Paleo Women/Diet and Menstruation

[RedFox]

Miso, I think, is also usually made from either rice, barley or soy and so you may also want to let go of that as well.

_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miso

The ingredients used to produce miso may include any mix of soybeans, barley, rice, buckwheat, millet, rye, wheat, hemp seed, and cycad, among others. Lately, producers in other countries have also begun selling miso made from chickpeas, corn, azuki beans, amaranth, and quinoa.

I've bolded all the ones that (I think) have types of gluten or are beans/pulses. Buckwheat, amaranth and quinoa are seeds as far as I remember - but they also have there own defence mechanisms (the fermenting may destroy them). Beans/pulses (even a small amount) leave me massively bloated and/or in pain so you probably want to avoid them.
Looking at the list, if you really want miso then sobamugi (the buckwheat version) would probably be the only one that is remotely safe - but could still have added wheat/contamination from being ground in the same mills as wheat.

 

[primechild]

Only skipped while transitioning to paleo diet.
And since December 141lb, been on protein portion control (using Thor's formula).
Now 121lb, menstruating is finally easy with tablespoons and not cups.

Also overjoyed to get my period ;D , even if its every month!

MK Scarlett mine came twice in February too. Before I started paleo diet, I raised magnesium dose during those times of pain. Hope you find the answers and are able ease the pain.

 

[Weller]

I will try upping the magnesium and losing the potatoes (though they will be missed). I had noticed with the diet that tomatoes and eggplant are definitely out for me (they tie up my gut), but hadn't considered potatoes. I was thinking that fermented soy was OK b/c of the fermentation, with the news about fermented soy/miso/natto being beneficial for tumor reduction, but I will go without it for a while to see what happens.

It's gratifying with these diet changes that you really can zero in on potential issues, whereas without this attention it's nearly impossible to tease out different problems.

Thanks for the support! I hope I can use the word "overjoyed" myself in this thread soon! ;D

 

[Foxx]

Here's an article on foods that contain similar lectins to the WGA lectin contained in wheat (potatoes are one of them), if you haven't come across this one already, Weller.

https://www.sott.net/articles/show/229598-Beyond-Gluten-Free-The-Critical-Role-of-Chitin-Binding-Lectins-in-Human-Disease

 

[MK Scarlett]

Only skipped while transitioning to paleo diet.
And since December 141lb, been on protein portion control (using Thor's formula).
Now 121lb, menstruating is finally easy with tablespoons and not cups.

Also overjoyed to get my period ;D , even if its every month!

MK Scarlett mine came twice in February too. Before I started paleo diet, I raised magnesium dose during those times of pain. Hope you find the answers and are able ease the pain.

Thank you kokiri it is great you resolved your pain by magnesium, I will have to try on the next if it comes. But with Vit.C, pain gones after 20 minutes, which is enough fast for me, but maybe not enough for others or in others circumstances.

 

[echo]

I have been following this thread with interest and I just want to add my experience of transitioning to a paleo diet. I have had my period for 18 years and for at least 10 of them they were very heavy and I had the kind of cramps that make it almost impossible to do anything but lie in bed and squeal.

During my high-carb, vegetarian years it was normal for me to bleed for 6-7 days. I had acne on my back, I was overweight, lethargic, thyroid problems.. everything about my health seemed to be 'going south' (in my twenties ). Immediately when I transitioned (about a year ago) I stopped having cramps, and now for more than 6-7 months I have only had 1 or 2 days of bleeding which has never happened in my whole life!! I should mention also that I'm no longer overweight, in fact I'm very lean for the first time in my life... no skin problems, no stomach problems and (almost) no mood swings.

:)

 

[truth seeker]

I have been following this thread with interest and I just want to add my experience of transitioning to a paleo diet. I have had my period for 18 years and for at least 10 of them they were very heavy and I had the kind of cramps that make it almost impossible to do anything but lie in bed and squeal.

During my high-carb, vegetarian years it was normal for me to bleed for 6-7 days. I had acne on my back, I was overweight, lethargic, thyroid problems.. everything about my health seemed to be 'going south' (in my twenties ). Immediately when I transitioned (about a year ago) I stopped having cramps, and now for more than 6-7 months I have only had 1 or 2 days of bleeding which has never happened in my whole life!! I should mention also that I'm no longer overweight, in fact I'm very lean for the first time in my life... no skin problems, no stomach problems and (almost) no mood swings.

:)

So, so happy for you echo! It's really horrifying how many women have and continue to suffer needlessly.

 

[SeekinTruth]

Yes, thanks for sharing your experience, echo. The improvements in this area are pretty consistent -- some "miraculous" and some slow and steady. And it's similar with all other issues that have entirely or to a major extent been resolved by the low carb/high fat gluten and casein free paleo diet.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

I've had a 99.99% painless period and it seems almost a miracle. This is the first time I believe I've ever had one before. I've come a long way from vomiting during menstruation to THIS! Thank you to the people who've done the research on the Paleo diet and posted information and books on here. You've helped me attain a life I never thought was possible.

 

[Brenda86]

I'm still not menstruating after the birth of my daughter 17 months ago, and am nervous for its return as it was very heavy and painful for me in the past unless on hormonal birth control. But I am starting to change my diet now so I hope to see what happens when my menstruation finally returns.

I do think it's quite interesting that nursing my daughter has kept menstruation at bay for so long though! We're down the just a few times a day and still nothing!

Its amazing how something we take for granted - that periods have to come with a long list of maladies - may be completely misinformed.

 

[truth seeker]

I'm still not menstruating after the birth of my daughter 17 months ago, and am nervous for its return as it was very heavy and painful for me in the past unless on hormonal birth control. But I am starting to change my diet now so I hope to see what happens when my menstruation finally returns.

I do think it's quite interesting that nursing my daughter has kept menstruation at bay for so long though! We're down the just a few times a day and still nothing!

Its amazing how something we take for granted - that periods have to come with a long list of maladies - may be completely misinformed.

Can you say why you're still breastfeeding? :)

 

[Brenda86]

I'm still not menstruating after the birth of my daughter 17 months ago, and am nervous for its return as it was very heavy and painful for me in the past unless on hormonal birth control. But I am starting to change my diet now so I hope to see what happens when my menstruation finally returns.

I do think it's quite interesting that nursing my daughter has kept menstruation at bay for so long though! We're down the just a few times a day and still nothing!

Its amazing how something we take for granted - that periods have to come with a long list of maladies - may be completely misinformed.

Can you say why you're still breastfeeding? :)

The weaning process has just been a slow one. She just got some molars about 2 months ago so now she can really begin to chew food. She's always taken food well, but it comes out in chunks unless it's purees as she has not gotten great at chewing yet and I wonder how much nutrition she can get from that. She's also gotten really used to nursing to fall asleep and we're working on that as she's nearing one and a half. She will fall asleep for other people without nursing she just really wants to nurse if she lies down next to me. We co-sleep for now, I was planning on making a big deal about her "big girl bed" for her 2nd birthday. :) But I feel like 3 times a day or so is a huge improvement for us, as a newborn she nursed every hour or more around the clock. At 12 months she still rejected a lot of food and was still at maybe 9 times a day. We're getting there slowly but surely.

Edited to add: I also know that fat is important for brain development. Her pediatrician wanted me to switch her to whole milk which they supposedly "need". I told the doctor if she was going to get any milk that it would be mine. Once I can make sure she gets enough from her food it won't be as big of an issue either. But overall I feel like it's been the right thing for us.

I have to say I know almost no one personally who has nursed their children longer than a few days to a couple months if they even did at all, so I've faced a lot of opposition a long the way outside of my immediate family and partner.

 

[truth seeker]

Thanks for clarifying, Brenda. :) It makes sense. The only thing I'm not understanding is this part:

She's always taken food well, but it comes out in chunks unless it's purees as she has not gotten great at chewing yet and I wonder how much nutrition she can get from that.

Is there a reason that pureed food would have less of a nutritional value than "whole" food? Or perhaps it's that she'll accept more food if it's in chunks as opposed to pureed? Apologies for getting into your business but I find the process interesting (getting teeth, learning to chew, etc.).

 

[Brenda86]

Thanks for clarifying, Brenda. :) It makes sense. The only thing I'm not understanding is this part:

She's always taken food well, but it comes out in chunks unless it's purees as she has not gotten great at chewing yet and I wonder how much nutrition she can get from that.

Is there a reason that pureed food would have less of a nutritional value than "whole" food? Or perhaps it's that she'll accept more food if it's in chunks as opposed to pureed? Apologies for getting into your business but I find the process interesting (getting teeth, learning to chew, etc.).

I meant that I wondered how much nutrition she was getting from the whole food that comes out in chunks. :) She likes the purees okay but she really loves to eat what we eat - especially if it's something like a baked chicken leg. She LOVES meat. She is okay about veggies. Of course she loves fruit, who doesn't? She will eat fruit in any form, hehe.

But one thing I have really enjoyed about breastfeeding is how little she gets sick. Now it's possible she'd be just as hardy either way, but even when her father or I get sick she doesn't get it. She has only had one ear infection and one "real" cold since she's been born. I will say unfortunately I was not that informed about vaccines at first and kind of went with the doctor on getting them (except her flu shots, we've never gotten those) but after one she spiked a fever of 105 and I started doing more research after that. We will not be getting anymore while she is this young. And any she gets when she is older will only be if there is truly no other option.

She did get eczema on her face when I drank milk when she was a few weeks old and within a few weeks of me cutting it back out of my diet her skin was completely clear. My niece who is on cow's milk based formula has this same eczema on her face and I wonder if it's mild allergy to the cow's milk.

And don't worry at all I completely understand. I actually find all of child development extremely fascinating and have thoroughly enjoyed watching my daughter learn and grow - though admittedly much faster than I expected. She has always reached milestones really early and so I've had to adapt more quickly to what she can do.

 

[truth seeker]

I meant that I wondered how much nutrition she was getting from the whole food that comes out in chunks. :) She likes the purees okay but she really loves to eat what we eat - especially if it's something like a baked chicken leg. She LOVES meat. She is okay about veggies. Of course she loves fruit, who doesn't? She will eat fruit in any form, hehe.

Got it, thanks. :)

She did get eczema on her face when I drank milk when she was a few weeks old and within a few weeks of me cutting it back out of my diet her skin was completely clear. My niece who is on cow's milk based formula has this same eczema on her face and I wonder if it's mild allergy to the cow's milk.

It's probably that as well as gluten. A while back, I was reading an account of a woman who was transitioning her family over to a more Paleo diet and she noted symptoms such as colic appear in her child when she ate things like pizza while she was breastfeeding. Now whenever I see young babies that can't stop crying, I wonder if their little stomachs are in pain (as well as other things).

And don't worry at all I completely understand. I actually find all of child development extremely fascinating and have thoroughly enjoyed watching my daughter learn and grow - though admittedly much faster than I expected. She has always reached milestones really early and so I've had to adapt more quickly to what she can do.

Indeed, thanks again, B. :)