Day 7: I'm right-on!

Surfing the internet tonight, I found this fantastic paper called

Equilibrium Theory by JG Goetz in the Townsend Examiner

Here is what he had to say about ALS. I did not know about the zinc-but I
requested to be tested for a deficency. This is EXACTLY what I have been thinking,
although he puts is quite eloquently.

"Curing ALS or MS requires climbing the “disease cliff” of functional exhaustions
and imbalances, and restoring homeostasis to all systems. Unfortunately, Western pharmaceuticals, which stimulate but do not nourish physiology, cannot repair and restore homeostatic mechanisms, and are probably not the answer to ALS and its complicated loss of zinc and Healing l Energy homeostasis. What is needed is the potency of pharmaceuticals somehow combined with the nourishment of nutrition (nature’s original and subtle chemistry) to bring functional exhaustions back
to life and functional imbalances back into equilibrium. Fortunately,
this can be done with what could be described as “super nutrition” – a synergy of functionally on-target and homeostatically balanced B vitamins, fatty acids, and trace metals (prime example, zinc and copper for ALS) produces a totally nourishing functional hyperactivity throughout affected systems, and thereby overcomes and washes away all functional hypoactivities and imbalances caused by past toxicants, traumas and deprivations. Anecdotally, this type of protocol restores healthy homeostasis permanently, but clinical studies are needed to prove this new paradigm.

One caveat for ALS. Unlike other chronic diseases where complete recovery is possible, ALS is extremely pernicious in nature – it involves motor neuron death, and dead cells are gone forever. Restoration of CuZnSOD synthesis, related zinc defenses and overall zinc and Healing l Energy homeostasis should halt the ALS disease process, but cannot reverse damage already done. Consequently, early intervention is necessary for a good ALS outcome."

Day 6: Challenged

Well...yesterday was a bit of a challenge, and well...when we got home
from Scouts I ate some plain grilled chicken and kettle chips. Not a
lot mind you, but I ate 'em. No one will blame me I know, but my goal
is really to stay true to the Feast (not fast). I have learned over
the last 2 months of changing my diet to gluten/soy/lactose free not
to feel guilty at the little "failures". They teach me something about
what is going on physically and spiritually. Remember this is really
an experiment where I am eliminating foods that are a problem. Please
know that my health is super important to me and I am not going to do
anything crazy to jeopardize it. BTW I did have a tiny bit of twitching
in my cheek after that.

So this is what I now know. #1 removing protein from my diet is baaaad!
I had removed the protein Sunday & Monday to see if it was the lettuce
glutamates causing the cheek/lip numbness. It worked! I had no numbness
in the face, but may arms have had a strange sensation, not weakness,
but slight tiredness. Not the severe profound weakness as before I began
the Feast. So having some protein last night was a good thing. The more
juice I am drink today, the more it is dissipating.

This morning ( Day 7 )I juiced all the fruits low in glutamates and a
head of red leaf and romaine lettuces as well a broccoli. I added the
chlorella powder back and have had no reactions at all. I have already
drunk 3 quarts so I can tell.

I will add the spirulina back tomorrow and see if there is a reaction.
I hope not as I need as much nutrition as I can get.

I am pretty excited to know that I can tolerate the lettuces and chlorella.
I believe the reaction was probably due to non organic veggies. Non organic
veggies are sprayed with citric acid, a close cousin to MSG. It keeps the
lettuce in salad bars and grocery stores looking perky for longer.

#2 The spiritual aspect is pretty interesting as well. The challenges of
researching, shopping, housework, cooking for the family as well as juicing,
home schooling, church commitments all came crashing in on me last night.
You know, I do have a lot going on, but really it is doable with
focus, organization, saying no to things that I can't do and prayer.
Guess what has not been on that list? That's right, the Lord. I am a
mature christian. What have I been doing? That's right folks. Neglecting
my personal prayer time. It really affects me! I do a devotional with
Curtis every day, but my own time with the Lord is crucial. I'd say
it's more important that the juicing. So why have I been neglectful?
Feelings. Oh yeah. I cannot believe how susceptible I am to feelings.
It is easier to walk by faith and not by sight. God is leading, but
is sure is a walk of faith. I am doing well, but this is a challenge
I wish I did not have to take up. As always, God does not waste any
of the circumstances in our lives to train us, and He is doing this
with me. This is about so much more than juicing/ health. I am learning
to call upon His name in a new and deeper way. Today I got up and
made time to read my Bible. When I helped Erik with his AWANA Club Bible
verse- it was "Lord sanctify them by your truth, your Word is truth."
John 17:17 Just a reminder that I need to be reading my Bible every day!

Moorea

Day 5: Sunday Rest

I love 2nd year gardens. They bloom and fill out all by themselves.
I put so much work and money into it last year, but this year, it
is looking beautiful without any help. It made me think about what
might be happening next year. If I am able to stick to this, next
year could be like that for my body. Healing will be taking place
and maybe I will have all the energy I used to have back.


This weekend, I made the discovery that glutamates are in all foods.
They are an essential amino acids. This poses a problem for me.
My a priori argument is that I have too many glutamates in my brain.
I need to reduce the amount of glutamates. I found a site that lists
the glutamate content of fruits and veggies. I made a huge list of
the lowest ones.


A few are pineapple, apple, cucumber, banana, celery and navel oranges.
I added parsley for my lungs. I have had a lot of mucous in my lungs
the last few days.


Look at this beauty. It was simply delicious. Not some overly sweet fake
smoothie, but pure nutrition. I have not had one twitch or any numbness
in my cheeks or around my mouth, unlike the super greens which have a
higher glutamate content and still causes some numbness in my face. The
problem is, I cannot live on this juice, it does not have enough protein
in it. But it is a nice juice to have on the weekend as a break from
all the super greens.

"You have hedged me behind and before, you have laid your hand upon me."
Psalm 139:5


Moorea

Day 4: The Process

Purchase

Sort

Wash

Chop

Ninja

Mix it all up!

Spoon into quart containers.

Enjoy Living!

Moorea

Day 3: Rejoicing

This morning has been tremendous! It's not necessarily the feeling
if not having any symptoms. It's the absence of fear, the feeling
of accomplishment at actually doing this program and knowing God's
loving kindness toward me is so great. Although I have an incredible
amount to learn about being a Vegan, I am getting a handle on this.

"I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
for you have seen my troubles, and you care about
the anguish of my soul." ~Psalm 31:7

Moorea

Day 2: Better

I made it through Day 1 without taking a bite of the Kid's leftover chili. Whew!
Today has been a TON better. I got up early to juice and get to an 8 am Dr.s
appointment with Lisa, a throat and neck therapist in the surgery dept at
Kaiser. How she ended up with my case is such a God thing! She was an angel
sent to give me lots of encouragement!

Backstory:
I saw a surgeon last week, who took a look at my vocal chords (uncomfortable)
to see if there was any atrophy of them or the surrounding area. It was
totally clear! Thank you Lord! He told me he was going to send a referral
to radiology for a barium swallow so they can pinpoint the area where the
tongue is not swallowing. It would help them consider how to protect my
airway in case of atrophy. Anyhow, the surgeon sent the referral to the
wrong place-(God redirected it!)

When Lisa called, she apologized for the referral being sent to her- and
not to radiology, as "Dr. __ knows better! Why'd he send it to me?" She
was curious about my case and wanted to know what was going on with me,
and why I had cancelled an appointment with another speech therapist.
I told her all about what was going on with me, and all the while she
kept saying "You sound so good!" ALS patients have slurred speech at the
beginning much of the time, so I think it was either that I had no slurred
speech or I was just really upbeat. Depression is very common is ALS
patients and I was not depressed. So, she said I should call her with
any concerns and we hung up.

She called back last night to tell me the referral came in and wanted to
see how I am doing and make sure I was not going to cancel again. I told
her that I think I should cancel, since my symptoms were going away! She
She was very surprised and asked me to come in to see her soon. As we
were talking, she said "Where did my patient go? Oh, well, it looks like
a spot is open for tomorrow- can you come in at 8 am?" WOW! God did not
want me to wait for the encouragement He had is store for me!

Present:
Saw her today for one hour! She asked me all kinds of questions about
my symptoms- and we established that if I followed the vegan diet to
the tee- my symptoms would disappear- because that is what is happening!
Day 2 has brought me back to where I was months ago- with the swallowing
as an inconvenience, but nothing I took seriously. To God be the glory.
He led me to just the right juicing information in a few clicks.

She told me that in 30 years of doing this work, she has never seen an
ALS patient's symptoms regress. She said "Not to go there" with the
diagnosis of ALS. Keep positive and keep on with this diet. See if it
works.

You know, at the beginning of this whole thing, I knew it was ALS.
My symptoms are very specific, and the diagnosis is a clinical one.
There are not tests to perform until I was much more advanced to get
a definitive diagnosis. We went there. I accepted it. Curtis accepted it.
We totally gave it to to the Lord. I had peace, and I have peace now.
I can truly say that if this does not work, we trust that my time
is in the Lord's hands. No disease can take me unless He allows it.
I'm not going without a fight against whatever this is. But if He
allows it, we trust Him. I thank Him for the little mercies- Lisa is
one of them!

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, Oh God! How great is the
sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than
the sand; When I awake, I am still with you." Psalm 139:18

Moorea

Day 1: Difficulties

What was I thinking? That drinking green pulp would be easy and pleasant?
Yep- I'm a Pollyanna. But it has been T minus 9 hours and I am ready to
GIVE UP! Remember when Pollyanna got hurt and gave up being so cheerful
because she "faced the reality" she was never going to walk again? That's
me. I have been so optimistic about this Vegan thing. It has helped, but
now that I am doing it full time ( 1 day!), it seems monumental. It IS
monumental.

Why is it so hard? Chili. I made chili for the kids. Yum. Yeah- YUM!
It smells so good! I am sipping on my juice. Trying not to take a bite.
Dan is putting the food away. I know I can do it. I know I can. I know I can!
I know I can because the results are disastrous if I do not. A few weeks
ago I knew I was going to stop talking because of the profound weakness
in my tongue and jaw. This is the Ultra Voice Plus a handy device
that helps ALS patients to communicate and live a full life even though
they have stopped talking. Ironically this device terrifies and motivates
me. It represents the horrible reality that even Vegan eating to avoid
MSG may not be able to stop it, but motivates me to continue, because it
just may be the beginning of the healing process.

Where are you in this Lord?
"O LORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O LORD, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!"

2 Chronicles 14:11

Moorea