First off, I would like to wish my mother, Ruth, a very happy Mother’s Day! Mom, you are a wonderful mother and I love you!
I wrote to you a few weeks ago about my mother’s health issues. To review, I found that she was sensitive to gluten and advised her to eat a gluten-free diet. My mother was complaining that she could not find a bread product that she liked.
To my amazement, hundreds of you took time out of your busy lives to write in and help her. I read every comment that came in and forwarded them to Ruth. My mother tried many of the recommendations and I am happy to report that she found a bread product that she enjoys.
I received more recommendations for Canyon Bakehouse than any other product. My wife, Allison, bought a Canyon Bakehouse loaf for my gluten-free children and they enjoyed it. It was really the first gluten-free bread that my kids really enjoyed.
I called Ruth and told her our experience with Canyon Bakehouse. She purchased a loaf and felt the same way. “Now, I can have my toast and have a sandwich,” she said. If you recall from my earlier blog post, she was suffering from eating gluten—therefore, I was suffering. Now, our suffering is over! I expect her to gain her weight back. Her bowel problems are much better and I am grateful for that.
Thank you all for your suggestions. I appreciate it more than you will ever know. We are still working on her feet and making some progress.
DrB
Hi Dr. Brownstein: First, many thanks for the “Iodine” book. I saw it as the missing link. I am also glad that someone finally addressed the salt issue. Regarding your Mom’s gluten issue, did she ever try einkorn bread? It is an original grain that has not been hybridized. I bought flour from Jovial Foods and made some very good bread. Check it out.
Thanks for your very good work.
DK
Hi Dr. B! It is nice seeing a picture of your mother and you! She looks more like your sister!!! LOL
Best wishes!!!
I see your mother wears sandals. My first observation is those sandals are too short. Possibly too flat and the straps don’t give enough support without causing constriction to keep them on. It is possible to find sandals that are more supportive that don’t make you look and feel like you are standing on a slippery slope so that your feet are sliding down to the toe of the sandal or shoe.
Even Walmart will occasionally have super comfortable sandals that are supportive and offer a rolling motion as close as possible to walking barefoot. Especially if that shoe has leather uppers. The best I’ve found have Earth as part of the brand name.
Lifted heal shoes for me as I’ve aged don’t do me any favors…making me feel off balance and forward tipping. I need a wider base sole/heel and more level than not. The rolling motion will be evident once you find the right shoe. Go for comfort first to understand what a truly comfortable shoe should feel like, which she can wear around the house. And then search for the same qualities in the pretty shoes for out and about or just to feel like a lady.
It doesn’t have to be an exaggerated sole, but one she truly finds easy to walk in. For me sandals are usually constricting in that they are too flat and don’t actually mold to the foot enough to feel like going barefoot, but better than barefoot.
She will simply have to try on many shoes before she finds ones that feel beautiful and are attractive. And make sure she gets her feet measured for proper size as foot size changes with age and weight changes up or down.
Scholl’s Custom Fit inserts (where feet are mapped while standing on the kiosk) may make the shoe/s that gives her easy walking, the best overall fit and comfort. I have a set that I transfer to different shoes. Getting an insert first might make finding the right shoe easier.
Edema: If she notices swollen hands at any time of day or night, then her feet are going to be painful and especially so at those times. For me, thyroid twice a day keeps edema at bay. If I’ve eaten a bit too much sodium and too little water, a “little” extra water will relieve it. She’ll find her proper hydration level which can change each day. A person just has to pay attention, without obsessing.
Yay! Glad she found one she liked. She looks so much younger than I imagined! Not surprised, with your expert guidance.
Can’t remember if I mentioned it but I’ve had good results with Chinese medicine for orthopedic problems, specifically “tui na”- a vigorous Chinese physical therapy massage that moves toxins out & fresh blood supply into the area.
For 2 yrs I had foot numbness (probably from being bedridden) and also had good results with Vine Essence PIlls- a Chinese traditional patent medicine that improves circulation to the feet. Should be at any local Chinese clinic, affordable & with zero side effects. The English label says it’s for arthritis, but Chinese pharmacists just say it’s for any foot problems.
http://www.safeherbsguide.com/SafeFormulas/arthritis.html
To Robert Dotson:
“Over 90% of the these folks improve by avoiding wheat. It is not the gluten most of the time (the majority have had negative gluten sensitivity testing) – it is the glyphosate (RoundUp) that more than 90% of wheat crops are soaked in prior to harvest. Huge and growing problem.”
I knew about this before this post, had been drinking soymilk, and when I realized this (through Dr B’s book), I changed to almondmilk. It may have pesticides, but it’s a tree, so I don’t think RoundUp is one of them.
Hi Dr. Brownstein,
As a diabetic and nurse, mother of 4, and after living in a family with diabetics all Type II, whether diagnosed or not, it seems as we age no matter what our weight is, the feet suffer. I found after fifty years of doctoring with the medical profression that sometimes even though blood glucose levels are under control there is still effects from the long term rollercoaster of blood glucose and insulin levels does a job on our nerve function and the ability for our vasculature to properly function. Some days are better than others, with mild swelling on and off, and before I went on strict diabetic diet I was in horrific pain after bieng on my feet for anytime longer than a half hour. I believe in gut dysbiosis and yeast overgrowth in most women as a primary cause of many of symptoms related to aging. I never underestimate the body’s ability (especially a womans) to fool anyone’s diagnosis even the best physician. As far as the suggested breads I hesitate for your mother to eat anything with yeast in it and eat limited amounts of grains if any, and cut back on calcium intake to ease some of her symptoms.(I realize that this may be controversial at this point in her life ) Digestive Enzymes have been helpful for me as I found that this was something I needed even before my Doctor of Functional Medicine suggested. I hope I am not preaching to the chior as I realize you have been diligent in converting to the understanding of nutritional health.
I do hear what Dr. Dotson is saying re glyphosate (Roundup). My understanding is that it is contained in the produce that is sprayed and later consumed.
MY body is not Roundup-ready.
Happy Mother’s Day to all! Because of this blog, I ditched my old brand of bread Udi’s (with GMO canola oil) & found Canyon Bakehouse at WF! I’m so trilled! It stays in the freezer for a rare treat as we have weaned off bread for the most part. It’s a process, Ruth. Congratulations on taking care of you! Thanks to you both for making the world healthier!
Congrats and best to Mom B. Though a board-certified ophthalmologist, I have been working as a a cannabis physician for the past several years and probably a third of the patients I see are IBS, UC, and/or “Fibromyalgia”. Stunning really. All have been through multi-thousand dollar work-ups by mainstream medicine and gotten exactly nowhere. In desperation, they come to the cannabis clinic to seek help.
Over 90% of the these folks improve by avoiding wheat. It is not the gluten most of the time (the majority have had negative gluten sensitivity testing) – it is the glyphosate (RoundUp) that more than 90% of wheat crops are soaked in prior to harvest. Huge and growing problem.
On the cannabis front, these folks all improve through the use of cannabinoids (no need to smoke or get “high”).. In fact, it appears that many of these immune dysfunctions may be CBD (cannabidiol) deficiencies! Most states permit pure CBD products into their jurisdictions and there are many such products on line.
Best to all Mothers everywhere! Mine has been gone for 20 years and is sorely missed.
Peace and Hope!
This is great news! Happy Mothers Day, Ruth, and thank you for updating us, Dr. B.
So Happy to hear you have found bread that works for your Mom.
In our household we have another problem that makes for difficulty for finding bread.
My husband is allergic to corn. And I am a diabetic, I avoid wheat and soy too.
Finally I found a bread mix that fits all our needs it is Breads from Anna.
As stated above Xanthan gum is in so much of the gluten free products and it is too often sourced from corn sugar as the feeding source. That won’t do for hubby. But Breads from Anna guarantees the xanthan gum is not from corn and so we can once again enjoy REAL bread.
When the bread is baking and is ready – it is really hard to tell that it is not a wheat based product but it has NO Wheat, dairy, corn, soy etc, it is allergen free. It is awesome. She also has pie crust, pizza crust, muffin and pancake mixes and tons of recipes too. http://breadsfromanna.com/ If you have a bread machine – it will do all the work for you.
I agree with Suzanne about all grains. For years I went “gluten free” eliminating wheat and what I understood to be the wrong types of grains. And I never healed. Thyroid, endocrine problems, on and in. Thank God for Dr. Osborne giving us the answers we need as it relates to gluten. I have healed, lost weight, reduced thyroid meds, lowered platelets and on and on by following Dr. Osborne’s advice. I am finally feeling better and improving my quality of life and health! 9 months grain free and not missing it.
Liz,
I agree as well. Generally, most do better grain-free.
DrB
I agree with Suzanne. I’m starting to think that zero carb, all meat and fat, is the way to go. Lots of amazing stories on zerocarbzen. But for people who are too old to radically change their ways gluten free bread can at least reduce the damage. I wish I could get my parents to at least do that much.
That’s true Suzanne, but there are different KINDS of gluten, some people can’t tolerate any of them (myself), and some people are only sensitive to the kind of gluten that is in wheat, rye, oats, barley. Many cannot eat the Xanthan gum that is in 99.9% of those store bought gluten free breads and baking product mixes (myself included). Since Dr. B’s blog, I have discovered CEBLE brand bread mixes at my health food store. They are mostly tapioca products with no “crap” added to them. You get to make it yourself, but they actually DO taste like bread with a similar consistency. That still goes right to sugar in your body however, so diabetics still need to beware and weight conscious people need to limit it. BUT it IS a solution. It comes in pizza crust mix, sandwich bun mix, bread stick mix, and cinnamon roll mix. Hope this helps mom, she might like to try it.
Dr B, Dr. Peter Osborne who is head of https://glutenfreesociety.org/ doesn’t believe that there are any gluten free grains. It’s a bummer and a little harder to do but you might want to share this with your mom after you speak with him about it. I’m sure you have come in contact with him because he’s on a lot of the free summits.
Awwww. God bless her and aren’t you a chip off the block! Must get your brains from Ruth, too, Dr. B. 🙂 Happy Mother’s Day, Ruth! You raised a fine kid and we appreciate your efforts.