The Benefit of Eating “Live” Food If You Have Allergies, Fibromyalgia Or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Most of us stay confused about which foods are good for us and which ones we should avoid. Think about it… one day a food sits squarely on the absolutely good list and then it’s demoted. Other times we think something is horrible and it turns out not to be so bad.

In this instance I give you sugar. Long, long ago we heard how bad sugar was for us and how the average American eats tons of it. (Literally tons!) The other day I heard a dietician say a little sugar wasn’t so bad. To me that’s pretty much malarkey. Ingesting sugar:

Causes causes your internal sugar regulation to go haywire.
Gives your Adrenal system and HPA axis a real hit, which can bring on worse symptoms of panic attack, a serious, stress-induced symptom.
Promotes the onset of diabetes and other complications.

*Note: both sugar and caffeine consumption together can end up being real health culprits. Consider carefully drinking any of those energy drinks!!

And worst of all, if you consume sugar and you have Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or an autoimmune illness (like auto-immune induced arthritis), it will make you feel a lot worse afterwards. Sugar can increase your achiness all the way to full scale, total pain blowout, because of its tendency to increase inflammation in the body.

I know that certain foods make me feel un-well while other foods give me energy, I don’t experience as much pain and they help to stabilize my moods. “Live” foods can really provide my body with lots of benefits.

I encourage you to count “live” foods as a category to keep stocked in your refrigerator and storage bins. Plus, take note of how you cook them; it makes a difference. I’ll explain more below in section “C”, but let’s continue by talking about allergies and what role food and allergies play in our lives.

When you and I read information about what foods or food substances people are allergic to, what types of things come to mind more often? Steak? Green beans? Or more likely, food preservatives and food additives?

If you guessed the latter, you’re correct. Countless books have been written about which artificial substances are capable of harming the human body. Food preservatives and food additives are one “food” source that the body doesn’t need at all. Think of them as artificial food. Our real body doesn’t like artificial anything.

Take MSG food products out of
your cupboard and refrigerator!

Beware of eating anything (food or drink)
that contains Aspartame.
(Or any of its derivatives.)

Okay. Now let’s approach this problem from the opposite direction. What types of foods are best? If you say “real” foods or “live” foods as we’re calling them today, you would be absolutely on target. Send you to the front of the class with a celery stick! And maybe a couple tablespoonfuls of almond butter! Ooh, yum-m-mie!

You and your fellow hungry companions will be happy to know that you’re not stuck with eating salad for the rest of your lives. (Or eating it plain without salad dressing.)

However, you would be wise to consider consuming your foods in as natural a state as possible. I’ll repeat that… eat your food in its most natural, fresh-from-nature state as possible.

The best place to find them? On the outside aisles at your grocery store. The inside ailes are reserved for packed products.

Why should you stick with “live” foods? For several reasons:

A: Live foods contain more bio-available enzymes that quickly aid the body in digestion, plus they come in a usable form. These enzymes help to manufacture exactly what your body needs.  

B: Live foods work best when fresh and in their original state (“made by Mother Nature”) with the exception of such products as yogurt, which contains acidophilus and other fortified compounds. Live, good bacteria cultures are added to this type of yogurt.

C: Cooking can destroy most of the food value of what you eat, but it doesn’t have to. Don’t cook your food until it turns to mush; that won’t make it safe or more healthy. If you steam your vegetables lightly, they retain the majority of the health benefits that nature provided.

**If you want a full copy of this important material from today’s show, check out Eat Live Food – 3 Things You Must Know If You Have Allergies, Fibromyalgia Or Chronic Fatigue. The information will be easy to print out at EzineArticles.com.

It is one of 36 articles I’ve published there and a great place for thousands of people to get to read about all of the important topics surrounding the complicated illnesses known as Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Also, you can see this same subject addressed in a 2008 issue of HealthyWealthynWise They published my article in the same issue with the famous speaker and author, James Ray. Surely, thousands of people read about this information there, too. I feel that the more we get the word out, the better off we will all be.

Thank you so much for visiting the Health Matters Show today. This is as vital a subject today as it was when I first began to publish information about it. I guess what you and I have to ask ourselves is if we’re really making progress in these areas, learning more and getting better control of our lives. That is the goal. So….. How are you doing?

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

(Today, the common vernacular for that is eating junk food.)

However, I know that when I was so horribly sick and a virtual, bed-bound invalid, I did exactly that. So, I’m wondering today, why would I do that? Well, to answer that question is the reason for this post today.

As humans, we can be tempted to make excuses about the food we eat and feel sorry for ourselves. We feel so badly that the only thing we can muster is the will to stay alive one more day… hoping that tomorrow will be better.

Here’s an alarming article about how recent medical finding are linking obesity and the risk for getting Fibromyalgia.

This look at me reveals a glaringly ugly spotlight on a tough, chronic health problem. So let’s talk about 3 stark “reality” reasons why I was eating junk food and maybe why you’re doing it, too:

1) I felt horrible. Comfort food felt like a salve to my soul and my stomach. It’s true that junk food does comfort one temporarily. For me, I felt a lot of anger at being so sick, losing my career, having to put my family’s needs on hold. I needed comfort badly. So… one moment after the other after the other, sugar, fat and calories passed through my lips. They seemed to be the only thing that calmed my raging inner beast. It wanted to scream, cry or simply strike out at my unseen assailant. But instead, I lay in bed in such a sick stupor of pain, brain fog and utter exhaustion that I did not care what I was doing to myself. At all. Instead of directing my revenge toward something constructive, I rebelled at being so sick and it came back on me. My body suffered that much more.

2) I felt so exhausted 99% of the time that I could not stand up in the kitchen to cook a meal or even prepare a decent salad. It was a legitimate excuse. Yes, I tried to cook real meals for my husband and son, but often for days afterwards, I would feel so thoroughly depleted that I simply went to bed like the lady in the picture, sulking, sneaking and eating “pity me” food. Today there’s no way I could count how many boxes of vanilla wafers I consumed during that time period!

3) I felt totally uninspired to care about what I ate, what my eating habits had become or what they were doing to me. I guess inside I knew that I was behaving poorly, but I couldn’t help but think that surely my current health problems were simply a bad dream and would go away soon! When they did, I’d be well again. Then I would care again. Then I could get back to being healthy and happy. Sadly, I must report that when that didn’t happen for months and years on end, I continued to eat poorly.

Now, this is the situation and the feelings that I went through, but I’m betting that some of my descriptions ring true for you, too. Personally, I gained weight eating such a poor diet. Other people can lose extreme amounts of weight when they are too ill to eat properly. In the end, both types get undernourished and underfed physically, emotionally and spiritually. Health suffers.

I suspect that being like this is one of the reasons why the outside world often believes that we’re lazy and can’t be bothered to help ourselves. It’s not that way at all.

When a person is extremely sick with an illness like Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, they no longer have the same capabilities or the same motivation to be healthy that they had before becoming so ill. There may be true depression going on here or it can be a temporary state of sad feelings that feel alleviated by eating junk food. It’s common in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for a person to have swings in their hormone and body biochemicals. [E.g. Serotonin (the body's "feel good" biochemical) may be out of balance or in short supply. I suspect that dopamine may play a part here, too, but I've never read anywhere that that is true.]

No matter what, giving into this type of eating pattern for even one seemingly valid reason can be a serious mistake. A few hours, a few days? Maybe just a shock to your sugar balance, your gut and your immune system. But months and years of this pattern will add to your health challenge and surely make it that much harder for your body to get healthy again.

Some twenty years later, I’m still working to pull myself out of the habit and history of eating junk food. In my interview with Dr. Christopher Lepisto last week, he mentioned that candida and fungal infection can set one up for the long term to crave sugar, eat poorly and not achieve the best level of health possible. I believe him!

(HINT: If you didn’t hear his short interview on the Health Matters Show podcast or his longer appearance on the teleseminar, well, you really missed a big treat- and this one had no calories! I urge you to put his name in the search box on this website and you’ll see everything I’ve written about Dr. Christopher Lepisto.)

Today, I resolve to eat really healthy. I’ll go back to basics and I’ll do Sacred Cellular Healing protocol on myself to see if their are leftover remnants within me of fungal infection and/or an imbalance of good bacteria and yeast (Candida) in my gut. I suspect that there is. The evidence is all too evident. I don’t need some expensive laboratory test to confirm that I’m still eating poorly or that I crave sugar.

That’s why I know that learning something like Sacred Cellular Healing comes in so handy as a life skill. It’s wonderful to have the capability of figuring out what’s going on in your body and then being able to initiate the healing process. And no matter whether I’m 100% successful right away or my motivation takes awhile to achieve, it’s important for me to continue moving forward with my health and healing. If I’m not totally effective right away (Remember that candida is a bear!), I’m not above asking for some additional help. Not at all. I’ll call up Dr. Christopher Lepisto or one of my other nutritional guru friends in the business. Wish me luck with this challenge. It’s a big one for me.

Oh, patient, thou art the healer!

I’m sending you good wishes and the courage to take steps forward with your eating, nutrition and health challenges. Thanks today for listening to my junk food story. I invite you to share your story by commenting on this post. Are “junk food” and your eating habits helping or hurting your recovery from illness?

I’m Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

Dr. Lepisto approaches brand new Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients by starting with what he calls, the basics, thus our title today. He believes (paraphrased) that people get so sick not because of one singular event, but due to a whole host of (I’ll call them) mini-events, knowing full well that some of them are huge. Some of them can even be perceived as toxic!

Example:

(This audio is 12 min 38 seconds.)

1) Has there been a previous or recent traumatic injury or incident?
2) Is there indication of a super-infection? (One infection following another infection before you are well from the first.)
3) Is there a history of or possibility of genetic predisposition?
4) What is your toxic burden? (This is a BIG item that Dr. Lepisto talks about quite a bit and I know why. If you’re toxic and suffer with what he calls full barrell syndrome, you’re going to have a tough time improving your health. Maybe… that’s one of the reasons why you’re not getting well!)

I hope you listen to this entire Health Matters Show podcast today. You’ll hear Dr. Christopher Lepisto define full barrell syndrome, what causes the condition, how does it act in the body and a bit of information about how to get rid of it. Note: there was even more information included in the hour long teleseminar.

(Hey! Wait a minute. I’m jumping up and down here! If you are one of the lucky ones who received an an email invitation already, it’s not too late to click the link today & hear the entire, replay presentation. So go find your email and click the link. You’ll see that I’m right!)

Dear One, if you’d like to automatically be able to get such great quality information that is included in my “free” teleseminars, sign up on my teleseminar list today. Then when an event is scheduled, you will get a notice about the particulars.

What is wonderful about these events is that if you want to call in and be on the call, you can do it. You’ll be “live” in your participation. (Hearing it, experiencing it and maybe even getting to ask your own personal question at the event!)

However, if it suits you and your pocketbook better to listen via the “free” webcast line, you’re quite welcomed to do that and all at no charge whatsoever. You simply log in via your computer and listen to the teleseminar over your computer speakers. Plus, after the event the replay will be left up for awhile, too. That helps if you can’t be present for the live event. By registering, you can catch the program at a time that is more convenient for you.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope that you agree with me that if you have CFS or Fibromyalgia, this is the place to be.

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

PS- Dr. Christopher Lepisto welcomes phone consultations at 1-970-250-4104 or you can email him at drchristopher@mac.com.

With the wording of this binding regulation, the Social Security Administration sets out guidelines for adjudicators and judges to ascertain claims based upon accepted criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia cases. This regulation removed at least one of the barriers faced by those individuals making claims of disability.

The Social Security Act allows for SSDI or SSI benefits to be paid to persons unable to work by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment (or combination of impairments)….” (emphasis added) The Act and Regulations define the phrase “medically determinable” as a condition that can be established by medical evidence consisting of signs, symptoms and laboratory findings. It cannot be based only on the Claimant’s description of symptoms.

Suggested by a report, claims based upon CFS (and Fibromyalgia, too, for all practical purposes- my words) are tougher to establish because of a lack of medical signs, symptoms and laboratory findings. Therefore many claims are denied on the failure to prove the existence of a medically determinable impairment.

Per Jeffrey A Rabin and Associates:

The Ruling states unequivocally that CFS can be a medically determinable impairment. It specifies medical signs and laboratory findings that will now constitute proof of a medically determinable impairment for persons suffering from CFS. However, whether the claimant is actually “totally disabled” is a separate determination based upon the severity of functional limitations caused by the disease. That is the same as in any claim based upon any other medical problem.

This Ruling requires that any of the following medical signs, which are clinically documented over a period of at least 6 consecutive months, can establish a medically determinable impairment:

- palpably swollen or tender lymph nodes on physical examination;
- nonexudative pharyngitis;
- persistent, reproducible muscle tenderness on repeated examinations, including the presence of positive tender points; or,
- other medical signs consistent with medically accepted clinical practice which are consistent with the other evidence in the case record.

The following laboratory findings can establish a medically determinable impairment for individuals with CFS:
- an elevated antibody titer to Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen equal to or greater than 1:5120, or early antigen equal to or great than 1:640;
- an abnormal MRI brain scan;
- neurally mediated hypotension as shown by tilt table testing or another clinically accepted form of testing; or,
- other laboratory findings consistent with medically accepted clinical practice such as abnormal sleep studies and abnormal exercise stress tests that are consistent with other evidence in the case record.

Finally, mental impairments documented by mental status examinations or psychological testing can also establish the presence of a medically determinable impairment.

What Evidence Can Be Used to Show these Signs and Findings?

As in any claim for disability benefits the focus is upon the medical evidence, especially the clinical records and test results from treating sources. SSA will try to obtain all medical records, generally beginning 12-months prior to the month of application. The Ruling notes that conflicts in the medical evidence are not unusual in cases involving CFS and clarification should be sought first from the treating sources. Treating source opinions about the severity of the impairment should be given deference if they are well supported by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory techniques and are not inconsistent with other evidence in the records. It is noted that any information regarding functional abilities before and after the onset of the impairment is helpful in evaluating the claim. Finally third-party sources may be useful in determining the credibility of the Claimant.

My insertion here: I advise you to get copies of all your medical records going back to the beginning of when your health impairments began. With people with a gradual onset case, that may mean several years of files.

… the focus is upon a longitudinal view of all of the medical evidence. Claimants must be actively treating with medical providers and must be completely describing all symptoms each time they see the doctor. The doctors must keep careful, legible, notes during each visit so that the signs and findings noted above can be documented. In addition, the physician should be willing to provide a written opinion to SSA regarding the patient’s ability to sustain even sedentary work activity on an 8 hour per day, 5 days per week basis.

SSR 99-2p does not provide that every claim based upon CFS should be approved. It does, however, set forth guidelines for evaluation of these claims so that Claimants, physicians and representatives can be assured of a fair evaluation of the impairment and its impact on the individual.

This is the newest information available. One thing important to note is that this regulation is neither taken into account at the initial application stage or the reconsideration stage. Social Security’s normal procedure is to deny all claims during the first two phases of the disabilitiy process. Not until a person get to the hearing stage do they get in front of a real person, an adjudication judge, to plead the whole case. At that point it is vital to have all of your records up to date and add in any other information that is pertinent to the case, such as a disability evaluation by an independnt disability evaluating examiner.

Currently this entire disability process with Social Security Administration is taking between two and 2 1/2 years. It’s critical that you meet all of their criteria in Regulation 99-2p, and that includes showing “no” history of working for gainful employment. After all, you’re trying to prove that you are completely disabled and unable to do any work in the marketplace.

Good luck, Cinda Crawford
Host of the Health Matters Show

Chances are that the philosophy of people like Dr. Christopher Lepisto is very on target and can help a lot of people (like you?) who are suffering. His Colorado medical practice certainly is bustling with patients seeking his expertise.

Let me explain a bit further why I’m encouraging you to consider taking this “natural” route. Plus, you’ll want to hear our conversation as I interviewed him for the Health Matters Show podcast today -and- learn the details about our live teleseminar coming up this Wednesday!

Dr. Christopher Lepisto expects that…

(audio is 23 minutes 17 seconds)

….the body has the ability to heal itself.

And he believes in… removing obstacles to the cure.

Being a naturopathic doctor, Dr. Lepisto’s approach is more towards the natural side. When someone comes into his office complaining of the symptoms commonly associated with Fibromyalgia or CFS, he often approaches the problem looking at the person’s basic health, especially considering a possible toxic burden overload situation, infections that may be present, incidences of trauma and autoimmune involvement.

Paraphrasing his words, he says that when a person is too toxic (e.g. from genetic predisposition, eating the wrong diet, etc.), something called “full barrell syndrome” is a major part of this type of dysfunction and then he goes on to explain the concept to us. (Ps-ss-st– apparently, it is critical for you to empty your body’s barrell of toxins. Your health can be severely hampered if you’re too toxic!)

Okay, how do I empty my barrell?

Well, that’s enough from me. You’ll have to listen to the doctor explain further. Tune in to the Health Matters Show podcast’s audio button above and hear about Dr. Lepisto’s fascinating approach to helping people get well from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and more.

To hear EVERYTHING Dr. Christopher Lepisto has to tell us in even MORE DETAIL, join he and I for a “live” teleseminar interview session on Wednesday, July 14th at 2 pm EST.

This will be a totally “free” teleseminar presentation no matter where you are in the world because this is a webinar. Listen to the presentation over your computer speakers. Plus, by being a registered participant, you will get a replay line that you can listen to later at your convenience, but you must register!

TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, FIRST SIGN UP ON MY TELESEMINAR LIST TODAY.

Very shortly, I will send everyone on my list the details about this special Wednesday event. Hope to see you there!

I’m Cinda Crawford, your host of the Health Matters Show

PS- If you want to know about the benefits or non-benefits of eating soy, he has some fascinating insights and suggestions for that, too, especially when it comes to how soy impacts your Thyroid gland!

Also, I am hosting a special “live” teleseminar with him as my guest on Wednesday, July 14th at 2 pm EST and you are invited. The event is free!

All you have to do is sign up on my Teleseminar list and you will receive a special invitation with all of the details. (The sign up box to get information about all of the events in this series is on the right side of this blog.)

If you can’t make the July 14th time slot, don’t worry. You can listen to everything on the replay line. Don’t let a cramped schedule keep you from hearing this important information.

Plus, once you’re signed up the teleseminar and have arrived at the event page, I’ve included a box for you to leave your questions.

1) If you haven’t already done so, Sign Up right now to receive notices about my teleseminars. (box is on the right side of the page)

2) You will receive an email. Be sure to click on the confirmation link as requested. (Such safeguards help to protect your privacy and that’s good.)

3) Everyone on my list (brand new today or you’ve been there awhile) will need to look out for the specific teleseminar invitation that will arrive in your email box, too. When you see it, open it and click on the link to confirm the event. Mark the date on your calendar..

4) Notice on the event page your ability to send in questions that you want to ask. The question box is located on the left.

5) Be here at the Health Matters Show to hear Dr. Christopher Lepisto tomorrow, Friday.

6) After the Wednesday teleseminar is over, you will have the ability to revisit the event page to hear the replay line. You may want to listen more than once.

I look forward to seeing you here tomorrow and interacting with you on the teleseminar next Wednesday.

Please tell all of your friends about this free teleseminar.

You can listen and be involved from anywhere in the world. Plus, we will learn a lot of good information about Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue– together!

Thanks, Cinda Crawford
Your host of the Health Matters Show

By signing up for the Learn How to Heal Yourself membership course. The information and resources included in this course will give you the edge that you’ve wanted and needed. It’s an effective way to take charge of your own health today, like the young man in this video did in his life. Learn how to heal yourself. How powerful! How very possible. If you sign up, I promise to see you at the foul line shooting the winning “hoop.”

Both Fibromyalgia and CFS are darned tough illnesses. If you’re sick, you deserve to feel better. You deserve to get well. This is the way.

Here’s wishing you a fantastic level of renewed health!

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show and creator of Sacred Cellular Healing and the Learn How to Heal Yourself membership course

(See below- a video of a brave young man who took charge of his life!)

You might hear these probing questions from a friend, a colleague, a co-worker or a relative. How would you answer them?

(today’s podcast audio is 6 minutes 5 seconds)

What are you actively doing to recover from Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Find the answers right now with alternative health tools.

I figure that it’s not an exaggeration to say that you want to get well from Fibromyalgia /or/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Am I right?

–No, it’s not an exaggeration at all. I’ve love to get well. I’m tired of being sick and feeling so rotten all the time.

That’s what I thought. So tell me what are you doing to help yourself begin the process of getting well? Have you tried anything beyond traditional medicine? Have you tried any alternative health tools?

– Well, I guess when you ask the question like that, I’m not doing much really. I take some prescription drugs that my doctor recommends and a few supplements. Most of them don’t do more than ease my symptoms a little. I’m unsure of what types of alternative services and products to look into? Frankly, I don’t know much about any of them.

You see… I feel terrible most of the time. My health is definitely not improving. I’m not the least bit well. I do the same ole’ things over and over again and hope for different results. In truth, I am barely surviving.

If these comments sound like you and your health, then why aren’t you considering alternative health ideas and methods of healing?

We discuss a lot of different ones here at the Health Matters Show, plus we provide you with timely and helpful information and lively interviews with professionals. Many of the special alternative health and healing tools that you will find and learn about here will give you additional resources for improving your health.

You must know that in your heart of hearts… you deserve to have your health turn around and you deserve to feel better, sooner rather than later! Don’t wait any longer.

Now… what do you say? Will you join us here?

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show, an absolute treasure trove of information about how to heal Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the alternative health information and health tools that can help you.

And we’re your link to Get Well Health where you can learn more about the alternative healing tools, Sacred Cellular Healing and the Learn How to Heal Yourself Membership course.

During a recent interview and teleseminar for the Health Matters Show podcast, I spoke with the great Dr. C. Norman Shealy. It was fun and surely an important event. Interviews like this do a lot to highlight the big names in the medical industry who are contributing information to people who get sick with and who want to know more about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. The growing evidence of what we can do to help ourselves improve health-wise is really mounting!

Dr. C. Norman Shealy or Norm, as he gave me permission to call him, is certainly no exception. He literally has been working with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression problems since the mid-1970’s. (See my initial post and his bio.)

I encourage you to listen to the podcast interview today. You’ll hear us begin an important discussion about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.

However, this small audio snippet is only the beginning of our discussion. To hear Dr. Shealy talk about these illnesses at length, both what he thinks causes them and what you can do to get yourself well again, you must sign up on my teleseminar list. *If you’re already on the list, you’ll get this complete audio file automatically. Do nothing.

But if you’re not, sign up right now on the right hand side of the Health Matters Show blog. You will receive the audio file link late on Friday evening. If you sign up after 10 pm EST on June 18, send me an email request of what interview you are requesting to cinda (at) getwellhealth.com. Once I verify you are on the list, I’ll send it out to you.

FYI: Teleseminars can be either “live” or pre-recorded telephone call interviews or information sessions. Obviously, this one is a pre-recorded phone interview, but it was absolutely fabulous and well worth your time in listening to it.

I encourage you to hear Dr. Shealy talk about the important figures that you need to know about, about what tests are likely to be abnormal and why, about the 30,000 plus patients that he has treated over the years with an 85% success rate, about the nutrients that your body is probably deficient in, about the biochemical abnormalities that may be going on inside of you -and- about a few simple substances that can help you begin to feel better right away.

Now, as a doctor, Dr. Shealy is surely a great patient advocate. He believes in the illnesses and does all that he can to help people like you conquer Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Whether his suggestion is electromagnetic jumpstarters, supplement intake or simply jumping up and down in the floor (??), be sure to catch every single word of Dr. Shealy’s talk. It is fascinating. Also:

He believes that your health is dependent on accessing all of the components of healing: every mental, emotional, physical and spiritual component of illness- and-

He hints that total healing will only happen when you use a complete mind/body/spirit approach and address the “scripts that people live with.” This involves dealing with honest, raw emotions and your personal history.

For your further education and enjoyment, he invites you to sign up for his “free” newsletter at www.normshealy.com. I also encourage you to order a copy of his book that we talk about during the interview, 90 Days to Stress Free Living. (Find an easy Amazon.com link here. I appreciate your business through this link. )

Thank you for stopping by the Health Matters Show today and thanks again to Dr. Shealy for such a fantastic interview!

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

First off, take the nightshade family of vegetables and how they are suspected to cause inflammation (i.e. pain) in people with conditions like Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.

So what are the nightshade vegetables? According to the truth about nightshade vegetables:

Nightshades (a.k.a. nightshade vegetables) are any plant from the family Solanaceae. We are namely interested in two genera: Capsicum and Solanum, or the pepper genus and tomato/eggplant/potato genus respectively. It should also be noted that another genus, Nicotiana (tobacco), is in the nightshade family.

Tomatoes (including tomatillos and tamarillos)
Peppers (both hot and sweet peppers, plus paprika, cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce)
Potatoes (not sweet potatoes)
Eggplant
Ground cherries
Garden huckleberries and naranjillas
Pimentos and pepinos
Tobacco

The second reference comes Dr. Deirdre Rawlings, a naturopath and previous guest on the Health Matters Show. Find a current article on this subject, Managing Fibromyalgia – Food Alert: Foods that Lead to Fibro Flares on her website.

While the complex carbohydrates found in vegetables, grains, and fruits are good for you, the simple sugars found in sodas, candies, icings, and packaged treats can do harm, at least when eaten in excess, or when your system is compromised with conditions, such as fibromyalgia. Sugar contributes to inflammation in your cells and throughout your body and upsets your blood sugar metabolism. This can lead to excess cortisol production which will lead to adrenal fatigue, causing you to easily becoming stressed, fatigued and exhausted, in addition to hormone imbalances, weight gain, mood swings, brain fog, and metabolic imbalances. Excessive or continued disruption by this means can and does lead to fibro-flares.

I hope that these two great sources of information today will help you think about how to combat the pain (and inflammation!) that you’re suffering with by such a simple means as thinking and planning the food that you put in your mouth.

Changing what you eat by intention is a lifestyle adjustment. As patients trying to get well, you and I are called to make that type of adjustment when we suffer with a chronic illness like Fibromyalgia and its pain and (possible) inflammation.

Here’s to your healthy eating success,
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

The ABC points of today’s show are based on an article I published this week entitled, Chronic Fatigue: Healthcare Crisis ABCs. Go grab yourself a copy if you like at Ezine Articles and then circulate the video attached to today’s Health Matters Show podcast. You can send folks right here or you’re welcomed to download a copy, if you like.

Folks, we need to 1) take care of ourselves and find ways to get healthy, and 2) alert the world to the plight of people with Fibro & CFS. We’re in this together and there truly is power in numbers. The only way that the nation is going to get rid of the collective “us” as perpetual patients and drains on the US economy is to find answers that help a lot of people to get well. Then and only then is it likely that hundreds of thousands of people (maybe millions!) will feel better, be able to return to their jobs and be tax paying citizens again. Now, that would be an economic boost if I ever saw one!

I urge you to Tweet this file or go directly to Facebook and “friend” me. You can find me at http://www.cindaonfacebook.com. Leave comments on the podcast here, on Ezine Articles or on Facebook. I make no bones about pushing the agenda that it’s smart and it’s necessary to get well from these illnesses. And furthermore, I will tell this message to anyone who will listen!

Thanks, Cinda Crawford
Host of the Health Matters Show

PS- I’m sorry not to have Dr. C. Norman Shealy on the show today. I got my scheduling dates mixed up. Lord willing, the good doctor will be on the show next Friday. Be sure to sign up for my teleseminar list so that you can hear the entire interview. Only a snippet of our discussion will be posted here. People already on my list will receive the whole audio file automatically. Have a good one!

These particular illnesses can be darned hard to live with. You may feel miserable and, at times, despondent and in need of comfort and inspiration. If so, see my 3 Concepts Health Article , recently re-published.

#2: May I never ever live my life in such a frumpy and irritable way that no one wants to be around me. I strive to always be positive and happy, but of course, that’s not humanly possible and I certainly don’t achieve it. I WISH: To choose to look at life on the plus side and that includes my health.

#3: May I adopt a “healthy” attitude and live in gratitude of the life that I have. That attitude will keep me at the feet of God and there is no healthier place to be. I WISH: To live a life pleasing to Him.

I encourage you to mark this day with 3 wishes of your own. Get out a piece of paper and pen and make some notes. Choose to never ever “willingly” let Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome control you again. No matter what!

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
Creator of Sacred Cellular Healing

#1) Step 1: Learn about your arthritis pain. First off, you need to learn about whatever pain you have. Some people who read this Health Matters Show blog may have Arthritis, but the large majority have either Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Both of those conditions are associated with chronic pain, too. The best thing that you can do is read positively-slanted material which espouses the opinion that getting control of your pain is possible and necessary. If you can manage to do that without resorting to high-powered pain drugs, you will be further ahead.

#2) Step 2: Rehabilitate your body. Now this is important, but not always easily accomplished if simply walking across the floor leaves you in agonizing pain. You can aim for rehabilitation, but take it slowly as your body improves. This point also lists:

• Regaining posture. (This is doable, but it is not such an important issue with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.)
• Exercising. (This is very important, but exercise at a pace that does not trigger a cascade of symptoms or a worsening of your overall health.)
• Finding solutions. The article seems to only state the problems concerning this point, but let’s go a step further. Whether you have arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or some other chronic pain condition, constant pain does make living a regular life that much more difficult, if not impossible. Finding solutions may be the key in truly conquering your illness and they can include: diet adjustment, the type of exercise that you do, re-evaluating your sleep pattern (e.g. where you sleep, the conditions, the bed, the time period before sleep, supplements like Melatonin to encourage a more normal sleep pattern, etc. etc.) There are many answers and solutions!

#3) Step 3: Help yourself at home. Their basic suggestions for helping yourself are for learning how to use heat and cold applications for arthritis. Some of these same ideas can be applied likewise for easing Fibromyalgia symptoms, although not too many people tolerate cold therapy well.

Personally… I will warn you about getting into too hot a temperture water. Hot water easily can trigger an immune system reaction and you don’t want that!

Arthritis Today’s third suggestion in this category is rest, but with a different slant. They suggest that rest can help to ease the symptoms of inflammation. I’m not sure I’m onboard with that, but either way, your body needs adequate rest when it’s fighting to stay healthy, so you can consider this point valuable from that standpoint. Rest is truly a necessary requirement, if you have more of a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome presentation to your illness.

Plus, some people do have an inflammation component to what they are fighting if they also have autoimmune symptoms going on, too. Adequate relaxation and rest cannot be the “only” friends of your health, but they are necessary components if you are to obtain long term good health along the way of living a sensible and healthy lifestyle.

Step 4: Consult nonphysicians. Well, of course, I like this one. As the creator of Sacred Cellular Healing and as an ordained minister, I am certainly a non-physician who is trying to help people get well from chronic pain and illness. Yes, most people do need to consult a doctor for diagnosis and overall medical needs, but often their greatest help and progress lies with what they learn about themselves and what types of alternative theologies they endorse and seek out to get well.

I invite you to investigate Sacred Cellular Healing and the exciting Learn How to Heal Yourself membership course, which is designed for those folks who want to learn more about their own bodies, how to get well and how to stay well long term. I developed this course specially for people like you. Just think… when and if you learn how to heal yourself, you’ll be able to get in charge and stay more fully in charge of your health for the rest of your life!

This Arthritis Today article also suggests that you partake in acupuncture, massage and ultrasound. The first two therapies I have recommended for a long time, but the third I haven’t spoken about specifically. I used to get heat ultrasound treatments at my chiropractor and they helped greatly when I was having increased pain and inflammation in a certain area. This type of therapy feels good.

Step 5: Calm the mind to calm the body. The first two suggestions in this category are very worthy: hypnosis and biofeedback. They can be of great benefit in dealing with any chronic pain condition -or- health condition, for that matter.

The third suggestion is Cognitive Behavior Therapy and I’ll blog more about that tomorrow, specifically for my UK friends who suffer with ME/CFS and who get cognitive behavior therapy applied to their health unwillingly.

Hint… come back on Friday’s Health Matters Show blog and podcast to get more information about this hot topic!

No matter how you view these 5 steps or suggestions, there is much good information here. Pick and choose what you will use; apply at will. Just be sure to listen to the small, tiny voice inside of you that is whispering to you and advising you about what is good and healthy and what is not. Sometimes, simple is best. Sometimes, different is best. But surely, long term use of strong, pain-killing prescription drugs may not be in your best interest. They are just easier when you feel desperate. Go the extra mile and don’t stop with that one answer.

Wishing you good and recovering health,
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

PS- here’s the direct link to “Five Steps to Pain Relief” by Arthritis Today for your further reading. Also, don’t forget to come back to the show on Friday to learn more about CBT. If you think you might forget, sign up to get new email post alerts on the right hand side of the website, or sign up to get the podcast from i-Tunes.

However, if you are someone who doesn’t feel well because you suffer with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, you may suddenly have a catch in your throat. You’re feeling apprehensive, maybe even a touch sad. Why? Because you realize that because of how your body changes constantly due to the illness, you will probably have to make accommodations for your body needs, if you’re going to enjoy your vacation and have any fun at all. Here are some things you might plan to do before you start out:

I am planning on a trip from Virginia to Connecticut either by Amtrack Train or by car (whatever works best for our little group at the time). Either way, that will mean that I’ll be sitting a lot and substantially immobile for long periods of time, so I’ll tuck a couple of small cushions in my bag for comfort. Now if you’re worried about the airline restrictions for weight and bulk, you might look into the blow up type of cushions. I’m betting that you can find one that meets your needs if you begin looking now. You can even stick a tube of massage cream or a couple bottles of essential oils in your bag, just in case. (To see examples of essential oils for muscles aches, etc., search for “essential oils” on this website. There are lots of references.)

Also, if we do go by car, I’ll be sure to let the driver know that it’s important for me to stretch at every rest stop and gas fill up. If I don’t become too stiff from sitting too long, I’ll be much more comfortable during the ride and when I get to my destination.

Also, in regards to sleep and rest, plan to take your rest breaks as needed. If you’re not sleeping well, you won’t have as much energy and stamina as you normally do. Sleep and rest, such important life issues not to ignore. As your body changes due to your vacation, you don’t want to be headed into a downard spiral just because you’ve lost some sleep. Not only will your body yell at you, but you’ll take a hit to your immune system and possibly gain additional symptoms. Yikes!

Diet: What will you need to eat ‘just for you’ to stay well as possible and comfortable? What foods do you need to take with you that you may not have ready access to along the way or where you’re going? If you will be visiting someone, can you tell your host about your dietary needs? If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, plan to visit a market for a few essentials before you arrive at their home. Hosts never mind you bringing in good food! If you’re going to a hotel, how easy will it be to get access to food that supports your ongoing health needs and does not sabotage you?

E.g. If you are dieting to lose weight, you have needs. If you’re eating to uphold your energy needs because you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, that is important, too. Energy is a frivolous thing sometimes because even during the “good stress” of good times, you can become very tired to the point of exhaustion. One answer for all of your concerns is to pack a goodie bag filled with the food stuff that will support you! You may include a recommended energy or protein drink (no caffeine-laden drinks, please!), some organic fruits or simply nuts, raisins and a couple bottle of spring water. But whatever you do, plan for ongoing needs ahead of time.

Medical Care: What medicines do you need to have on hand? If you’re not going far from home, maybe only a couple pills of each one will suffice. Tuck them in a special little case of some kind out of the way. But if you’re going away from home for awhile, be sure to order your refills ahead of time so that you’ll have them on hand and ready to go.

When I was first so sick with a horrible case of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I took prescription drugs and many, many supplements. Due to the brain fog, I sometimes had a hard time remembering which ones I had taken, when to take the next one and so on. I conquered the problem by getting myself some inexpensive plastic boxes for fishing lures or craft supplies. I put an adequate supply of each medicine in each compartment. I would take adhesive labels and attach them to the top of the box to make the RX medicine name, number and instructions very visible and easy. The system worked marvelously well! If you do this, just be sure to buy the cases that snap or seal shut with a plastic latch. You don’t want your pills to get all jumbled up when your suitcase gets banged around by an attendant. With a good case, the pills should stay in their own compartment, even if turned upside down in transit.

*Note: even though I don’t take nearly so many pills of any kind because I feel so much better these days, I still have my old plastic boxes. They still help me out to this day, some 20 years later.

I hope these tips help you to manage your vacation days well and accommodate your body needs as they arise. If you have some additional tips that might help someone, leave them here. If you want to comment and relay some of your experiences with summer and vacation needs and how you managed them, please do that, too.

Have a wonderful time today and during the days and weeks ahead. Happy Summer!

Cinda Crawford, your host of the Health Matters Show

I hope you’ll join me. If you do, you’ll hear fantastic news about how to get well from these horrible illnesses. You’ll hear about new and different technologies that didn’t exist until recently. And I’ll offer you a special financial deal that is too good to pass up! Are you curious? I hope so.

(Today’s podcast is 14 minutes. Enjoy!)

You see, this new technology that I will be talking about is really two things: individual healing work through Sacred Cellular Healing and a new group program, where you can heal from home at your own pace of learning and doing. This program is a true membership program and it’s entitled Learn How to Heal Yourself .

Now, Dear One, if you’ve been thinking that you probably won’t ever feel well again, that you’re stuck with a long term chronic illness or that you’re just plain mad because of what science hasn’t done… hasn’t created the “magic pill” yet to get you well… well, you’re thinking wrong. The truth is your personal healing from this type of illness is now up to you! (not someone else)

I don’t say that to cast any blame your way, but instead, I say it to offer you tremendous hope that healing can happen. You can make your healing happen.

Now you have an incredible opportunity to create a new level of health. That means that your getting well is now in your hands… today. You’re back in charge of your health. How fantastic!

As of now, there’s a way for a lot of people (people just like you!) to feel better. It’s up to you whether you choose to move forward or not. Whether you take advantage of this new technology… is your decision.

But don’t say again that you didn’t heal because no one ever told you that was possiblel. My offer to you today is simply to ahead and sign up in the “teleseminar” box to the right of the website. If you do, I’ll send you a notice about this “free” teleseminar that will be held on May 10th or other teleseminar that I plan. The followup email explain everything that you will need to do. If you “attend” this May 10th event “live” on the telephone, you will hear the explanations first and you’ll get to take advantage of the special deal that I will announce- first, before anyone else!

On the Awareness Day Teleseminar, I will explain to you how your healing is possible.

And, even if you can’t be on the call, sign up anyway because I will send out a time-sensitive notice of how to listen to the teleseminar on your computer. In other words, you can catch the replay. It will include the special deal that I’m making to honor you and Awareness Day 2010, but it will only be available until midnight May 12th eastern daylight time.

So… Sign up on my teleseminar list. Then be on the “live” teleseminar, if you can. Whatever you do, don’t dismiss this opportunity and this information if you really want to get well.

Thanks so much for joining me today. I really hope to “see” you “live” on the teleseminar on Monday!

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
Founder of Get Well Health and Creator of Sacred Cellular Healing and the Learn How to Heal Yourself membership course