It is January and the days are short and dark where, we may feel deflated after all of the Christmas celebrations and firmly, ensconced in the January blues.   Most of us want to lose a few pounds, beat the bloat and keep healthy throughout the darkest of days and I am certainly, on that page but also, want to fight inflammation and warm lemon water with turmeric is a healthy start to any morning.  Holocaust day was a very special event and I organised a memorial for the six million Jews, 2 million gypsy travellers and those with disabilities, twins, political prisoners as well as ninety members of our family, from Hungary. The story can be read on my website www.olivetraining180@aol.com.

Inflammation (from Latin: inflammation) is part of a complex, biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli where, we do not wake up one day with diabetes or a disease as it can take years to develop.  However, there are ways that we can ‘nip it in the bud’, according to Tom O’Bryan an auto-immune specialist in the United States.   He was then, diagnosed with three types of autoimmune disease that could lead to MS, and other brain diseases, yet, ate well and competed in many triathlon events leading up to diagnosis.  I was thinking how well, I was doing at the gym upon my six stone diagnosis as Type 1, six years ago.

So, to eat well this month we have to delve into root vegetables, soups, casseroles and crumbles, preferably using organic fruit and vegetables as, O’Bryan explains to curb inflammation where, apparently, this can be done in three weeks.  I think back to my Christmas splurges and all the mince pies and chocolates and definitely, will not be doing that for another year.  However, for a few weeks before Christmas I was having avocado smoothies with kale and greens, smoked salmon and scrambled egg for protein, wholemeal toast with almond butter, olive oil drizzled on vegetables and salads and taking iron, biotin, zinc, Vitamin C and so forth. (I am not only aiming to improve health but also, to stop my hair falling out).  He recommends a protocol of infrared saunas and a healthy eating plan.  Well, I can do the latter but the former – a sauna, even with this type would make me ill, note peri-menopausal and major heat intolerance.

I am definitely, back on the healthy eating wagon and only slipped off for a brief interlude!  I was shocked to read it takes seventeen years for new research to filter down to your GP, unless they do keep up to date, which I would surely, hope so.  It is recommended to have more fermented products but not too much as it affects the digestion and symptoms can therefore, increase.  Good sources include starting off with one teaspoon of sauerkraut a day, miso soup (that I drink) available from supermarkets, Kimchi and I also, bought fermented turmeric for my early morning drink. However, watch the detox symptoms and go, slow!

It may also, be apt to take prebiotics and probiotics that can alkalise the environment in the gut that can decrease inflammation.  It is helpful, says O’Bryan not to just focus on treating the symptoms where, most of us with chronic disease will have to rely on some kind of medication but to focus on a multi-dimensional approach that can include food and supplements.  For example, 43% of people with Hashimoto’s thyroid disease have been found to have an allergy to gluten and switching to gluten free may contribute to symptoms lessening.  This, may be true of many auto-immune diseases but it is very hard to avoid gluten unless you have coeliac disease where you absolutely, have to.   Also, recommendations that remove oestrogen from the body such as cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli and turnips, are not so good for the thyroid if it is underactive as, they interfere with how your thyroid gland uses iodine.

We stayed in a wonderful holiday cottage named Dyffryn House, in Kidwelly, as to cut a long story short we had sold our house and our Ferryside plans were scuppered when the owner, pulled out of the sale at the last minute.  We ended up, buying a larger house I had always loved in Kidwelly (more on this later).   The holiday cottage is owned by Laura Pearce who, greeted me on arrival where, we ended up talking about all things oestrogen, as she is a breast cancer survivor, treated conventionally in 2019.  Laura explained how, she only eats organic produce and avoids anything with oestrogen which, includes soya products, linseeds, tap water and dairy.   I am in two minds about soya but as I am oestrogen dominant it is best to avoid all products with soy – hence, my soya latte is out the window!  Dr. Larissa, the well-known obstetrician and women’s health expert told me that soy counteracts the effects of plastics in the body and flaxseed actually, removes oestrogen from the body along with those cruciferous vegetables, I mentioned.

Making the switch to Coconut milk as I have done before, especially the Koko light version is a great move as I cannot tolerate any other milk.  I have my usual trip after the gym to Costa and the coconut milk does contain soya but I order it on the premise it should contain less where, suddenly, I have a hypo (low blood sugar) and start shaking.  Due to a queue and three bottles of apple juice and a coke later I keep going up a little and dropping blood sugars wise and realise they do not have enough sugar or glucose so, £10.50’s worth of drinks later, I rush to Morrison’s and purchase Copella apple juice that, for a low blood sugar is a godsend! On the one hand it is good to see the sugar content in drinks are reducing, on the other it is dangerous for diabetics if your sugar levels drop.  Moreover, that gym session was now obsolete in my quest to avoid weight gain with all those drinks.

As, I return to a normal range, I am able to get on as if nothing has happened, but they are frightening and more so when, blood sugar will not rise.  This, is due to insulin therapy, and defies the myth that Type 1 can be controlled by food as many have surmised.  Even, if someone with Type 1 ate the same meals every day, no two days are the same as you have to balance carbohydrate and insulin ratios but can wake up lower or higher than usual.  In the morning, high blood sugars are normal due to dawn phenomenon, where hormones such as cortisol, glucagon and epinephrine are released by the body causing the liver to release stored glucose.  I am the opposite in that my sugars are high before bed and then, come down all night where, I can be low in the night that continues throughout the morning.   Sometimes, due to exercise or lack of food, one can drop suddenly and when focussed or busy we, may not have eaten properly.

I have heard that soya isoflavones are good for hot flushes but if you are oestrogen dominant it means a foggy head, heavy monthly periods, low mood, low energy, piling on the pounds, especially around the stomach, hot flushes and insomnia.  So, I do have an explanation of what is happening to me but do not want to take HRT.  There are many reasons for this, and we will be exploring these subjects in further detail as features in Mind, Body, Soul.  I am also, planning to interview Laura as she has researched a wealth of information on breast cancer triggers.

We later, bump into each other again at Parc Y Bocs farm, in Kidwelly, where Laura catches me buying natural laundry and dishwasher detergent and other organic foods, for the holiday home and is somewhat impressed as, she had just mentioned going au naturel for the best health.  I have embarked on this, before but it is good to be reminded until, I realise the dishwasher does not clean with the natural products and I am back to the tablets.  However, for the most part we are organic and naturally fed and our clothes have washed well, with the natural detergent and softener.   Laura has also, held a yoga, organic food and healing retreat at the cottage for those with chronic illness, where I gave some Reiki sessions.

After my son prised the Pringles out of my hands, it was a trip to Kind Earth, Llanelli  that, meant I have stocked up on all of my organic products for a while, whilst being kinder to the environment.  It is, more expensive but I feel investing in my health and my family’s is important and want to support local business.  I finally, get to Edan Ash in Kidwelly where this guy is seriously, underrated in his talent.  Trained as a chocolatier in Australia, the hot chocolate was on par with the best I have ever tasted in Italy and the chocolates again, a little bit more than you would normally pay for – are exquisite.  I thoroughly, recommend the banana truffle as my son was rolling around the floor shouting yum, for about ten minutes.  I think one good quality, naturally made and chemical free chocolate or two will give me a well-needed fix this month.

By nature, I am an historian, social scientist and equality specialist especially, in the study of governments, world food supplies, security and nuclear weapons.  Around 1,054 nuclear tests performed in the United States between 1945 – 1992 were atmospheric, underwater and space-based that could account for the rise in thyroid disease and chronic iodine shortage in America.  Luckily, with the nuclear arms race in the UK there were some tests conducted in Australian territories (not great for the wildlife and fauna, no matter how far out, however).

So, it is best to focus on our microbiome to enjoy the greatest of health, where nothing else comes close in supporting tissues and organs than the microbiota.   Put it this way, when a study on children with coeliac disease was conducted it was found 39% had abnormal bacterial growth in their intestines, with many never having been identified in humans.  When, gluten was removed for two years the children were retested and in 81% the bacteria had disappeared, a pretty significant rise and demonstrates what happens when the offending factor is removed.  It seems like gluten, dairy and sugar, all present in our modern day diets could be major offenders.

With, this in mind I do take steps to reduce if not completely, able to eliminate gluten as I have tried before and ended up eating air.  Speaking to Matt at Kind Earth it is difficult to choose all organic products or all gluten free as, most gluten free is not organic and vice versa.  Needless, to say I lost lots of weight when, going gluten free.  Then, there is dairy, and I bought a cheese platter from Kind Earth that was hugely, expensive for Christmas but wholly vegan.  I cannot tolerate the soapy coconut substitutes from the supermarket and as for sugar well, a bit of dark chocolate does me good and also, impossible to eliminate although, having greatly cut down.  I also, order a weekly, organic vegetable and fruit box that, makes me feel better about chemical nasties and Matt recommended some natural clothing companies that are eco-friendly and easy on the purse strings.

One of the biggest factors that affects our health is stress and over the past few years I have certainly, reached the top three major stressors, that are bereavement, divorce and moving home.  However, they say all things happen for a reason and before pulling out of the sale of our house and searching to no avail for something to rent, I found a house online that I knew.  Belonging to a friend who had passed away, under very sad circumstances (she had always wanted me to see it although, I never got around to it but had seen it online for sale) and it was complete with balconies and sweeping views toward Kidwelly castle.

When, my parents and friends visited us a few months ago we were set on buying a house in Meinciau that had land, a cottage, a small house and a tea room.  However, a family friend visiting Wales told me before she left to go home that, I had confided in her five years before that, I had loved my friend’s house with the balconies and wished we could buy it but as it was very large and expensive, did not think it was possible.  We sold our house and went to put an offer on the one with the tea room but it had already sold.  Sometimes you do not have to be careful what you wish for as everything ended up with us buying the house of my dreams in Kidwelly, when I thought it was not possible.  When, I relayed to our family friend that this, was the house we are buying she wrote that it was ‘bershert’!  A hebrew word for ‘meant to be’ and if I could count in money how many people have said the same I could have paid for the house!

After, a stressful move we had our possessions at the new home but a period of waiting to move in, as it was a last minute turnaround.  After a weekend at The Diplomat, Llanelli, that has a lovely swimming pool and where, the food was excellent, people on social media were astonished when, I announced it was £10 for two bottles of water and that a waitress was reduced to tears as she was made to wear a Santa hat when, she was Jewish.  She was told to ‘wear it or go home’.   Not the best advocate for equality and diversity.  As, an equality officer I won many cases on discrimination no matter how trivial they may seem to another, where if one feels discriminated against on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability you can take them to a tribunal.  I once won a client 20,000 pounds for such discrimination from her employer.

With the stress of the move and Christmas over I am able to kick off my heels and relax, with long walks, swimming and gym sessions – that should curb the pesky cortisol and adrenaline hormones.   Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands and fundamental for the body to deal with stressful situations where, the brain triggers their release to all types of stressors.  However, when cortisol levels are too high for too long it can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, bad mood and disrupt your sleep, reduce energy and contribute to Type 2 diabetes or it can hamper the immune system, making you more prone to infection.

When, insomnia strikes it can increase cortisol for up to twenty-four hours and contribute to weight gain.   Ideas that reduce stress are any exercise as long as you do not overdo it, as intense exercise increases cortisol shortly after, where at night it decreases.  This, short-term increase can assist in co-ordinating the body to meet the challenge.  Where, the size of cortisol decreases with constant training, and moderate exercise increases cortisol when we are unfit, although, when one is fitter there are smaller ups and downs.  With, a normal effort in the gym, cortisol does not necessarily increase but still lowers at night.

A massage, Reiki, sauna, or a hobby will reduce stress and all of us have different ways of dealing with it where, some of us can feel it, when fulfilling a deadline or a stressful situation like moving.  However, because of the rise in cortisol  and adrenaline, where your heart rate and blood pressure increase,  add muscle tension and it is known as the ‘let-down’ effect.    A pattern where, after the stressful period, when it dissipates you can get sick or feel ill, or it can lead to flare ups if you suffer from a chronic disease.  With, stress in our modern world, seemingly, unavoidable all we can do is take steps to manage it.  I am sure we all aware, of those who get sick on weekends after, a week filled with deadlines.

January is certainly, a time to nurture yourself through the Winter months, with those new slippers or onesie, a blanket, essential oils, gentle gym session, walk or a box set (The Crown, Netflix was excellent and Series 3 contained a couple of very well done, episodes on Wales), or a good book.  A hot chocolate, in my case, sugar free, definitely helps!  Also, take some advice from our new pull-out Mind, Body, Soul magazine on nurturing foods, turning blue lights to warm and enjoy reading the rest! See you in February!