Stevia...

Years ago I switched to Diet Coke.  It wasn't for a caloric issue, it was for the sugar issue.  At that time, the majority of my dietary intake consisted of Coke & Snickers & the occasional protein.  I didn't have a weight issue then, but I figured I should cut back on my sugar intake. So I did.  Diet Coke & Diet Dr. Pepper were the only two diet soda that were out back then that I could stand.  I still hate Diet Pepsi.  

Within the past few years I've weaned myself off of most sugar for drinks.  I went with Nutrasweet or Aspartame.   In the last couple of years I've tried the Splenda or sucralose.  I do not like Splenda at all.  It's way to sweet & has a weird back taste.  Splenda was out.

Now, the problem was that aspartame came with its own issues.  It has been alleged that aspartame can lead to a host of dangerous physical reactions.  I don't know if they are true or not.  What I do know is that drinking things with aspartame did have it's effects on me.

• A near constant slight headache
• An increased craving for sweets
• Memory issues
• Fuzzy vision not associated with allergies
• Slight bulging of the eyes
• Tinnitus
• Drowsiness
• Numbness in the limbs
• Restless Legs
• Increased emotionality 

Now, I am not saying that all these things were the direct result of exposure to aspartame.  But I will say that since I have switched about half of what drink to stevia sweetened beverages, these symptoms have  markedly decreased.

Stevia comes in an extract or a powder.  It does come already mixed into some things & there is even a line of soda available.  I haven't tried the soda yet, it's expensive & I'm picky on my pop.  I like stevia, not enough to make my own extracts, but I like using it.   Since I've introduced it into my diet, I've noticed that my palate is much cleaner & I taste things with more precision or exactness. 

I am  not going to tell you that stevia will save your life, but I will say that it isn't too expensive & it works for me.  I buy my online, because the local stores tend to be pricey on it.  Again, do your research & see if you have any potential for unwanted outcomes from stevia.  But, I think you'll like it.

Have a good one...

Omega 3...

Omega 3 is a fatty acid with a ton of health benefits.   They range from aiding in cardiovascular health to lessening chances for some cancers to occur.  Now, I remind you as I said about cinnamon, omega 3 supplements can have interactions with your medications & your current health situation.  Do your research & talk to your health professional to see if this a good supplement for you.   There are risks with this & almost every supplement.

I take omega 3 to aid with inflammation, digestion & it is supposed to aid in memory/brain function.  Who doesn't want a better memory?  It does seem to aid in these things.  Again, this is not an immediate reaction, give it time to build up in your system.

To the choices.  You can get omega 3's through your diet.  Many foods have the nutrient in them & if  you consume enough of these foods, then you'd have your daily allowance.  However, most of us don't.  Past your diet, you have fish oil pills & flax oil pills.  

I started out on fish oil pills.  Fish is considered to be a better source of omega 3's than plants.  However, there are some considerations that may not make this the best choice.  Fish oil can be contaminated by pollutants with things such as mercury.  Fish oil can also contain high levels of active vitamin A.  Finally, it is from fish & this might not set well with vegetarians.  For some people it can cause nausea & diarrhea.  It did that to me & I simply do not need any more digestive distress in my life than my HIV meds already cause me.

Then there is flax seed oil.  It may have a lower content of the omega 3's but it will suit vegetarians.  Now flax seed oil can also can digestive distress, but it seems to less frequently than fish oil.  So far it hasn't bothered me. Flax seed oil pills are now part of my daily supplement intake.

If you start taking supplements, remember to introduce them one at a time.  Start one & give it a while, at least a week, before starting to take any others.  That way if you have a reaction, you can at least have some idea what it was to.  Dietary reactions can be serious.

It's sunny here today, I hope it's pleasant wherever you are...

Cinnamon...

Cinnamon is a spice derived from the bark of a tree with numerous uses from cooking to repelling pests to medicinal.   The medicinal value of cinnamon is diverse from aiding in smoking cessation to digestive issues.  But I tend to take it for other reasons.  Besides being a good sources of various nutrients cinnamon has three benefits that got my attention. 

The first is that it helps control cholesterol.  After I went on my HIV meds I gained a lot of weight from being on steroids for my breathing.  Luckily I am no longer on them, but the weight remained & my metabolism was shot.  Any one even a little over weight needs to be concerned about higher cholesterol levels.  Not that weight & cholesterol levels always correlate, but they often do.  Cinnamon can aid in lowering LDL cholesterol levels.

In addition to cholesterol, any one overweight, especially if they have any Native American blood in their heritage, needs to be concerned about their sugar levels.  Sugar levels can be associated with diabetes.  Cinnamon has been shown to aid in regulating insulin levels.  Some people combine their cinnamon intake with apple cider vinegar to aid in weight loss.

Another reason I take cinnamon is for aches, especially joint aches.  Many of my meds list aches as a possible reaction to the medication.  Cinnamon can aid with lessening these aches for me & for people with arthritis.  It doesn't completely take away the big aches, but it does dull them considerably.  Which results in me taking fewer pain medications.

Cinnamon can be taken via pills/capsules or via the spice itself.  You need about 1000 mg. daily or about a good solid teaspoon.   If you can get this much uncooked cinnamon into your diet daily, then go for it.  Do yourself a favor & don't try & take it by the spoonful, you'll regret it.  Cinnamon absorbs water & will close your throat if you don't drink a lot of water with it.  Even if you take the capsules remember to drink a lot of water with the pills.  If you don't you can get a cinnamon burp & imitate a dragon.  Trust me, it isn't pleasant.

You have to remember, as with any supplement, the effect isn't instantaneous.  It took about a month for me to really start noticing the effects of the cinnamon.  However, I have to say after that time I deal with far less aches & the ones I have are nowhere as bad as they used to be.  The swings in my sugar level are drastically lessened.   In addition, between this & apple cider vinegar I've had good results from my cholesterol tests.

Before you start taking cinnamon or really any supplement you should research it & check for any possible side effects that might affect you. You also need to check to see if any supplement your interested in taking might interact with any medication that you may be on at the time.  Many supplements do interact with each other & medications.   Google it or ask your pharmacist.

Here's to cinnamon...

ACV ...

I've mentioned before that I take some supplements.  The one's I take can usually be bought at any big-box store. I am not a supplement nut, however, my Dr. suggested that I take some due to the fact that some of the medications that I'm on may wash out some nutrients from the body.  It was suggested that I take a multi-vitamin & a B-complex.

I have added a few that I take daily or near daily. I'll talk about them over the next few days.   The first is apple cider vinegar or ACV.  Some people swear by the filtered, others the unfiltered.  I think it's personal preference.   ACV has been said to aid with weight loss, lowering triglycerides, lowering blood pressure, improving digestion, improving skin condition & much more.

I usually take it two to three times a day after meals.  I take 2 teaspoons mixed with an equal or more amount of water, then chased with more water.  It took about a month for me to notice any changes, but I did notice changes.  It did lower my triglycerides.  My blood pressure dropped about ten points.  It also dampen my appetite.

I use ACV in a variety of ways now.  It really helps with household cleaning.  I keep it in my shower & spray it on after wards.  Then I wait a bit, then rinse.  It seems to help keep the body oil & sebum down a bit.  It also makes hair shinier.   Past that I add a bit (1/4 tsp) to the cats water daily.  That helps keep the water bowls clean & it cuts down some on flea issues.  I also rub it on the cats' fur when they have flea issues.  Fleas are not fond of ACV.

There are tons of uses for ACV, just google it.  Perhaps the simplest is to take 3 tsp of ACV, 1 - 2 tsp Oil, a little salt, pepper & whatever spice you like  & mix them up.  there you have a very simple salad dressing or vinaigrette.  If you do a dressing like that once a day, you can cut out one dose of the ACV.

Apple Cider Vinegar is amazing stuff, I hope you look into it...

Have a great Sunday...

Meds & Interactions...

I, like many people, especially those who are +, have to take a handful of meds throughout the day.  I do use some herbal supplements & vitamins.  My Dr. recommended a multi-vitamin & B complex.  I take cinnamon for help with aches & sugar.  I tried a combo omega fatty pill & it left me on the toilet way too often.  When my system settles down, I may try a different omega, but not right now.  

There are many great supplements out there, but there a lot that can be dangerous, especially if you're already on other meds.  St. John's Wort & garlic are two I have to avoid, because they can both alter how my meds work. I came across a blog entry today on the merits of ginger for inflammation & pain.  My roomie has deal with a fair amount of both, so I read the article thoroughly.  It sounded great, until I went & researched the supplement & found out about some of its qualities & possible interactions.  The main one is that ginger can interact with many drugs to cause thinning of the blood & a reduction of coagulation.  This would not be a good thing for people on meds or supplements that can already do that.  You could literally bleed out.

If you are considering taking a supplement, then educate yourself on the attributes of the substance in question.  What will it do?  What can it do?  Does it interact with any of my meds?  Start by reading the label thoroughly.  Then google it & research everything you can about it, there are a ton of places that will help you with that.  Talk to your Dr. about anything you're taking & I do mean anything.  Most importantly develop a good relationship with your pharmacist.

Your pharmacist can help you navigate through all the ?'s you might have about your meds & how they might interact with other substances including other meds, herbs or even foods.  Your meds & your health are your responsibility.  DO NOT depend on anyone else to get this information for you.  Your Dr. might not think to tell you or just might not know.  You can only halfway believe what you read on the net.  Those little drug inserts require pharmacology degrees to understand.  So, do your due diligence, ask your Dr. ?'s & talk to your pharmacists.  This will help you have some idea about your meds & how you will respond to them.

I hope this day finds you all as healthy as possible.