I was introduced to Kefir grains by a lady at the Ilkley meeting last year. She shall remain anonymous mainly because I have forgotten her name? As I do most with people I meet so please don’t think your special. I would like to thank anonymous as this is an ideal addition to my healthy eating plan as part of me not growing into a 600lb person like the poor sad people they show on the tele. It is so easy to make and promotes good bacteria in the gut. Costs a lot less than a supermarket and you know exactly what’s in it. I look forward to seeing Ann Onymous on the 12th in Leeds where we might have time to discuss the benefits of diet and how it affects PMR. Some people have chosen Paleo and others Lectin free. I also like the Michael Moseley 5/2 concept. It’s what ever works for you to try and keep weight gain at bay with Pred. Some people don’t have weight problems. I do. I have never take in to account those who can’t gain weight previously? This was discussed at another meet up. It bothers those individuals just as much.
I add sweetener occasionally to my Kefir as a sugar addict it’s my treat. Not always as you can swallow it quickly without and residual taste. Not much any way 😳😫😋 Have a go see what you think.
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Estellemac
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I make a low carb granola and soak it in kefir then eat it with my pred every evening. When you make your own it varies so much, sometimes it's OK as it comes, sometimes I add a drizzle of maple syrup. Not only good for the gut bio. but also contains vit. K. Worth trying as you say.
Nice to know about Vit K. Your so right about consistency. I am still working on a decent loaf of sourdough. Sometimes a brick sometimes edible. But it’s the excitement when it’s finished that counts.
I have a sourdough starter in a big jar in the airing cupboard that you have to feed , it's five years strong now , and great with gluten free flour too.
Mine must be in double figures now. It's not as lucky as yours because it usually lives in the fridge now and I wake it up when I need to by putting it somewhere warm and feeding it. When I made bread daily it lived on the counter.
My younger son complains that there is something bubbling in my kitchen!
My old starter was about 12 years , until someone picked it up to move it to vigorously and it made a giant bubble inside pop and they got spooked and dropped it . Tiled floor , Smash !! Argh!!
The culprit was a 6 ft 7 Man who screamed like the woman in Tom and Jerry when she sees the mouse , bounced in the air like Mr Bean and flung it !
As a Politician I'd have thought he'd have more backbone , xxxx
Thanks for acknowledging us ‘skinnies’! Much appreciated. I’m positively enjoying the added weight that pred has given me. I cut carbs to see if aches and pains abated, but even on pred I lost weight 🙁 I’m sorry for those that struggle with too much weight due to pred, but ‘skinnies’ rarely are considered. It’s nice to be mentioned, thanks 💋
Love kefir , it's great to make your own as the premade kefir products are so expensive in the shops .
I add natural Stevia or good honey to it to sweeten , and vanilla can make it sweeter too.
I have a friend who makes me ginger beer with kefir , it tastes great and the ginger is really good for its antiviral , anti-inflammatory effect on your body too.
The more natural and food based things you can use to improve your symptoms is great. It really speeds up recovery and reduces the infections you have too.
I hope more people start recommending food and diets that have helped them with PMR / GCA symptoms and coping on steroids , get anymore info please let us know .
If you can enjoy it and it does you good that a great thing. xx
The probiotics , and non lactose help. I don't like the taste of soya milk , but almond milk in drinks and with cereal is nice and that Oat Cream isn't too bad either.
I've been using anonymous's kefir grains too, since our December meeting. On Jud66's recommendation I make it into a smoothie for my lunch, with banana and black grapes etc - lovely and sweet and pink! (I've never liked milk to drink, so have to disguise it.)
Great to read about the vitamin K, as I've got osteoporosis.
It looks as if you've enough grains there to share round the whole group next week!
We'll remind you who Ann Onymous is when we see you.
Just thought I may be wrong and it might have been Jud66 who gave you the grains - pred head again!
I shall bring some I have small jam pot to transport it in. Looking forward to the meeting it like going to the doctors but people care and listen. Se good ideas and guidance never goes amiss. See you soon.
Be careful with using Kefir as it is not recommended to use if you are on Warfarin, as I am, because it reacts and causes blood to become even thinner.
It shouldn't matter if you are having the INR checked regularly and also consume Kefir (or any other so-called forbidden food) regularly. The problem arises if you don't eat/drink things for ages and then binge on them. There are never "don't eat ..." instructions here - just advice to eat such things regularly.
The perceived problem with kefir is the fact fermented foods contain vit K, in the form of vit K2 - but vit K2 is NOT the same as vit K1 which is what is involved in blood clotting. It makes sense to be careful - but consistency of diet is the answer. I eat vast quantities of brussels sprouts and other dark green veg - it wasn't that that eventually messed up my INR!
Good link thanks. I eat everything now but have now learned to do so in moderation. I stopped binging when I was laid up waiting for my new hip. I didn’t have any enablers. We all need fats protein and carbs. Don’t buy low fat foods as they supplement the fat with sugar.
I’ve worked out what I need for a healthy digestion too. Love greens of any type and most veg. My problem is exercise and motivation. Blaming PMR for pain and my OA. I get all my vitamins from food.
Avoiding temptation when I am out is a biggy for me. But I am going places now that don’t do attractive food. Dressing in just fit clothes makes me feel a bit better. Though they are straight off soon as I get in. Trying to do a household activity after a meal detracts me from food focus. I was normal no food obsessions loved outdoors and exercise. But that was then and this is now. I had an easy ride till now we all have to work with the cards were dealt.
Drinking a cool drink of water , or green tea when you feel like snacking or just before meals helps.
Often we are not actually craving food when we feel hungry but actually dehydrated ( sometimes that happens even if we think we drink alot as we are fighting off inflammation every day ) When you have a drink , it often reduces your appetite because water was actually what your body needed .
That's one of my most tried and tested useful tips.
And when you can't do exercise or housework to distract you because you are in Fatigue or just in your rest period to balance your recovery you can always find other less active but brain boosting activities to help get the positive mind health that keeps you going too.
That's why I am so happy that all these new TV platforms are up now . You can get access to so many documentary programmes and series that are uplifting and make you think. Or Art therapy that suits you helps .
Well they do manage the transit of the digestive system well. But Parker does have a screen separating him from M’Lady. He says it’s so he he can concentrate on driving??
There are people here who were playing Spronkers at Christmas. Vast amounts of Sprouts were involved then. I wrote a song or was it an ode to Spronking That was good diversion therapy from thinking about PMR and Christmas past. 🙃
It was. How lovely to see your family all the way from the other side of the world. I went to Oz in September. It was the fantastic. I love Aussies and the country. We only did Sydney but got a good introduction if we could ever go again.
If you want a distraction you can still read it , just click on my icon and it is in my posts on the profile page.
It also caused another equally distracting post , so you can just put the word Spronkers in the search and find it.
A bit of laughter with a link to how PMR makes you feel , it may make you giggle , especially members replies , and laughter is a great drug in our battle with PMR.
Yes thank you , I loved your song and printed it off we are going to sing it before the beginning of the Spronkers Games every year .
( If people are confused I wrote a post about Spronkers and how PMR would affect my skills at a Christmas , you can get it through my profile by clicking on my icon, people found it funny )
As for Sprouts , I have tried eating more than you should , unfortunately with my gastric symptoms they just turned me into a balloon with a very slow puncture.
So , in seriousness, if you do have certain gastric issues or constipation , some of your fibre foods should be eaten in small portions so you can get your system running but with a bit less pain and bloating.
So glad you liked the Spronkers post E and it still makes you smile , laughter really is one of the best weapons in our arsenal in the fight against this irritating disease.
You can buy a starter on line to get a good strain. I will take some to Ilkley meeting next Tuesday. The lady who introduced me to Kefir had some grains with her but I forgot to get some when we left.
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