Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[Latestarter]

Son and family left earlier today. Just got a report that they are about 1/2 way home somewhere around Albuquerque, NM. So they'll get in about sunrise or just before. Was nice having everyone here and I was sorry to see them go, but I am glad that I'll be able to sleep in my own bed again. I gave him and his wife my room while they were both here, and I used the recliner. It wasn't too bad... I'm sure they'll be happy to be back in their own beds too.

Saw another coyote this morning right at sunup as I was feeding the goats. He came out of the woods into the rear pasture on the southern side and LF alerted on it. Mel was too occupied standing guard over me and the kids (goat kids). I at first though it was a young deer as I had the sun in my eyes but when he shook the dew out of his head/neck fur, it was immediately apparent. After the shake he headed to the back woods at a gallop. That was when Mel decided to run down to the back corner of the goat pasture to see what the commotion was all about. Of course by then the coyote was gone. I don't think he ever saw it.

Had a decent T-storm move over us from the east. Unusual, but I'll take it. Rained pretty good for about 1/2 hour. Not sure how much we got but less than an inch. Had about 1/2" the other day which was enough for me to light up the burn pile. 70% chance tomorrow, 60% on Monday, 40% on Tuesday & Wednesday. Hope we get some more rain.

The arthritic flares are moving around and limiting me. First one shoulder then the the other, one then both hands, one then the other knee and foot... Even had it in an elbow this time around. Beginning to wonder if it really is gout or maybe something else entirely. Right now it's mild in right wrist/hand & left shoulder, and flaring in left wrist and hand/little finger. Bought a couple bottles of 100% cherry juice, tart and black, and a big bag of bing cherries to snack on. I hope that all helps. It's supposed to if it's gout. Time will tell. Had this same thing happen about this time last year so wondering if this is going to become an annual event. Sure hope not.

Thanks everyone! Hope you, your animals and your farms are all doing well.

 

[Bruce]

Geez LS, I sure hope the pain subsides soon!

Mel! Get on the stick!!

 

[Devonviolet]

Geez LS, I feel so badly for you, and all the pain/inflammation you have been dealing with. It seems the VA docs haven’t been much help. If it is gout, you are on the right tract with tart cherry. However, since you have inflammation pain moving around your body, it seems like there is more going on.

I hate to see you go through this, so I sat down and put the following together, to hopefully help you decrease your inflammation pain. Knowing something about your lifestyle, and the way you eat, I suspect this isn’t something that is going to happen over night. It is a major undertaking, to change the way you eat. But, if you decide to start making changes in your diet, in the end, I think you will find that you will be dealing with a lot less inflammation pain.

••••••••••
Foods that cause and fight inflammation

List of foods that cause inflammation:
Sugar
Gluten
Wheat (especially GMO)
Vegetable Oil
Artificial Sweeteners
Alcohol (more than one drink)
Fried Foods
Processed foods
Refined (white) flour
Dairy (especially from animals that eat GMO grains) - of course goat milk causes a lot less inflammation.
Commercial beef - specifically beef that is fed GMO grains. Strictly grass fed beef doesn’t seem to cause inflammation.
Foods with Artificial flavoring and chemicals (Propylene Glycol comes to mind)
Saturated Fats
Trans Fats
Processed meats (bologna, hotdogs, salami, etc)

Here is a partial list of foods that fight inflammation:

Some of the best healing remedies to overcome inflammation also taste fabulous (I can’t say that about any prescription medications). Plus, foods won’t cause the nasty side effects common to most pain medications.

1. Blueberries: Blueberries are also excellent anti-inflammatory foods. They increase the amounts of compounds called heat-shock proteins that decrease as people age. When heat-shock proteins are in short supply inflammation, pain and tissue damage is the result.

2. Cayenne Pepper: Ironically, cayenne pepper turns DOWN the heat on inflammation due to its powerful anti-inflammatory compound capsaicin.

3. Celery and 4. Celery Seeds: James Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy, found more than 20 anti-inflammatory compounds in celery and celery seeds in his research, including a substance called apigenin, which is powerful in its anti-inflammatory action. Add celery seeds to soups, stews or as a salt substitute in many recipes.

5. Cherries: While many people opt for aspirin as their first course of action when they feel pain, Muraleedharan Nair, PhD, professor of natural products and chemistry at Michigan State University, found that tart cherry extract is ten times more effective than aspirin at relieving inflammation.

6. Dark Green Veggies: Veggies like kale and spinach contain high amounts of alkaline minerals like calcium and magnesium. Both minerals help balance body chemistry to alleviate inflammation.

7. Fish: According to Dr. Alfred D. Steinberg, an arthritis expert at the National Institute of Health, fish oil acts directly on the immune system by suppressing 40 to 55 percent of the release of cytokines – compounds known to destroy joints and cause inflammation.

8. Flax seeds and Flax Oil: Flax seeds are high in natural oils that convert into hormone-like substances in the body to reduce inflammatory substances. Add ground flax seeds to smoothies, atop pancakes or French toast, and many other foods. Do not heat.

9. Ginger: Dr. Krishna C. Srivastava at Odense University in Denmark found that ginger was superior to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Tylenol or Advil at alleviating inflammation.

10. Raspberries, 11. Blackberries, and 12. Strawberries: In Dr. Muraleedharan Nair’s later research she discovered that these berries have similar anti-inflammatory effects as cherries.

13. Turmeric: Research shows that the Indian spice frequently used in curries suppresses pain and inflammation through a similar mechanism as drugs like COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors (without the harmful side effects).

14. Walnuts: Like flax seeds, raw, unsalted walnuts contain plentiful amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids that decrease pain and inflammation.

https://www.eatthis.com/foods-that-cause-inflammation/inflammation

***
Fermented foods help decrease inflammation:

https://www.eatthis.com/anti-inflammatory-foods/
Blueberries
Raw Oatmeal
Ginger
Green Tea
Dark Chocolate (60-70%+)
Wild Caught Salmond (never farmed fish!)
Turmeric
Red Beets
Broccoli
Black Beans
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - NEVER heat! Best if used cold.
Chia Seeds
Pineapple
Spinach
Free Range Eggs
Garlic
Fermented Foods
Bone Broth
Almonds

Not all foods, above, are listed. There are some foods on the list at the above link, that am not so certain about a few of them, like tomatoes, Other items (not listed), I am on the fence about.

**********
I make a lotion, that I sell at Farmer’s Market, that really helps with joint and muscle inflammation. In addition to that it also helps with nerve pain (Fibromyalgia, neuropathy, restless leg, etc) and chigger, tick, mosquito bites and wasp stings. It has ten anti-inflammatory essential oils in it. I sold out this past weekend and am waiting for ingredients to arrive in the mail, so I can make more.
**********
Here are some links with more information about inflammation and how to help control it:
http://fermentedfoods.bodyecology.com/articles/chronic-inflammation

I know you aren’t crazy about sauerkraut, but it is more than a food that you like or don’t like the taste of it. Cultured foods have an amazing ability to heal the body, decrease inflammation, build up the immune system, which resides in the gut, and elevate the body’s pH. A large percentage of people, in this country, walk around with dangerously low body pH, which can lead to inflammation and infection. Bacteria thrive in an acid environment. By lowering your pH, you can lower your risk of getting bronchitis and pneumonia during flu season, not to mention the myriad of other infections that people commonly take antibiotics for. Anyway, here are two websites that have great information about eating fermented foods, and how it can make you healthier.

https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/

Donna Schwenk has an amazing story about how fermented foods radically changed her life and that of her family. Here is her website:

https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/

**********
I know this works, because I used to eat like you do, and as you know, I eat a lot differently now, following the anti-inflammatory diet, and have a LOT less pain than I used to have.

 

[greybeard]

Wwll LS, there go all the foods you really like........

 

[RollingAcres]

@Latestarter all that pain and inflammation, yikes! I sure hope you find some relief soon!

 

[Baymule]

Dr. Devonviolet just fixed you up! I will add that turmeric does work. It is nasty tasting, never mix it in a drink. I mix it with coconut oil to make a paste, swallow a spoonful and chase it with something to drink to wash it down. Within 30 minutes I can feel the difference. It does help.

 

[Devonviolet]

Dr. Devonviolet just fixed you up! I will add that turmeric does work. It is nasty tasting, never mix it in a drink. I mix it with coconut oil to make a paste, swallow a spoonful and chase it with something to drink to wash it down. Within 30 minutes I can feel the difference. It does help.

You are absolutely right, Bay. Turmeric is an excellent anti-inflammatory. However, I really don’t like the taste. I would be tempted to add a bit of raw local honey.

There are quite a few herbs and supplements that can be taken for inflammation. However, after a long day in the kitchen, my brain isn’t functioning too well right now. I have to get back in there, to make a nice big batch of homemade, sauerkraut. YUM!!! I was eating a small bowl of it this afternoon, when I took a small break from making up a big batch of pickled, sweet, spicy fermented beets. They are on the counter fermenting, as I write this.

 

[Mike CHS]

I found I can add turmeric along with some cinnamon over cottage cheese and you can barely tell it's there.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I just take the capsules...

 

[Mini Horses]

I just take the capsules...

I have them here and take maybe every other day. I do take 2 supplements daily … Vinpocetine & Huperzine A. Both are herbal derived concentrates and have been used to support brain cells for years in ancient culture. Memory -- they do help. It's the dementia thing I worry about. The turmeric & Krill Oil I throw in a couple times a week.

So where's that natural favorites thread ?????