two more cents, Lierre

[Guest guest]

I would strongly suggest looking to your digestion

> and assimilation. (from Dr. M.)

I wasn't going to say anything but since there are so many opinions, here's

my limited experience. I have strong reactive hypoglycemia but not as

strong as yours. I have not eaten so much as a raisin for 24 years and my

hypoglycemia has steadily improved. (I have alcoholism, diabetes, and

hypoglycemia - and Crohn's disease - in the family.)

When I stopped eating sugar, the 3 pm cravings only lasted 3 or 4 days. The

first few times I did this, I didn't really know what I was up against and

started eating sweet foods again (such as prepared ketchup). So I did it

several times and each time it was 3 - 4 days. I still had to eat every two

hours or so, and much later it became every three hours.

But this month I started taking probiotic capsules because I had surgery,

picked up a hospital infection, and went on three rounds of antibiotics.

Guess what? I no longer needed snacks! I really like this!

I chose Culturelle (lactobacillus acidophilus G.G.) because I heard that

it's a more " adhesive, " left-turning bacterium (so is l. plantarum and a few

others) and I also take Lyosan acidopholus that someone gave me and I don't

know how old it is. I take one of each in the morning, because if I take

them at night I have too much energy to sleep! I will keep taking them

until I run out.

Bacteria experts will add their expertise, I hope.

I know we should be able to get enough probiotics from the NT foods but this

was a special situation for me, and I still haven't made the sauerkraut or

the rejuvelac, which should each be a very powerful source of probiotics.

Have you tried them yet?

I don't say you'll have an immediate improvement as I did, but probiotics

will not hurt you. Some people report odd sensations, even headaches, for

the first three days. For me it was just wakefulness, and I think one

avoids reactions by taking just a little at first. If you are avoiding

foods, read the labels because sometimes there are additives. Sometimes

there are no labels! For example, Culturelle is packaged with inulin, a

starch which my Crohn's daughter on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is not

supposed to have, so she takes a different set of probiotics. But if no

other were available, she'd take the Culturelle in spite of the other

ingredients because there is so little added anyway.

Sorry this has turned out so long. Be well.