Quote:
Originally Posted by JFP 1975
Betaine HCL: I've never heard of this. Of course I can start Googling--but if you have any links of interest, I'd appreciate it!
|
Here is the article I used to get started. And I was very pleased with my results!
How to Supplement with Betaine HCL for Low Stomach Acid
Quote:
Originally Posted by JFP 1975
Gluten free: Yes (even "sneaky" gluten, as long as foods are totally under my control)
Dairy: I have cut way down, but I do have an ounce or two of cheese several times a week. And I use butter. To be completely honest, I would hate to give these up--but I could give it a go (the cheese more readily than the butter).
|
Yeah, I hear ya about dairy
I mentioned it because it's a known acne trigger for some people. It's certainly not a lactose issue though; I don't think cheese or butter has any.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JFP 1975
Vitamin C: As you can see, I don't take any. What's an average starting dose?
|
I take three 1,000 mg tablets morning and evening with no problems. You could start with one twice a day and work up, just in case.
I've become a nut on the subject... we need a lot more C than we get, certainly more than the RDA, which is designed to prevent scurvy. C lowers inflammation, but also improves collagen production... very good for skin! It's one of my own top supplements, even though I eat fruit, peppers, and other sources of C. Doubling my supplement intake when I feel a bug coming on really seems to work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JFP 1975
D3: I was recently thinking about ramping it up. I'd like to get my level checked, but in the meantime I'm not opposed to upping the dose preemptively.
|
Vitamin D council says 5 or even 10K is fine. I've had my level checked, but dealing with bouts of illness (sick building syndrome) led me to conclude it gets burned up when we are dealing with illness... exactly what we might expect from a immune system fuel, right? So I'm taking 10K a day, feeling good!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JFP 1975
..this problem started about 4 years ago (I'm in my late 30's now). So of course, it could also be hormonal.
|
In your case, it certainly does sound hormonal! My husband has a chronic endocrine illness (CFIDS/ME) and so I'm familiar with how things can get out of whack. Have you tried any herbal balancing strategies?
- teas like raspberry leaf or black cohosh
- chinese herbs like dong quai
- digestives like mint, catnip, or chamomile
- toxin clearers like licorice, dandelion, milk thistle, garlic
These can be very helpful.
(Sorry about the long post, I'm a blogger both professionally and as an obsessive hobby.)