Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Chapter 36: Blood Type & Diet, Healing Depression Symptoms

Have you heard about the diets based on your blood type?  I decided to find out more about them. I have made many diet changes to help heal the depression symptoms and I want to consider making more changes based on my blood type.  Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo has written a book called 4 Blood Types, 4 Diets, Eat Right For (4) Your Type, The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight.  Dr. D'Adamo gives an overview of the 4 blood types and the 4 diets in the video below.

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Karl Landsteiner, a medical doctor born in Vienna, Austria in 1868, discovered that people had different blood types in 1901.  He made numerous contributions in pathological anatomy, histology and immunology, but his name will be honored for his discovery and outstanding work on the blood groups.  He was given the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1930.  Here is more information about his work taken from Karl Landsteiner - Biography.

In 1875 it was reported that, when man is given transfusions of the blood of other animals, these foreign blood corpuscles are clumped and broken up in the blood vessels of man with the liberation of haemoglobin. In 1901-1903 Landsteiner pointed out that a similar reaction may occur when the blood of one human individual is transfused, not with the blood of another animal, but with that of another human being, and that this might be the cause of shock, jaundice, and haemoglobinuria that had followed some earlier attempts at blood transfusions.

His suggestions, however, received little attention until, in 1909, he classified the bloods of human beings into the now well-known A, B, AB, and O groups and showed that transfusions between individuals of groups A or B do not result in the destruction of new blood cells and that this catastrophe occurs only when a person is transfused with the blood of a person belonging to a different group. Earlier, in 1901-1903, Landsteiner had suggested that, because the characteristics which determine the blood groups are inherited, the blood groups may be used to decide instances of doubtful paternity.

Much of the subsequent work that Landsteiner and his pupils did on blood groups and the immunological uses they made of them was done, not in Vienna, but in New York. For in 1919 conditions in Vienna were such that laboratory work was very difficult and, seeing no future for Austria, Landsteiner obtained the appointment of Prosector to a small Roman Catholic Hospital at The Hague. Here he published, from 1919-1922, twelve papers on new haptens that he had discovered, on conjugates with proteins which were capable of inducing anaphylaxis and on related problems, and also on the serological specificity of the haemoglobins of different species of animals.

His work in Holland came to an end when he was offered a post in the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in New York and he moved there together with his family. It was here that he did, in collaboration with Levine and Wiener, the further work on the blood groups which greatly extended the number of these groups, and here in collaboration with Wiener studied bleeding in the new-born, leading to the discovery of the Rh-factor in blood, which relates the human blood to the blood of the rhesus monkey.

I have Blood Type O+.  The + means I have the Rh-factor in my blood.  A person's Rh type is usually significant only with respect to pregnancies.  An Rh-positive child born to an Rh-negative woman runs the risk of developing Rh disease.  More than 85% of people have the antigen, Rhesus factor, in their blood.  People that do not have the antigen in their blood are Rh-negative. You can find out more about the Rh-factor below and at Rhesus Factor (Rh-Factor). 

The Rhesus factor, also known as the Rh factor, gets its name from experiments conducted in 1937 by scientists Karl Landsteiner and Alexander S. Weiner. These revolutionary case studies involved rabbits which, when injected with the Rhesus monkey's red blood cells, produced an antigen present in the red blood cells of many humans. The Rhesus factor is an antigen, or more specifically a protein, that exists on the surface of red blood cells. 

Originally, Karl Landsteiner listed the blood groups as A, B, and 0 (zero).  (Type AB was found later.)  He called it zero because this blood type did not have the A antigen or the B antigen on the surface of red blood cells.  People assumed this blood type was the letter O because the other types were a letter.  People in the United States have continued to call this blood type O instead of 0.  People in other countries and languages call it zero, or null.


Dr. D'Adamo talks about the diets he recommends for the different blood types.

Blood Type O



Blood Type A



Blood Types B & AB



Dr. D'Adamo talks about each blood type in more detail on his website.  He writes about lifestyle, wellness, stress, exercise, and personality of individuals with each blood type.  If you are interested, go to Eat Right For Your Blood Type, The Official Website of Dr. Peter D'Adamo &The Blood Type DietSee if you agree with the characteristics he attributes to your blood type.

These are characteristics Dr. D'Adamo states to describe people with my blood Type O.  They describe me well.

1.  People with Type O blood are vulnerable to inflammation and depression.  

2.  People with Type O blood digest animal protein well because of more stomach acid and an    enzyme in the intestinal tract.  I feel better if I eat protein in every meal.  The only way for my body to get amino acids is from protein. 

3.  Eggs are a poor source of protein for Type O's.  The Elisa food sensitivity test rated my sensitivity to eggs at +4.  That is the highest number on the sensitivity scale.  After eliminating eggs from my diet for 3-4 months my cholesterol count came down from 213 to 163.

4.  People with Type O blood can not digest dairy products and grains efficiently.  I have a +1 sensitivity to casein in dairy products and a +1 for wheat.  My digestive tract has appreciated my eliminating these foods from my diet and I lost 10-12 pounds without trying.

5. The system of a Type O does well with intense aerobic exercise.  Exercise will help eliminate stress.  I feel aerobic exercise is as important to my depression treatment as my antidepressant medications.

6.  Type O's respond well to oils, especially olive and flaxseed, for nutrition and an aid in elimination.  I have been taking 6,000 mg of fish oil since March of 2010.  It is part of my depression treatment.  My fingernails grow faster and are stronger, the acne on my face has improved, and my hair looks healthier.  I hope my arteries and heart are seeing improvements too. =)

I have talked about other diet changes I have made to help heal my depression symptoms in Chapter 7: Keys to UltraWellness, Food Sensitivity and Chapter 32: 6,000mg Of Fish Oil A Day. 

I am feeling pretty stable on 150 mg of Effexor XR.  I don't feel great, but I am doing better!



Monday, May 17, 2010

Chapter 12: I Hate Clonazepam, Supplements

I have been off clonazepam for 10 days.  I would not want to go through the withdrawal symptoms without the help of Neurontin and the supplements recommended by my doctor at the Amen Clinic.  Going off the drug caused increased anxiety, irritability, and not being able to sleep as well.  I went back to taking 300 milligrams of Neurontin four times a day.  Increasing the dosage from 1200 mg a day to 1500 mg a day made me so dizzy it was hard to function.  If the anxiety gets too uncomfortable, I open a 300 milligram capsule of Neurotin, put a little bit in an empty capsule and take it.

These are the supplements that have been extremely helpful to me:

Restful Sleep: Serving 4 capsules   4/bedtime
Vitamin B6 10 mg, Magnesium 100 mg, Melatonin (immediate release) 2.5 mg, Melatonin (controlled release) 2.5 mg, Valerian 600 mg, GABA 100 mg.

Neuro PS:  Serving 1 capsule   2/bedtime
Phosphatidyl Serine 120 mg, Phosphatidylcholine 72 mg, Phosphatidylethanlamine 54 mg, Phosphatidylinositol 30 mg.

Brain Vitale:  Serving 2 capsules   2/morning
Acetyl L-Carnitine 500 mg, GlyceroPhosphoCholine (GPC) 200 mg, Inositol 200 mg, Phosphatidylserine 120 mg, GinkgoSelect Phytosome 90 mg.

I have continued with the diet changes I talked about in Chapter 7.  I am also taking the supplements Dr. Mark Hyman recommends in his book, The UltraMind Solution.  I believe giving my body the nutrients it needs will help it heal.  This is what is included in the The UltraMind Solution Essentials Kit.

Multivitamin/mineral, ProThera, MultiThera 1 Capsule Formula: Serving 6 capsules
2/breakfast  2/lunch  2/dinner
Vitamin A 10,000 I.U., Vitamin C 750 mg, Vitamin D3 800 I.U., Vitamin E 400 I.U., 
Thiamine 50 mg, Riboflavin 25 mg, Niacin 100 mg, Vitamin B6 25 mg, Folate 800 mcg,
Vitamin B12 200 mcg, Biotin 300 mcg, Pantothenic Acid 150 mg, Calcium 250 mg,
Iodine 150 mcg, Magnesium 250 mg, Zinc 15 mg, Selenium 200 mcg, Copper 2 mg,
Manganese 10 mg, Chromium 200 mcg, Molybdenum 150 mcg, Potassium 50 mg,
Boron 2 mg, Vanadium 100 mcg, Choline 100 mg, Inositol 25 mg, para-Aminobenzoic Acid 50 mg, Citrus Bioflavonoids 100 mg.

Calcium/magnesium, ProThera, OsteoThera Capsule Formula: Serving 2 capsules
2/breakfast  2/lunch  2/dinner
Vitamin D3 200 I.U., Vitamin K 200 mcg, Calcium 250 mg, Magnesium 100 mg,
Boron 0.5 mg, Silicon 3 mg.  I have an extra bottle of this formula delivered with my kit to get 1,000 milligrams of calcium every day.

Vitamin D3, Pure Encapsulations, Vitamin D3 1000 IU: Serving 1 capsule   2/breakfast
I am also taking a 50,000 I.U. capsule of vitamin D every month.  My vitamin D level is at 45, and should be between 50 and 80.  I am looking forward to warmer weather so I can be out in the sun more.  Too much vitamin D can be toxic, so it is important to have my level checked by a blood test every six months.

Methylation, Designs for Health, Homocysteine Supreme: Serving 2 capsules
1/breakfast  1/dinner
Vitamin B2 50 mg, Vitamin B6 50 mg, Nature Folate Blend 2 mg, Folinic Acid 400 mcg,
Vitamin B12 1000 mcg, Zinc 5 mg, Magnesium 10 mg, Trimethylglycine 500 mg,
Choline 100 mg,Serine 100 mg, N-Acetyl-Cysteine 100 mg.

Omega-3 fats, Metagenics, EPA-DHA Extra Strength Enteric Coated: Serving 2 capsules
2/breakfast  2/lunch  2/dinner
EPA 600 mg, DHA 400 mg sardine, anchovy, herring.  I have an extra bottle delivered with my kit because I am taking 6,000 milligrams per day.

Probiotics, Metagenics, UltraFlora Plus DF Capsules: Serving 2 capsules
1/breakfast  1/dinner
15 billion live organisms: 50-50 blend of Lactobacillus acidophilus & Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07.

There are days this seems like a lot of supplements to be taking, but I am starting to feel small glimpses of feeling better!  Being sick has motivated me to give my body the nutrients it needs.  The UltraMind Solution is a comprehensive guide to helping your body and brain be healthy.

Mark Hyman, M.D. states the following in his book, The UltraMind Solution.  "The most powerful tool you have to transform your health and improve your mood, mind, and metabolism is your fork!  Use it well and you will thrive.  Choose poorly and you will suffer."

"The varied components of a whole-foods diet not only taste better, make you feel better, and prevent disease, but they are literally medicine.  Mounting scientific evidence points to the power of food as medicine.  These "medicinal" foods are simply the foods our bodies evolved eating---fresh, unadulterated, slow-burning, high-fiber, vitamin- and mineral-rich, omega-3 plentiful, and phytonutrient-dense foods."  (Chapter 14, page 292)

"Think of nutrients as fertilizer for your brain.  Think of them as little helpers that improve communications and connections.  In a perfect world, no one would need supplements.  But given the stress of our modern life, the poor quality of our food supply, and the high load of toxins on our brains and bodies, we clearly need a basic daily supply of the raw materials for all our enzymes and biochemistry to run as designed."  (Chapter 15, page 304)


How to Optimize Your Nutrition for Vibrant Health

The path to better health is simple-and agreed upon by almost all scientists. In this week's UltraWellness podcast, Dr. Mark Hyman explains how to optimize your nutrition and which supplements are crucial for vibrant health.  This podcast is very good and I'm sorry I wasn't able to embed it in the post.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Chapter 10: Detailed Treatment Plan

I believe the psychiatric diagnosis I received at the Amen Clinic is based on a higher level of education than I have experienced in the past. Each person I worked with at the clinic was professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and caring.

This is my treatment plan:

  1. Blood tests: CBC with differential, thyroid panel, chemistry panel, lipid panel, hemoglobin A1c, and 25 hydroxy vitamin D level.
  2. Neurontin:  Prescription drug I started when I got home. I am taking the supplements Neuro PS, Restful Sleep, and Brain Vitale. Neurontin and the supplements are helping calm down the anxiety, and I have been able to slowly lower the dose of clonazepam. I will continue to take Luvox.
  3. Clonazepam:  When I am off this drug and the anxiety has calmed down, I will begin taking Welbutrin SR or XL to stimulate the prefrontal cortex.
  4. Effexor XR: This antidepressant may be effective for me. I would like to try Wellbutrin first, because I don't want to go through Luvox withdrawal and adjusting to Effexor XR side effects.
  5. Vitamin D:  I need to raise my level from 45 to 70.
  6. Fish Oil, Omega 3 Fatty Acids:  I am taking 6,000 mg per day.
  7. Aerobic Exercise:  30 minutes every day. I have only missed a few days since we got home. I feel so much better when I exercise it motivates me to be consistent.
  8. Psychotherapy:  My husband and I went to a therapist for 2 years.  Then I went on my own for 3 three years.  In the past I have done group work dealing with depression.
  9. Education in Brain Healthy Strategies:  Reading Dr. Amen's books, Healing Anxiety and Depression, and Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, have helped. There is also a lot of good information in my AMEN CLINICS, INC. notebook.  This notebook also has a copy of my scans and treatment plan. I'm sure there are other authors who could help in this area as well.
  10. Dietary Strategies: The Amen Clinic supports the diet recommendations in the UltraMind Solution, book by Dr. Hyman.  I want to continue with the diet changes I made before going to the clinic.
  11. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Would be helpful on the prefrontal cortex and cortex. This therapy is available at the Neuropsychiatric Institute in my area.  My insurance company considers this therapy experimental for depression and will not cover it.  I need to find out how much each therapy session would cost.  If I were to have it done in Newport Beach it would be $180.00 per session.  The number of sessions needed can be 20-40, or sometimes more.
  12. Mental Exercises:  Reading, playing music, doing puzzles, or playing memory games to keep the brain active.
  13. Behaviors To Avoid:  Anything putting me at risk for a brain injury or toxic exposure.
  14. Television:  Limit my time watching the tube.
The supplements I am taking have the following ingredients. I purchased the supplements at the Amen Clinic.

Restful Sleep:  4 at bedtime   Serving 4 capsules
Vitamin B6 10 mg, Magnesium 100 mg, Melatonin (immediate release) 2.5 mg, Melatonin (controlled release) 2.5 mg, Valerian 600 mg, GABA 100 mg.

Neuro PS:  2 at bedtime   Serving 1 capsule
Phosphatidyl Serine 120 mg, Phosphatidylcholine 72 mg, Phosphatidylethanlamine 54 mg, Phosphatidylinositol 30 mg.

Brain Vitale:  2 in the morning   Serving 2 capsules
Acetyl L-Carnitine 500 mg, GlyceroPhosphoCholine (GPC) 200 mg, Inositol 200 mg, Phosphatidylserine 120 mg, GinkgoSelect Phytosome 90 mg.

I am following my treatment plan everyday and I am making slow, steady progress.  It has not been easy to come off the drug clonazepam, and I was only taking .25 mg at night before bed.  I have been shaving a small amount off the tablet every ten days.  Three or four days later I have a headache pain medication doesn't relieve, nausea, and a dizzy feeling.  These withdrawal symptoms will last 2-3 days until my body adjusts.  I have a healthy dislike for this medication, but I also know I should not come off too fast.  There are some days I feel impatient.  

It makes me angry I am addicted to a prescription drug that is damaging my brain!


This is the program I was watching on PBS when I first heard about 
Dr. Amen and SPECT Brain Scans.





  

 



































Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Chapter 7: Keys to UltraWellness, Food Sensitivity

A friend who knew I was battling depression recommended I read the book, The UltraMind Solution, by Mark Hyman, M.D. An excellent recommendation! Dr Hyman writes, "I call myself the 'accidental psychiatrist.' I never set out to be a brain or mood expert. In fact, my focus was more on how the body works as a whole system. And people saw me not to treat depression or autism or Alzheimer's, but to deal with chronic complaints and illnesses of the body. . .Over the years as I worked to correct the fundamental imbalances that are the cause of all disease (the seven keys to UltraWellness, which you will learn about in a moment), I discovered that mood and brain disorders would often magically disappear as I treated a patient's physical problems."

I have been dealing with depression since 1981, and I have a strong genetic predisposition for the illness. But I wanted to find out about other ways to help my brain heal, along with taking psychiatric medications. These are the seven keys to UltraWellness:
  1. Optimize Nutrition
  2. Balance Your Hormones
  3. Cool Off Inflammation
  4. Fix Your Digestion
  5. Enhance Detoxification
  6. Boost Energy Metabolism
  7. Calm Your Mind 

Meet Dr. Mark Hyman as he talks about the 
future of medicine and the Seven Keys to UltraWellness.



I was motivated to make major changes in my diet after reading this book.  Dr. Hyman recommends taking dairy and wheat out of your diet for at least six weeks to see if you feel better. If you read this book it will help you decide what diet changes may be helpful for you.  I have several allergies to weeds, trees, and grasses, and have responded well to immunotherapy allergy shots.  If you have an allergy to something it usually causes an immediate reaction; if you have a sensitivity it can take 2-5 days to cause a reaction in your immune system.  I don't have any allergies to foods, but I thought I may have some sensitivities since I am so allergic to other things.

My son and I had blood drawn for the IgG Comprehensive Food Sensitivity Assay test. It is also known as the ELISA test. Dr. Hyman talks about this test in the book. We found out my son is gluten intolerant, so that has changed our diet dramatically. After receiving the results of my ELISA test I have eliminated or cut back on all of the foods I am sensitive to. I am hoping this will help reduce the inflammation in my body and help heal my brain.  Dr Hyman educated me on this issue in his book.  I eat the +1 foods occasionally.

These are the results of my test: +4 is the highest sensitivity and +1 is the lowest sensitivity.

Alfalfa +1               Mustard +1                 Salmon +1                           Wheat +1
Cumin +1               Onion +1                    Seed, Caraway +1               Yeast, Baker's +3
Egg +4                   Paprika +1                 Squash, Yellow +1                Yeast, Brewer's +4
Garlic +1                Pumpkin +1               Tomato +2                            Zucchini +1
Milk, Cow's +1

If you are interested in finding out more about the IgG ELISA test, go to http://www.immunolabs.com/.  Their customer service was very helpful.
  
I also decided to eliminate white flour, white sugar, and most fats other than olive oil from my diet.  (I still put a little butter on my sweet potatoes and baked white potatoes. :)  My digestion is more efficient and I feel better after I eat.  It hasn't cured my depression, but I believe it is an important part of my treatment plan.  The changes in my diet, and exercise helped bring my cholesterol down from 216 to 163.  Yay!

Dr. Hyman includes The UltraMind Solution Companion Guide with his book.  It has a page in the, Set the Stage for Success, section which recommends items you may need to prepare the food in his recipes.  He calls them UltraEssentials.  Amazon.com has many of these items if you are interested.  I love to shop at Amazon.  They usually have what I need (or want) for the best prices.