What Would Emily Do (7/29)

High Cholesterol – Natural Cancer Treatment – Treating Parasites – Fine Motor Tics a Vitamin Deficiency? – Kombucha and Candida – Vaccinations During Pregnancy

The picture above is the view from my favorite local hike. After three and a half miles of hot and hilly fire roads, the reward is this stunning view. Ahhh. Anyway, let's answer some of your questions…

My inbox runneth over with questions from readers wondering – What would Emily do – about Real food and holistic health topics. I’ve created this Q&A to get your questions answered and for other folks to benefit from the answers too.

Who am I to know the answers to your questions?

I’m a holistic-minded mom, a sometimes beach bum, a real food foodie, a curious health researcher, and I’ve been practicing holistic and Chinese medicine for over a decade. That said, the answers here are only my opinion, and shouldn’t be construed as medical advice.

If you read something here and have your own wisdom or opinion to add, by all means, please leave a comment so we can all benefit from your experiences and perspective.

Okey dokey! Let’s dive in…

Question 1: What to do about high cholesterol diagnosis

Justin asks…
I was wondering if you can help me put my fears at ease. I was diagnosed with “high cholesterol” I had a total cholesterol of 241, triglycerides of 43, LDL of 128, and HDL of 104! I do not think that I have dysfunctional HDL or any other issues besides my anxiety/health anxiety and OCD. I eat 3 1/2 tablespoons NUTIVA coconut oil daily or more, raw milk, raw cheese, Kalona Supernatural butter, 10-18 ounces of grass fed beef or organic chicken daily. Along with at least 2-3 eggs pastured daily. The only things in my diet that are NOT organic are second best option, raw dairy, raw cheese, and beef from local farmer. What do you think?

Hi Justin, the important thing to remember is that lab diagnostic tests are only a snapshot of limited information and are not a great indicator of your overall health. There really is a lot more to consider when it comes to cholesterol’s role in your health.

For a comprehensive course in understanding and managing cholesterol wisely, check out Chris Kresser's High Cholesterol Action Plan. This is a great investment for your health and will help to clear up any confusion.

Question 2: Treating cancer naturally?

Raquel needs advice for a friend…
I have a friend that has been diagnosed with early stages of lymphoma and wants to try and treat it naturally. I have read and watched about a million things on cancer and my mind is drawing a blank. I know the Gerson therapy center in Mexico but that's about it. Do you happen to know any other centers or reputable programs out there? Foods or supplements that have been discovered to have an effect?

Hi Raquel, thanks for your question. For starters, I will say that I am not an expert in this field. While there are certainly alternative therapies out there that that I personally would research and take advantage of in your friend's shoes, I don't have specific recommendations around programs and supplements. That said, I'd still like to share my opinion on this topic.

Cancer is a tricky beast and the answer to whether this can be treated naturally – or at all – really does depend on so many variables. First it's helpful to understand typical cancer prognosis factors – type, stage, and grade of the cancer, plus the patient's age and constitution, etc. Statistically speaking, with early stage non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in relatively “healthy” patients under 60, the prognosis is usually positive.

Beyond that, I believe it's important to remember that cancer is a “holistic” disease, meaning it's not simply that cancer has waged a war against your body and is winning. Cancer happens because, over time, there is a enough of an imbalance in the body that it “allows” for the cancer to overtake. By looking at “why” a person has developed cancer – be it physical, mental, emotional, or a combo it will help to understand how to direct treatment for the best possible outcome – even if that is ultimately death (which I will just state – as a gentle reminder – is a normal part of life).

While I believe that drugs and surgery are grossly over-used in cancer treatment and in general, in some cases it may be best to take advantage of the tools of western medicine up to a point and then use holistic measures to heal your body afterwards.

In any case, a cancer diagnosis is an opportunity to STOP, and take a deep hard look at yourself and your life and decide whether and how it may be time to make some changes. This can happen at any stage, type, and prognosis.

Question 3: What to do about parasites

Katerina asks…
My son is 2.5 and has parasites! We tried to cure it with homeopathy but he still has them. Could you please help with a natural remedy? Is it possible my other kids have them too? They are 8 and 5!

Hi Katerina – My friend Katie at Wellness Mama has a fantastic post all about parasites. I couldn't have said it better. Check it out here.

Question 4: Fine motor tics due to vitamin deficiency?

Kristina wants to know…
My 3 year old daughter has always moved her hands, fingers, and toes in her sleep especially as she is falling off to sleep and it does not wake her. I’m sure we do the same thing too. During the day I think I’ve noticed when she is sitting down watching TV quietly that I notice tiny tiny movements here and there that no one else would probably notice. I actually do the same thing during the day myself. Is there a vitamin deficiency here? Thanks a lot!

Hi Kristina, it's could be nothing, but fine motor tics can also sometimes be the result of a magnesium deficiency. It would be easy super to test this by taking a supplement like this one for a week or two before bedtime to see if it helps.

It could also be a deficiency of certain B vitamins, so you could test this with a supplement like this. If the issue persists or worsens, you may want to consider doing a complete assessment with a qualified holistic health practitioner.

Question 5: Kombucha and candida

Jennifer wants to know…
Someone recently made a comment about kombucha not being a good choice for someone with candida overgrowth. There seems to be a lot of conflicting information online. Do you have any knowledge in this area?

Hi Jennifer, this is a question I hear often. Fermented food can sometimes be a problem for those with candida until a healthy balance of gut flora is restored, so proceed with caution. Also, aside from the fermentation cultures, depending on brew time, there can still be quite a bit of sugar left in kombucha.

For those trying to heal candida I recommend the Body Ecology Diet for a short term healing protocol.

Question 6: Vaccination during pregnancy

Joyce writes…
I am 28 weeks pregnant and my doctor has recommended that I receive the TDap vaccination stating that if I don't get it, and baby gets whooping cough within his first month after birth, it could cause serious problems and babies die from it. I don't want to be vaccinated and especially not during pregnancy, but I also don't want to risk my baby. What should I do? I feel like I won't be able to sleep at night no matter which option I choose!

Hi Joyce. First, I'd like to say that making decisions about vaccines is a very personal choice and I can’t tell you what is right for you. That said, I completely understand that this decision can be mind boggling. Hope this helps…

Infants and the elderly are most at risk from hospitalization and fatalities related to whooping cough, that’s why doctors will recommend that those that are around infants get the vaccine.

Personally, I don’t like the risks of vaccinations during pregnancy, and would prefer to take great care in keeping the baby isolated from sick people during those early months, even if it means hurting some feelings of potential visitors.

If you’re going to skip the vaccine, be sure to keep your immune system strong and keep baby away from potential exposure. If you haven't already, read and implement my free Immune Boosting Protocol ebook for yourself and anyone regularly around baby.

Got questions about real food or holistic health and wondering W.W.E.D.?

If you have a question for me, please first use the handy dandy search bar at the top righthand corner of this site. If that doesn’t give you the answers you need, email [questions at holisticsquid dot com].

I can’t guarantee that I will get to every single question, but I will do my best (with a priority for questions that will serve the most of the Holistic Squid community).

Also, keep in mind that I cannot and will not give you medical advice over the internet. It’s inappropriate and unethical. If you want my medical opinion about a health or nutritional issue for you or your child, I take virtual patient consultations on a limited basis via phone or Skype. You can find out more about my distance consultations here.

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