Nutrition Survey for All

[Scarlett81]

After reading the article Amy posted about cf centers and guidelines and all, it got me thinking. When you read about 'textbook' cf care and needs. You have the basic groups. Respiratory, Sinus, Digestion, CFRD, ect..and Nutrition. But what if anything do you do for your nutrition?

I'm not talking about enzymes, that's obvious. But some of us probably don't do anything other than that. Whether you have weight issues, no weight issues...are there foods you avoid? Foods you try to eat alot of? Vitamins? Shakes? Herbs?

Let's be honest here-what do we actually do? (Not what what we wished we did regularly, or have been planning on doing..)

Some doctors never bring up nutrition. If you're at a safe weight at least. The general thing is just feed em feed em feed em. Not what to feed em.

I've never had weight problems. Some of you are probably booing right now. But, its good and bad b/c they never told me about healthy foods. Just stuff her face!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

As an adult-I have a protein shake every morning, or if I need a break from the shake I have two eggs on toast. I never have sweets. Ever. A butter cookie with coffee is the most I'll have. I try to make a conscience effort to avoid sugary stuff. I also try to avoid foods with trans fats in them. ( that fat that causes free- radicals;McDonalds, KFC, greasy sauces, margarine, proccessed frozen foods.) I take vitamins every day. (a multi and other liquid herbs). That's about it. (I do take alot of herbs and vits but there's too many to list now. And sometimes I get so sick of how many it is I skip some depending on how I feel.) But I'll never miss my multi.

How about you? Whether you learned on your own from research, or what a doctor told you. And if you've ever been given a nutrition/eating routine from your cf care provider share it cause I'm curious!

 

[NoExcuses]

Great question.

I've been at a normal weight with a good BMI since puberty (prior to age 12 I was pretty underweight).

I try to avoid sugar as well. I hear that it can suprsess the immune system and ultimately decreases energy. I eat fresh fruit every morning in my cereal (grapenuts)- either blueberries, white nectarines, strawberries, or raisins.

I'm not so good with the vegetables. But some weeks I'm better than others and will eat broccoli or avocado daily.

To be honest, doc has never counseled me on nutrition just like you mentioned. My BMI is good so he leaves it alone. But I strongly believe that what I put in my body can effect my health.

He has mentioned that he likes that I eat cereal with milk in it in the morning. I jump from osteopenic to normal year after year. So the more calcium the better.

My doc really emphasises exercise as a way to increase lung function and boost the immune system. I guess that's his "focus" with me.

Finally, I never miss my Centrum multivitamin. I must have good absorption cuz I'm not on ADEK, but I am also on CitriCal calcium supplements.

 

[thelizardqueen]

As far as nutrition goes, I drink two Scandishakes a day made with cream instead of milk. I also eat a lot of high starch foods, because that seems to be the only thing that puts weight on me, i.e. rice, potatoes, whole wheat noodles. I also make sure to add as much calories to all my meals as possible. I use butter instead of margerine, if I eat mashed potatoes I add sour cream and sometimes cream cheese. I also eat a lot of green vegetables, i.e. baby spinach, stir frys, etc. The one thing that I try to eat more of, but find I'm not eating as much as I should is fruit. I also take mulitvitamins as well. I also try not to eat too much sugar. If I think about it, the only sugary thing I eat is ice cream once in a blue moon. I find since I've become diabetic 10 years ago, I lost my taste for sweet stuff. I'll buy a chocolate bar, and it'll sit in my freezer for weeks on end, or a big tub of ice cream will last me a good 3 months or longer.

My doc doesn't talk a lot about nutrition to me. In the past few years I've seen the dietician once. Funny enough, I was concerned about my appetite a while back, and my doc's solution to it was telling me that alcohol stimulates appetite - he told me to drink a sherry with my meals. Just one of the reasons why I'm trying to switch docs. It seems that my doc is not proactive, and rather is just focused on when I get sick, give me meds. He doesn't seem to be big into the whole nutrition thing, or at least that's how I see it, as he rarely brings up nutrition at all.

 

[welshgirl]

the weight issue is the bane of mine and joe's life and we are only 2 and a half yrs in with diagnosed cf. it is a constant and tiring battle to get joe's weight up and we are failing miserably. he is just soooo active it is impossible to fatten him up. on the upside his lungs are very healthy at the moment and we are grateful for that.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[EnergyGal]

I eat three eggs every morning with a bowl of oatmeal, granola bar.
for a snack-pistachios, cottage cheese, mango (dried or fresh) granola bars, cliff bars, yogurt drinks or I eat yogurt, kefir, blue berries, rasberries, bananas, apples. I am a fruit lover and vegetable lover.

lunch, roast beef chicken, tofu, fish, salads, avocados, all kinds of vegetables. Try to get in one serving of broccoli daily. Aspargus

dressings, miso

Once a week, steak or turkey. I think I am allergic to turkey so I have it seldom

I do love cheese and have all kinds of organic cheeses. If I have crackers, I have non wheat crackers
love kamut or spelt bread.

 

[dramamama]

I love this question....<br>
<br>
I think the clinics miss the mark on this point.....they say load
up on calories, but most likely they are empty calories with no
nutritional value.  <br>
<br>
<br>
breakfast: three hardboiled eggs, 1 cup cottage cheese with ground
flax, 1/4 cup steel cut oatmeal with berries and half-n-half,
butter, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or salmon with capers, a berry and
kefir smoothie, and a handful of nuts...this is my only meal that
pretty much never varies<br>
<br>
snack: nuts, string cheese, no sugar yogart with berries and
stevia,  or an all-natural weight shake with frozen acai or
blueberries...when in a hurry, I'll have organic baby food...sweet
potatoes....sounds gross, but I read hockey players do
it....sooooo.  Apple and peanut butter (skippy has a new one
ALL NATURAL, NO NEED TO STIR, NO HYDROGENATED OILS...uses palm oil
to keep consistency....does have some sugar added....)<br>
<br>
lunch: turkey loaf, salmon cakes, chicken with lentil soup, spinach
salad with chicken and oranges,, always have whole milk cottage
cheese, big yummy cobb salad-with turkey bacon.  I always
dress my salad with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice<br>
<br>
snack: some kind of protein bar made with natural ingredients....I
like cliff protein bar 270 calories/20 protein/30 carbs (but only
20 of these are sugars)...this is pretty much my only sugar I eat.
 I love veggies with hummus...great for you and tasty!!
 sardines and non-wheat crackers...<br>
<br>
Dinner: salmon, chicken, the occasional steak....we love stir
fry...easy to include lots of veggies.   I  go for
beans, lentils, tomatoes, kale, pasta made from spelt which has a
much protein as an egg,....anything with bright colors, I am trying
it and eating it.  I love all veggies and tons of avacado.<br>
<br>
Drinks: I drink at least 2 liters of water a day, two cups of green
tea per day and two cups of cinnamon tea per day (with cinnamon
added)<br>
<br>
Interestingly, as cf has sooo much oxidative stress, putting food
in our bodies that increase oxidative
stress (preservatives, sugar, hydrogenated oils, soft drinks
with aspartame---) seems a little nuts...so, I quit my clinic
recommended diet and went out on my own.  The Perricone
Promise and the Maker's diet have been so great for my health and
my family's.<br>
<br>
I also switched from synthetic vitamins to vitamins made from
food.....synthetic vitamins are not readily absorbed by the body..a
normal functioning body....so think of a cfer body trying to absorb
a synthetic vitamin...not gonna work. I was told to take
centrum, but changed that after many months of researching and
actually speaking with nutrionists, preventative care MDs and
researchers.   Vitamins made from whole foods are more
easily assimilated  and since they are made from food can be
taken on an empty stomach....yeah for an easily digestible
vitamin!!!  Good whole food vitamins are Bluebonnet, Daily
Foods by Megafoods, New Chapter (andrew Weils works with them) and
I think that Garden of Life is supposed to be good.<br>
<br>
I take multi-vitamin, cal-mag, vit e 400 once a day, dha 200 mg
twice a day, enzyme coq10 twice a day, probiotics three times a
day, glutathione/vitamin c four times a day, and a few more little
things which I am happy about.<br>
<br>
This health habit has become quite expensive and is greatly cutting
into fun money....but, for me, the difference in the way I feel has
been so HUGE that I just can't look back...and I don't.<br>
<br>
mandy

 

[thefrogprincess]

I was always told just to pack in the calories as well. For the longest time I didn't know that CFers can have trouble maintaining the proper levels of some vitamins. As far as what I eat its whatever sounds good. But I am not a picky eater so I get a good variety anyway, I love fruits and veggies just as much as I love chips. Basically if I'm having a craving for something I take it as my body telling me that I need some vitamin or mineral that is in that food. I do eat a lot of protein, but mostly because I want to, not because I know I need to. I also take two multi vitamins a day as well as 1000 units of vit E and a calcium with D suppliment, and a once a week perscription of vit D. I also get anything I can with extra calcium added, orange juice in particular. Have you noticed that a lot of foods geared for kids like speghettios and some frozen chicken nuggets and such have added calcium now? I get that stuff a lot.

 

[Scarlett81]

dramamama-

I should have mentioned this before, but I also switched to vitamins made from food. I use New Chapter Organics also. They have every type of vitamin you need. I love them. I just started a prenatal vit from them.

Basically like you said, its something like over 50% of typical-even very good quality-vitamins just goes right through you when you take them. But this company uses already processed vegetable sources as vits, so when you take them its the same as just eating a bunch of vegetables to get the vit you need. I switched b/c I felt with cf I probably absorb s much less from my vits than a normal person, so these types are highly digestible.

 

[EnergyGal]

I am impressed with what I am reading. Mandy you can pack in a lot of food. Are you my Sister? I agree with all the whole food concepts. Have you tried Metagenics or Standard Process vitamins? They are good too. I also love Enzymatic Therapy sold at whole foods market.

 

[EnergyGal]

Mandy how many avocados do you eat in a day. If I eat more than one throughout the day it is too much for me but my skin and hair shine. love avacadoes. I like to make guacomole.

 

[Emily65Roses]

Generally speaking, I don't have trouble with weight. I take enzymes, duh, like you said. I will occasionally have an Instant Breakfast. I also take two ADEKs at night. Other than that, I just eat what I wanna eat when I wanna eat it. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif" border="0">

 

[dramamama]

Hi Risa-<br>
no, we are not sisters, but you are the reason I have taken such an
interest in my health through diet and alternative therapies.
 I feel like I have told you this before, but I guess
not.....sorry...good intentions, bad follow-through<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"><br>
<br>
Three years ago I came across the utah valley website..you were
there speaking about the importance of nutrition.  I
considered myself to be an expert in the field of medical research
and prescription drugs...I could tell you all the latest meds
coming to the market, why we needed them, how they actually worked,
side effects, drug interactions...researchers names and groups,
importance of more and more research to create new and better
drugs.....I could tell you the name of a pill, dosage, milligram
just by looking at it.  I had lived in LA for seven years and
had been bombarded by nutrionists and "crunchy"people who
thought I would feel better if I just ate better...I was like,
"no offense, but you guys are crazy...I have a terminal
disease and eating better is not going to change that!!!!!!"
 Medical science is all I need.<br>
<br>
Wow.....what an idiot I was.  Anyway, I remember reading some
of your posts and I thought you sounded a little nuts<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">  You
wrote of the perils of sugar....I was like, as long as I have
insulin, sugar is staying.  You spoke of hummus.....I spoke of
In -n- OUT burgers!!!  You spoke of granola...I saw
Birkenstock<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">  I don't even remember the exact moment my eyes
were opened, but I know it was because of you.....thank you Risa
for your knowledge and spirit!!!<br>
<br>
I continued to get worse every year in LA and I couldn't understand
how because I am an exercise fiend.  I figured what did I have
to lose????  I started out slowly by researching diet and
health and what diseases are caused by the Standard American
Diet....and I suddenly became very scared....scared that everything
I believed needed to be re-evaluated.  It is a process for
me....I spend about 2 hours a day researching and talking to people
who know their stuff...some days I will spend 10 hours on the phone
and computer trying to find out the latest in preventative health
medicine.<br>
<br>
I know I sound crazy now, but it is my passion...and I feel like I
finally have a purpose...to help others feel better through
nutrition and knowledge. My goal is to open fast food chains, but
all healthy choices.....none of this saturated fats business.
 Fruits, veggies, lean meats....foods high in good fats.
 <br>
<br>
As for the avacado...I eat half of one a day...sometimes a whole.
 I, too, love guac and make it quite frequently...with chunks
of tomato, onion, cilantro...yummy.  <br>
<br>
talk to you soon.<br>
mandy<br>
<br>

 

[dramamama]

or maybe we are sisters??????<br>
<br>
warmly-<br>
mandy

 

[EnergyGal]

WOW Mandy I had no idea that I inspired you. Thank you so much for telling me this. You made my day. I am just sharing what I think worked for me. I started out eating healthy when I was 21 but never considered myself a very healthy eater but looking back on my chilhood I felt I was aware of how I felt when I would eat devil dogs and twinkies and then wondered how can this be good if I was getting cavities and stomach aches so I started to eat healthier.

I feel that what we eat, how often we exercise and how we take our treatments are so important. I also feel that we can do all the things that are right for our health but if we have trouble handling stress than all the good things we do will not have such a good effect on us. So I strive to do relaxing things when I can and when I eat a mango (love mangos) I try and savor the taste. Sometimes in the past I would just wolf down my food but now I try and relax and enjoy my meals.

Please share with us when you can what you have learned from the articles or post some of the articles on the nutrition and exercise forums. I love to learn.

 

[Scarlett81]

omg, I'm getting very inspired by you both now.

Risa- I love Standard Process supplements too! My naturopathic doc carries them. He has given me this suplement from them, and boy I hate to sound like I'm selling any type of treatment on this site-but I'll mention it anyway. It's called Fen-Gre. (short for Fenugreek) It is very powerful, I know that. It is a mucus detoxifier. When I first started it, he put me on a strong dose. (as a detox basically) That night I coughed up almost a whole CUP of mucus for the 1st time in my life. After that initial time it dwindles. But I still take it, and Standard Process is the best carrier of it.

More products I love are Dr. Richard Schulze's products. He is out of Calif I think. He has awesome colon cleansers, very high quality herbs. His products are the only thing I have found that will stop a intestinal blockage if its starting-every time, guaranteed. Again, I don't like to sound like a salesperson! Hope I don't!

Do any of you do regular 'cleanses'?

I do specific cleanses every few months, and the products are usually from Dr. Schulze. I know that cleanses aren't reccomended for people that have extreme weight issues, b/c you don't get alot of calories on them! But, I don't have weight problems. Tommorrow I'm starting a 3 day kidney detox. My cf doc found kidney stones in me and they're causing pain. So I'm trying to remove them naturally. If that doesn't work I move to 'doctor' medicine. But I always try to go with natural first if I can.

I am enjoying this conversation!

 

[EnergyGal]

that is great Christian

Ask your Natropathic doctor if Pneumotrophin would work for you. That is too from Standard Process. This is lung food. I remember when I took this before my first transplant I remember being able to breathe so much better. I do not take that anymore but I do take Cataplex D and Zinc Liver chelate. I was on Magnesium lactate for years. Calcium lactate and calma plus once in a while. Now I take Gary Nulls vitamins. I like to switch companies every few years.

I no longer go to a chiropractor naturopathic doctor but i have learned how to do my own muscle testing which helps a lot and if I do love the book Energy Medicine by Donna Eden and highly recommend this for anyone interested in overall health. It talks about the lung points and digestive points and so much more.

that is great that you see this kind of doctor. If I did not have my transplant I would be doing a lot more. Right now, I just maintain my health through proper eating, exercise and staying as calm as I can.

Take care

 

[JazzysMom]

I am so boring & basic. I dont eat a lot of sweets. I try to balance the basic food groups, but I should eat more throughout the day. I have been making up the lacking calories with the Carnation VHC! Makes me feel better also!