Mummy7 Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I have been off sugar for several years, but use stevia quite a bit. I am just getting ready to start whole30 and I do understand why I need to quit the stevia completely. I am wondering about a few of the items I normally sweeten with stevia. Can I use a little fruit juice to sweeten my one daily grass drink? This is a powdered drink of only three grasses (wheat, barley and alfalfa), no sweetener or anything else. I have severe chronic fatigue and this is what keeps me upright in the afternoon. Also, I use a powdered vitamin C complex from acerola berry (again, no sweetener or anything else illegal) to help absorb my iron and my thyroid meds. Can I use a little juice to sweeten that? Third is my coconut water kefir. I normally sweeten with stevia (of course). No strange ingredients - plain coconut water and a water kefir berry. Can I use a little juice? If anyone has any suggestions for something to use to help these drinks other than juice, I would be grateful. Normally I do not drink juice at all, but these are things I need to keep using and not sure I can handle them without something in them. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kb0426 Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 You would need to give up your daily grass drink; wheat, barley and probably alfalfa would all be no on the whole30. Isn't kefir a dairy based drink? You stated "water kefir berry" so I am not sure if I am thinking of the same thing. I will let a moderator speak to the original question. Best of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kb0426 Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I just googled "kefir". Now I get it! Still don't have an answer for you, however . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsteen Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I'll let a mod answer for definite but if it's wheatgrass, barleygrass and alfalfa and they're being taken for medical reasons (chronic fatigue) then I wouldn't see that they would be a no go. I thought that medication trumped W30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mummy7 Posted November 25, 2012 Author Share Posted November 25, 2012 Why is the grass drink a 'no'? I know no juicing, but thought grass might be ok. I am severely fatigued (as in, using a wheelchair when out of the house, handicap sticker, etc). Not just, "I am really tired," but I cannot get out of the chair. Cannot stand long enough to fry an egg! That grass drink has been a real help. Is it an issue with inflammation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsteen Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I think our posts must have overlapped. I have M.E. (British name for chronic fatigue syndrome) and i know exactly what you mean about not being able to stand to fry an egg. I don't have a wheelchair (live on 4th floor - no lift) but I'm frequently housebound and quite often bedbound as well. I used to grow wheatgrass and juice it but I've never tried it with barley grass. I take it you'd recommend trying it. i used to find some fresh lemon juice made the wheatgrass more bearable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mummy7 Posted November 25, 2012 Author Share Posted November 25, 2012 Nice to find someone who can sympathize, although I am very sorry you are so ill. I love my grass drink. Only found it a month ago. I use Earth Circle Organics and buy each variety of grass separately. 1 tsp each for a quart of water. I also tried Amazing Grass Trio, which is a blend of the three, but found it to be 'chunkier.' Either one is not bad with stevia, but not sure I can get it down without. I will try the lemon juice tomorrow and see how that is. Have you seen any improvement in your ME with whole30? How long have you been on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kb0426 Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I am definitely not an expert, so this is one for the moderators to make the call for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsteen Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I did a W60 and I'm about 15 days past that though still 99% W30 compliant. Yes I think I do see a bit of an improvement in the ME but made the classic mistake of feeling i could do more than I could, I've always been rubbish at pacing, and, of course, suffered a relapse, swollen glands, fluey feeling, flat on my back etc. I also have quite a few digestive issues and had breast cancer and just finished treatment for that last month. So my poor body's not great to start with and the chemo and other treatments obviously knocked it for six and made the ME so much worse so I'm not looking for any quick fixes but I do firmly believe that eating this way is really nourishing my body and giving it it's best chance. I think eating W30 has managed to get me back to where i was before the chemo (I've had ME for 6+ years) and I hope it'll just keep on slowly improving. Meant to add, I'm also gluten intolerant so normal wheat, in any form is a complete no-no for me, but the actual wheatgrass was fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mummy7 Posted November 25, 2012 Author Share Posted November 25, 2012 Wow! You have been through so much! But what a great attitude, and you are not giving up. Congratulations! If you have gut issues, are you using bone broth and fermented veggies? I did the GAPS diet strictly for about 5 months and it is really wonderful for healing the guy. I am still eating that way, but see that I need to pay more attention to the inflammation while not neglecting my gut. So glad you are through your chemo and are continuing to work on nourishing your body. Keep up the good work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Strathdee Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 I would say this definitely falls into the "medication>W30" category. You aren't casually supplementing because you think it might have some benefit, you treat this as a medication for your CFS. Those grasses are highly unlikely to contain gluten, and if the benefit is that significant to you, I'd say continue on. Maybe, after a while of patiently giving your body the best foods you can, you can see what life is like without. For now, though, keep on This is not, however, a free pass to anyone wanting to take grass supplements. I've got my eye on you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsteen Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 If you have gut issues, are you using bone broth and fermented veggies? Yes, I've started making bone broth for the first time and I make my own kimchi when I can. I also, finally, found kombucha over here so I'm taking that as well. I meant to add, I've also lost over 15 lbs, while eating more food than normal so I'm also very happy about that. I really hope it works for you. I look forward to hearing how you're doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mummy7 Posted November 26, 2012 Author Share Posted November 26, 2012 Robin, Thanks for the pass. It doesn't taste all that great, to keep drinking it when I don't absolutely need it. Especially without the stevia. I am assuming a little fruit juice in that and other meds is ok? Kirsteen, Glad you are doing bone broth and kimchi. And we love kombucha! My girls make it by the gallons, but I have limited how much I drink because it shoots my glucose so high. I have read that I can have it, so will check the sugar content on ours again. They have decreased the sugar used for brewing, so maybe it will be ok. Otherwise, GTs is very good and easy to take without added stevia. Just pricey. I am giving my scale to my daughter today (today is my day #1!) along with my stevia chocolate candy. I am ready to roll! Almost have hubby and one daughter convinced to try it with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Strathdee Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Mummy7 - yes, I should have clarified. I think a small amount of 100% juice would be fine in this context. Welcome aboard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kb0426 Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 The wheat grass question was asked and answered elsewhere: http://forum.whole9life.com/topic/4843-can-i-have-wheat-grass-juice/page__pid__43677#entry43677 Drink up buttercup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mummy7 Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 Thank you! I need to drink this, but I must say that without the stevia, I am choking it down. Really nasty! I tried it with a little apple juice, but that was gaggy too. I am afraid it would take too much aj to make it work. Any other suggestions? I have managed the vitamin C and the liquid minerals without any stevia, but the kefir and grass are really difficult. But I feel I need both, one for my gut (leftover from months on GAPS) and one for energy to survive. Is stevia really a deal breaker on w30? I am totally behind the concept of total commitment to 30 days, and no 'cheating'. I am not a stranger to limited choices in eating - ie GAPS, candida diet, etc. I am just struggling with totally eliminating stevia for those items which are health needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mummy7 Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 PS I need to add that I am not willing to sabotage the potential benefits of w30 for a bit of stevia. I have struggled too long with my cfs and will do what I need to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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