Mold allergy may be hidden cause of fibro and more; plus carrot cake cupcakes

Bailey, the cat, on the job in the shop

Allergies mean sneezing, sniffling, watery eyes, itchy ears, right? Most people think of those typical symptoms when you mention allergies. But sometimes allergies present themselves in a more clandestine manner. Sometimes allergic reactions are the cause of fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, depression, sinus infections and more. I call this “allergies gone extreme.” Not everyone agrees with this theory but there is a growing body of evidence to support the link.

The connection between allergies, especially mold allergy, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia (FMS) is one of the most interesting to me. I suffer from mold allergy and FMS.
There are many symptoms for mold allergy but interestingly, they correspond to those exhibited by individuals with CFS and FMS. They include:

·         Fatigue

·         Weakness

·         Aches

·         Muscle cramps

·         Unusual pain

·         Ice pick pain

·         Headache

·         Light sensitivity

·         Blurred vision

·         Sinus problems

·         Digestive problems

·         Joint pain

·         Morning stiffness

·         Memory problems

·         Focus/concentration problems

·         Mood swings

·         Increased urination

 (Get more info about mold allergy here: http://www.survivingmold.com/mold-symptoms?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SurvivingMold_EmailMarketing)

Research suggests that being an allergic person may predispose you to CFS and FMS. Both disorders seem to be associated with over-reactivity of certain parts of the immune system, just like allergies. 

Researchers have found that more than half of CFS and FMS sufferers have allergies. And a significant proportion of people with CFS and FMS have mold sensitivity which is a big cause of fatigue and muscle aches.
  
 Treating allergies is an important part of treating these two disorders. Individuals usually see their fatigue and other symptoms improve when their allergies improve. I found this to be true. My flare-ups occur when my allergies are at their worst. 
  
How do you control mold allergies?

Allergy to molds is a year-round problem, unlike other allergies that may only be present during pollen season. Molds live everywhere and especially flourish in damp, cooler climates.

Mold allergies can get worse during the fall and winter, especially if you live in an area where the majority of the wetter weather happens during those seasons. Some areas, like Hawaii, will have high mold levels year-round.

Your best defense to lessening your exposure to mold is to be vigilant. However, it is not possible to completely avoid mold in most areas as it thrives indoors and outdoors.

Molds grow on fallen leaves, rotting logs, compost piles, grasses and grains. Indoors, fungi can be found in damp areas, such as basements, bathrooms and kitchens.

Here are some lessons I have learned about avoiding mold:

·         Avoid climates with increased humidity and rainfall.

·         Frequently clean kitchens and bathrooms to remove mold and mildew. Pay particular attention to showers and refrigerators. Don’t forget to clean the refrigerator door gaskets where molds hide.

·         Use central air conditioning with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters. It will help trap some of the mold spores.

·         Keep the humidity level in your home below 45 percent.

·         Be vigilant about cleaning up damp areas in your home.

·         Clean garbage pails often.

·         Use a cleaning solution made of one ounce laundry bleach per quart of water.

·         Consider purchasing a steam-cleaning device, which can kill mold and make cleaning faster and easier.

 Here is what I have been cooking this week: Mini-Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Yogurt Frosting (gluten-free with grain-free options)

 Ingredients: (makes 2-3 mini-cupcakes)

1/4 C flour (I use blend of almond flour and Anti-Grain pumpkin flour; or use your favorite gluten-free blend.)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. sea salt

1 egg 

stevia, to taste

1/3 cup cooked, pureed carrots

1 T. kefir or milk of choice

1 T. oil (olive oil or your choice)

1/4 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

Set out 3 silicon cupcake liners or 2 ramekins. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in food processor or by hand. Pour into containers. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Remove to cool.

 For the frosting:
1/4 cup yogurt cream cheese or your substitute, such as plain Greek yogurt
Dash of salt, vanilla and stevia.

To make the yogurt cream cheese:

 Spoon four ounces of plain yogurt (preferably homemade and lactose free) into a fine-mesh strainer. Place over another container. Allow to set for 8-12 hours or more as the liquid whey separates and leaves a thick cream-cheese like yogurt behind.

Article shared here:
http://www.tessadomesticdiva.com/2015/11/allergy-free-wednesday-192.html

http://www.fibrobloggerdirectory.com/ 

 http://vegetarianmamma.com/gluten-free-fridays-167-goodbye-gluten-hello-delicious-recipes/

Kefir: better than medicine; plus chocolate pumpkin candy bars

 

  Healing illness from the gut out has always been one of my beliefs. Seventy-five percent or more of our immunity resides in our digestive system. If we can heal our guts, we can absorb the nutrition our body needs to function properly. Seems simple, right? 

Unfortunately, it's not so simple for those of us with fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses who have majorly screwed up guts. Some things work and others don't. The only thing you can do is keep trying. But Hippocrates was right on with his famous quote: "Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food."

Homemade kefir culturing on counter

Recently, I started making homemade kefir. I had tried it once before but then I broke my wrist. I had to ditch the project. With both wrists intact now, I've rediscovered cultured kefir, one of the most probiotic-rich foods on earth. It may help you beat colds and flu, lessen allergies and asthma, and heal chronic illnesses, like fibromyalgia. In studies, kefir has either done as well as or outperformed antibiotics when treating illnesses. With its amazing medicinal properties, no surprise, its name comes from the Turkish word for “good feeling.”

What really impresses me is this fermented milk drink when homemade contains up to 35 strains of good bacteria and yeast compared to yogurt which has just a few and bottled kefir which has 10 strains plus some unwanted ingredients like sugar and thickeners. It’s a complete food which contains high levels of vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, vitamin K2, biotin, folate, enzymes and probiotics.

Some of its benefits can definitely help those of us with fibromyalgia. They include:

·         Boosts immunity

·         Fights allergies

·         Supports detoxification

·         Lessens asthma symptoms

·         Heals bowel disease such as  Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

·         Improves lactose digestion.

Wouldn’t it be great if eating a bacteria-rich food like kefir could help you beat illness, like fibro, and feel better overall? Our digestive systems play host to trillions of good bacteria. But we eat poor diets and take antibiotics which wrecks up our perfect balance of good and bad bacteria. All of this leads to digestive issues and immune system problems. 

We don’t want that if we want to be healthy. Kefir can be our medicine too. Studies have shown that kefir whey neutralizes most pathogenic bacteria within 24 hours. 

King Bailey on his favorite blanket

What kefir does the best job of keeping you well? Homemade works best as I have found out. I have been drinking plain bottled kefir for several years with some health benefits but nothing compared to what I experienced after making and drinking homemade kefir. 

My experience confirmed studies I read that showed homemade kefir has strong anti-inflammatory properties which can heal IBS, IBD and allergies. Those of us with fibro know all about those problems.

You can make homemade kefir from cow, goat or sheep milk. You need kefir grains which can be purchased from various websites such as www.culturesforhealth.com. Get a gallon of milk to start. Organic whole milk or raw milk, if available, will work. Follow the directions that come with the kefir grains to start fermenting your own supply of this super food.

One word of caution: you may need to build up your "tolerance" to kefir.  Some people thrive on kefir right from the start and others may need to proceed more slowly. Start with about four ounces or less and build up to eight ounces per day.

Chocolate Pumpkin Candy Bars 

 Here's what you need:

1 cup of coconut oil, melted

4 T. cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. salt

stevia, to taste

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Combine the above ingredients and pour into a 8 X 8-inch square pan, lined with parchment paper. Place in the fridge to firm up the mixture a bit.

You also will need for the pumpkin swirl:

2 T. pumpkin puree

1/4 cup sunflower seed butter or alternative

pinch of salt

a little water to thin out the mixture, if needed

Mix the pumpkin swirl ingredients until smooth. Spoon the mixture onto the chocolate before it completely firm up. Return to the fridge until bars are firm and ready to cut.

http://www.tessadomesticdiva.com/2015/10/allergy-free-wednesday-191.html
 http://vegetarianmamma.com/gluten-free-fridays-166-hello-delicious-recipes/

Traveling with fibro; campers' chocolate fix

Relaxing at Kelly Lake after hiking from campsite

Whatever your traveling passion, it will take extra planning and determination to accomplish if you have fibromyalgia or other chronic illness.

Fur kids enjoy a peanut butter snack

Your traveling passion might range from camping to touring another country.

Fur kids enjoy another peanut butter snack

Wherever you go you will need to start your preparation well ahead of time to minimize the stress involved in getting ready for a trip.As you probably know from personal experience, stress is not your friend if you have fibro. It can cause symptoms to be much worse.

I recently went on my first camping/backpacking trip of the summer. It was a simple trip compared to embarking on a trip to another country but I still had to do lots of prep. Here are some things I learned during the preparation phase of my trip:

• Start well ahead of time. If you don't, there will be unwanted stress that might flare up your symptoms.
• Make sure other people in your traveling party are on the same page and also will start well ahead of time. Those you are traveling with might inadvertently trigger stress if they cause you to be behind schedule.

Campers', travelers' easy chocolate fix

• You will need to take some or all of your own food, depending on your eating restrictions. You might need snacks or even meals, as I did for camping/backpacking. Get started on cooking days, weeks ahead of time.
• Same goes for all your vitamins, supplements. Line them up by day, if possible, to make them easy to take. You don't want to miss a dose.
• Be prepared to fall back on your plans if you or traveling companions are not ready. 

 My trip went well but unfortunately, preparing for a trip when you have fibro is no bed of roses. I laid out a schedule of what to get done every day prior to leaving. I had everything done but all the food prep, etc., can be overwhelming. I guess the bottom line is if you want to get away from home, you just have to go do it.

While your traveling, you might want a simple treat to prepare. You can make my campers'/travelers' chocolate fix dessert at a campground, in an RV or in a motel room, equipped with a microwave and mini-fridge. I prepare the ingredients ahead of time in a ziploc baggie for a single serving.

Here's what you need:

1/2 cup water
1-2 T. cocoa powder
stevia or other sweetener
pinch of salt
dash of cinnamon powder
1 T. gelatin
optional garnish: yogurt of your choice

Here's what you do:
Put all the ingredients except for water in a ziploc baggie during your prep for trip. To prepare, heat your water to warm in small cup or jar, and stir in the ingredients. Set the mixture in the fridge or off in the shade if camping. When ready to eat, garnish with yogurt or chocolate sauce, if desired.

http://www.fibrobloggerdirectory.com/ 

 http://www.beingfibromom.com/chronic-friday-linkup-7/

http://www.tessadomesticdiva.com/2015/08/allergy-free-wednesday-182.html

Chewing your food properly may help with fibro; campers' brownies

My stomach is upset right now because I didn't chew my food properly this morning. It's bloated and gassy, rumbling, and I'm burping. I was in a hurry as many people are when eating. I swallowed big bites which means I won't get the nutrition from the healthy meal I prepared. Swallowing big bites means improper digestion and all the assorted unpleasant symptoms.

Eating too quickly is a big problem for many people but it is a HUGE problem for someone with fibromyalgia. Those of us with fibro don't have robust digestive systems to begin with. Our digestive tract has been damaged; we lack many digestive enzymes; we have many food intolerances; we suffer from bacterial overgrowths; and we have numerous nutritional deficiencies.

And then, here I go gobbling up my meal. Yes, it takes longer to eat a meal slowly but the benefits our enormous for one's health. Chewing slowly is the beginning of the digestive process. By breaking up food into smaller pieces, your food is more easily digested. That's right, we're not snakes. We can't swallow our food whole and then digest it.

Chewing releases saliva which contains digestive enzymes. The longer you chew, the more time these enzymes have to start breaking down your food. All of this makes digestion easier on your body and your body more able to absorb nutrients from the food.

I, of course, have promised many times not to violate the rule: "I will not eat my food quickly." But I've already confessed that I violate this rule when I am in a hurry and/or really hungry.

Every time I violate this rule I am undermining all my other efforts to control my fibro symptoms. Duh! I have a bacterial overgrowth (SIBO and candida). I suppress it by eating the right foods that are chewed properly, not by gulping down my food.

Are you like me? Then, this is what we need to do all the time.

• Take smaller bites of food.
• Chew slowly
• Chew until each bite of food has been liquified or lost all of its texture.
• Finish chewing and swallowing completely before taking another bite of food.
• Wait to drink fluids until you've swallowed your bite of food.
• Don't talk while eating.
• Don't eat with your mouth open as you swallow air.

What do you do if you are crunched for time?

• Eat just enough to alleviate your hunger.
• Save the rest to eat later as a snack.

Campers' brownie

Here's what I'm eating slowly---campers' brownie. You can make it in a skillet over your campfire or on your stove.

Ingredients you will need for one serving:

1 grassfed egg
2 T. flour of your choice (I chose cricket flour because other flours have more fermentation potential)
2 T.  farmers cheese or seed or nut butter of choice 
2 T. cocoa powder
stevia, to taste
pinch of sea salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup plain kefir, yogurt or dairy beverage of choice
optional: chocolate topping and dollops of your favorite seed or nut butter
1 T. coconut oil

Campers' brownie batter

Mix all your ingredients. Heat a skillet and coconut oil.

Cook over medium heat with lid in place.

Look for bubbles forming and batter pulling away from the sides to check for doneness.

Garnish with chocolate drizzle and/or spoonsful of your favorite seed or nut butter.

Serve as a brownie parfait layered with yogurt and more chocolate drizzle, if desired.

 http://www.tessadomesticdiva.com/2015/08/allergy-free-wednesday-180.html

http://www.fibrobloggerdirectory.com/ 

 http://www.beingfibromom.com/chronic-friday-linkup-6/

Get busy healing your stomach; chocolate modified paleo pancakes

  






.
 I've really been feeling like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh with this black cloud hanging over his head. Things just haven't been going my way. It started with 100+ degree heat and our air conditioners going out. Yes, that was air conditioners (plural). First, the air conditioner in our car decided to give up the ghost.  Then, the air conditioner in our home decided it too had had enough.

Five weeks later we are getting to know our air conditioner repairmen like family because they visit us so often. We invested in a new system that turned out to be defective from the manufacturer. Then, to top it all off, I got dive bombed in the back of my head by a territorial hawk.The hawk hit with such force I got whiplash and a slight concussion.

I was trying to find the silver lining in this cloud.

One of two nice hawks living in my backyard---not the dive bomber hawk

Then, I realized how fortunate I am to have a nice pair of hawks living in my backyard (not related to the divebomber). They are a beautiful site to see and hear every morning. And they don't dive bomb anyone.

Modified paleo chocolate crepes

Finding the silver lining when you have fibromyalgia also can be challenging. But finding the right healing diet  for you can be a pretty important step in getting your life back on track if you have fibromyalgia or other chronic conditions.

I have tried numerous healing diets thinking that I had to follow them exactly as written or I wouldn't get the good results I sought. I have found that healing diets (such as paleo, paleo autoimmune protocol, specific carbohydrate, etc) all need tweaking to suit the individual because there is no one way to eat that is perfect for everyone. After all, we humans are 99.9 percent similar but that 1/10th of one percent makes a huge difference. 

I call my diet a modified paleo diet, most of the time.Why did I pick the paleo diet? The paleo diet focuses on whole foods and has a good track record for helping to reverse auto-immune symptoms. In a nutshell, the diet includes plenty of meat, seafood, vegetables, fruit and nuts, and avoidance of toxic foods like sugar, processed foods and hard to digest foods like legumes, dairy and grains.

For me and others with fibro, some problems would immediately emerge if this diet were followed exactly as written. Most individuals with fibro have bacterial infections in their guts like candida and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and resulting IBS symptoms.

We can't or shouldn't eat much fruit and hardly any nuts/seeds because of digestion problems. Starchy vegetables also are a problem because they also are hard to digest. We want to eat foods that digest easily and don't stick around and cause more bacterial overgrowth problems.

That's where "gray-area" foods come into the picture. Contrary to the paleo diet, I incorporate safe starches like white rice and certain types of potatoes in small amounts. Rice actually has existed for 130 million years (127 million years before humans). Wild rice also was eaten by paleo people. 

Jasmine rice is a good rice for people with SIBO like myself and others with fibro because it digests quickly and prohibits bacterial overgrowth. I always serve it as part of a nutrient-packed meal.

Mixing the eggs, cocoa, farmer's cheese and other ingredients.

Another "gray-area" food is dairy. The major problem with dairy for most people is lactose because many folks lack the digestive enzyme, lactase. Only 40 percent of humans keep this enzyme past childhood largely because of ancestry. But why give up dairy if you can keep the benefits without the problems? Dairy is an excellent source of calcium and Vitamins A, D and K2, the later which are difficult to find in other foods. Serve lactose-free dairy in the form of ghee, cheese, yogurt and kefir.

Preparing the pancakes (crepes) for the oven.

I incorporate dairy in my modified paleo. I use lots of homemade yogurt, kefir and farmer's cheese. I used some of these ingredients in these Chocolate Modified Paleo Pancakes.

Or cook them in a skillet

Here's what you need for 3 large pancakes or four small:

2 whole organic eggs
1 T. farmer's cheese (substitute almond flour if can tolerate)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
pinch of sea salt
2 T. cocoa powder
powdered stevia
 2 T. water
1 tsp. grassfed gelatin

2-3 T. coconut oil
optional filling such as homemade frozen yogurt
optional chocolate topping

Pancakes fresh from the oven

 Prepare the pancakes this way.

Mix the first seven ingredients in a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin on top and allow to absorb.  In the meantime, heat your oven to 400 degrees if doing the oven route. The crepes take about 12 minutes to bake. For the skillet method, melt about 1 T. of coconut oil in the pan before cooking each crepe.

Fill the crepes with "ice cream"or yogurt or whatever you want. I make frozen yogurt by semi-freezing some of my homemade lactose-free yogurt. Or sometimes I pop it into the ice cream freezer.

 Top with homemade chocolate sauce made by mixing 2 T. of cocoa powder in 1/4 cup melted coconut oil. Add a pinch of sea salt and stevia and vanilla.

http://www.tessadomesticdiva.com/2015/07/allergy-free-wednesday-177.html 

http://www.fibrobloggerdirectory.com/

Cricket flour provides alternative for low FP diets; mocha chocolate cricket bar recipe

My friend Al samples a Chapul Aztec Cricket Bar.

I’m always on the look out for new foods to try that will fit my low-starch, low-carbohydrate lifestyle. Fibro sufferers most often have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) which makes them unable to digest many carbohydrates.

I’ve seen all kinds of new flours lately for those of us on healing diets, such as the low fermentation diet, paleo diet or paleo autoimmune protocol (AIP).  All of these flours (sigh) are too high in starch and carbohydrates for those of us with digestive systems lacking the enzymes to digest them. I never thought I’d be trying cricket flour, made from 100 percent ground, food-grade crickets. This high-protein flour with no carbohydrates is a good option as long as you are not bothered by the insect “ick” factor.

Chapul Cricket Bars

I have to admit I was first introduced to cricket flour in the form of Chapul Cricket Bars.http://chapul.com/ These gourmet, delicious bars had me wanting more ways to eat crickets.

I decided to try the Chapul bars after seeing them featured on the ABC television show, Shark Tank. They are similar to Larabars in taste and texture. I ordered a sampler pack of three bars, including Chaco (peanut butter and chocolate), Aztec (dates and chocolate) and Thai (coconut, ginger and lime). These bars all contain cricket flour and sell for $2.99 to $3.25 each. The cricket bars are pricey but worth giving them a try as Chapul donates 10 percent of their profits to fund water conservation projects.

I was sold on the Chapul Aztec bar. The others contained ingredients I need to avoid. Other friends and family members were guinea pigs for the Chaco and Thai bars and found them delicious too.

100 percent pure cricket flour

The Aztec bar is a delectable combination of dark chocolate, dates, coffee and cayenne powder.  It was dense, not overly sweet and definitely gourmet. The heat from the cayenne lingers just a bit.

I am a little sensitive to dates and definitely need to watch my carb intake. The bar has 150 calories, 36 grams of carbohydrates (7 grams of fiber), 5 grams of protein and 17 percent DVA of iron. The bar caused me no problems but I thought why not purchase cricket flour to make my own version where I have more control over the ingredients.

The cricket bars and/or cricket flour http://www.cricketflours.com/are a good option for someone like me who cannot eat regular flours or even gluten-free varieties because of starch malabsorption problems. I also lived in Thailand for awhile and discovered how people in other parts of the world eat insects as a mainstay of their diets.

I don’t have to avoid crickets for any reason but those who have a crustacean or shellfish allergy shouldn’t eat them. Crickets are arthropods, just like shrimp, crabs and lobsters.

Some other facts about cricket flour:

·         It’s a rich source of protein and other nutrients. A 2-tablespoon serving of cricket flour contains 55.3 calories, 7.6 grams of protein, 4.4 percent DVA of iodine, 3.6 percent DVA of magnesium, 23.5 percent DVA of riboflavin, 16.7 percent DVA of Vitamin B12 and 14 percent DVA of zinc.

·         Crickets are more environmentally friendly to produce than cows or pigs that require a large amount of feed and water to produce. Crickets use little water and mostly eat agricultural byproducts, such as broccoli stalks.

Here’s how I made my own Mocha Chocolate Cricket Bars. You will need:

2 ounces of organic dates (get dates with no sugar or sulfites)
1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup cricket flour (can sub more almond flour instead of cricket flour)
2 T. cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. powdered pure stevia
2 T. strong liquid coffee
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla powder
1 grassfed egg
For optional frosting see this post: http://catsinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2015/06/help-yourself-when-it-comes-to-fibro.html

 Here's what you do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Prep your dates by softening them in 1 T. warm water. Add everything to a food processor and blend until smooth. Pour the batter into your lined loaf pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Prepare optional frosting and frost your loaf when cooled. Cut into bars.

Yum!

Recipe contributed to:
 http://www.fibrobloggerdirectory.com/

 http://www.tessadomesticdiva.com/2015/06/allergy-free-wednesday-173.html

Help yourself when it comes to fibro treatment; plus breakfast brownies

"Hey, little buddy, you want to play?"

Getting a proper diagnosis can be one of many difficult challenges you face as an individual with fibromyalgia or other autoimmune disorders. It took me several decades searching for answers.

Along the way, I was incorrectly diagnosed many times and given medications that made my condition worse; asked to take expensive medical tests; called a "mystery"; and told my symptoms were all in my head and offered tranquilizers to calm me down.

It turns out my search for answers was not that unusual. The majority of individuals eventually diagnosed with serious autoimmune diseases had significant problems in getting a correct diagnosis, according to a survey conducted by the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA).

Just like me, other autoimmune sufferers had either been incorrectly diagnosed or told their symptoms were all in their heads because they were under too much stress. Forty-five percent of autoimmune patients had been labeled hypochondriacs.

I admit I no longer trust doctors. Sometimes, I wonder if they simply spin a wheel to make a diagnosis. These days, I take everything a medical practitioner tells me with a grain of salt. I tell others who have a difficult to diagnose set of symptoms to do the same and "help" themselves by being well informed. Prepare for each doctor's appointment with documentation.

• Search not only the internet for information but be aware of health problems shared by your immediate family as well as relatives. (Make sure your children are informed about family health problems.) 
• Keep a journal where you detail all your symptoms. These symptoms often are related but on the surface, may appear unrelated.
• Go to doctor's appointments armed with a list of symptoms in order of concern to you. This list will keep you focused  and prevent the discussion from getting off track during the appointment.
• If your doctor calls you a "mystery," it's probably time to search for a different doctor. 
• Talk to family and friends to find a medical practitioner who might be the right fit for you.
• Seek referrals. Often, agencies that raise awareness about specific autoimmune diseases keep referral lists.

My biggest pet peeve about those in medical field is they like to go on a "fishing expedition" at your expense. They order lots of tests that are costly and painful, and provide no helpful information. My husband who is even more jaded than I says they need a new Mercedes when they order these tests.

If your doctor orders a test, you should ask a whole bunch of questions and do a lot of research because they might just come back with the test results and tell you "you're a mystery" again.

Questions to ask:

• What is the purpose of this test?
• Has this test been helpful in diagnosing individuals like me with similar symptoms?
• Are there alternatives?
• How much does this test cost and is it covered by health insurance?
• Will medications given with this test make me worse?

Breakfast brownies for after all this mind-bending information

Keep these things in mind as you are searching for answers:

• You are the customer. Demand proper service and get satisfaction. 
• You don't have to do everything and get every test they suggest.
• Advocate for yourself and don't be intimidated.
• Seek additional opinions, if necessary.
• Remember you may know more about your problem than the doctor does. Many doctors aren't well informed about autoimmune disorders.
• Use the internet to connect with others with similar problems. This may shed some light on how to treat your problem.

How about some delicious brownies, even good for breakfast, after all that serious but important information?

Here's what you need for two large or four small brownies:

2 T. pumpkin puree
1/4 cup shredded zucchini
2 T. cocoa powder
1 T. almond flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 T. coconut oil
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. powdered stevia
1 egg
1 T. yogurt or milk of your choice

Here's what you need for the frosting:

1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 T. milk of your choice
1/2 tsp. vanilla powder
1/4 tsp. powdered stevia

Here's what you do for the brownies:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine all the brownie ingredients in a food processor. Process until a smooth mixture is formed. Pour the mixture into containers of your choice. I chose two small loaf pans, lined with parchment paper. Bake for approximately 15 minutes. Cool well before slicing.

Don't forget the frosting.

Whip all the frosting ingredients in a medium bowl as shown above. You will get enough frosting for the brownies as well as nibbling on. 

If you are on the low fermentation potential diet, one brownie has an FP of 3 by my calculations. 

Voila, the finished product.

Recipe and article submitted to:

http://www.fibrobloggerdirectory.com/
http://www.tessadomesticdiva.com/2015/06/allergy-free-wednesday-171.html

Too many pit stops with fibro: plus red, white and blue jigglers

Why don't you come out and play, Bailey?

Let's talk about too many bathroom stops because of fibromyalgia. I feel like I spend half my life in the bathroom peeing. My husband decided to get a low-flush toilet so I wouldn't be wasting as much water each time I flushed.

Maybe you're like me and always on the look out for bathrooms when away from home. I always thought it was because I was born with a bladder the size of a shot glass. Or I just drank too many beverages with caffeine. Little did I know it was a problem faced by individuals with fibromyalgia.
 

Why do individuals with FMS "drink like a fish and pee like a racehorse?"

Hormonal problems result in decreased fluid and salt retention which increases urine output and thirst. Drinking up to four times as much liquid as the average person and increasing salt intake will help you feel better.

How do you know if you are drinking enough water? If your urine is bright yellow, you're not getting enough. Dry lips and eyes are another indication.

Drinking more water will help you feel better but it won't keep you out of the bathroom.

What can you do to improve this problem?

•  If you frequently wake up to urinate during the night, do not drink a lot of fluids near bedtime. I limit beverages after 8 p.m.
• Don't consume caffeine after 4 p.m.
• Coffee and tea are chocked full of healthy antioxidants but don't overdo. After two cups of tea or coffee, switch to water or herbal drinks.

"We never drink anything with caffeine after 4 p.m. and we sleep like babies."

• Limit fluids consumed with meals as it dilutes stomach acid and effectiveness of digestive enzymes.

With all these restrictions, how do you consume more liquids?

• Keep water with you all the time. Take frequent sips. Make it your mission to drink more water.

If you have other suggestions, please share.

Red, white and blue jigglers

Individuals with fibromyalgia would do well to steer clear of processed foods which often contain preservatives and other additives rather than whole food ingredients. For Memorial Day, why not try an old favorite, “Red, White and Blue gelatin jigglers?” Instead of using artificially flavored-boxed gelatin, make it with fruits and vegetables, packets of gelatin, and unprocessed honey or other sweetener of choice.

Here are the ingredients in the boxed gelatin, Berry Blue Gelatin:

SUGAR, GELATIN, ADIPIC ACID (FOR TARTNESS), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, NATURAL FLAVOR, ACETIC ACID, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE AND SODIUM CITRATE (CONTROL ACIDITY), FUMARIC ACID (FOR TARTNESS), BLUE 1.

Here’s what you need to make your own all-natural version:

4 packets of gelatin

1 cup of liquid to be heated

3 cups of cold liquid

Directions:

 

Place the 1 cup of liquid in a sauce pan, sprinkle the four packets of gelatin over the liquid and let it rest for 5 minutes. Heat the liquid and gelatin in the pan over medium heat and stir until dissolved.  Remove from the heat. Pour the three cups of cold liquid into an 8 X 8 X 2-inch pan, add the warm mixture, stir softly, cover and refrigerate until set. Cut into shapes and plate. Refrigerate when not serving.

First layer: watermelon

The liquid for this recipe can be made from the juice of fruit and/or vegetables, alternatives milks, etc.

For red gelatin: try beets, cherries, cranberries, guava, papaya, radishes, raspberries, red apples, red bell peppers, red grapes, rhubarb, strawberries, tomatoes and watermelon.

For blue gelatin: try blackberries, blueberries, grapes, plums, purple endive, purple cabbage, purple potatoes.

Alternative milk beverage gets heated

For white: try bananas, cabbage, jicama, parsnips, peeled apples, peeled pears, cucumbers, water chestnuts,

Make the juice from these fruits and vegetables with a juicer or puree whole pieces in a food processor.

To make red, white and blue jigglers or dessert, make one batch of each color from a fruit or vegetable of your choice. Use a larger pan. Pour the red in first. Refrigerate until set. Next add the white and refrigerate until set. Finally add the blue. Cut into shapes and serve.

Recipe contributed to:

http://www.fibrobloggerdirectory.com/

 http://www.tessadomesticdiva.com/2015/05/allergy-free-wednesday-169.html