Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; No/Low Starch Diet Success Stories

Hi Tyler26,
Thanks for your reply.
I am sending a pm to you.

Jay

Hi, Jay:

Regret cauliflower when cooked is too starchy; please test. Your diet looks very strict otherwise and very safe.

Aside from that You do not have enough variety, that is adding tuna or salmon, other meats would be helful.

When I began NSD and before I was strict, I tried remaining vegetarian and this put me into a rather narrow corner, so I took over a year to finally eat some beef, and to this day do not eat very much of it.

You might add some meringue, marzipan, almond butter on apple slices or celerey, some konjac flour spaghetti and other products or make Andrea's breads www.forestandfauna.com also citrus fruit. Good to have just a small amount of probiotic yoghurt (2oz per day) and okra often as well as lychee fruit. Salads despite iron content--light on the spinach and heavy on the tomatoes, onions, and chard. There are many things which can be taken on this diet that are vegetarian, but finding them at local markets can be impossible.

I have tried to develop an AP (Antibiotic Protocol) for AS for vegetarians; we need 12 days of strict no starch foods to eat during the bactericidal 11+1 days and then relax to standard Indian fare during bacteriostatic six to eight weeks between.

Just like the strict NSD, it is not for everybody!

HEALTH,
John

Hi John,
I tested cauliflower after cooking and colour did not change. However, I will retry.

When the diet is strict, why improvement is evading is the question in my mind. What is lacking in my approach is not clear.

I will consider your suggestions.

Regards.

Jay

Uh-oh. This is starting to sound like my story.

I've been on NSD almost a month now--only red meat, tuna, eggs, mushrooms, spinach, scallions, bone broth, green grapes and blueberries, blanched almonds and walnuts (no dairy).

So far, there has been virtually no change in my pain levels, but an extreme drop-off in weight.

I'm pretty sure I will stop this diet soon. It may have worked for others, but it's proving to be more harmful than helpful for me. I will continue for another week or two to be thorough, but I am not optimistic.

Hello, noobferguson:

Previously, several people diet did not help, but each had good results fasting, later found they had some high levels of heavy metals. Although it took some time and patience, after chelation they got the diet to work for them.

AS is a long and frustrating journey and the diet can add to that frustration, so it might not be the right time for You, or as I am wont to suggest that You contact The Road Back Foundation to locate a physician local to You who will help find an antibiotic protocol that will work, especially effective if You are willing to continue with the NSD a little longer.

HEALTH,
John

Hi DragonSlayer,

I was in remission for about a year and half, following an extremely restrictive diet for around 50 days. Following that, I tolerated moderate amounts of starches without any inflammation. I have been in a flare for a month now. I have eliminated most of the starches I was consuming while in remission but my inflammation and pain is aggravating with each day. I am unable to tolerate even tiny amounts of starch now and plan to go completely starch free again. However, I don’t wish to follow the same diet now as I did earlier as that had led me to lose a lot of weight quickly, which I have not managed to gain yet.
Can you help me out with a few things to ensure that I remain starch free while maintaining a more balanced diet?

1) This is the diet I’ve presently settled for

Breakfast : 2 wedges MuskMelon, Soaked almonds+walnuts+figs+currants, 2 Eggs+Spinach omelet fried in EVOO.

Evening : Coconut Cream, Cucumber+Cabbage+EVOO salad

Lunch & Dinner : Two bowls vegetables each, either boiled or cooked in EVOO with celery seeds. Vegetables could be any among zucchini,bitter gourd, bottle gourd, okra, cabbage, cauliflower and capsicum. And a bowl of yogurt for lunch. I’ll eliminate cauliflower as you’ve mentioned it is starchy.

I’ve eliminated every fruit I was consuming earlier assuming they were the culprits (peers, apples, green grapes, oranges, sweetlime, papaya, kiwi, pineapple) as they could possibly be cold storage ones. Is any of the above fruits absolutely safe?
Additionally I have been consuming 1 tbsp ground flax seeds, 1 tbsp ground hemp seeds, 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar and 20 ml aloe vera each day.
Is this diet safe or are there any shady foods in here?

2) What other safe additions do you suggest to the above diet to make it more balanced? I have sub- optimal intake of fibre, fats and protein above. How can I increase my consumption of each of those three while still consuming safe foods?

3) I loved your detailed post advocating supplements but have also read capsules could be starch coated. Can you list some safe brand options in this regard?

I went through your Antibiotic Protocol resource and it set me thinking. I strongly suspect that it was extended use of antibiotics for about 20-30 days after having a severe diarrhea bout which triggered AS in my case as I was symptom free until then. I would love to hear from you on this.

I really admire you for the treasure of knowledge you possess and would be grateful for your help here.

Hello, tyler26:

Thank You, for Your kind words.
I will begin at the easiest: Yes, antibiotics can be a two-edged sword especially for those of us with AS, but I would suggest it was the colitis that caused the problem mostly, albeit antibiotics can make things worse. It sort of depends upon the agent and chances are that the bowel issues were caused by E. coli, so not much information there.

In India, specifically, I encourage working out an AP because it is much easier—even in the West, the NSD is very inconvenient. You will lose weight especially on Your limited regimen, but it is important to eat desserts as often after the largest meals, when possible.

I will be specific—and perhaps You have seen that so many fruits are starchy when harvested too early. Citrus, not so much, but I would suggest eating oranges but try and avoid as much of the pulp and pith as possible. All melons and grapes are safe, raisins are good to eat in combination with almond and add chocolate morsels for a filling dessert.

The bowl of yoghurt may be the culprit: As in Carol’s book, the “dodgy disaccharides” or lactose and galactose can cause trouble, just like caramel. So, take the yoghurt but keep to a minimum. I would go to tofu…well, that’s an expression, but false paneer is Your friend despite the rumors—people in some parts of the world eat it every day without consequence. So I like extra firm cut thin into tofu steak and I bake it with some spices and eat with A1 (steak sauce) dressing. Good also canned tuna or salmon into a pickle relish and mayonnaise salad. I used to eat a lot of broccoli sprinkled with hard (aged) cheese that was powdered or “riced” like myzithra or parmesan is almost as good. Butter (ghee is good) and not too much cheese is required. Full meal tastes great and no guilt! Other lunch ideas—well I had chicken hot dogs available and a good mustard but suppose cold chicken can be dressed up and some mustard with horseradish could be good. Turkey, also. I think kiwi fruits are safe.

Miso soup for breakfast sometimes, then take eggs for lunch. I tried to get to love devilled eggs—good to experiment with especially Indian spices. But I had eggs every which way including meringue cookies. Check out Andrea’s “ForestandFauna” site for some crunchy breakfast food ideas, too and other safe stuff!

SUPPLEMENTS—Most brands are safe and labels can be trusted except from GNC; I have used NOW, Puritan’s Pride, Nature Made, Schiff, and quite a few others. Sometimes there are coatings of maltodextrin or other things that will change color, but it changes back before four minutes, the time I give most of my samples.

SAFE ADDITIONS—Bean sprouts (mung, but all including alfalfa are safe), blueberries, blackberries, olives can be great addition—make a tapenade and eat on cucumber squares or make a boat and have ground chicken, olives, cheese, diced peppers, and bake it! Mushrooms are safe, as are radish sprouts, wing beans (snow peas) or mange toute also. Bok choy and lettuce of course. Mayonnaise as above, pineapple has always been safe for me, all pears and mangoes need to be tested and just stay away from papaya. But if You can find more meats, like the canned tuna that is good. Canned lychee fruit is good for gut health. Walnuts, macadamias, pistachios, all good. Sesame—see this special halvah they sell near Taj and other places it is til plus honey and hardened. I think this is safe. Also tahini to make stuff with. Careful with hard seeds for fiber; best to get it from the fruits especially pineapple—greatest source. You don’t eat enough macaroons (they can be dipped in chocolate), either—a fine dessert. Jell-O, also! Cucumber can be cooked in spirals as a spaghetti or just matchstick and onions mix well with this. I have even done this in a marinara base with good results. Pine nut bits can be added to tabouli made from EVOO with plenty of tomatoes and of course a bit of cilantro mixed in the parsley and lemon juice. Baked fish, flaked fish, fish in stew—all safe for NSD. Hearts of palm, banana flowers, neem leaves, bamboo shoots, jute leaves—all good.

I eat bitter gourd and it is a very odd thing, but especially for eradicating parasites—see You take perhaps half a gourd daily with eggs (I also use a lot of hot sauce with this), for about seven days then take some herbs to expel uninvited guests—purgative herbs like wormwood and the like, certainly there are some in India.

But I would also consider this—and I don’t know Your own details at all so could to way off base—but having giardiasis could be very persistent and also mimic AS as well as cause it in susceptible persons. I would consider checking out Flagyl (metronidazole) and if possible really hitting this hard—and on a cycle You determine because this protista is very stubborn and cysts can be dormant for a long time. Often AS begins after some waterborne illness, when it is spontaneous.

Hope this helps--sorry if a bit stream of consciousness but I had to refer to my list about halfway through...

HELTH,
John

I can't believe that I actually wasted my time reading such rubbish.

Hello DragonSlayer,

Thanks for the detailed and prompt reply. And I apologize for the late reply.

I curse myself for not being quick to fight this flare and let it propagate and worsen to the point of being unable to sit,stand or lie down. My fightback begins today though, with me water fasting today. Undecided on the AP as of yet, I'll leave that for a later day.

I think I got the major stuff you were trying to convey. I'll stay away from yogurt and introduce tofu and some safe fruits like grapes & pineapple. Also thanks for the huge list of safe additions. I'll learn about them and how to cook them and try to introduce some of them once my flare dies.

For supplements, I've procured B-complex, VitD and one containing calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium, lysine though all the elements are in the form of their salts, not elemental. I wonder if that is the norm and okay(might they cause acidity)? Also whether supplements can & should be taken on the days when you fast? I enquired about borage seed oil but no one had a clue. Is borage oil being advocated for its GLA content or are their other helpful constituents too. What else can substitute borage oil? Would primrose oil do in its place? I'll get some wheat seeds sown in my kitchen garden and hopefully get wheatgrass in a week's time.

I'll keep this thread posted with my progress and a few questions. Much thanks for the alacrity and sincerity in your reply.

Hello, tyler26:

I take nothing while fasting, normally, as just about anything tends to pique the appetite.

Yes, I do believe it is the GLA content of borage seed oil that is they key: Black currant and evening primrose each are commercial sources, also. These are not as GLA-rich as the borage seed oil, so perhaps the dosage should be increased accordingly.

I don't have a wheatgrass juicer attachment for my Champion, but they are available; for convenience, I just buy it from local juice companies--Jamba Juice always has it at the ready.

Certainly, please let us know how You are doing and if You would like to join the FB NSD group, please PM or send email to myself or Bill Hamilton. Good Luck with it and we are here for You.

HEALTH,
John