When I have time...

I would like to blog about Buddhism

1) Vajrayana

2) Triratna, the buddhist centre pdf - here

3) Meditation

Eliminate soy - yay or nay.

So I'm trying to eliminate dairy - lactose on the Low FODMAP diet.

Which led me to read up more about soy - a dairy alternative.

I've heard people linking soy to breast cancer...

But according to Chris Kresser, modern processed soy is linked to digestive problems (ME!), thyroid dysfunction (ME!), cognitive decline (Possibly..), reproductive disorders (ME!), Immune system breakdown (fingers crossed), heart disease (hope not...>.<) and cancer (we shall see).

The soybean, innocent as it may seem, apparently contains many naturally occuring toxins - harmful! yes..
All legumes contain toxins, but the problem with toxins from soy is that they are found in very high levels and are resistant to the traditional ways of getting rid of them (I am not quite sure what the traditional ways are).

According to Kresser, soy products which have undergone a long and slow fermentation process (miso, tempeh and soy sauce) are rid of phytic acid and other digestive inhibitors, but not of phytoestrogens - which according to the United State's National Institute on Health may lead to both desirable and non-desirable effects.

And from Gunnar's article

Mineral absorption
Whole soybeans contain phytates which block absorption of minerals. Soybeans are very rich in Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can cause problems.

Breast cancerSoy isoflavones can increase the multiplication of cells in the breasts. However, observational studies show a reduced risk of breast cancer. Soy may lead to mild disruptions of the normal menstrual cycle.

Testosterone reductionExposure to estrogen-like compounds in the womb can lead to adverse effects on males. Studies on the effects of soy on testosterone and sperm quality are inconclusive.

Hypothyroidism
Even though soy isoflavones have been shown to inhibit the function of a key enzyme in the thyroid, there is not enough evidence to conclude that they contribute to hypothyroidism in adults.

So whilst it's unknown whether soy is truly linked or a causation of the aforementioned illnesses. I think it's safe to say, I should avoid soy.

All soy?

Not soy lecithin - an additive.
Small amounts of miso, natto, soy sauce, tempeh are fine.
But definitely not the processed soy used in vegetarian 'meat', soy milk and other processed foods.

Introduction to IBS.

My Hashimoto's Disease is now well and truly managed and controlled! I have not needed to resort to Thyroxin. My endocrologist have advised that my TSH levels are now in the normal range too :) 

Delighted!

But my IBS flares up ocassionally. And when it does. I want to punch my stomach and faint, so that I am unconscious and cannot feel the pain. Yep, it's that bad. Most times, I hide it. I think I do an okay job. It does affect my mood, so I haven't perfected it yet...

Anyhow. I thought to myself AGAIN: It's time to do something about it. 

It is one of my New Year's Resolution, that I do something about my diet to combat and minimise the symptoms of IBS. 

a) Low FODMAP diet

b) Meditation/ Yoga 

When the Low FODMAP diet proves ineffective I think I will pursue GAPS diet. 

Chris Kresser

I love this guy. He makes sense to me when most doctors don't. 

I like alternative/ integrative medicine practitioners. I know they are technically not medically trained of the Western tradition and most people think they are airy-fairy... But I like that they get down to the root causes of the problem, rather than prescribe a drug to treat/ manage or cure it (if it is curable) when it becomes a full-fledge medical problem. 

I used to work at a medical centre..and did develop respect for doctors. But over the years I have learnt that these doctors were not interested in hearing me whinge about my stomach problems. I was convinced I was gluten intolerant, only to hear my doctor tell me, the tests for coeliac disease came out as negative. 5 years later, I found out myself that there is NO such thing as a test for gluten intolerance, the sufferer him/her-self needs to identify it themselves because technically it's not a disease or allergy. It is merely an intolerance albeit an extremely punishing one. 

So when my doctors didn't know what to do with my whinging, they termed my medical condition as IBS - which is a catch all for digestive issues ranging from diarrhea, bloatess to constipation. 

Disclaimer: The following paragraph may not be suitable to people who are sensitive to detailed description of the gut and human wastes.

At my worst (this was spanned across different stages of my life), I burped for hours end thinking I was an alien and how I could possibly stomach that much gas within me (literally). Or the time when I was constipated for a whole week and my mum had to force soap (the kind you lather across your body) up my a-hole. I was fucked up. 

As a child, I had severe eczema. I think this has something to do with my gut too.

I shall devote a whole post to the gut at a later stage. It has affected me and my whole life after all, and I think it's only fair.