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I tried, really. Several books and research articles made me think this diet would help with my systemic hormonal imbalance, inflammation, GI upset, and acne. Going dairy-free, while still a way to benefit the environment, is not a way to benefit my personal health. I had zero improvement in my digestion, pain, and acne. Going forward, I'll restrict but not eliminate my consumption of dairy products and eggs (i.e., my breakfasts and baking will be vegan). If you're thinking of making any diet change while chronically ill, you have to talk to your health care professional first and ease into the change. For more background on why I tried this challenge, see my previous post. I am grateful for the products and resources I used during my dairy-free challenge. Coconut Cloud cocoa mix and Ghiradelli Twilight dark chocolate bars were my chocolate replacements. One of the resources I'd recommend to people considering changing their diets to benefit their health is The Complete Acne Health and Diet Guide by Dr. Makoko Trotter. His book is full of research, skincare ingredients to avoid, patient testimonials, and recipes. However, he recognizes that cutting sugar and dairy might be too much to ask and kindly summarizes the best course of action: Reduce sugar! The second is Alisa Fleming’s godairyfree.org, the companion site to her book. Various tabs cover health conditions the diet can ease, FAQ, product reviews, and guidance for baking and dining out. In short, too much dairy promotes hormone imbalance because of the hormones naturally and unnaturally appearing in milk. It's frustrating to still have my digestive system be malfunctioning. If you have an idea as to why this well-researched diet didn't work for me, let me know in the comments! Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to help other patients and enlighten health care professionals about our experiences. If you’d like to receive quarterly updates from her, sign up by emailing darla.nagel{a} gmail.com.
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“Let nothing dim the light that shines from within.” —Maya Angelou Bonus quote: “See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see.” —Dr. Wayne Dyer Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to educate healthcare professionals and encourage patients. If you want to receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel {a} gmail.com.Do you have poor circulation, Reynaud's, or cold intolerance? If so, winter stinks, but for Christmas I received two warming products. They've made work and relaxation more comfortable. First, I tried the Proaller foot warmer. This soft, lap blanket–sized pocket heats up within 30 seconds, has three heat settings, and is washable. I've never needed the high heat setting because medium is already very toasty. You can stick your feet in, but I also put the warmer on my lap and tuck my hands inside. Second, I tried the ValueRays Mouse Hand Warmer. This square pocket with nonskid bottom and fleece top plugs in and heats via USB. It's slightly larger than the average mouse pad, so your mouse pad, mouse, and hand will fit inside and move around without the scroll wheel or buttons being affected. I can slide my mouse across the outside of the pocket if my hand gets too hot. This product also doubles as a lap warmer if you're of a fairly small build. Here's to toasty fingers and toes in 2020! If there's another warming product you want me to try, tell me in the comments! Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to educate healthcare professionals and encourage patients. If you want to receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel{a}gmail.com.
After reading a few books on diets meant to help acne and inflammation, I was inspired to try a mostly vegan (cheating allowed at dinner and on Thanksgiving), nut- and oil-free diet for a month. I got the okay from my specialist, made a trip to Whole Foods, got a notebook to write down what I ate when, and told my parents (who were puzzled). I had some diarrhea the first few days but attributed it to excess fiber and my usual sensitive gut. A month later, I’m down to diarrhea once or twice a week but in just as much pain and with just as many zits as before. Plus, I’m irritable and spending too much time reading food labels and explaining my crazy-sounding experiment. The books say to wait at least six weeks for results, but frankly, I’ve had enough. I let nuts and eggs back into my diet on Sunday. It really is true that there isn’t one diet that works for everyone. It is also true that you need to run diet changes by a physician first. What I’m still wondering is whether all along my problem has been dairy, not oil, nuts, eggs, or meat. The diet books I read disagreed on whether you have to be a full vegan to see health benefits from your food, but all of them explained the harms of dairy. In short, cow’s milk has growth hormones meant for baby calves. Add too many of those hormones to a human body that has hormonal imbalance and system-wide inflammation (hey, that’s me!), and you get extra imbalance and extra inflammation. I’ll go into further detail in my next book review post. For now, I’m going to do one last diet experiment on myself: I’m going to go dairy-free for two weeks in January. That’s still monumental for someone whose favorite food is milk chocolate and favorite drink is mocha. Watch for my update next month! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Source: Theo Crazzolara, Flickr Creative Commons Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to educate healthcare professionals and encourage patients. If you want to receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel{a}gmail.com.
Take Daily as Needed by Kathryn Trueblood Never have I read a book that truly captures a feeling I've often had: guilt for the effects of one's chronic illness on one's family. Trueblood's 2019 novel is written as a chronological set of short stories centering on one somewhat dysfunctional family. It's an atypical novel focused on what may seem to be atypical experiences but actually are the norm for countless families. Because there is so little well-written fiction concerning a family with various emotional and physical disabilities and illnesses, this book helps fill that void and is therefore valuable. There are books you read to escape from the harshness of life, and there are books you read to find empathy in dealing with the harshness of life. Those who seek the latter will find it in Take Daily as Needed. The illnesses focused on are ADHD and Crohn’s. You can learn more about the book on Goodreads. The Clear Skin Diet by Nina and Randa Nelson If you’re searching for a radical way to eliminate acne and for research that counters the commercial food industry’s claims that we need meat, dairy, and fat in our diets to survive, you’ll find it in The Clear Skin Diet (2018). Dozens of young people following the plan, which eliminates all animal products, oils, and high-fat plant products and promotes fresh, unprocessed foods (I know, that might make you quit reading right there, but humor the beautiful authors for several more chapters), totally cleared their severe acne. The photos, testimonials, and snippets from nutritionists and functional medicine doctors appear honest and dramatic. The book is written in an approachable style and provides counterarguments for common objections and over a dozen recipes. I was inspired to try the diet, following it 80% for four weeks as my specialist recommended. You need to consult with your own physician before making such a radical change. That is not emphasized enough in this book. I made extra trips to the bathroom the first three days of the diet (eating way more fiber!!). (If it helps my acne, I’ll let you know in a separate post. I’m only a week in.) Those with cystic acne, food allergies, or depression should consider this book. You can view the authors’ website at ClearSkinDiet.com.  Photo credit: Stefano Corso, Flickr Creative Commons Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to educate healthcare professionals and encourage patients. If you want to receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel{a}gmail.com.
Maybe you liked the 80s, but I'm sure you don't want federal research funding for a disease that affects more than 1 million Americans to be like it was in the 80s. Check out this video from #MEAction: https://youtu.be/B5mw45nE6Qg #NotEnoughforME #pwme Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to educate healthcare professionals and encourage patients. If you want to receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel{a}gmail.com.
Did you know it's Invisible Disabilities Week? If not, now you know and can share the news with others. How visible an illness or disability is does not determine its severity. Millions suffer not only from invisible disabilities and illnesses but also from others' misunderstanding. You can change that by:
 Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to help other patients and enlighten health care professionals about our experiences. If you’d like to receive quarterly updates from her, sign up by emailing darla.nagel{a}gmail.com.
One year after the launch of Lightening the Shadow, my book for people with chronic illnesses and their healthcare providers, I see hope. I see hope in the form of readers who have opened up to me about their own experiences, of a tiny increase in federal research funding for ME/CFS, and of my continued ability to write and copyedit. If you haven't left a review of the book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, write one today! Reviews are how writers reach more readers, and there are many more readers out there who need this book. If you haven't read the book, it's never too late to read it! You can get a free sample on Amazon or get a free expanded sample by emailing me. We have the most hope in ending the silent suffering of ME, fibromyalgia, and all other invisible disabling illnesses if we work together in making our experiences known.  Source: Kinden Kuo, Flickr Creative Commons Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to educate healthcare professionals and encourage patients. If you want to receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel{a}gmail.com.
What better day to learn about ME than Severe ME Day? Rather than reading stats or a list of symptoms, read a patient's story, written to educate doctors, patients, and those who know patients. You know the name of this patient. My account doesn't take long to read. Get a copy for someone you love, for your healthcare provider, or yourself. Help end the suffering of ME. https://www.amazon.com/Lightening-Shadow-Diagnosing-Invisible-Chronic/dp/069214949X  Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to educate healthcare providers and encourage patients. To receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel{a}gmail.com.
I do not know the cause of ME, but I read research abstracts when I can. It’s uncertain how each organ system goes awry and in what sequence. Organ systems are interrelated and affect each other. ME/CFS impairs mainly the immune, neurological, and endocrine systems.
 What causes ME? Source: Liza, Flickr Creative Commons Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to encourage patients and educate health care professionals. If you want to receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel {a} gmail.com.
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