A craving or a cure?

Have you ever craved something you've never had before?

I've mentioned before that I am suffering from an auto-immune disease that affects the muscles.

(www.abovetopsecret.com...)

I'm trying my best to work through the day, ignore the pain, and keep the inflammation at bay. It's not been working so great. One day I feel fine, while the next day I'm popping Ibuprofin like candy to no relief.

Honestly, I just can't afford the necessary treatments and doctor visits, prescriptions etc. No one takes care of me. I take care of me. My insurance is crap. And my old rheumatologist's office won't make an appointment for me anymore without a referral (great, even more doctor visits and costs involved!)

But now I'm craving beets!

I never really had beets before. Might have tasted once in a salad bar or something, but I don't think I've ever actually eaten beets.

Now it's a daily craving for me. It begets a serious question: why does my body crave something I've never had before? When my body craves something I don't typically eat, I look into the nutritional benefits of this food.

Last time, it was chocolate (which I don't typically go for,) but found it can be a great source of magnesium.

So I'm looking into beets and some of the first things I see about them in articles is their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Bingo!

Many of the unique phytonutrients present in beets have been shown to function as anti-inflammatory compounds. In particular, this anti-inflammatory activity has been demonstrated for betanin, isobetanin, and vulgaxanthin. One mechanism allowing these phytonutrients to lessen inflammation is their ability to inhibit the activity of cyclo-oxygenase enzymes (including both COX-1 and COX-2). The COX enzymes are widely used by cells to produce messaging molecules that trigger inflammation. Under most circumstances, when inflammation is needed, this production of pro-inflammatory messaging molecules is a good thing. However, under other circumstances, when the body is undergoing chronic, unwanted inflammation, production of these inflammatory messengers can make things worse.

www.whfoods.com...

I wonder if I can tackle my issue with an anti-inflammatory diet.

While tasting extra-virgin olive oils in Sicily, Gary Beauchamp, PhD, director of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, noticed a ticklish, peppery sensation in the back of his throat. It was nearly identical to the “sting” he’d felt when swallowing a liquid form of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, during previous sensory studies. Beauchamp detected a connection between the olive oil and inflammation.

Further studies revealed that a compound in the oil, called oleocanthal, prevents the production of pro-inflammatory COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes – the same way ibuprofen works.

blog.arthritis.org...

www.health.harvard.edu...

Tell me about your mystery cravings and how they have affected you.

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

Your body knows what it needs. If thats working, heed to it.

As far as 'popping Ibuprofen like candy' , ever tried Aleve?

One lil pill works for twelve hours, for me.

Beets tend to be high in vita c and potassium

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

Your body knows what it needs.

But howwwwwwwwwww?!

I hear this said a lot. I want to know the why and wherefore. It raises many other questions if the body can just know what it needs, even if it's never had it before.

I've been enduring the corticosteroid drugs you're challenged with, for this crazy skin condition out of no where, the past few months, and feel for you. Havent had any hope of medical herb to that fixes the substantial side effects for about a month now... mofo this snip has been effing with my brain chemistry. Havent been able to focus on existing unfinished articles or my film series, my computer work in general all year running like snip over it. Been getting great work 'outside' done in between, my hands on stuff, really motivated, which I had been needing to get on track again, but damnit the sun goes down and I've been apesnip agitated, prickly as all hell around here for example. For a while I was on 2 of them and wow seriously weird drugs this class, I could see kids getting all messed up, messing themselves up abusing them. Seriously psychotropic these snips. I finally got to where it seemed I could stop without my skin 'bubbling' approaching 72 hours ago now... we'll see... but holy F last night I was rocked by the worst headache I've had in over 20 years as my brain chemistry was fighting itself back to normal. Slept about 10 hours, after I basically havent been sleeping hardly at all since I started these in November (I'm an insomniac anyways sleep is for the birds). Interesting was when i was doing 2 of this drug at once, and had 'remedy' on hand, I did about the finest research / video editing work I've ever done, and round the clock like a machine... but then when down to just the one and without 'remedy' became about worthless over night.

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

I've had those steroid treatments a couple times. They last like 6-8 weeks or something.

They're awful! Yes, they mess you up in many ways. They're depressing.

I remember one time when I was maybe 19 or 20 I wanted to jump out a window just because I was so keyed up. Stupid steroids.

They also gave me 'glass ankle' so it was super painful to work on my feet sometimes.

Maybe it's not so bad that I can't afford this stuff!

Damned if you do, damned if you don't eh?

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

Oh I've been getting these crazy cramps in my ribs. No joke like serious WTF shut you down PAIN for a few minutes. Kind of at random but I could probably trigger it anytime if I wanted I mean painful like there's a serious problem. And sometimes cramps in my feet / toe muscles. The side effects argh. Note I normally go 15 years without a flu, no allergies, impervious, and all the sudden getting my ass kicked by all this.

And I've been just stuck with it as soon as I skip past 12 hours without this crazy skin apoptosis effect starts going to work on this specific area, that if not delt with spreads.

Interesting drugs though, I mean I'm seriously motivated while on them otherwise, but without 'remedy' I've been is poor computer work mode so i'm highly offended by all year running. I did manage to conjure up a couple tokes about a week ago and instantly fired up the video editor and cranked out a short for the thread I was participating in.

So 'medical herb' truly is the remedy to the psychoactive side effects of this bizarre drug class; doesnt hinder the positive motivational side effects part either. The biophysical side effect now, F, not even turmeric does much about that that I can detect implementing it hit or miss any given day.

I guess at least there are good side effects to go with the no doubt bad ones, but without 'remedy' to go with it then theres negative to go with that slice of positive too.

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

You can order Dexamethasone for like $20 OTC. I guess if you've been managing without it then why bother. It's been mandatory for me since this BS started. I just so happened to have some in my 'Infirmary' before this started. The Dr. had me on prednisone though, which since I let the condition go wild before resorting to her / pharm type meds I ended up having to run them both to both stop + heal the ordeal. Then her protocol ran out, breathtaking healing factor had underwent from all that, tried to stop the Dex too then, but then the edges started up again almost immediately and been stuck on stupid ever since.

ON TOPIC:
One time on talk radio, like 20 years ago, they were talking about stories of pregnant women being subconsciously being compelled to eat weird stuff. The one case study they mentioned that happened into my memory was this one lady found herself pulling over and eating dirt... like right on the side of the road with cars driving by. Not just any dirt though, it was that (iron rich) red dirt like you see spilling out of the mountainsides when driving down the highways like up in the Smoky Mountains.

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

You should try beetroot saurkraut, it's so yum and good for.

I once when I was still eating gluten craved and are heaps of was, white bap buns with butter and heaps of fresh rosemary and parsley, reckon I was needing iron due to being malnourished.

I have just last week given up the nightshade family except tabacco. This is a trial.
About two years ago I started reacting what I thought was tomatoes so I stopped eating them.
Then the next summer I tried eating tomatoes and again I kept reacting.

The reaction I was getting was what I call eczema or raw itchy red painful skin on my face and scalp.
It's the same as one of the many reactions I get when I eat gluten........So decide to give up tomatoes.

Then in the winter of 2017 I noticed potatoes were doing the same thing so I gave up potatoes.
Also I had not been eating capsicum or aubergine as they were not in season.

So now at xmas just pasted I started eating some capsicum which was in salads that had tomatoe in them. I tried avoiding the tomatoe but probably ate some the juice and the odd seed. Also the person cooking my Kumara (sweet potato ) always put it in the same pot as the potatoes.

So after a few days my joints swelled up and my body ached, hands and feet and knees really swelled up to the point I thought I would have to get my rings cut off. After about 3 days of this reaction I started drinking fresh tumeric tea about 5 times a day and about the same of apple cider vinegar tea. Then the next day I did the same but remembered I had some anti histamine pills so I took some . After amother couple of days I came right.

I think and my a doctor in my family reckons I gad an allergic reaction.

Anyway listen to your body I say. Eat beets and ne merry. To much beetroot will give you red poos and wee's BTW.

PS swollen joints was another if my reactions to gluten.

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

You may be interested in and want to do more research on Hydrangea:

"..........More recently, hydrangea has been studied to determine its benefit with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes, eczema, and psoriasis. These disorders occur when harmful variants of Th17 T-cells are created by the body. A study published the June 2009 issue of the journal Science showed that halofuginone (a molecule extracted from the hydrangea) reduced disease symptoms in mice bred with autoimmune disorders. This study showed that halofuginone may be able to selectively stop production of the harmful Th17 T-cells without harming the beneficial T-cells......

Quote source:
jonbarron.org...

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha
Man I wish you weren't experiencing any health issues, NB.

Follow that craving! Thinking your report with the beets helps to confirm our body if we're listening, will tell us what it needs.

Years ago I tried a colon cleanser after a friend had good results from it. After I tried it the weirdest thing happened... I developed a craving for bananas. Weird because I didn't like bananas at all, like ever. And a craving for o.j. with the pulp. I drank it occasionally, but to crave it? Was so bizarre.
No info on it, the friend hadn't gotten cravings after his cleanse, can I say 1 more time, at the time I thought it was so odd that it sounded made up. Even tho it wasn't, ha.

Years later I still love the bananas! So does my stomach.

Your body's talkin', NarcolepticBuddha. Best wishes for recovery in speed time! Old fan here.

Beets ? Yummy . Now I am craving them. Off to the store.

originally posted by: NarcolepticBuddha

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

Your body knows what it needs.

But howwwwwwwwwww?!

I hear this said a lot. I want to know the why and wherefore. It raises many other questions if the body can just know what it needs, even if it's never had it before.

Body has a lot of 'needs'. Hunger, thirst, pain, tired... loneliness, and yes beets.

Pregnant women have yearnings for certain foods too. Its not important to understand. Like understanding your heartbeat or breathing, you jut go with it.

Your body is crying out for something that has been lacking.

Go on... spoil your body but don’t overdue it as your body will let you know...

Don’t you just love the way that nature decides!!

Warmest respects

Lags

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

I experienced this once that I can recall. I was pregnant, and at a restaurant looking at the menu. When I saw guacamole on the menu I immediately wanted it A LOT! I had never had guacamole and didn't even know what was in it. I ate it with french fries dipped in it. Ever since then, I love it and I LOOOVVVVE avocado in general.

I always wondered why I craved something so badly even though I never had it and knew nothing about it. I sometimes wonder if it is an outside source (take your pick) letting you know.

I have no insight for you on the medical end. However, if your craving beets, try pickled beets.
They are delicious.

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

I'm pretty sure this is probably just an urban legand or whatever, but I believe the concept is valid... but I heardfrom my mom a story of a family members friend whos baby had gotten into the fireplace and was eating charcoal. She rushed him to the hospital, scared that he ate the charcoal. It turned out, the baby was just having a deficiency of some kind of mineral or something that the charcoal contained, so... "the body knows what it needs" even at that age it seems.

a reply to: NarcolepticBuddha

My landlord made the most amazing roasted beet salad. Roasted beets, fresh from his garden, sour cream and dill. Borscht can be wonderful, too.

When you get a healthy craving, live it up!

Listen to your body. I've had many instances where I had a 'craving' and there was always a reason.

I got stuck on 'No-Salt' for a while - found out my potassium was really low - 'No-Salt' is heavy in potassium.

Sour stuff? I was on way too much stomach acid suppressor - and yep, citric acid help.

I don't want to bore you by going on and on, you get the idea.

You have a craving? Check out why and just don't overdue it.

Feel better soon!

Not really worth making a new thread for

BUT

Update!

So, been eating more stuff: beets, and fishy stuff like anchovies, sardines, tuna, packed in olive oil.

I've had good days and bad. Some days I'm crawling to the phone to call up the doc, other days I'm feeling like a superhero.

I notice that when I have a bad day, I feel great the day after eating my beets and fishes.

Trying to include fishy beets a couple times a week as a snack.

It's at least keeping meds and doctors at bay for now. I hope it ends up being a long term solution.