightly give any improvement. I would also add unrefined salt probably half cup.
4. Instead of the very likely vegetable oil concoction that is vegan butter, try coconut oil or make some coconut butter, full of capricylic acid, monolaurin, medium chain fatty acids (nothing nasty).
Best to you.
Hi Teena,
Thank you for your reply, and I am so glad I found it here this a.m. I've been around this forum with my "ailments" but I'll list them here for you: Tinnitus Spasmodic Torticolus 3rd degree AV Node block (I've had pacemakers since 97, 3 so far, 1 each 8-10 years) chronic Hives Essential Tremor Enlarged Spleen Hypoglycemia poor sleep pattern (about 3 hours, then wake, and so on) Acid Reflux that turned into Silent Reflux Ok, I think that covers it. Since October 8, 2018, I've been using Magnesium. I started with 200 mg Glycinate & 100 mg Citrate, twice a day so 600. Now am on just Malate and I like the glycinate better so will go back to that, and the citrate as well. I also did the baths for a time. I am doing tremendously better with the control of mucous from the Silent Reflux. Mostly with diet but I do ground ginger every day with either my tea, which is just Ginger, then I add Blackstrap, cinnamon and turmeric now as well. I will drop the vegan spread. Just have to wait til payday to replace it with real butter. I do a minimum of all things now. If I over-eat it bothers my spleen, so weight control, there's a new way, lol! On the ST you asked me about. Like so many of us, I had a tumultuous childhood, and into my 20s it didn't stop. I would say a lot of trauma. But, my dad was said to have a tremor like mine. No way of knowing much about him though. The tremor came in childhood, and just got worse over the years. The ST started in 88, and they gave me botox shots and the clonazapam. The botox only 1 year at 5 shots every 3 months, no help as far as I could see. I just live with it now, but do read about it to see how to do exercises etc. I'll leave this at that now. Don't want to bombard anyone. I went back to my stevia, but it's pretty clear I need to give it up. There are more expensive things, and once again, I am feeling as though I simply can't afford the very, best of anything. So I just need to do what I can to pick the most healthy I can afford. Denise
(Sc)
01/15/2020
Check out adrenal deficiencies. Hypoglycemia is definitely a symptom of adrenal disorders
(India)
08/30/2024
You have a "Pitha" constitution as per ayurveda. If you follow a Pitha pacifying diet, you'll be alright. Oats doesn't suit everyone, me included. Many of the items you have mentioned above aggravate pitha or acid component of digestive system such as molasses and avocado.
Avoiding Aspartame
★★★★★
Cinnamon
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
I've been battling hypoglycemia lately and I've found some great stuff here on EC. So thanks to everyone for posting and special thanks to Ted for all of his input.
I did want to point out, however, that if you are dealing with hypoglycemia, be careful of taking too much cinammon. Most of the blood sugar supplements out there are for diabetics and the emphasis is on lowering blood sugar.
I read on one post that cinammon will "stabilize" blood sugar and it will, if you are diabetic. On the other hand, if you are hypoglycemic, cinammon could potentially drive your blood sugar too low. I guess "stabilize" means "lower" to a diabetic, I should have caught that.
So just be careful with cinammon and hypoglycemia. I experienced this myself when I tried taking 500 mg, twice per day. I took one tablet at night and one in the morning and by mid morning, my sugar plummeted. The cinammon was the only thing I changed in my daily routine. Before this, I had been getting progressively better and sugar swings were becoming less and less frequent.
Cheers, JRo
(Atlanta, Ga)
03/29/2011
(Rugby Uk)
12/15/2015
Cinnamon
★★★★★
(Suitland, Md)
03/16/2011
I have had Hypoglycemia for around 1 year because I stopped drinking alcohol. That's what I think. I tried using cinnamon and it helped but I did not no that I could purchase Cinnamon Tablets. Thank you so much I need a good night sleep because Hypoglycemia wakes me up and I have to eat something sweet to go back to sleep. During the day the Hypoglycemia doesn't botter me. So I am thankful for this information. Coretta
Most hypoglycemics can't tolerate cinnamon. It has the opposite effect, namely, it lowers blood sugar even more. Cinnamon is suitable for diabetics and prediabetics.
Exercise
★★★★★
(Blomington, Illinois, Usa)
02/17/2010
Many people, like myself, who have hypoglycemia get fits of nausea after aerobic exercise. So jogging won't help everyone.
(Anon, Usa)
02/17/2010
I would also worry about doing heavy exercise if you don't have your blood sugar under control. I think you should work on diet first. Exercise is important too for overall health, though.
(Virginia)
05/13/2015
★★★★★
I had problems ever since I was a teenager. Several years ago I started hiking and lost about 40 pounds and everything straightened out. Then due to various events, I got out of hiking and put the weight back on. Sure enough, hypoglycemia popped up again. I've tried cinnamon capsules a little lately and do feel they've helped but know that knocking off some weight and getting exercise is the most sure-fire real fix.
(Rugby Uk)
12/15/2015
In theory if I'm not mistaken, the jogging is only a good thing if sugars have got too high and the jogging would help to burn off the sugar. That being said if sugars have gotten low then jogging is not going to help but only make it worse.
L-Glutamine
★★★★★
No-Grain Diet
★★★★★
After a decade of battling hypoglycemia and it's associated symptoms, I have begun following a no-grain diet. While I do not weigh food and calculate quantities, I do try to eat no more than 1. 5g per kilo body weight of protein per day. This includes a low-carb whey protein shake, two eggs and very small portions of fish or meat. The rest of my plate is filled with non-starchy vegetables/salads and a good serving of healthy fats. The fats are very important. I chase my meals with a glass of water mixed with juice of half a lime. It took about 2 weeks to see results when I first started. For the past 4 months of following this diet, I have felt no hypoglycemia symptoms whatsoever. No shaky hands. No brain fog. No dizzy spells. No afternoon headaches. No ravenous hunger soon after eating. My energy levels are better. Just losing the 'shakes' is such a great feeling! I do take basic multivitamins... But I do not attribute the change to them since I have been taking them for a while now with no noticeable difference. I must note that I have been gluten-free for 5-6 years now... However that alone did not help my hypoglycemia. Giving up ALL grains is what did the trick!
Small Meals, Caffeine Only After Lunch
★★★★★
However, I was still prone rather severe episodes of Hypoglycaemia until I read that caffeine was a probable cause.
I now only ever drink tea, coffee (or caffeine) after lunch and this has virtually eliminated the attacks which only occur if I do not eat regularly.
In short - my personal cure for Hypoglycaemia - eat little and often and avoid any caffeine until after lunch.
(Chico, Ca)
08/08/2011
I've had good luck with smaller more frequent meals however this most certainly will not cure the problem. If you are interested in completely getting rid of it (and you should, low blood sugar is deadly) google Dr. Roberto Illa and make an appointment to see him, well worth the plane ticket (saved my life). He is an ingenious research doctor and has a method that can actually fix the underlying problem (hypothalamus usually), he has a book call the Illa protocol if you are interested.
(Wa)
05/30/2013
Hypoglycemia is always caused by high insulin levels. Insulin breaks down sugar so when ur insulin is high, ur glucose is low. After many years of not treating your hypoglycemia, your pancreas will eventually wear itself out from over-production... Causing you to become the opposite - a low insulin, high glucose diabetic. Or so my doctor told me anyway. But then again, what do doctors know? my doctor told me strep throat is incurable without antibiotics.... In my experience, I had it three times in a row: the first two times I used antibiotics. The symptoms were horrific, and it came right back both times. The third time, I refused antibiotics and went with a natural approach, using nothing but immune-boosting herbs and brewing tea, and using local raw honey, also rinsed my mouth w/ hydrogen peroxide daily. The strep lasted only a few days and was practically symptomless, other than the white pus pockets on my tonsils. Has not come back, and rumor has it that if you let your immune system beat the disease instead of antibiotics then your immune system learns to keep it at bay and you become "immune, " so I hope to never have it again :) I HOPE! No guarantees but I do trust mother nature more than I trust doctors.
(Idaho)
09/25/2018
It's too bad, isn't it? Long time ago when I was young we did trust our doctors. They almost had God status....but things have gone haywire. I've had some very strange encounters with doctors of late. One urologist said such shocking things to my husband and I that I seem to be blocking the memory of what he said. But a friend told me she knows someone who went to the same doctor and was also shocked. She was pregnant at the time, and when she walked into the room he said, "Well, I see you're knocked up! " She reported him, but it probably didn't do any good. I could go on....a neurologist walked over to my 84-year-old husband and said "You do look quite frail". Knowing Jack still works out, and being offended, I said "Why don't you shake hands with Jack?" (Jack is one of those guys that enjoys crushing people's hands. He does it with his regular doctor all the time:-). He said "Oh, I never shake hands with patients. I just give them one finger." (You know what I was thinking, but I didn't do it.) Then he went over to my husband and stuck out his index finger and Jack shook his finger. What a nutcase!
(Mn)
09/26/2018
What people fail to realize is that a very large percentage of doctors became addicted to opiates back when the pharma reps came into their offices and marketed the opioid drugs to them and their staff starting in the 1990s. Many of them tested the free sample, left in Easter baskets no less, and became addicted.
Unfortunately, many doctors practice with a drug habit because if they were to seek help for their addiction, they would likely lose their medical license. It is a huge problem we have.
Stevia
★★★★★
I know of a little girl who lost her hair due to extreme thyroid problems when she was younger. I had remembered reading that if you combine a few drops of the dark stevia with creme de cocoa soap and lather on your scalp, you may be able to re-grow hair. I truly didn't know if this would work and was very skeptical but my heart went out to this 12 year old that has to wear wigs everyday so I told her parents about it. She's been using it for about two months now and her hair is re-growing. Granted, ever so slowly and patchy on her head but we're all very hopeful that she will continue to grow gorgeous locks!
Bottom line, stevia is extremely sweet and takes a little getting used to. It's a wonderful alternative to artificial chemicals. It has zero effect on blood glucose levels. I've found it in dry packets, clear liquid and dark liquid forms.
I've also heard it's good for acne but I have not tried that myself. Apparently it tightens a little bit as it dries on your skin. Put a light coating on yoru skin. Leave on overnight. It washes off very easily. After several days you should see much improvement.
(NYC, NY)
02/28/2009
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
I would be careful about using stevia for hypoglycemia, depending on the causes. Stevia is traditionally used to treat diabetes because it raises your insulin levels. But, for those who are hypoglycemic because their insulin levels are already too high (like myself) could be sabotaging themselves. Also raised insulin levels affect all your other hormones, raising them across the board, which, if you are a woman, can be very bad, leading to polycystic ovaries.
(La, Ca)
09/01/2012
Yogic Breathing
★★★★★
(Arlington Heights, Illinois)
06/03/2013
(Los Angeles, Ca)
06/28/2013
(Edison)
12/22/2014
This type of yoga breathing is usually done once a week, but you can do it when you feel like you need it. I have done it twice in one day. It is most popularly known as "rebirthing" a name given to it by Leonard Orr, the western guru. His website is http://rebirthingbreathwork.com/
Click on "training". Healers that do this are called "rebirthers". There are thousands worldwide.
Psychiatrist Dr. Stanislav Grof calls it "holotropic breathwork". His website is http://www.holotropic.com/about.shtml
He has trained many people (not MDs) to do it his way.
My training was with Leonard Orr. My website is http://www.thespiritualkey.com/
Yoga breathing completely changed my life, all for the better.
