I just wanted to share a fantastic result that both my mother and I have achieved.

Both my mother and I have a lupus, mine is very mild and results in joint inflammation, - swollen knees, frequent ganglion cysts, also hashimotos.

My mothers is more severe, again knee swelling, joint inflammation, rash on face and small airway disease - a lung condition which she has had for many years.

I found the zone plus 10 mls of omega rx kept it at bay, but I still used to get regular knee swelling especially with exercise.

Mum had a big improvement in health on the zone and omega 3 also - but her lungs were still a big problem.

About 18 months ago I decided to give paleo food choices a go after reading about it's anti-auto immune benefits. Amazingly both my knee swelling and ganglion cysts disappeared, not the tiniest bit of joint inflammation in 18 months, even with intense exercise, and less fish oil. My niggling menstrual pain, vastly improved with fish oil but still present, completely disappeared.

Mum more recently decided to try it too after seeing my success (she is fit, trim and 78) and has been on the zone and loving it for 12 years.

I saw her today - she is stunned, after a few weeks with paleo food choices - her lungs are so much more improved, no more coughing, hugely improved lung capacity. My dad a doctor, cant believe the difference.

I've been teaching zone principles for 12 years and everyone with auto-immune issues, I now recommend they eat paleo with zone balance- and they just have stunning results.

I really want to pass this on, as I believe it could benefit many people

Basically - I eliminated grains, legumes and dairy, and follow a slightly lower carb, higher fat zone ratio (I'm sensitive to carbs; reactive hypoglycemia)

Hi Julianne -- thanks so much for your posts, and your responses throughout the forums -- I'm learning so much from you and your experiences! I am currently suffering from lower back pain (which recurs every few years) -- initial x-rays showed mild joint disease. I'm scheduled for an MRI and further analysis next week. I also experience knee swelling and discomfort following exercise. I currently follow a lower-carb Zone ratio, as I am susceptible to carb cravings. I am going to look in to the paleo diet -- I already avoid grains (they induce cravings for me), and am not a fan of legumes. Dairy will be the biggest change, as I frequently eat yogurt and cottage cheese.

I'll keep you posted!

Laurie

The other 2 supplements that I think are underrated and as important as fish oil are vitamin D and magnesium, which I take daily.

All my clients are Vitamin D deficient or borderline. None in autumn had good levels and they were worse in winter.

Low vitamin D is linked with just about every health issue. I supplement with 3000iu per day vitamin D. Most multivitamins have no-where near enough, so you need an extra supplement.

Magnesium is great too - helps me get a super solid sleep, great for the brain and heart.

Hi Jullianne,

Thank you so much for your post. I would like to know how much magnesium are you taking?

Diana

I take 200 - 400 mg per day magnesium

Thank you Jullianne.

Magnesium should also be balanced with enough Calcium.
Calcium may reduce the absorption of Magnesium because they share a common transport system in the intestine. The ratio of dairy calcium to magnesium should be 2:1.
.
Details (*):
.
*Supplemental Folic acid can increase the need for Magnesium by stepping up the activity of enzymes that require Magnesium in order to function properly. 

*Iron may decrease the gastrointestinal absorption of Magnesium.   

*Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) stimulates the intestinal absorption of Magnesium to a degree; however, because its stimulatory effect is stronger for Calcium, supplemental vitamin D without additional Magnesium can create a relative Magnesium deficiency.   

*Foods hoigh in oxalic acid such as almonds, chard, cocoa, rhubarb, spinach, and tea - decrease Magnesium absorption.  

*A deficiency of vitamin E mat reduce magnesium in tissues.

*Alcohol, Potassium, and caffeine all increase the loss of Magnesium through the kidneys.
 
*The B vitamins require Magnesium to to work properly.
 
*High protein diets increase the demand for Magnesium, especially in situations of rapidly building body tissues such as in growing children, training athletes, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
 
*High sugar intake increases your need for Magnesium.

*Recommended (for normal, healthy - pg. 113) Magnesium: 200mg, Calcium: 500mg


*Mary Dan Eades, M.D. - The Doctor's Complete Guide to Vitamins and Minerals, Revised Edition, A Dell book, CopyRight 2000.

John's comments:  I'd like to see a newer revision to this book, for at least the listed vitamin & mineral recommendations, especially in all that has been learned, recently.  Most especially in light of new research and findings and the respective accompanying recommendations for Vitamin D3 - anywhere from supplementing 1,000 - 5,000 per day.  Based on recent blood tests, and recommended ideal of 40-60 blood levels of Vitamin D, my wife and I take about 2,000 per day of Vitamin D3.  I would highly recommend a blood test for Vitamin D levels.

Julianne - do you follow the slightly lower carb, high fat zone ratio because of your carb sensitivity? Or is it also because of your lupus? I Googled MS and legumes and found some great information - thanks for the tip. I am working on coordinating the "avoid" list with my favorite meals. I love mozzarella cheese sticks, grapes and a macadamia nut as a snack so I have to find a way to revise that. Plus I often use cottage cheese and fruit for breakfast so that will go out the window, too. Do you have any good suggestions for a cheese alternate? Thanks so much!

John - really good info.
With regards to Vit D and calcium

If your vit D levels are high - it is best not to take calcium supplement, see heartscan.blogspot -2010/06/increased-blood-calcium-and-vitamin-d

There have been a couple of studies recently showing calcium supplements are not a good idea. My personal opinion currently based on what I've read is to take vit D to maximise calcium and phosphorus absorption (essential for bone health) Have a diet that takes into account acid alkaline balance - lots of veggies, so you don't pull calcium from your bones to buffer acid, take some magnesium as a supplement, but not calcium as a supplement. Google calcium and heart attacks

People tend to be deficient in magnesium whereas in the US calcium intake is quite high from the diet.

Agreed - get your vit D tested - supplement to get around a level of 50. Some ppl need 10,000 iu per day to get decent levels. I've had clients drop levels over winter to deficient on 5000iu per day!

I do this because it feels right, I feel so much better and keep my weight down and don't get hungry if I eat like this. Makes my blood sugar stable.

I used to eat the grapes and cheese too. Now I just have a bit of cold meat / chicken first then a handful of grapes. not quite the same!

Same with breakfast. I cook a bit of either chicken breast or fresh fish, have that seasoned. Then have blueberries and kiwifruit, maybe macadamias.
Or avocado the fish / chicken

On Magnesium: 

(From Dr. Mercola):

In related news, a new study out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill points to a connection between magnesium in the diet and lowered risk of diabetes.

According to Reuters:

“It's plausible that magnesium could influence diabetes risk because the mineral is needed for the proper functioning of several enzymes that help the body process glucose.”

Researchers studied magnesium intake and diabetes risk in about 4,500 men and women aged 18 to 30. None of the participants were diabetic at the start of the study.

Over the ensuing 20 years, 330 of the test subjects developed diabetes. The people with the highest magnesium intake – about 200 milligrams for every 1,000 calories consumed – were almost 50 percent less likely to develop diabetes than men and women who consumed about 100 milligrams per 1,000 calories.

The study also revealed that as magnesium intake increased, inflammation levels decreased, as did insulin resistance.

Thanks, Julianne! I appreciate the information.

Julianne,

Can you share some more with me about the Paleo angle with the zone?  regards

Shane

Paleo is going back to hunter gatherer eating. It removes grains, legumes and dairy. Dr Loren Cordain is the person to look up.

Grains have anti-nutrients basically because they don't want to be digested. Phytates which bine with minerals and reduce absorption. Hard to digest proteins like gluten, gliadin, which can enter the bloodstream intact and set up auto-immune reactions. E.g. gluten is a very similar protein to thyroid tissue and can be related to Hashimotos. Grains also have gut irritants - lectins like wheat germ agglutinate and saponins in legumes and soy which cause the bonds between the cells lining the gut to be loose and let particles of proteins through into the bloodstream

I decided 18 months ago after reading about these issues to keep following the zone balance but cut out all grains, all legumes and all dairy. What a remarkable difference it made.

Hi Julianne, I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome another auto-immune disease that is suppose to affect the eyes and mouth but also has other symptoms. I get tired and my hips ache. Anyway I had it for the first time 13 years ago and it goes into remission luckily more years than I have had it. Eating the Zone diet helped me, but that was 7 years ago and I remember it feeling like a full time job trying to figure it out and stick to it. Now I am wanting to try it with mostly Paleo choices, but the thought is overwhelming. I am a right-brained gal and all that calculating makes numb. I want to get well, of course, but it seems it will be at the expense of enjoying my food and fitting in with regular eaters not to mention the constant struggle to figure this all out. I guess I sound really negative, but that isn't my usual style. It just seems to daunting. The more I read the more frustrated I get. It is beginning to seem like the only safe food would be air, since all the foods I though were good for me have now turned out to be inflaming my body. I guess I am just searching for some reassurance that this can be done in a way that isn't as complicated as it is appearing to me at this point. Thanks, Sunny

Hi I just decided to try zone the paleo way!!im on hydrocortisone for my adrenals hopes this works!!!i did the whole thirty a strictor form of paleo and felt good but was only eating three meals!!! Zone does seem like a lot of math and time!!! Did u struggle with that??? What carb amount and fat do u do??

Just use an eyeball method - fill the 2/3 of your plate with favourable vegetables, 1/3 of lean protein (meat portion size of your hand) and a dash or two of good fat. You dont have to calculate grams and blocks.