Wednesday: Spreadsheets and day three of gluten free dining

Chicken/cheese nacho chips recipe

Spreadsheets
I am taking so many vitamins and supplements right now I have to keep them on a spreadsheet or I’ll lose track. This is what happens when you’re trying to undo years of the Standard American Diet and your brain is angry with you and your immune system is giving you the finger.

The regimen I’m following is thanks to Dr. Julia Ross’ book The Diet Cure. Her companion book The Mood Cure outlines the same supplements, but with greater emphasis on addiction and mood/behavior. I highly recommend both books. I have to keep ordering more since I keep giving my copies away to friends.

The specific supplements are largely due to the quizzes I have taken from her book which indicate I deal with anxiety and stress/depression, so your supplement regimen will look very different. The supplements can be found locally at drug stores, big box department stores and your whole foods grocers and vitamin shops.

No, it is not easy to take this many supplements per day, but as Ross suggests, a few of these, minimally, are temporary and won’t be required anymore once our brain’s stores are filled and feeling chipper. Remember: Part of what you’re doing with aminos is replacing what your brain needs, so once your brain is making its own supply again, you won’t need to supplement anymore. On that day, I am going to put on my coconut bra and do a dance.

That said, I should also say I feel absolutely amazing and I attribute this with the supplements. I have just restarted low carbing after the new year (I had taken some time off) and have had no cravings. That alone is amazing. I’m also more focused and less tired, less stressed and less anxious.

I’m not sure yet how I feel about GABA. I am still evaluating whether I need to take it earlier in the day or if I need it at all, so I took some just a bit ago. Here are some side effects of GABA: side effects. It makes my hair and lips crawl, caused my toe to hurt, my heard to race, dysphoria, pins and needles and made me hyper. My story. I list it below for the time being.

Following is what I am taking, but please don’t assume you need these supplements! In fact, GABA and 5-HTP, along with the other amino acids, should be checked for contraindications with any medical conditions or other medications you may be taking. In short, make sure to talk to your doctor if you have questions. I’m just a chick with a supplements spreadsheet.

Per Ross’ book I am taking (1 per, unless otherwise noted):

Upon waking: L-Glutamine, Vitamin C
Breakfast: B-complex, Vitamin D, omega 3 (DHA/EPA), L-carnitine, and 2 Multivitamins
Mid-morning: GABA*, 5-HTP, L-Glutamine, and Vitamin C
Lunch: Vitamin D, 2 multivitamins
Mid-Afternoon: GABA*, L-Glutamine, Vitamin C, 5-HTP
Dinner:  B-complex, 2 multivitamins, omega 3 (DHA/EPA)
Bedtime: GABA*, 5-HTP, Vitamin C

Types and dosages (per dosage): 
L-Glutamine: Now brand. 500 mg (an amino acid, fights carb cravings)
Vitamin C: NatureMade: 1000 mg (C is for cookie.. and for helping your immune system)
B-complex: Coenzyme by Country Life ( B-1 50 mg, B-2 50mg, B-6 80 mg, B-12 500msg, Biotin 200mcg) (B helps with mood, well being, etc. Having all B’s in one capsule is tremendous)
Vitamin D: NatureMade: 1000 i.u (Fights inflammation, boosts immune system, said to help with Seasonal Affective Disorder/mood)
Omega3: Carlson Norwegian Salmon Oil softgels: 1000 mg (helps cognitive and function in the brain and helps the immune system)
GABA: TwinLab: 200 mg (amino acid for fighting anxiety, helps relaxation)
L-Carnitine: Spring Valley: 500 mg (fights sugar cravings and helps break dietary fat down for fuel)
Zinc: Spring Valley: 50 mg (helps the immune system)
5-HTP: Nature’s Way: 50 mg (amino acid that helps with depression and stress)
Multivitamin: Natrol My Favorite Multiple (note: Contains wheat. Idiots) (contains chromium picolinate, which is a mood booster that also fights carb/sugar cravings)

And you ask why I have a spreadsheet.

  

Gluten free menu for Wednesday
Here are the meals for Wednesday. You’ll note lunches and breakfasts don’t change much. The kids are creatures of habit.

Breakfast for the low carbers:
Dad: Carbmaster Yogurt
Mom: Bacon and egg, sunny side up
Boy#1: Eggs and bacon
Boy #2: Eggs and bacon

Breakfast for the high carbers:
Girl #1: Carbmaster yogurt and Crispix
Girl #2: Crispix and milk

Lunch for the low carbers:
Mom: Casserole pizza
Dad: Chicken Parm leftovers
Boy #1: Leftover eggs and bacon

Lunch for high carbers:
Girl #1: 1 rice cake with peanut butter, Nut Thins, Ghirardelli chocolate
Girl #2: rice cake with peanut butter, gluten free cookie, carrots
Boy #2 still shares lunch with sister and mooches part of hers

Dinner for the high carbers:
Salmon with mashed garlic potatoes

Dinner for the low carbers:
Salmon with glazed carrots

Notes: I just found out that the multivitamin Julia Ross recommends contains wheat and gluten. This is surprising, since Ross, herself, is an opponent of wheat and gluten and recommends this multivitamin. I am going to check her book again to see if she mentions something about wheat or gluten in this brand and will definitely look for another brand the next time I purchase these (next month). I would be an unhappy camper but I’m too vitamin-ed up to be too upset. I’m not counting this as a loss and will continue to take the supplements knowing the amount is minimal and won’t affect the experiment.