Reddit mentions: The best nutritional supplements

Hi Julie,

It took me over a year to alleviate most of my constipation but all the above definitely helped.

-Slippery Elm - 1 Capsule 2x a day - taken between meals. Good for calming inflammation in stomach and helps repair and coat the stomach lining. Also helps with constipation and diarrhea. Makes a big difference on settling down stomach and soothing stomach pains. It can lower blood pressure.
https://www.amazon.com/Foods-Slippery-400mg-Capsules-100-Count/dp/B010VOZ2MK/ref=sr_1_6_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1529628232&sr=1-6&keywords=slippery+elm

-Psyllium Husk - 1 Capsule 2x a day (for moderate to severe constipation) - taken between meals. A gentle insoluble fiber and really does a good job of moving things along.
https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Psyllium-Husk-500-Capsules/dp/B0013OW2KS/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1542294329&sr=1-4&keywords=psylium%2Bhusk&th=1

-Marshmallow Root - 1 capsule 2x a day - taken between meals. Similar to Slippery Elm benefits. Very good for stomach lining. It can lower blood pressure.
https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Way-Marshmallow-Root-Capsules/dp/B001E10JKU/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1529628409&sr=8-5&keywords=marshmallow%2Broot&th=1

-Magnesium Oil Spray - Good for calming the body and for aiding digestion. I do 6-8 sprays on my stomach and chest before bed. Helps constipation and aid digestion.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CKEBFSE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

-Triphala - Generally good for digestion. Helps fight H Pylori and helps with Detoxification. I take 1/8 to 1/4th tsp every night. Mixes in water.
https://www.amazon.com/Banyan-Botanicals-Triphala-Powder-Detoxification/dp/B005EIK9Z4/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1529707176&sr=1-7&keywords=triphala&th=1

-Tulsi (Holy Basil) - Good for all around health and promote energy and sleep. I take 1/8 tsp every night. Mixes in water.
https://www.amazon.com/Banyan-Botanicals-Tulsi-Powder-Pound/dp/B0058AASOA/ref=sr_1_28_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1529707224&sr=1-28&keywords=holy%2Bbasil&th=1

Probiotics

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They've been pivotal in restoring more balance to my stomach, digestion, and overall health.

I've resolved on taking three different probiotic products because variety can help crowd out H Pylori and heal your stomach overall.

-Custom Probiotics - 11 Strain Probiotic Powder - 100 Gram
It seems expensive but it's super cost efficient and lasted me about year which is amazing.
For dosage, I only use the small plastic spoon that it comes with because the standard dosage of "260 billion" per day seems a little too intense to me.
I started with taking 25 billion (one small plastic spoonful) per day mixed in water. Stomach upset and gas is normal at the beginning stages so starting small helps your stomach get acclimated to the new strains.
I'm up to 100 billion per day (4 small plastic spoonful) now, 30 minutes to 1 hour before a meal.
https://www.customprobiotics.com/custom-probiotics-11-strain.htm

-Renew Life Extra Care Probiotic - Ultimate Flora - 150 billion - 30 Capsules
This probiotic is amazing for adding tremendous amount of variety to the strains in your stomach. It also contains "L Reuteri" which is effective in reducing and suppressing H Pylori.
Whenever I start a new bottle, I start with approximately 1/4 capsule (I open up the capsule and pour some it's contents in water) for the first week and move up to 1/2 capsule till the end of the bottle. Makes it last longer and because I'm already supplementing with another probiotic.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IN7867Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

-Bronson Saccharomyces Boulardii - 20 Billion - 180 capsules
Good for restoring balance to gut biome. I start out with half a capsule (approx 5 billion) in water at mealtime, once per day.
https://www.amazon.com/Bronson-Saccharomyces-Boulardii-Clinically-Vegetarian/dp/B01DWMC794/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1529676374&sr=8-5&keywords=bronson+saccharomyces+boulardii+probiotic


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Timing of Probiotics

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This was a super tricky thing to figure out. A lot of conflicting reports on what time you should take it, with food, without food, at bedtime, or first thing in the morning.

Here's the best two times that have worked for me. I go back and forth to accommodate schedule changes if need be:

1. 30 Minutes Before Breakfast - Custom Probiotics and Renew Life mixed in water.
   Take S Boulardii with other food enzymes. Make sure to take herbal antibiotics at another meal time.
   
   
2. 30 Minutes Before Dinner - Custom Probiotics and Renew Life mixed in water.
   S Boulardii with other food enzymes. Make sure to take herbal antibiotics at another meal time.

Do you believe that the anabolic androgenic ratio rating (done in mice I know) could be a surrogate for non-AR mediated anabolism to AR mediated anabolism? You say that Test has equal effects through both mechanisms, which would be supported by this idea because it is 100:100.

Regarding androgen affinity of masteron you can see this full paper here.

You are correct that masteron has affinity for the androgen receptor, but interestingly it's androgenic rating is only 25-40, less than half that of testosterone. This could be suggestive that the majority of the effects are non-AR dependent. The hormone was originally intended for breast cancer patients, and I believe that it may mediate anabolic activity by acting as an antagonist at the estrogen receptor. By blocking receptor binding of estrogen, it may allow you to reap some of the anabolic effects (increased IGF-1, sodium retention) of estrogen without experiencing the femininization (sp?) properties.

Let me try to summarize the thoughts going around here, and see if I can suggest an option to address this.

1. High SHBG may be good for uncoupling anabolic effects from androgenic ones in AAS
   
2. AAS generally lower SHBG but have an overall anabolic effect
   
3. Estrogen production/aromatase activity results in SHBG production^1
   
4. Having androgen dominance in some tissues is good (tits, dick, brain [to a degree]) and bad in others (primarily hair).
   
5. Estrogenic dominance may be good for anabolism (probably good for mitigating hairloss) and one way may be through elevated SHBG
   
6. Estrogen mediated anabolism is likely most effective in insulin sensitive (low bodyfat) individuals
   
7. Insulin, GH, IGF-1, androgens, and prolactin negatively regulate SHBG production
   
8. So we see that the favorable anabolic products of estrogen reduce SHBG production. How then do we keep SHBG up, insulin sensitivity up, and favorable androgenic dominance in tissues where it matters.
   
   I am not sure I have the perfect answer, but here is how I plan to do it in my next cycle:
   
   
9. Keep DHT levels slightly above normal levels systemically via Testosterone E (600mg/wk) + finastride (1mg inhibits 64% of DHT at scalp) I expect this to give me about as much DHT as my cruise dose (Yes I know its high) of 210mg/wk at which I don't notice any major hairloss on. The reason I plan to use a high dose of testosterone is because I believe that in combination with finastride it uncouples the androgenic (DHT) from it's anabolic effects to a degree. Maybe if the mouse studies were done on mice receiving AI + Finastride + Testosterone the anabolic:androgenic ratio might be more like 100:35, giving it a relatively more favorable anabolic to androgenic ratio than boldenone. Also if you look at the binding profile of testosterone from the paper I linked, I believe that it may have antagonistic effects at the progestagenic receptor, and I believe I am sensitive to progestrone activity.
   
10. Keep Estrogen slightly elevated by using aromasin at sufficient doses to keep me slightly above range
    
11. Use an anti-androgen at the scalp (RU58841)
    
12. Use topical DHT cream at the nipple
    
13. Include masteron E (300mg/wk) for extra nipple protection
    
14. Include Bold Cyp (700mg/wk) because of it's relatively uncoupled anabolic to androgenic properties/ratio. Thought about using DHB instead, but in terms of it's grams/$ relative to bold cyp I am not sure the benefits of no 5-ar or aromatase activity would be worth it since boldenone already has very weak activity with aromatase and 5-ar. Additionally DHB and bold cyp share the same ratio, and despite bold cyp's reduced potency compared to DHB I could brew it at twice the concentration, so in the end I am pushing the same amount of oil.
    
15. Include metformin to attempt to maintain insulin sensitivity on a modest caloric surplus
    
16. Stick to /u/bznnnj 's recommended diet of 2:1 glucose to fructose ratio, high fiber, low fat (10-20%), appropriate protein (shooting for 1g/lb despite the common knowledge that only .85 is needed as I believe that improved nutrient partitioning and protein synthesis in enhanced users may necessitate increased protein, and even if that isn't the case the thermal effect of protein may improve my metabolism to keep the gains even leaner). This should hopefully keep that liver full and pumping insulin. Fat sources will be mainly animal derived (beef and eggs) with some almonds thrown in, veggies will be spinach and brocccoli (uncooked to maximize sulrophane content), fruits will be kiwis and oranges, carbs will be sweet potato (and basmati rice if this ends up being too much fiber [I currently tolerate around 50gs]). Thoughts behind this being that we want stable insulin and glucose and as such should stick to carb sources with low glycemic index/load and /u/bznnnj has already discussed the advantages of increased fructose. Animal fats are selected for fat soluble vitamins. Veggies, Fruits, and Starches are selected for good micronutrient ratios (high potassium low sodium) getting enough calcium iron and unsaturated fats etc.
    
17. I am staying away from anything that has affinity for the progesterone receptor as I am not sure how it plays into all the previously mentioned mechanisms, and I have had poor reactions to them in the past.
    
    I thought I would include supplement choices since I am writing a book here anyways:
    
    
18. nightime - melatonin , magnesium glycinate (2x docotors best), P5P (I have the MTHFR mutation so I take mainly active forms of B vitamins and usually above the RDA), Zinc, CoQ10, Garlic
    
19. Morning - 10K IU Vit D (I have a vitamin D receptor mutation so I again go above the RDA), Vit K, B-complex, 2 xFish Oil, uridine
    
20. In order to stabilize dopamine, because I believe I am susceptible to post-cycle depression due to increased dopamine sensitivity on cycle I: Don't partake in psychoactive substances on cycle (including coffee), and utilize the Mr. Happy Stack (crossovers from /r/nootropics will know this is Uridine + Fish oil + and Choline (get choline from my eggs)) and off cycle I use a mixture of microdosed and periodic full doses of LSD to improve my dopamine sensitivity (and to deepen spiritual connection), modafinil, and caffeine and L-theanine to help me with the androgenic comedown.
    
    I am on the fence about including HCG, because I was running it on a cruise for a while, but it was aggravating my pubertal gyno and when I went to get my bloodwork I found that I had above range prolactin and in range estrogen and test. I was only on AI + Test + 500IU HCG/wk administered E3D. I may include it just to improve lipid metabolism, and increase estrogenic tone, because boldenone seems to act similarly to masteron insofar as it has not well understood anti-androgen effects.
    
    Sorry for the manifesto.

I had some time, I hope this helps, sorry that it made me pretty mad the farther in I got =)

>A vegan diet never sustained any traditional culture

This is an extremely selective take on the source material. Weston Price reported that several healthy groups of people who were lacto-vegetarian or pisco-vegan. At most this would be an argument for vegetarianism, not the omnivore diet that the author is now advocating. More importantly, the logic is terrible, even setting aside whether or not we should be taking Weston Price and his legacy foundation seriously.

There is no necessary connection between the supposed fact that no ancestral diets were vegan and the idea that a vegan diet is unhealthy. Just as there is no necessary connection between the fact that no traditional culture had a lifespan over 60 years and the fact none of them listened to the radio. Without a solid argument of why a vegan diet is unhealthy this claim only lends the appearance of providing evidence when, in fact, it relies on subsequent claims that should be accepted or dismissed on their own merit. So this ought to be dismissed entirely until the claims are established independently and then only accepted as a tenuously possible interesting explanation of other known facts.

> Vegan diets do not provide fat-soluble vitamins A and D

So she readily admits that you can get enough vitamin A by eating vegan foods, but tries to dismiss this as difficult and undone by various disorders. Well, vegan sources worked for impoverished children in Mozambique well enough. Vitamin A can also be supplemented easy enough, like for these children in Venezuela. As for the disorders, sure, lots of disorders can interfere with proper nutrition. That is why we should all go to the doctor regularly for checkups and tests, regardless of our diet. Personally, I've never even heard of a vegan being deficient in vitamin A, but anything can happen.

As for vitamin D, this is actually more important. Yes, it should concern vegans. However, it should in fact concern most everyone because tons of people in northern climates or who work indoors are deficient. It is extremely easy to supplement with vegan sources and can be readily obtained just by spending enough time in the sun. The "useable" vitamin D bit is a canard. Yes D3 has been shown by some studies to be better absorbed than vegan D2, but D2 is definitely absorbed and the solution when necessary is simply to supplement at a slightly higher level for vegans who are deficient. As above, I recommend visiting a doctor for this, they can test your blood for D levels and give a recommendation based on their findings.

>Vegan diets often rely heavily on soy

Sure, so if you have any problem with it don't eat it. There are a ton of complete sources of protein out there. I'm actually surprised that she mentioned soy protein powder and bars, because other than a couple athletes, none of the vegans I know rely on these to get enough protein.

On the other hand, if you have no problems with soy whatsoever, (and most people do not) then this is another non-issue. The last person I talked to who was having problems with soy was drinking ~2 gallons of soymilk a day. That is probably way to much, don't consume that much.

>Vegan diets do not provide vitamin K2

As someone else pointed out in this thread, the Japanese traditional food natto does provide K2 derived from its creation process. Still, having lived in Japan I wouldn't personally want to eat natto on a regular basis, or ever again. However, from what I've read this also isn't a problem for most vegans, human gut bacteria produces K2 on its own. As the blog linked to above notes, if this were a problem for vegans it would show up in the studies comparing clotting rates, but it doesn't.

> Ethical omnivorism supports a healthy planet

I can't even begin to get into how inane this argument is, which seems focused on this weak claim, "vegan diets ten[d] to demand a higher quantity of cereal grains and soy."

Once we get to the point where 70% of US grain is not going to feed livestock and all the major fisheries are not in the process of being entirely wiped out, then we can talk about the fantasy world in which bison roam freely through the towns of Kansas and all the meat we eat comes from free-range goats locally sourced in New Zealand.

I can't even tell you the number of times I hear this argument from people who I later find eating a hamburger at a local restaurant without a second thought as to where it came from, or putting a picture of sizzling bacon they got from the grocery store on their blog. The simple fact is that eliminating meat from human diet would be such a titanic reduction in environmental carrying cost to the planet that whatever fractional gain might theoretically be had from occasionally supplementing with seasonal and local free range meat to avoid complete reliance on plant matter is quite insignificant in comparison.

> Real Food > Fake Food

This isn't even an argument. It is just superstition and cultural bias wrapped up in the shell of an argument. Who cares what humans have been doing for thousands of years? Are we to bring back slavery cause it was functional much longer than the industrial wage system? For that matter, what the heck makes imprisoning cows, artificially inseminating them, machine milking them, homogenizing the milk, then churning the product until it hardens into a semi-solid state more "natural" than combining a bunch of plant based material to produce something that looks and tastes similar? If she is so worried about this "natural vs artificial" false dichotomy, she can go eat an apple (genetically modified by humans for millenia) and avoid both forms of processed food altogether.

> Vegan isn’t the answer to autoimmune disease

Right... if I only had a nickel for every time someone told me a story of two separate phenomena which they have linked as essentially causal in their mind, but which we don't even have the data yet to establish so much as a correlative link, then I wouldn't have much money cause nickels aren't worthy much. Still, this is seriously going off the deep end. She actually links to a book that claims you can treat Autism and Dyslexia by managing the gut bacteria. I don't even know for a fact that these claims are false, only that no scientist on the planet yet knows that they are true.

> You must take life to have life

Wow. Yes, field mice are killed in harvesting grain. If she is so concerned about this, why doesn't she advocate for methods of driving field mice out of their burrows before harvesting, rather than simply accepting their death? Or no longer ever feeding a single grain to cattle whose conversation to the protein that winds up for dinner is so inefficient that it requires the death of an order of magnitude more mice?

The fact is that veganism isn't about no living thing dying. My skin cells and the bacteria in my stomach are dying as we speak. Who cares? I don't believe in magical plant and amoeba souls that are somehow more important than or equivalent to the thinking, feeling, caring, sentient creatures that meat eaters kill, maim and imprison for luxury food.

Also, just to be clear, plant communication has nothing whatsoever to do with intelligence. They don't have nervous systems, they don't have brains, they don't have anything with which to cognate. The "communication" being referred to by the sourced she cites is an intentional misreading of a scientific term meant to indicate transmission of chemicals. Then again, maybe they think the Earth is intelligent because there is communication between the mantle and the core.

> Vegan diets are deficient in vitamin B12 and iron

Getting bored with her at this point. Yes, these are two vitamins of which vegans should be aware. Both can be tested, both can be supplemented if found short. You almost get the impression from this article that most meat eaters are not deficient in various nutrients. Heck, since less than 1% of people in the US are vegan and B12 is a problem specific to vegans, why are 20% of people over 50 borderline deficient in B12?

> Animal fats offer unique nutrients

Omega 3, yet another nutrient that is low for almost everybody. This is the same argument over again. Everyone in my family takes an Ovega-3 to avoid this EPA and DHA issue altogether. I'm not remotely convinced that it is necessary, the studies certainly are not conclusive. Most likely, bodily conversion of flax seed will do you fine as well as chia seeds, beans, cabbage, mangoes, wild rice, etc.

The whole "saturated fat is great" bit is still a fad not established by science. Yes, there have been a couple exploratory studies suggesting the possibility, but credible institutions like Mayo Clinic, Harvard Medical and the American Heart Association still advise against it. And the bit about cholesterol is purposefully obtuse, the human body manufactures more than enough cholesterol on its own. The idea that dietary cholesterol is a "key part of wellness" is based on nothing but hot air.

You're so welcome!

Hmm, I see. That is strange. I'm not an expert, but,,,

Perhaps it would be that:

- You are sensitive to some or combo of ingredients common in watery layers. Some things that irritate your skin can make it feel dry and tight as well, instead of rashes or acne-like stuff. Like if you were sensitive to butylene glycol (very commonly used in watery things), or plant extracts or essential oils/fragrance that is making your skin react. I have heard some people are sensitive to certain pH adjusters/preservatives as well. It's all very individual.

- Some skin need some amount of exfoliation before watery layers and other stuff to penetrate. If your skin woes aren't caused by getting dehydrated via overexfoliation, I would maybe try a AHA to gently take away some of the top layers to let the other stuff penetrate. AHA can be hydrating as well, while BHA can be drying (but anti-inflammatory). The gentlest options are PHA (polyhydroxy acid) like lactobionic acid, and AHAs like mandelic acid, and lactic acid. Glycolic may be too harsh. PHA and mandelic are the gentlest options, as far as I know.

- There isn't enough water before/inbetween steps. I would probably use a hydrating mist right after washing and in-between layering stuff. The humectants work by absorbing water around them, so it is helpful to have as much water before the occlusives as possible.

- There are ingredients that tend to be drying in your watery layers, like alcohol. Or they're just not optimal formulations. Even some stuff with alcohol can be quite moisturizing, if they're formulated right.

- Your humectants and occlusives just aren't cutting it. Personally, just using cerave cream or vaseline or aquaphor didn't help me when my skin was at the deepest dank dehydrated place, lol. I had to use ASSLOADS of really effective humectants and occlusives as much as possible. That meant incorporating urea and lanolin, panthenol, allantoin, etc. on top of everything else like ceramides. This is just a personal hypothesis, but I think what my skin needed was healing, not just moisturizing. I was CHRONICALLY stressed, which lowered my immune system, and prevented my skin from healing as readily. I needed stuff that would really HEAL instead of just provide moisture. What I also needed most was to get enough sleep at the right time, and do exercise or meditation or whatever else to keep my stress levels lower. Your skin can't heal no matter how much stuff you throw at it if you aren't letting your body rest and stop being so inflamed, y'know? And that starts internally.

Getting optimal nutrition I think helped me a lot as well. I wasn't getting enough sunlight and nutrition in my diet, too. I take vitamin d supplements (5,000 IU daily, in the morning) because getting it through that is better than damaging your skin outside baking under sunlight, which has DNA-destroying effects. And take vitamin k2 MK-4 & MK-7 because it's important to take it with vitamin d, to properly direct calcium into the right places (so you don't get calcium deposits aka stones and shit). Vitamin K is quite rare in food, but they're important in dental and bone health. You can get K2 MK-4 in egg yolk, but it goes in and out of your system very quickly, like within a few hours. K2 MK-7 can be found in food like natto, but I'm not Japanese and don't eat natto, so I get it in supplement form. It's VERY rarely found in food, and it actually stays in your system unlike MK-4.

Having balanced omega fats in your diet is important as well. We need something like 1:1-1:4 Omega 3 to Omega 6 to keep inflammation down and be in optimal health. Americans are at something crazy like 1:16 to 1:24 or something like that. Because we eat so much bread and other types of meat and stuff like that, and not enough seafood. Humans have evolved eating lots of seafood, so that is what we should be eating to be in optimal health (optimal, not just alive, lol). I don't eat a ton of seafood, altho I'm Asian, but I do have different types of fish and seaweed in occasion.

Instead, I take fish oil pills. You can't just take any fish oil pills as many have shown to be rancid, or have high levels of mercury and other toxic heavy metals. And you're better off not taking in any oxidized oils than not taking anything at all. The one I have found that has the best EPA/DHA levels and best bang for buck is NOW Foods Ultra Omega-3 (they have another fish oil, but this is different). You can check out this site for highly ranked supplements here: https://labdoor.com/rankings

But you don't need to take all these supplements and stuff if you have a good diet. I just take those three (vitamin d, vitamin k, and fish oil) because I'm lacking them in my diet. It's something that many Americans lack in their diet as well (I'm not sure what nationality you are). And you don't want to just nilly willy take vitamins and shit without researching them first, especially fat-soluble ones, as they build up inside you instead of getting flushed out if you have too much, like water-soluble ones.

On top of that, I would also just keep myself hydrated as well. Not that drinking water is directly correlated to skin hydration, but it's just good to keep hydrated. It's not enough to just drink a ton of water, keeping the electrolytes balanced plays an important part, too. You can't be "hydrated" if your electrolytes are totally out of whack. Which is also why you can't just give a dehydrated person who's been out stuck somewhere before being found just straight up water and kill them lol. (But really, don't worry about that electrolyte stuff, unless you're an athlete or something. Just drink a ton of water.)

To calculate the amount of water you should try to be drinking everyday is your weight in lbs * 0.66 (or .67 doesn't matter). For example, I weigh 143 lbs, so 143 * 0.66 = about 94 fl ounces of water a day. Feeling thirsty means you have already become dehydrated long before that.

SORRY I WROTE A FREAKIN' THESIS PAPER BUT I HOPE THINGS WORK OUT FOR YOU!!!

I worry about what it is going to be like being pregnant and vegan all the time, since I figure it's going to happen sooner than I think! So, I tend to remember some of the resources that I come across.

Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist, doctor, or medical professional, so these are suggestions for further resources, not scholarly advice.

When you say your diet is "pretty simple," does that mean simple as in a lot of "whole" foods where most of the preparation is done at home? If this is the case, eating a varied, calorically-sufficient diet will do a lot of good--that "well-planned" diet thing. Of course, processed isn't necessarily a bad thing--remember that basics like fortified nondairy milk, tofu, and even seitan are "processed." However, each of these can still be healthy (especially because baked tofu, rice, and veggies is easy and healthy for those nights you/your wife won't want to cook).

As far as supplements, B12 is of course the big one. For a complete look at general vegan nutrition, and some discussion both of vegan pregnancy/raising vegan kids, take a look at Vegan for Life, which is an accessible but science-based look at how to manage macro and micronutrient consumption while being vegan (including a look at supplements.)

You may want to take omega-3, but consult your doctor; I think research is pretty clear these days that they're good for you, but YMMV, especially during pregnancy. Ovega-3 has both DHA and EPA from algae sources; the conversion rate of ALA omega-3s, found in plants, is pretty low and not well understood, so flaxseed oil (while great) is probably not going to suffice.

Colleen Patrick Goudreau discusses supplementation and makes some suggestions for resources.

Pocket reference! The Vegan Guide to Pregnancy is pretty well-reviewed, from what I know, and I hear it recommended. Also, poking around Amazon from there will help you find some additional references. Probably worth it to have a few books on hand, as well as the internet.

Other thoughts:

• Find a supportive doctor! (This you'll probably have to Google.) While I/Reddit/the rest of the internet may kind of know what's going on, a doctor who knows you and your wife and isn't sneering at your diet will be invaluable. Veganism has become (somewhat more) mainstream lately, so you may be able to find resources for that.
  
  
• The people telling you/your wife that the baby needs eggs, milk and dairy probably (at least sort of) mean well, and everybody has a way they did it when they were pregnant, and just look at their little angel--it must be the best way! But most of them probably just don't know any better. So try not to get too upset with them (though if they carry on in such a way for the duration of the pregnancy, no one would blame you.) You can tell them that your doctor disagrees, your wife is in good health, the baby is fine, or something along these lines, and if they continue to harangue you, end the conversation. Arguing about it probably won't end well.
  
  
• Final note: The American Dietetic Association (now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics), which is a large network of qualified medical professionals, publicly takes the position that a well-planned vegan or vegetarian diet is appropriate for all people in all stages of life, including pregnancy and infancy. The full statement is here. Long story short? The science/research is on your side here. Do your due diligence and get good prenatal care, and you, your wife, and baby will be fine.
  
  
  Good luck, and congratulations!

I know this is a bit late to the party but my friend just got diagnosed as well and we went on a day long researching binge. I tried to consolidate everything we found to reference later, so for you and any one else interested here is a wall of text. I hope it helps.

The http://www.spondylitis.org website has some good background information with a useful guide on where to start. But I was surprised how there was no emphasis on the importance of diet. I found another website called kickas.org which focuses on diet and the findings of an English doctor named Alan Ebringer. Here's a quick summary of his findings which I haven't found refuted anywhere:

"Ankylosing spondylitis is considered to be a form of "reactive arthritis" following an infection of the terminal ileum and ascending colon by the bowel microbe Klebsiella. Specific anti- Klebsiella antibodies in AS patients have now been reported from 17 different countries: England, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Belgium, Slovakia, Japan, China, Australia, Canada, USA, Mexico, Argentina, and Turkey.
Over 95% of AS patients possess the HLA-B27 antigen whilst it is present only in 8% of the general population. The Klebsiella microbe has molecules which resemble HLA-B27 and this is the reason why AS patients generally belong to the HLA-B27 group.
In addition, the pullulanase molecule of the Klebsiella microbe crossreacts with type I collagen found in tendons and bone and also with type IV collagen found in basement membranes of retina and uvea, thereby explaining the pathological sites of AS."

We all have trillions of bacteria from thousands of different strains in our gut and I bet most everyone has that Klebsiella bacteria. It's only a problem in people who also have the HLA-B27 antigen who then experience an overgrowth of that particular bacteria. Since that bacteria feeds on starches, you can alter your diet to essentially "starve" it out. This is the London AS diet

As you can see, you may have to cut out additional things like dairy, eggs and even some veggies like onions if you don't get relief by sticking to the middle column. As you starve out the Klebsiella bacteria you'll want to actively replace it with beneficial bacteria (probiotics) like the ones found in yogurt(get the plain, unsweetened greek yogurt), Kefir, kombucha or probiotic pills like these.

Additionally, as you cut sugar and other carbs you'll also be starving out the candida yeast that lives in all our bodies. In some people, too high of a candida population can cause a host of issues ranging from hives to arthritis. You may not have any issues with candida, but if you did, they'll start dying out as well (bonus!). Having so many yeast and bacteria dying off can cause problems on their own unfortunately, they release toxins when they die and their little dead cells have to be cleared out by the body. The body can react to this sudden die off and it's called a Herxheimer reaction (or just "herxing"). Herxing can feel like a whole body inflammation/hives/the flu. You're body can normally process the dying organisms along with the toxins fast enough, but drink plenty of water to help yourself out, your kidneys and liver will be working hard and they'll need the water(some tea can't hurt either).

Another interesting thing I came across is leaky gut syndrome. The basic idea is that the lining of the intestines can become too thin, thin enough to allow large, not-yet-fully-digested proteins and other molecules to permeate the gut and enter your bloodstream. Then, your immune system attacks these unknown molecules and the result is a host of inflammatory responses like arthritis and IBS. Incidentally, frequent use of antibiotics can cause work to thin the lining of the intestines, as well NSAIDs.

This stuff is so increadibly complex and interrelated! but also fascinating. The health of your gut and the kinds of bacteria living there can even influence your mood and determine your obesity risk as well.

Fasting also fits into this puzzle. Humans have fasted for religious and health reasons for all of recorded history. Juice fasts and such even had a pop culture resurgence. One of the benefits of fasting is that you starve out the yeast and bacteria since only your own cells have access to any energy (your own fat stores). This allows you to essentially reset your body and repopulate your gut with healthier bacteria. This article references a few scientific studies that seen to back up that idea. A less appealing way to repopulate your gut bacteria would be... However, IBS and colitis are often comorbid with AS so it might be worth considering. It was for some on the kickas.org forums.

Inflammation seems to be at the intersection of all this. In many ways, inflammation is at the root of all illness. In a sense, you aren’t just your human self, but an ever changing proportion of human cells, bacteria, yeasts, and viruses as well. For long term health you have to keep your non-pathogenic guests in balance lest they bloom and become pathogenic AND maintain an immune system strong enough to evict the active pathogens but not attack your own cells. At the risk of redundancy, I think it’s useful to include this book that covers the importance of that balance and the risk of antibiotics.
A final resource I found was on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, which isn't must different than the London AS diet but the website was very helpful and had a lot of information that was free even though they're trying to sell a book.
AS can seem daunting, maybe I should have led with a positive testimonial from someone who managed to control his AS
Dotyisle’s AS story

Oh, one final thing, exercise as much as you can! I have a book called "The Exercise Cure" and for Arthritis (closest thing in the book to AS) he says those with severe pain should at least do stretching, yoga/swimming/strength exercises like air squats and lunges.

TL;DR: A low/no starch diet will lower the number of harmful bacteria, reduce your inflammation response, and increase the effectiveness of traditional medicines at smaller (easier on the body/less side effects) doses.

I'm sorry you're going through this, OP. I have terrible constipation as well and the bloating is one of the worst symptoms for me. It's such an uncomfortable feeling. I'm by no means cured, but I've tried several things that have really helped. Especially with my bloating. I recommend looking into these.

 

NOW Probiotic: This is one of the best probiotics in my opinion and is a must if you have IBS. I take one capsule 30 minutes before eating and it helps reduce my stomach pan and improves my digestion. This is one of the things that has made the most difference.

 

Chamomile: I take this after I finish eating. It settles down my stomach and reduces the likelihood of me experiencing stomach pain after eating. I take it not just after eating, but also whenever my stomach acts up. It almost always relieves any sort of stomach discomfort I'm experiencing. Chamomile is particularly good for improving digestion, reducing gas and bloating, and promoting smoother and more frequent bowel movements. If you experience any anxiety, which is pretty common among people with IBS, chamomile can really help with that as well. It's a mild sedative and is very calming. It's useful for lowering anxiety as well as improving sleep issues like insomnia.

 

High Absorption Magnesium: Most people have some level of magnesium deficinecy. People often don't eat foods that are high in magnesium and to make matters worse, things like sugar, caffeine, and certain medications, can lower your magnesium levels. Magnesium is a very important mineral and getting enough magnesium can help you feel less constipated and help you have smoother bowel movements. It's also good for lowering anxiety as well.

 

NOW Candida Support: It's believed that some some people with IBS may have candida overgrowth. CO can contribute to IBS symptoms. This supplement does a good job of managing this. I take 2 capsules with a meal.

 

Senna: Senna is a mild, but effective herbal laxative. I take one capsule 2 to 3 times a day and I've been having bowel movements a lot more often and I'm not as constipated. My doctor had me on Miralax previously, but I switched to senna because Miralax was too strong and harsh. It would help me poop, but I would poop too much. So much that it was even painful. Senna is far less harsh.

 

Triphala: I take triphala right before bed and I'm usually able to have a bowel movement once I wake up the next morning. It helps the liver and kidneys do a better job of detoxifying the body. It may help kill certain bacteria that could be contributing to your IBS. It seems to work because I noticed that all my acne cleared up and my skin looked so much smoother when I started taking triphala.

 

Besides these supplements, a diet change can lower the chance of your IBS symptoms triggering. I personally like a gluten-free diet because it's not as strict and difficult to follow as some other IBS diets. Gluten is one of my biggest bloating triggers and avoiding it when I can really helps.

Your body needs nutrients, not “meat” or “dairy”! That’s very bizarre and very behind the times on those nutritionists, how annoying.

I’m vegan at 4 months, no problems whatsoever so far. My midwife basically asked me right off the bat at 8 weeks how much calcium and protein I’m getting and then said “you’re obviously doing great and have a very good handle on everything, there’s nothing to worry about here.”

My first recommendation is to try plugging what you eat into Cronometer to see how you’re already doing. Just do a typical day, or better yet log for a week to see how you do on average over several days. This was how I knew what to tell my midwife and how I know what gaps to watch for (eg, I don’t always get a ton of potassium, which is common for Americans but like who even knows that?).

If you google “vegan pregnancy” a few books come up, available on amazon - I haven’t checked any out myself because I’ve heard they’re mostly pretty introductory, but I’m sure they can help with some of the initial planning and everything. I’ve heard good things specifically about The Vegan Pregnancy Survival Guide. I know I’ve seen some blog recommendations around too, hopefully someone else has some good ones to add but I’ll hunt around bc I really should have checked them out by now myself too!

For supplements just like as a general idea, I personally take Ritual prenatals (that’s my referral code FYI for a discount just in case but can totally just take off the share part too) with a vegan vitamin C gummy (to aid iron absorption) and vegan probiotics in the morning. At night I take choline and vegan DHA/EPA, and a TUMS for calcium if I didn’t have enough broccoli and spinach during the day (the Ritual prenatal doesn’t have calcium because it interferes with iron absorption, and it doesn’t really have enough choline or EPA). That’s like very specific to me wanting to micromanage what I take because full multivitamins make me super nauseous, there are plenty of vegan full spectrum prenatals that would be way cheaper and easier 🤣

D-mannose is a good idea when it comes to urinary tract infections. These are natural sugars that stick to E.Coli which is the bacteria that usually causes the UTIs. It then makes it easy to get rid of by drinking lots of water. So provided you get completely natural products, there is no harm in trying. Another remedy which i can recommend and will help to provide some relief and prevent UTIs from recurring and these are probiotics. Healthy, good bacteria that attack and fight off bad bacteria which are responsible for causing these conditions. You can boost your diet on yogurts, kefir or fermented milk and kombucha; these are rich sources of probiotic.

Other than that, you can also look into probiotic supplements. These are faster acting and much better when it comes to serving as a remedy to UTIs. But like I said earlier, knowing the source of your products are very important. Natural products are less likely to have health complications. I would recommend a brand, Eu Natural. These guys are highly trusted and recommended with natural products and supplements. They also provide Flourish Probiotics. This is a natural combination of good bacteria that will help to fight UTIs and also has some other health benefits. I will attach a link so you can have a closer look.

https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Probiotics-Women-Lactobacillus-Saccharomyces/dp/B07KFPCCLP

I hope this info was useful and wish you good luck and health. Remember to drink lots of water. you need it

I recently bought the Tantus Acute Dildo which is suitable for strapon play if that's a thing you'd like to try, but works otherwise as well, obviously. I haven't had a chance to use it for that yet, though I've tested it on myself, and it's quite nice, imo. The silicone is easy to clean, it's firm but not "hard" and the angle was pleasing. Felt better than my experience with a man's penis ever did.

I don't have much to offer as I've only recently begun buying toys of any form. I got a thigh harness as well, which I am very much looking forward to using.

I bought a cheap regular harness as well, which is generally advised against, it's comfortable, easy to adjust, but I don't expect it to last a lifetime. I know a lot of people here will suggest the SpareParts Joque if you're looking for a "good" harness that will last. If you're just looking to see if it's something you'd like, I don't see the harm in buying something cheaper. This is what I got. It hasn't gotten any practical testing yet either, but I've tried it on and it seems comfortable and secure enough.

That's all I have (limited) experience with at the moment, though I've been piling up quite the wish list on Amazon.

Questionable health use for healthy humans (notice I say healthy): L-carnitine, CoQ10, and Inositol (Inositol is found in highest amounts in fruits, beans, grains, and nuts, and much smaller levels in meat). Some of those compounds, such as Carnosine, Taurine, and Creatine, can be beneficial, but not at the levels typically found in meat. The science shows that to get benefit, you have to supplement whether you eat meat of not. The levels in meat are not high enough for meat-eaters to derive benefit from them. Two of these compounds, choline and L-carnitine, have recently been shown to be related to atherosclerosis through the metabolization of gut bacteria into TMAO. Vitamin K1 (readily available in plants) is considered superior to K2 in humans and is sometimes converted into vitamin K2 in the human body. Protein is not a big issue as long as 3-4 servings of high lysine foods are consumed, such as beans, lentils, legumes, some nuts, soy, and seitan. Even with meat, bodybuilders supplement with protein powder. There are actually vegan bodybuilders and vegan protein powders.
The highest concentration of selenium is in brazilnuts (I eat one a day). Again, B12 is super easy to supplement with one 2500 microgram pill a week, as well as with fortified foods. I've not heard much about Phosphatidylserine, but it seems to only benefit older individuals with declining brain functions, and not the general population. Even then, those supplements are now made from soy (originally made from cow brain). Krill oil is just a source of DHA/EPA, and that DHA/EPA are originally made by the algae that krill eat. I take a DHA/EPA pill directly from the algae source, so that I avoid any possible heavy metal toxicity.

Anyways, there are millions of healthy vegans in the world. And, again, the ADA has released it's statement that a vegan diet is healthy. Besides the essential nutrients you listed (B12 and selenium, and in small amounts choline), the supplements are taken by non-vegans as well. Again, if you think they are beneficial, I'm not sure why you would only take them if you wanted to eat a vegan diet. Because non-vegans are deficient in many of these, as levels in meat are low compared to the levels needed to derive benefit.

I think the probiotics are the most important aspect, but I like doing the yogurt too because it's good for me and there's a chance of getting even more active cultures into your system. It seems the whole "eating yogurt keeps your vagina healthy" thing has been debunked, though. But definitely do your research. Typically, the cheaper the probiotics, the less effective they are- you want a probiotic that is verified to work (quality assurance from FDA and FAO on supplements isn't very heavily enforced) and has more that 4 strains.

Bio K worked the best for me, but they're stupid expensive.

We just finished a bottle of this which I liked pretty well.

Here are some of the most common/helpful strains to look for:

• Bifidobacterium lactis HN019. This strain helps modulate some aspects of the immune system in older people (it's sold as an ingredient for dairy and supplement products).
  Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC55730 (available in BioGaia Gut Health * products).
  
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) (in Danimals drinkable yogurt and Culturelle capsules).
  
• Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 (in DanActive products).
  
• Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 (available in Yo-Plus yogurt, LiveActive cheese).
  
  
• S. cerevisiae (S. boulardii) (found in Florastor powder and Lalflor capsules.
  
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) (in Danimals drinkable yogurt and Culturelle capsules).
  
• Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 (in DanActive products).
  
• Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285 plus Lactobicillus casei Lbc80r (available as BioK + CL1285 fermented milk, BioK + CL1285 soy milk, and capsules).

I hope you will try a kale smoothie!! They are hella nutritious. Here is my jam: buy a head of kale at the store (purple is the bomb), take it home, cut off the stems, wash it, dry it, chop it up, and put it in a big Ziploc bag. Then i stash it in the freezer, so it stays good and never goes bad or wilts. I keep an old protein powder scoop (1/4 cup) in the Ziploc, and throw 2 scoops in my morning smoothie. You can use any protein powder you like; i use Jay Robb whey or egg white powder. I also put some grass-fed unflavored gelatin because a lot of the keto/paleo sites recommended it. I also add a few (about 1/8 cup) of frozen blueberries to help the flavor.

Make sure you leave enough space in the jar for it to blend properly. My Ninja individual jar has a "max fill" line which is helpful. blend the shit out of it or else you'll get the "liquid salad" effect. I will add some Kerrygold butter, or olive oil, or coconut oil to the shake if I need more fat that day.

I used a Magic Bullet blender for a long time, then I upgraded to a Ninja, which is what I use now. Someday i want to get a Blendtec or a Vitamixer, but I don't have six hundo to throw down on a fucking blender.

I buy the Nature's Way brand of coconut oil, to me it tastes pretty coconutty. I tried to get my dad to eat some, because MCTs help with memory in addition to all the other amazing things they do, but the stubborn old man won't eat it because he is convinced it will make him fat. That shit is like catnip to me, I love it. I love all the other great "fat bomb" recipes folks post on here. Good luck!!

I had only one at 32, via c-section as well. Similar situation as far as living 20-25min away from the NICU where my babe is. We’ve formed a routine over the last 3 weeks (he’s still learning to take the bottle). Recovery is hard, but I can share what’s worked for us.

Re: c-section — You’ll likely be walking quite a bit. As hard as this seems, I think it’s partially what led me to a quick healing process. Tylenol and Ibuprofen are going to be life for a couple weeks. I wore a belly band about a week after surgery. This made a huge difference in how I was able to move around. Granny panties (the cheap kind from Hanes work well...I joked w/my husband when we were looking at the store, “I want my belly button to disappear” bc that’s how high they went) are super helpful as well. If you can sleep somewhat elevated, it helped me in getting in and out of bed for about the first two weeks. My morning coffee also has a scoop of collagen in it; I’m not a doctor, but I have healed really well & I think this has helped, possibly. I’ve tried to rest when I can, walk when I have to, and accept all the crazy changes I have no control over.

I also attempt to control the little things. My phone’s alarms were set up every few hours and labeled either “Ibuprofen/Motrin + pump” or “Tylenol + pump.” I can send you my exact routine if you’re interested. I pump 8-10x/day and am currently producing just enough for my 35+4 little man, so I’m not stellar but I’m still going. I keep reminding myself that my only goal is to keep pumping and I’ll worry about production more once he’s actually home.

Re: visits to the hospital — Not being able to sleep there has been one of the biggest challenges for us, especially with me healing from a c-section. We’re also trying to budget, so eating at the hospital 2-3x/day isn’t ideal either. We have a daily schedule to visit for two of his cares, one at 9am and the other at 3pm. This gives me the opportunity to have some broken sleep (yay for pumping) and we eat at home. I sometimes squeeze in a nap before the 3pm visit, which helps. We also plan on staying in between visits once he gets closer to coming home.

Having the slight breaks gives us time to take care of our dogs, the house, and attempt to nest bc that didn’t happen how I had planned before he decided to make an appearance. Not to mention, we had moved to an new state just three weeks before I went into labor. This new routine is now just our normal. We do what we can and that’s all we can do. Sending you hugs bc I know this can feel challenging, but I’m told it will be over before we know it.

Edit: Updated drug names bc I don’t know things lol

1. I use the following, in order of preference: butter (4tbsp), heavy whipping cream (1/3 cup), avocado oil (1/4 cup). All are great but butter is aweome.
   
2. If you order the weekly special (10% off) and grab 4 bags (5% off) you'll get both discounts. There are coupons out there occasionally as well. Without coupons it works out to 84 servings at $2.69 cents before your fat/oil source. If you go with Baja Precious avocado oil from Amazon, with subscribe and save it works out to $0.55 per serving. That's $9.70/day if you do 3 shakes. Now Ultra Omega 3 works out to $0.23 per day bring you to $9.93 per day.
   
3. Immersion blender is the way to go. I spent the first month using shaker/blender bottles. It's slow and doesn't always fully mix. Immersion blenders are super easy to clean and it takes me about 3 minutes (or less) to fully clean with hot water and dish soap.
   
   I use a gallon pitcher, add (1.5 cups avocado oil or 2 cups of Darigold heavy whipping cream or 24 tablespoons of melted Kerrygold Irish Grass Fed salted butter), 6 scoops of ketochow, fill it 3/4 of the way full with water, give it 60 seconds with the immersion blender, let it sit for 2 minutes, and do another 60 seconds with the immersion blender. Then it goes into 6 bottles which is good for 2 days worth. I usually do 3 pitchers for 18 total servings, or 6 days.
   
   I normally don't need anything else to get me through the day, but I keep extra stuff in the refrigerator if do need a snack, or I'll replace one of my Ketochow servings with a combo of bacon, eggs, cheese, and veggies.
   
   I am lazy AF so I also regularly visit Costco and buy bags of Babybel cheese minis (regular, white cheddar, and light), packages of Kirkland precooked bacon, and boxes of Kirkland peeled hard boiled eggs. I also buy cauliflower, broccoli, and avocados for snacks. I'll occasionally grab a few rotisserie chickens, cut them in half while they're still warm, and refrigerate them, and have half as a meal when I'm craving something more substantial than Ketochow. 350f for 30 minutes heats them up perfectly.
   
   I recommend https://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/ to figure out your macros and deficits and cronometer.com to track your dailies.
   
   I've lost 31 pounds in just under 3 months eating mostly just 3 ketochow servings a day with a few supplements (omega 3, magnesium, fiber capsules). Started at 210 and I'm now 179 (46m, 5'10", goal weight 170, possibly 160).
   
   The only downside I've encountered is having to buy a bunch of sealed bottles (and having to wash them).

> Pegging

i've seen [this harness](https://www.amazon.com/SpareParts-HardWear-Joque-Double-Harness/dp/B002DOJR1O?th=1
) up close during a fetish party and i was amazed how steady the dildo was! Like it was attached to Her body!

> r/nsfwasmr

In my opinion... most people who create nsfw videos are focusing too much on the sexual aspect, and they're losing the essence... which is to provide a relaxing/euphoric feeling at the same time. i would encourage You to check Youtube for regular ASMR.

> If you believe in the product, it sells itself.

Your nailtapping audio is the most perfect example! You took a simple idea, and You made it so sexy. Your 'cheating' audio was also incredible! i've mentioned it before... i discovered GWA through ASMR. Pretty much every trigger was making me feel both relaxed and aroused (nails, mouth sounds, kisses, whispering, licking etc). From there, i skipped the nsfwasmr videos... and i found GWA where i got amazed by people's creativity, even without proper equipment.

> It does.

In the Day7 link i gave above, it's funny how i talk about my "gasms"... and now they've been taken away! 😊


 


PS: You should do AMA's more often! i had so much fun getting to know You better!

I bought collagen powder on a recommendation from another redditor, to go with my quest coconut oil powder that I am absolutely IN LOVE with (it makes your coffee taste like Swiss Miss without the sugary feel - though with a splash of SF vanilla my coffee is amazing! Anyway, I bought it to combat my ever more crappy nails. Dear lord, I am drinking the most filling coffee ever. Instead of 2-3 cups of just coconut fat, a single serving of each divided into two cups is amazingly filling. Wow. 8g of fat and 18g of protein out of the gates. And I hope my nails grow!! The collagen (to those who wonder) is flavorless, and with the coconut oil powder and vanilla, it's just creamy frothy coffee. (I use a milk frother)

I've been bad about tracking, but I've also been lifting so I've just tried to eat when I am hungry... okay, maybe I haven't been quite so careful. I woke up today 1lb up, but 1 lb up from my lowest... well within my happy window of success. Today my husband played hookie, so while I wait for my kiln to cool off, we're going to sneak off for breakfast and a matinee of the Magical Beasts movie!! Not a terrible way to go. Although after this coffee, I'd be happy seeing the movie first and then eating... but not sure he could do that. And he's supportive of the fact that I have to hit the gym, and may go with me. Where was he wednesday when I got pinned under the bench press bar, lol.

well I got rid of mine using probiotics. Did some research online and after recommendations I was convinced these healthy bacteria were what I needed. Started out with yogurts, they seemed to help so I moved on to probiotic supplements which were safe during pregnancy. The one I used was Flourish Probiotics by Eu Natural which is a natural probiotic supplement made from healthy, good bacteria. It is what stopped my morning sickness. basically what I know of probiotics is that they are healthy bacteria that are great to get rid of conditions like UTIs, support healthy pregnancy, digestion and gut flora. Did the trick for me and I would recommend. I will attach a link so you can read more into it: https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Probiotics-Women-Lactobacillus-Saccharomyces/dp/B07KFPCCLP

And try to get lots of rest. Good luck

Marshmallows are so delicious but the kinds you find at the grocery store are PACKED with sugar and carbs. Store-bought marshmallows such as Kraft Jet-Puffed have a whopping 24 grams of carbs and 17 grams of sugar per serving. Those marshmallows would blow your blood sugar through the roof!

This awesome recipe though has no sugar and 0g net carbs. Plus it only uses five ingredients. Check it out below with more details and tips at the source link

Source: https://www.chipmonkbaking.com/blog/2019/9/6/zero-carb-keto-marshmallows-made-with-allulose

​

RECIPE: KETO MARSHMALLOWS USING ALLULOSE(NO SUGAR, LOW-CARB, GLUTEN FREE, KETO, DIABETIC FRIENDLY)

Servings: 24 Jumbo Marshmallows (~38 grams each)

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Resting Time: 4 Hours

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/4 Cup Water, divided
  
• 3 Tbsp Gelatin (we used Great Lakes Pure Beef Gelatin which you can get on Amazon)
  
• 3 Cups Allulose, plus an extra 1/4 cup for dusting (we used the ChipMonk blend of Monk Fruit and Allulose: AlluMonk. You can find other allulose brands online as well)
  
• 1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract (we used McCormick, but any brand should work fine)
  
• 1/4 tsp Fine Sea Salt
  
• Optional food coloring if you want colored marshmallows
  
  INSTRUCTIONS
  
  
• Lightly grease two 8x8 square baking pans OR one 9x13 baking pan with pan spray and line the pans with a strip of parchment. We recommend spraying the pans once more to grease the parchment.
  
• Add 1/2 cup water to a bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and immediately whisk the gelatin into the water. Set the gelatin mixture aside to bloom while you make the allulose syrup.
  
• In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in the remaining 3/4 cup water and whisk in your 3 cups of allulose. Continually mix while you heat the pan up on your stove. You want to heat the mixture to 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a candy thermometer or digital thermometer to continually monitor the temperature.
  
• Once the allulose syrup reaches 240 degrees F, carefully add the hot syrup to the gelatin mixture in your other bowl. Add in the vanilla and salt and start to mix either using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer. You do not want to do this by hand, trust us! Turn the mixer speed up to medium and whip until the marshmallow begins to thicken and lighten in color. At this point, you can turn the mixer up to high speed without the liquid making a giant mess. Whip on high for at least 15 minutes. You will know it's done when the marshmallow is VERY thick, glossy, cool to the touch, and holds firm peaks.
  
• If you want to color your marshmallows, add in a few drops of food coloring during the mixing process.
  
• Working quickly, use a rubber spatula to scrape the marshmallow into the prepared pans. Use an offset spatula to smooth the surface as much as possible (you can oil both spatulas to help prevent sticking if you want to). Allow the marshmallows to set for at least four hours or overnight.
  
• Using a blender, grind the additional 1/4 cup of allulose for dusting until it's the consistency of confectioners sugar.
  
• Use the parchment paper to lift the marshmallow out of the pans. Using an oiled knife, trim the edges and then slice the marshmallows into strips. Dust the surfaces of each marshmallow strip with the powdered allulose. Then slice the marshmallow strips into squares and dust the cut sides.
  
• Store the marshmallows in an airtight container. Or, lightly cover the container with a paper towel and allow them to dry out overnight, undisturbed.
  
  ​
  
  Recipe Source: https://www.chipmonkbaking.com/blog/2019/9/6/zero-carb-keto-marshmallows-made-with-allulose

I love the Share, which is a strapless double dildo. It's the easiest of it's kind to keep in, feels the best(IMO), and provides for maximum skin on skin contact, which is amazing.

As for harnesses, the Spareparts Joque is the best I've come across. It's super adjustable and comfortable. The ring is stretchy so that you can use all different sized dildos. It also works beautifully with the Share. The ring is lower than usual, providing for maximum clitoral stimulation.

Regardless of how ugly it is, the Eroscillator is my favorite vibrator. It's virtually silent, and super powerful. The Hitachi Magic Wand is a close second.

I also LOVE glass g-spot dildos.

I haven't worn either, but I've seen a lot of both. And been on the receiving end of a share many times (it's what my partners use).

The share is heavy, and just bigger all around than the (standard) feeldoe. I've seen someone walk around for hours at a sex party wearing a feeldoe. I've never known anyone who could do that with a share. And fucking with an unsupported share is way awkward. But the share is really solid, and with a good harness (I recommend the Joque by SpareParts) you can wear it quite comfortably. I know two women who can come while using that specific combination to fuck folks. But I know more who can't, so YMMV. Regardless of coming, share and spareparts seems to be a favored combination for ladies I know who are fairly to extremely strap-on experienced. But it's a higher price point than the feeldoe alone.

The feeldoe has a space for a bullet vibe, but as I understand it the vibe is better for the receiver than the penetrator. Still, definitely another point in favor of the feeldoe.

I have a date soon with the feeldoe lady I mentioned earlier, so hopefully I can report on that soon. :)

You could always get these fatty acids from algae.

Here's where I get mine (I get my ALA from flaxseeds and my Omega 6s from walnuts but my DHA and EPA come from these vegcaps):

Potent Vegan Omega 3 Supplement w/ Essential Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, DHA & EPA - Vegetarian Algae based & Non GMO Time-Release Capsules - Improve Eye, Heart, & Brain Health - Better than Fish Oil - by Amala Vegan https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QCR00SW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TsAHybMGF4M3W

And here are some Amazon links to competing products so you know I'm an animal-friend and not a shill for Amala:

Ovega-3 Vegetarian Softgels, 500 mg, 60 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LL7AXE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TqAHyb38KQZGW

Deva Nutrition Vegan DHA-EPA Nutritional Supplement Softgel, 300 mg, 90 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AN86PGC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2pAHybYBM9WZG

Source Naturals Vegan Omega-3s EPA-DHA, Omega-3s for Heart and Brain Health Fish Oil Alternative https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A9I2F5G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DqAHybJH80HDC

Happy supplementing. :)

Congrats on the incoming munchkin!

Now, I don't have any first hand experience myself, but I've researched this issue for family members before.

The prenatal vitamin you'll probably want is this: http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Light-Prenatal-Multivitamin-150-Count/dp/B00115BJ30

It's food-based so it should sit well with your tummy, and it's totally vegan. Best to take it during meals. Personally I'd recommend splitting each tablet in half, take one of the halves(The larger one if you cut unevenly) at breakfast, and the other half at dinnertime. Otherwise probably just in the morning.

You definitely want to avoid Fish Oil, the mercury content does more damage than the Omega 3's can do good. I recommend this instead: http://www.amazon.com/Ovega-3-Vegetarian-Softgels-500-Count/dp/B004LL7AXE/

Direct source of DHA sourced from golden algae(Which is where a lot of fish get it from in the first place!), grown in algae factories so there should be no fear of mercury contamination. Since you're pregnant I'd probably say take one at breakfast time, and another at dinner time, as their content isn't quite as high as Fish Oil pills.

Finally, definitely want to make sure you're getting enough B12, so I wouldn't rely on the multivitamin for that. I'd say get this: http://www.amazon.com/Aerobic-Life-AdvantageTM-Methylcobalamin-500mcg/dp/B0014JOBXS

Take a spray once per day in the morning with breakfast(You can even spray it into your drink/food). Little bit overkill, but with B12 that's not a problem, and since you're nomming for two, it can only help!

Good luck parenting! :D

No reason, no benefit to adding fish back into your diet. If you buy into the Omega 3 thing, get it from a pure source with no PCBs and mercury:

http://www.amazon.com/Amerifit-Nutrition-Ovega-3-500-Vegetarian/dp/B004LL7AXE/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1324317223&sr=8-2-spell

Here's a link to a study you might find interesting:

http://www.pcrm.org/media/news/fish-does-not-protect-the-heart-researchers-say

Fish Does Not Protect the Heart, Researchers Say

New Study in American Journal of Cardiology Challenges Belief that Fish Consumption Reduces Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

WASHINGTON—Consumers who think eating fish does their body good may want to think again. A new study in the May issue of the American Journal of Cardiology suggests that fish consumption does not improve heart health or prevent coronary heart disease. The supposed heart benefits associated with a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids from fish likely result from the convergence of higher fish intakes with overall healthier dietary patterns, rather than any specific benefit of omega-3 fatty acids from fish, according to the study, whose authors include health experts with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).

The study is based on analysis of the Diabetic Control and Complications Trial database, which tracked nutritional data for 1,441 Americans over nine years. Researchers found that participants consuming the most omega-3 fatty acids from fish generally consume less saturated fat and more dietary fiber. Meanwhile, participants eating less fish but greater quantities of other meats consume more overall saturated fat and less fiber. This finding suggests that improved heart health, often attributed to fish consumption, actually results from a generally healthier dietary pattern, including higher intakes of fiber and lower intakes of saturated fat, rather than the fish itself. David Cundiff, M.D., Amy Lanou, Ph.D., and Claudio Nigg, Ph.D. analyzed the dataset and authored the American Journal of Cardiology study.

“Fish is not a boon for good health as consumers are often led to believe,” says study coauthor Amy Joy Lanou, Ph.D., a senior nutrition scientist with PCRM and assistant professor of health and wellness at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. “Fish has a questionable role in heart-disease prevention and contains surprisingly high levels of mercury and other toxins, as well as fat and cholesterol, making it a poor dietary choice. Consumers have good reason to steer clear of fish.”

It sounds a lot like when my son had viral meningitis from the description of your headache, which can be caused by entero virus (which is a stomach virus). So you never actually vomited or had diarrhea? Most doctors will tell you not to eat anything if you can't stop vomiting. That gives your stomach a chance to settle down so that you don't get dehydrated throwing up all your fluids. Even though yogurt is great because it has probiotics in it which you need, dairy is hard on your stomach when you have a stomach virus. I think you should follow the BRAT diet at this point. You can buy little probiotic pearls at the store if you want to help replenish your good bacteria.


If you start to feel super sick to your stomach again. I have this "drink" that I make for my family that is pretty pungent, but I swear it stops the nausea and settles the stomach every single time! I mix one tablespoon of honey into two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. I like to use Braggs brand but I've used generic brands before and it seems to work just as well. Then I either mix in 4 tablespoons of water or apple juice. It's pretty strong but I always tell everyone to hold their breath and drink slowly. It sounds gross but it truly helps. I hope you this helps and that you feel better soon!

A harness and smaller dildo would be best for starting out. I highly recommend Outlaw Leather- they make high-quality products that fit an assortment of toys and they fit wonderfully. http://www.outlawseattle.com/

The Joque Spare Parts harness is also extremely comfortable and versatile. http://www.amazon.com/SpareParts-Joque-double-strap-Harness/dp/B002DOJR1O

The Tantus Acute is a good beginner for pegging. It can be easily reverse in the harness for different positions for pegging and isn't too big. http://www.amazon.com/Tantus-Acute-Dildo-Midnight-Purple/dp/B000PHJB26

Start out with a smaller dildo and harness and if both of you like it, look into doubles. The FunFactory Share is also something similar to the Feeldoe and is very pleasurable for both parties. http://www.amazon.com/Fun-Factory-XFF24408-Funfactory-Share/dp/B000R3SOLC

Hey there,

My wife was using probiotics to help with the nausea. Her's was really bad too. Couldn't keep anything down. After seeing some relief from yogurts, she started on prbiotic supplements and these are what got her through. Was a great help. I will attach a link so you can read into it:

https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Probiotics-Women-Lactobacillus-Saccharomyces/dp/B07KFPCCLP

This is a natural probiotic supplement that is safe to be used during pregnancy and actually quite highly recommended for dealing with the nausea. Has a bunch of other health benefits too.

I hope that helps. Good luck on the cruise :) enjoy

You have my sympathies...all the sympathies.

A couple of things to help keep things in perspective if you can stand a little Polyanna: Thank goodness both the Lyme disease and H. Pylori are actually treatable. It totally sucks that you are going through this, and it sounds like the next few weeks are going to be quite miserable.

But I'm really, really glad that are treatments available.

So, my brother was advised to take probiotics after some nasty cat bites (long story). There are a bunch of different types: acidophilus is the stuff I use after a course of antibiotics and told him to get that. It comes in a lot of varieties. He opted for the cheaper, compressed pill type. After a couple of weeks of uncomfortable intestinal issues, he decided to get the stuff in pearl form.

I'm giving you the link so you know what to look for. I've found them at CVS and Walgreen's, for about US$5 to $10 and they don't need to be refrigerated. The store brands work just as well as the fancy brands. But the pearls are definitely superior to the compressed tablets that you can get in the vitamin aisle. (Which are about $5 for 300 or something crazy like that. Not worth it; they don't work when you're trying to rebuild intestinal flora from hefty antibiotics.)

Good luck. I hope these couple of weeks go by really quickly.

The only other ideas I have for you is to add things to the BRAT stuff to make them more flavorful. Like, cinnamon to the applesauce? (Applesauce, by the way, has always been a cure for constipation for me. So I've wondered about this component of that diet.)

How about adding a lot of salt to the rice? I'd suggest soy sauce, but that contains gluten. You could try to get some Bragg's Liquid Aminos, which is a not-too-terrible substitution for soy sauce. You can find it a Whole Foods. Or maybe herbs?

You can also turn the rice into a sweet dish. I know that dairy is very difficult to digest, but you could add some sugar or brown sugar and a little maple syrup to it. Eat it like oatmeal. Say, what about a little oatmeal, or polenta? Small amounts, of course. I know that some people who have a gluten intolerance cannot eat oatmeal either, so be careful. But if you can keep the polenta down (another name for cornmeal mush--super cheap and really easy to make!) it should be ok for you. You can dress that up like oatmeal.

Are there different varieties of crackers that you can stomach? Can you try an egg?

Seriously, good luck.

Hi, I had my gallbladder removed earlier this year.

First, try eating a good quality yogurt that has probiotics. (I eat a chobani every day.) Sometimes the antibiotics they put you on at the hospital can kill all the good bacteria in the digestive tract and yogurt with probiotics can help restore that. You would be amazed how that can solve digestive issues. If that doesn't help, I have some digestive enzymes I take with particularly fatty meals to help process the fats. I like the NOW Super Enzymes. They have definitely helped out.

But try the easy, cheap, healthy way first and start eating yogurt for a couple of weeks and see if that helps out.

I have never heard of weight gain being a side effect of gallbladder removal. If it hasn't happened in the two years since your surgery, then I wouldn't worry about it. I've lost weight and it's only been 5 months since my gallbladder removal.

Not knowing what you're eating, I don't know what to tell you other than be honest about the quality of foods you're eating. Try not to eat over-processed foods, eat fresh produce and fresh meats.

I think this is indeed a very good question. The gut is generally considered as the center of the immune system and hence a favorable gut flora will go a long way to boost the immune system and improve overall wellness. When it comes to gut bacteria, a safe and natural way to replenish the good bacteria is to take probiotics. And some sources are yogurts, kefirs, kombucha and all that or probiotic supplements. I have used one and I can recommend it; Flourish Probiotics by Eu Natural. Hence to balance gut flora and boost your immune system. i will attach a link so you may check it out. :
https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Probiotics-Women-Lactobacillus-Saccharomyces/dp/B07KFPCCLP

1. About .4 to .9g of protein per pound of lean body mass per day (Lean body mass = total body weight minus fat weight + (fat weight x .25)). So if you were 250lbs with 35% body fat, that would be 87 pounds of fat, so lean body mass would be 250 - 87 + (87x.25) or 184 pounds. So your protein intake would be between 74g (absolute minimum per day) and 165g, higher protein requirements are needed the more active you are especially if you do high-intensity or weight training exercise. If you need help figuring this out, then reply back with your height, weight, and BMI if you know it and i'll do it for you.
   
   As for carbs you should be aiming for 20-30g of netcarbs per day (a netcarb = Total carbs minus fiber carbs). So if you were eating 15g of fiber per day, your total carb intake would be 35 to 45g.
   
   The rest of your calories should come from fat. So if you were eating 1600 calories per day, 100g of protein, and 20g of carbs, that would leave 1120 calories for fat, or 124g of fat. To calculate this yourself: fat in grames = (total calories - (protein in grams + carbs in grams)x4) / 9. Using the above example numbers that would look like: (1600 - (100+20)x4)/9 --> (1600 - 480)/9 --> 124g of fat.
   
   If you need help figuring out how many calories you should be eating, provide the numbers requested above for calculating total protein intake and i'll help you figure that out as well.
   
   
2. It really doesn't mater when you eat your carbs. Spread out throughout the day is probably ideal, but it's really not important. Eat when you're hungry and have time.
   
   
3. It really depends on the type of exercise. If you're just doing low-intensity cardio (such as walking or biking or any other form of exercise under 60% of heart-rate max) then a post workout really isn't necessary.
   
   
4. I'm not sure what the question is here honestly.
   
   
5. As many or as few as you want. You shouldn't purposely eat multiple small meals. Eat when you're hungry and when you have time. Some people only eat one large meal per day (usually as their post-workout), others eat only two (usually skipping breakfast and/or only have fat-calories for breakfast such as MCT oil). Most people would probably be best starting off with three meals per day as they're used to and then transition to fewer (or more) meals depending on hunger levels throughout the day.
   
   
6. You should be getting about 3-4 grams of total salt per day. This usually means either drinking salted water (1/2 teaspoon of salt twice a day) or a salty consume or bouillon broth (be sure these are MSG-free) or even a home-made bone broth with additional salt.
   
   I would also recommend a magnesium supplement, somewhere between 300-400mg per day. If you get diarrhea, then you should probably take two smaller doses of ~150mg twice daily (use a pill splitter) or switch to a slow-release version. If you still have issues even with two smaller doses, then reduce the dosage until you no longer do (usually after the first month of magnesium supplementation you'll probably need to reduce the amount to 200-300mg per day depending on how much you're getting from food). Also be sure to get a chelated form of magnesium (magnesium aspartate, magnesium citrate or magnesium citrimate). And when determining how much magnesium is actually in each dose, you will need to calculate it based on the RDI (the RDI is 400mg per day). So if the dose is 50% of the RDI then you would know that it's only 200mg per dose.
   
   If you decide to take a potassium supplement, make sure you aren't on any other medication that might interact negatively (such as blood pressure medicines). If you plan your low-carb diet well you can get enough potassium from food. If you do decide to use a supplement or a potassium-salt, be sure to stay below ~500mg per day and preferably spread throughout the day. Excess potassium, especially from quickly absorbed supplements, can cause serious health problems.
   
   The last two supplements i would recommend would be 1g-1.5g of Omega-3 fish oil capsules (or liquid) and ~2-5000 IU of vitamin D3 per day. There might be cheaper/better brands of these two supplements out there, but the two i linked are what i personally use.

• We started with the Bend over Beginner Kit then moved on to a corset style harness and toy that fit what I wanted size wise.
  Only problem with the corset was that the straps were sometimes getting in the way. Could have probably done a better job trimming the straps. Anyway, right now we're using this. It's got the right mix of velcro and straps to be solid yet easy to use. I've thought about the Rodeoh, but had the same concern you mentioned. Don't think there is enough structure there to hold things snug.
  
  
• Silicone all the way...Is slick, not expensive like glass, and won't leave behind any unpleasant chemicals like PVC.
  
  
• Nice, but if you're planning agressive pounding it'll never work without a harness. Bought one but ended up throwing it away after finding a other toys I liked better.
  
  
• Speaking for my SO, she rarely gets off (it does happen) while going at me. Most harnesses with have a pocket for a vibe right up front that can help but more often than not it just gets in the way due to the pelvic bone issue you mentioned. Once we stopped worrying about coordinating our orgasms and just made sure she was taken care of several times before starting with me things became much more enjoyable and relaxed.
  

Step 1 is get your lab results in your hands.

Post them here, but here are some guidelines: If TSH is over 3, given your symptoms, you need to find a doctor, no matter how many doctors it takes, who will treat you. If it is under 3, this will be way more difficult.

If you can't find a different doctor, the other approach is to demand that your Free T3 and Free T4 are tested along with iron, and vitamins B and D. It would also be worth it to check for TPO antibodies.

If you already know your iron, B and D are low, start supplementing those daily. I also recommend a daily probiotic like Hyperbiotics PRO-15. Magnesium may also help. I trust NOW brand for all my supplements.

If you decide to search for another doctor, take a look at this list of hypothyroidism symptoms. Write down every single one of them that you have as well as the time frame and your current regimen. Bring these to every single appointment until you find someone willing to explore this further, and make it clear that you are willing to explore any possible explanation, even if it isn't thyroid related, but that the thyroid is the obvious first place to look.
[Here are some recommendations current as of March 2015.] (https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationStatementFinal/thyroid-dysfunction-screening#consider)

Even according to those recommendations (which are for non-pregnant asymptomatic adults) They say that they basically can't really recommend anything because they have insufficient data... Frankly, what I would harp on is that you are NOT asymptomatic. You are SYMPTOMATIC. And that always requires further inquiry. Furthermore, these recommendations say to test every 3-6 months if anything abnormal is found, and your doctor wants to only test yearly. Point this out. Also point out that, if she does have your chart, gaining 100 lbs in a year while active is highly suspect. Combined with the depression/anxiety, which aren't usually seen together unless there's something physical going on, says that further exploration is necessary. Point out that blood tests, given your symptoms, are not a risk to her as a doctor. Point out that you are taking responsibility for your own health and deserve to be respected in this.

And if all else fails and you happen to have a few hundred dollars laying around... You can actually request your own blood tests from many labs. It just costs a lot to do that, but you can pick your own tests and take the results to a doctor and see what they make of it.

There is no reason for a doctor to "refuse" to take your situation seriously. Even if it isn't your thyroid, something is going on.

You can use pure coconut oil (which naturally contains mostly MCT oil), pure MCT oil from a health food or vitamin store, or a mixture of both if you'd like. In terms of potency and extraction effectiveness, pure MCT will work best.

It's generally recommended to decarb first to ensure that your final product is evenly decarbed and to allow using the oil in lower temperature recipes, which is preferred due to the volatility of many cannabinoids. I've also read that decarbed THC is more soluble, making it easier to extract from the plant matter which would lead to even better yields.

Stove top is ok if you can accurately measure the temperature of your oil. The oven is recommended because it can accurately hold an even temperature specifically set by the user (rather than guessing "somewhere around medium-lowish"). I believe it's only sealed to avoid from foreign material falling into the oil, since there is a fan running in standard convection ovens. If you must use a stove top I would recommend using a double boiler to buffer & diffuse heat.

MCT Oil on Amazon is considerably cheaper than purchasing locally if you don't mind the shipping time. Good luck!

Have no fear sugar-free jello is A-OK!!! nutritional specs for Jello

What you were thinking about is gelatin, a delicious, nutritious protein. the above post was about glycerin, a sugar alcohol.
Gelatin is the jelly-like stuff you get at the top of a broth after boiling bones for a few hours. in my opinion its the superfood our granparents are which we're all missing in our diets today. its amazing for your joints/hair/overall health

Eat as much jello as you want, then have some more (as you can probably tell, i also love jello). Better yet, if you love the texture and feel of Jello, by making it at home, you can:
-increase your gelatin intake
-get a better quality gelatin (grass fed all day!)
-save muchos money
-make unflavoured/ridiculously flavoured jello

Here's how:

1. buy this stuff
   
   
2. mix with water
   
   
3. add flavour I like to use the little (squirt bottles you normally add to water)
   
   
4. refrigerate
   
   
5. enjoy

Hopefully I can answer your questions! Berliner Weisse is one of my favorite styles. MTF is a great resource, so definitely check that out.

1. Use a good calculator to figure out how big of a yeast starter you need. There are plenty of guides online. You shouldn't need a starter for your bacteria if the pack isn't old. If you can't get your hands on OYL-605, you can use GoodBelly Probiotics, which you can find at most health stores or even Whole Foods. The mango kind will impart the least amount of flavor to the beer. 8-10 oz per 5 gal of beer is enough. You can also use Probiotic pills to sour. Again, no starter necessary, just pull apart a few pills (4-5 is plenty) and dump the powder into the fermenter. Whatever you use, I recommend that it contains L. plantarum.
   
   
2. You can buy lactic or phosphoric acid from a homebrew store and a calculator like Bru'n water to figure that out. However, I never bother with this step. Sours usually have terrible head retention, and I don't mind it.
   
   
3. The last few times I've made a Berliner, I just sour for 24-48 hours in my fermenter, then pitch yeast. As long as you pitch a healthy bacteria starter, you shouldn't have to worry about pathogenic aerobic bacteria joining the party.
   
   
4. Yes, that is kettle souring. I don't because I'm lazy and have separate cold-side equipment for my sours. The advantage of this technique is that you don't need to worry about the bacteria getting onto your equipment and infecting clean beers. Someone who runs a production brewery or a brewpub would be more concerned with this, since they are likely using the same fermentation, lines, and kegging equipment for all their beers.

I've been thinking about doing this but I've been dieting and exercising already, and I think I'll be doing a No-Bud November. In the absence of cannabis, I suggest you do a search on the other natural herbs that might help improve your quality of life as well.

I've tried 5-HTP, Cayenne Pepper (helps with workouts), Gingko Biloba, Red Chinese Ginseng, and some really awesome Omega-3 tablets from Amazon. Those things, in concert with a healthier lifestyle and exercise (and in my case, cannabis, though you can omit that), have resulted in me losing 13 pounds over the past 2 months, and getting my blood-pressure to the athletic level. I feel great, and I hope you do too.

I recommend taking a soluble fiber, such as Psyllium Husk or Acaica Senegal!

They expand to ~10x their dry-volume in water (e.g. - in your stomach) & they slow digestion.

Effect: More full + full longer (win + win)

Dosage: I take ~5-10g/Fiber with a meal (this depends on the size of the meal and how much water I'm drinking - bigger meal = more fiber), usually 2x daily. Works great for me and my wife.

Tips: Drink extra water when you take soluble fibers; they absorb a lot of water. I'd recommend ~2oz water/1g of fiber.


LINKS

Powders-
Psyllium Husk: NOW Supplements, Psyllium Husk Powder, 24-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RWUNYM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yB1WDb93GRDSQ

Acacia Senegal: Anthony's Organic Acacia Senegal Powder, 1lb, Batch Tested Gluten Free, Non GMO, Soluble Fiber, Prebiotic https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GT9VSYR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2F1WDb8F0GN3X

Capsules-
Psyllium Husk: NOW Supplements, Psyllium Husk 500 mg, 500 Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013OW2KS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yD1WDb9W06EZ5

Acacia Senegal: IBS Friendly, Organic Acacia Senegal Fiber Capsules 600 Pack. Natural Soluble Fiber Supplement Pill Promotes Gut Health. Vegan Prebiotic Ideal for Sensitive Stomachs. Stop Diarrhea and Constipation https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KLB6LBS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BI1WDbRWRMR2Q

EDIT: Just to be clear - I do NOT work for any of the above companies nor do I sell their products, so I am NOT trying to endorse any specific products. Just trying to be helpful by adding some links for your reference/to aid your own research.

Are you taking a collagen supplement? You won't see the effects immediately, but I tore my ACL back in August and started taking it to aid in my recovery. Who knows if it's helped my ACL but my hair / skin / nails look amazing. It's also an easy way to pad your diet with 10 extra grams of protein. This is the one i'm using - one scoop in my tea in the mornings - it dissolves completely and is tasteless. A word to the wise though, it can cause stomach upset at first, so start with a tiny bit and build up to a full scoop. https://www.amazon.com/Hydrolyzed-Collagen-Peptides-Dietary-Supplement/dp/B00XQ2XGAA?th=1

I feel ya though. I'm also cutting and it's a chore. Going to bed hungry is no fun but the last few months were pretty indulgent for me so I keep trying to remember how much I enjoyed those and telling myself it was worth it to have to do this now! Hang in there.

Hi,

Sorry about that. One of the best remedies that will provide relief from bloating and I would advise you to try are probiotics. These are good bacteria that can help digestion and metabolism, hence providing relief from bloating, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and almost anything related to digestion. In fact, probiotics balance gut flora and help to fight bad bacteria that make us sick. As a result, boosting our immune system. When it comes to taking probiotics, you can either include them in your diet by eating some yogurts or kefir. Or, you may also take probiotic supplements which are richer in the good bacteria. I can recommend Flourish Probiotics by Eu Natural. ( https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Probiotics-Women-Lactobacillus-Saccharomyces/dp/B07KFPCCLP )

This is a natural probitoic supplement that is from a reliable brand and one of the highest recommend probiotics. Check it out.

This is something /u/Altyrmadiken sort of hinted at, and I'll bring it to the forefront: it's about the balance of insoluble and soluble fiber. Not too many foods have soluble fiber, and you probably aren't eating enough of 'em. A couple foods result in good BMs: apples & oatmeal - both have a good amount of soluble fiber, but they come with a ton of carbs, which you may want to avoid. With that in mind, the ultimate is psyllium husk. It's awesome since it is a near-zero-calorie source of fiber that's properly balanced to make your stool a great consistency.

More detail: ever since I needed to cure some weird IBS issues, I have taken psyllium husk daily and most BMs are followed by one clean wipe. Aim for at least 5 g of husk fiber per day, ramp up to 10 g if you like. Stay hydrated since it tends to soak up water. The easiest fix is to take capsules, though you'll need to take at least a half dozen of them. You can also blend the actual husks into a smoothie as an ingredient. Psyllium husk is also the active ingredient in Metamucil, which is expensive and has a bunch of sugar or sweetener in it. I've never used that product, but I imagine it's convenient.

Well you’re still a relatively young person, I’d imagine (don’t quote me on this) that the reason it cause “wrinkles and aging skin” would be due to the fact that it causes dryness within the area the area of application because of the Propylene Glycol in Minoxidil. This usually leads to a person not being able maintain an adequately moisturized face while you have minoxidil on your face. I can imagine that without the proper amount of natural oils (sebum), it could lead to skin aging and wrinkles. Though IF that’s the case (because I am no professional), you may want to use the foam version so you don’t experience the dryness, though you will still have to wait to take off the minoxidil before you moisturize, your skin will not become nearly as dry WHILE you have it on. Over the long term this could make a difference. Hopefully this will help you gauge which direction you what to proceed with. Aside from this, if you can afford the Foam Minoxidil from Kirkland or Rogaine for the duration of your intended use then all that is left is to weigh your pros and cons and decide if it’s worth the potential trade offs.

If you’re very concerned with the health of your skin I’d advise you to look into purchasing a Biotin 1000mcg supplement (Do not take higher than this. This is slightly more than 3 times the Daily Recommended Value of a person with metabolism of 2000 Calories; longterm use of really high contents of biotin could lead to catastrophic nerve issues, the one I provided is usually the lowest you will find but is more than enough). Also look into essential oils preferably with low comedogenic ratings or other moisturizers for your skin. As well as
Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptide Supplements. Though supplements are great, they are exactly as the name implies, they supplement. Having a healthy balanced diet, along with daily aerobic exercise is your best aid in having healthy skin.

Hopefully this helps!

2 weeks ago I made a spreadsheet comparing the value of 40+ deals for vegan DHA supplements. The best deal I could find anywhere was DEVA Vegan algae DHA 200mg 90-Count from Amazon. It comes out to 24 cents a pill. The Spectrum Essentials was a little less per pill but with much less DHA per pill, making the DEVA a much better value.
I have Amazon Prime and free shipping so this is part of what made it a good deal. The prices at VitaCost are somewhat comparable, but the shipping makes it a lot pricier. You can get free shipping there too if you spend over 50$.

To say a particular food would not be so correct. Every system reacts to various food differently. For example, someone might be lactose intolerant, others can have a bad reaction to chili or to chocolate even. You have to try keeping records or paying close attention to what you eat and how it reacts with your system.

One thing I can advise you and which has helped me a lot are probiotics. These are friendly bacteria that support digestion and help to alleviate various digestive problems. Yogurts and kefir are rich in probiotics but for more immediate results, i would suggest you try probiotic supplements. I have used Flourish Probiotics by Eu Natural. It is a combination of healthy bacteria that has been clinically tested and has proven to support digestive health, urinary tract and gut as well. I will attach a link so you may check it out and read more:

https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Probiotics-Women-Lactobacillus-Saccharomyces/dp/B07KFPCCLP

Good luck to you

> The biggest issue with veganism is that over 90% of vegans have deficiencies in nutrients that are vital to brain health (like vitamin B12).

Citation please? Because my recent bloodwork after 20 years vegan says otherwise. I also didn't get through university and grad school with honors and pass the CPA on the first try because my brain is addled by vegetables. Not a single meat-eater in my graduating class of 60 passed all 4 parts on the first go.

> There are several other nutrients as well, creatine (which affects muscles), vitamin D3 (which is much more effective than the plant based D2), carnosine (carno=meat, this is only found in animal tissue and protects against Parkinson's and Alzheimer's), Docosahexaenoic Acid (it's found in fish oil, and other animal products, the plant based version has to be converted, and humans are really shitty at converting it, it's the most abundant omaga-3 fatty acid in the brain).

Like I posted on your other comment, all of this information is almost entirely incorrect.

First, here's an article that says red meat can also raise your Alzheimer's risk. I think - at best - the science is still out on this one.

B12 is produced by bacteria, not by animals. You can easily find vegan B12 pills.

DHA you can also find in plants

D3 is also available in vegan form

Creatine as well

Please do a few seconds of research before you post this stuff.

Oh man I have so many questions I'd like to ask you but I'll keep it limited:

• Could you tell me what you think about probiotics needing to be shipped in ice packs, and kept refriderated?
  
• What are your thoughts on this brand (pro-15), and its delivery method being so effective that it only needs a 5 billion count? It has been working wonderfully to for me which is all that matters I suppose.
  
• I'm obsessed with having perfect bowels since I have had symptoms of IBS in the past. I believe that a probiotic, well timed fiber (metamucil), and glutamine have been my fix. Fiber used to not work very well for me, but now that I take it with dinner, or right after, instead of right before bed, it works extremely well. Is there any reason why timing might matter so much with fiber? Also I lift weights so I eat a lot of food. Every morning i have a perfect but huge and long bowel that requires zero wiping, and then 20 minutes later I have another nearly perfect bowel but requires wiping. (I also have one more bowel at night) I picture my body only able to fuse so much poop in the chamber so it hast to leave a bit of a mess "on deck", and then once the main chamber empties, the other poop "on deck" comes down and doesn't have time to solidify as much. Is this how the body works? I'm wondering if there is a way to only have one bowel in the morning instead of 2?

Yay, fellow vegan mamas! I'm actually taking this DHA supplement in addition to my prenatal!! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XDQSSK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00
I do use flax milk and ground flax in my smoothies too, but I feel good knowing I'm taking this supplement. Also, I don't know if you ever make chia seed pudding but I LOVE that for breakfast (make it overnight in advance so it thickens: 1 cup whatever milk you use, I like almond or flax, to 3 tbsp chia seeds, just be sure to stir well at first, and add agave or maple syrup if you want a little sweetener or some fruit!)

EDIT: Typo and clarification, whoops!

Hi, I also ended accutane early due to similar side effects (not hair thinning, though).

I want to tell you that it isn't the end of the world and that you should now seek alternative and healthier ways to fight acne. I haven't been on accutane in over three months and my big cystic acne has also stopped forming on my face about 2 months ago.

Here are some things I researched and arrived upon:

/r/skincareaddiction - great subreddit for skincare. Please do yourself a favor and subscribe and start with their basic skincare routine on the side or ask for help.

probiotics - our gut flora has a lot to do with our mental health and our skin. Here is one that a redditor found to help with cystic acne: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JEKYNZA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Evening Primrose Oil also helps and these pills can be found on Amazon.

Drink plenty of water, lots of green tea (reduces free radicals)

Avoid dairy. So no chocolate, cream, cheese, milk, ice cream,

I feel like some acne can't be stopped since the cysts are just too big and too aggressive. I suggest you pick a mild and gentle skincare routine and follow it until your face can handle more. DO NOT NUKE YOUR FACE SINCE YOU ARE COMING OFF OF ACCUTANE.

Good luck and know that there are other ways to combat acne. If you say it wasn't too bad before, then I'm sure you'll find that these healthier ways work for you.

I did! Their response wasANT very helpful:

"We can see that you’re having an issue with one of our products and would love to help find a solution! Please feel free to contact us directly and one of our NOW Customer Service Representatives (NOWCustomerSupport@nowfoods.com) will happily help out."


https://smile.amazon.com/product-reviews/B002RWUNYM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_viewopt_srt?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&showViewpoints=0&pageNumber=1&sortBy=recent

Hi, I'm late to the party on this thread so I hope someone gets a chance to read this. Cravings have always been a big problem for me so I do a lot of things. In general I try eat a near ketosis diet (/r/keto for more info) staying away from fast absorbing carbs in general keeps my appetite down. Next biggest thing I do is I buy bulk Psyllium fiber and gluccomannan and put them in a nice easy open container and spoon out a teaspoon with meals and a tablespoon with very low fiber meals (it's mixed in water and then you have to drink it really fast). This helps me from over eating. I also do lots of things like drink water when I'm hungry and leave raw whole walnuts and almonds in jars on my counter so I'm tempted to eat a few throughout the day. Another thing that helps with the cravings is baby carrots a little more expensive by I don't have to get a knife and cut carrots up which makes me eat more. I also throw a few carrots on the side of my plate with every meal. In general as well I try to eat tons of healthy fats through out the day. I like avocado, tuna, I'll have some coconut oil in my protein shakes as well. I've found if I skip meals I then over eat on the next meal which causes insulin spikes which set me up for a three day roller coaster of overeating so I don't skip meals! Hope this helps!

Edit: I also supplement with cod liver oil which I think seems to help!

I am quite positive that some nutrients are more biologically available due to the action of intestinal bacteria however I cant remember which ones. I think you should first define the weight your talking about. I think it this case you could have weight gain from fluid retention from swelling and inflammation, weight loss from fluid loss from diarrhea. you can have both going on at once. Weight loss as in the release or storage of lipids by fat cells can also be influenced by gut bacteria. Bacteria can interfere with the response to leptin causing weight gain. Now your question about disrupting. There are big issues with that. There are hundreds of different bacteria and yeast in your system some are beneficial some are pathogenic some others are beneficial until there are to many then they become pathogenic. Not to mention disrupting the bacteria with anti-biotics can lead to a Yeast imbalance as like candida are not bacteria but fungus. Yeast imbalances are also not simple to treat because yeast are more like animals then they are like bacteria anti-fungal agents are as toxic to people as they are to yeast. If you want to effect your gut balance with out doing something radical I suggest you try a month or two of something like http://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Candida-Veg-capsules-180-Count/dp/B000E7R3FY Candida support. Its more of a yeast suppresent then having anything strong enough in it to kill them outright. Take http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Probiotic-10-Billion-Vcaps/dp/B002S1U7RU/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1395925153&sr=1-1&keywords=now+probiotic Probiotics to increase the quantity of supportive strains and prebiotic fiber to feed the probiotics http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Fitness-Unflavored-6-87oz/dp/B004B8F85Y/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1395925221&sr=1-4&keywords=sports+fiber

I do notice a difference with Alpha Brain, but it's too expensive. I've used several kinds of "brain pills" and nootropics and individual brain supplements but honestly I've only noticed a difference with Alpha Brain.

Also, New Mood and ShroomTech Sport seem to work. However, for New Mood replacement, just get any calming or "mood support" blend with theanine and 5-htp.

https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Mood-Support-Veg-Capsules/dp/B000TD0PXU/


For ShroomTech sport, I've found a bottle of Now Foods cordyceps is much cheaper and works better.

https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Cordyceps-750-Veg-Capsules/dp/B0045X9VQC/

DigesTech can be replaced with Now Foods digestive enzymes for much cheaper, as well.

https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Super-Enzymes-180-Capsules/dp/B0013OXKHC/


A lot of the stuff on Onnit works, but nothing is a magic cure for anything. The most any of these will do is give you a slight edge in each area. But, I think that slight edge is worth it. However, on Onnit, it's just 3x as expensive as it needs to be. Do a bit of research and you can find a lot of the same stuff for cheaper.

Congrats on these next steps! Has a love for listening to music become re-awakened for you too during this? That's how it was for me. Really beautiful. GI issues for me over the various times I quit in past were sometimes good and other times really bad. Working on my gut with probiotics helped a great deal when bad and also taking magnesium to soften things up, although that part hasn't really been a problem as once clean, everything softened up a great deal. heh. Different types of probiotics are released in different parts of the gut. The "pearls" get deep as they are enteric coated. You can buy those anywhere: https://www.amazon.com/Probiotic-Acidophilus-Supplement-Cultures-Refrigeration/dp/B000BQ8ATQ/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1526392073&sr=8-3&keywords=pearls%2Bacidophilus&th=1

I've heard good things about Jarrow, but I've never tried any of their products.

Magnesium:

https://examine.com/supplements/magnesium/


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD0RT0/

Fish Oil:

https://examine.com/supplements/fish-oil/


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004O2I9JO/

Vitamin D:

https://examine.com/supplements/vitamin-d/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004N8TTBQ/



You'll see in the examine article for Magnesium that I linked why I suggest it and Vit D; people are a lot of times deficient in one, or both. Fish Oil is just generally also seen as a good thing to supplement, and it also helps the Vit D be absorbed.

These things, in my experience, give you a much better baseline. Unless you have a really solid/varied diet/lots of sun exposure, these can really help.

Sounds to me like you're having some mild symptoms and blowing it out of proportion in your head. The mind can screw with you in weird ways. I think you should get some digestive enzymes and try taking one before every meal, it really helps break down the food and help your body process it better. I get these because I've always had issues eating large meals as well. It may be that you have some mild food allergies, but that can't stop you from eating, your body needs those nutrients! Maybe you could also try cutting out certain things to see if it helps, wheat, sugar, etc. Good luck!

I'm big on nutritional supplements. That's really the bulk of it. Amazon has the selection and prices I'm looking for. If you're older and your body is cranky, definitely look into things like the following:

• http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I4DFAK
  
• http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015G89SS
  
• http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004O2I9JO
  
• http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J9K5PG
  
  Between me and my girlfriend we spend a couple hundred dollars a month on various supplements, which would easily cost almost twice as much retail for the same quality stuff.
  
  I love Costco too. You can't go wrong with them for a lot of stuff. It's much easier for me to cost/quality compare online for supplements vs Costco. I also don't have to buy in bulk w/ Amazon while getting approximately the same per unit cost.
  
  I'm all about Costco for food stuffs though. I've just discovered how great their clothes is to. I'm also lazy so having stuff arrive at my door is a huge bonus on Amazon, but I do love Costco too.

My first year, I was up 2-3 times a night, and when I mentioned this to my surgeon at the time of my annual check up, he said “take an Imodium before bed.” So I started doing that and got it down to once a night. I’m still up and going once a night, but it’s needing to pee that wakes me up...and it’s just easier to go ahead and evacuate while I’m at it 😉

As for your second question, I soiled myself in the middle of the night 2-3 times in the past 2 1/2 years, but not full on shit myself. When it happened, it was typically the result of being extra reckless with eating/drinking whatever I want, subsequently having a lot of gas churning around while I’m asleep, and my body letting it pass...with me discovering in the morning it wasn’t all gas LOL

Are you taking any fiber supplements like Metamucil? My surgeon recommended I take it with every meal because it slows down the digestive tract, and it really does work. I hate the powder and take the capsules, and because I’m cheap I get a generic from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013OW2KS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DSHSDbWE5W5ZT. My surgeon wants me to take it 3x a day (once before every meal) but I’m lazy and typically only do it when eating some I know will mess me up, like salad! It does a good job of firming things up from watery diarrhea to an oatmeal consistency, which means less trips to the bathrooms do leas chance of any gas being accompanied by leakage. Hope that helps!

I JUST GOT A WONDERFUL IDEA! Okay, so coconut oil works so well mainly because it has so many medium chain tryglycerides, but I believe it is only 60%. You can buy MCT oil on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-100%25-32-Fluid-Ounces/dp/B0019LRY8A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367695371&sr=8-1&keywords=mct+oil

If you put this MCT oil (which is a liquid and is perfect for extracting THC) in a bottle, and add the ground ganja and leave it for cold extraction for maybe three days, it should work extremely well! I just don't know if you can cook with this MCT oil. If it does work, it would be the absolute most effective oil to make edibles with!

Sounds like a good plan. I'd consider possibly adding a probiotic and Rhodiola for some more energy. An omega 3 supplement should definitely help with energy and brain fog. I use this one. When are you taking the zinc and magnesium? Magnesium is a relaxant and for some people even acts as a mild sedative in helping put you to sleep, so it's best taken at night before bed. From your last part about B vitamins, it sounds like you're basically already taking a B complex. Also, the multi you get may contain all the B vitamins you need.

Creatine timing doesn't matter once your muscles are saturated with creatine.

Your fish oil seems very low in epa/dha. My current fish oil contains 750mg combined epa/dha. So I only take 2-3 a day. I don't think there is any benefit to take more than 1-2 grams per day. That amount is perfectly safe.

I would recommend Rhodiola from my personal experience. That's another I buy from NOW.

L-Carnitine in the form of ALCAR affects the brain and the body. In LCLT form it only affects the body. You might get extra stimulatory effects from ALCAR, but you may not get the same testosterone uptake response you get from LCLT.

It's your personal preference if you'd rather juice a beet root before each workout, or take a scoop of powder. The difference is probably insignificant.

Rhodiola will help immensely with stress. That's it's main purpose. There shouldn't be any negative drug interactions. ALCAR has also been shown to have antidepressant effects.

The only thing else I would recommend is a multivitamin. I suggest Rainbow Light for Men because of it's high potency and bio-availability. A good multivitamin should improve your energy and mood.

My girl and I own both the Fun Factory Share and the Tantus Feeldoe. The share is better, because of the size of the vaginal insert: it's a good deal bigger than the Feeldoe's, and it's got a better shape.

Either one can be prone to falling out, though. They do work with harnesses, however. We bought the SpareParts Joque harness. It's a little pricey, but it's stable, comfortable for her, and you can toss it in the wash. It works with both dildos. Highly recommend it.

By lactose, do you mean lactose sugar? Lactose sugar doesn't contain any live cultures (I mean there may be some dormant wild yeast/bacteria in there), so that's just going to add more food for whatever eventually takes hold of your ferment - wild yeast, Lactobacillus on the peppers, etc.

If you mean pitching Lactobacillus cultures, yes that would work and probably help a bit. Something like this would work well (it's what I use for kettle-souring beers), but a healthy ferment consists of several species of Lactobacillus, and you may get less than optimal results relying on a single strain. Some good literature on this available here, but doesn't appear to be full-text :(

Another solid option would be to pitch a little bit of brine from a previous ferment, especially kraut brine which will have a nice mix of all the good Lactobacillus spp.

Liquid whey should work too, but I've never tried it myself.

Try taking Psyllium Husk before you go to bed. I use 3 tablespoons mixed with orange juice (recently switched to lemon juice and water to cut down on the sugar.) I used to have perpetual mud-shit as well, despite my substantial fiber intake. Now my shits have satisfying bulk and there's very little wiping involved. The mud-shit is encased in the mucilage formed by the Psyllium Husk; the Husk is not digested and has a purely mechanical action in the body. It is perfectly safe and can also help reduce cholesterol levels.

Such. Satisfying. Shits.

edit: Use plenty of water/juice when mixing the husk. Mix with a little liquid initially to form a sludge at the bottom of your glass, then mix with the rest of the liquid. This prevents caking/dust. Good technique with hot chocolate as well. Staying well hydrated throughout the day helps immensely.

I went through a couple of shitty harnesses from the local sex shop and then discovered the glory of the Spare Parts harness. Very adaptable, fits all kinds of dildos, super secure — very much like a rock climbing harness. Certainly not the most aesthetic harness but, by far, the best. Both of my male partners like 8-10” dildos and I feel like I have lots of control. Only downside: no vagina slit so you can’t be pleasures vaginally or anally unless you insert something in advance: SpareParts HardWear Joque (Double Strap) Harness - Black Size A (20-50inch hips) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DOJR1O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yY75BbP5Z64S0

As far as harnesses go I have this one Spareparts and absolutely love it. Easy to wash, looks and feels good, quick and easy to put on, and it is excellent in action!

yes antibiotics can really mess up your system than what issues you had before taking them. And can i ask what made you need to take antibiotics for? and it will mess up your gut heath you need to rebuild the good gut bacteria you can start with pre and probiotics and other good gut heath foods and when you eat gluten foods what happens to you? also either when you wake up or just in the day is your tongue covered in white stuff? also if you can try to stay away from foods and things that have high fructose corn syrup and carrageenan in them here is a few things to help get you started

https://www.amazon.com/Vibrant-Health-Plant-Based-Ingredients-Probiotics/dp/B06XCNXDHF/ref=sr_1_4?crid=H8PAAU7BHRQB&keywords=green+vibrance+powder&qid=1568591082&sprefix=green+v%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/Renew-Life-Adult-Probiotic-Supplement/dp/B001LIW11Q/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=probiotics&pd_rd_r=7fe06ce7-d396-4007-ba74-923b9c99a6bd&pd_rd_w=kMIjw&pd_rd_wg=rcZzu&pf_rd_p=67c9d84c-d98a-4415-a549-dd3360e9d207&pf_rd_r=Y9CXFDGKANAMX7NG57WE&qid=1568591143&sr=8-15&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Super-Enzymes-180-Capsules/dp/B0013OXKHC/ref=sr_1_16?crid=GIHHDQLQ1CMT&keywords=emzyne+digestion&qid=1568591196&sprefix=emz%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-16

https://www.amazon.com/Orgain-Pasture-Hydrolyzed-Collagen-Protein/dp/B07BL69CD2/ref=sr_1_17?crid=2YIYTQMIQ5QAI&keywords=collagen+powder&qid=1568591228&sprefix=coll%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-17

https://www.amazon.com/Thorne-Research-Formula-Undecylenic-Gastrointestinal/dp/B000FGXMWC

good luck hope that helps also up up and away

no but there's a huge article about coconut oil and alzheimers on the internet, i'm sure there's plenty more now. the MCT oils in coconut oil fuel the brain very well.

You can actually buy pure MCT oil on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-100%25-32-Fluid-Ounces/dp/B0019LRY8A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426579004&sr=8-1&keywords=mct+oil

If you want to even get something better look into "bulletproof" brand... they actually have a plethora of health products, anyway they have something called 'octane oil' it's basically 18x Stronger Than Coconut Oil. https://www.upgradedself.com/products/bulletproof-upgraded-brain-octane-oil

Anyway just thoguht I'd show you some alternatives to just coconut oil.

You’re most welcome, I would recommend a 3 points harness for a better motion check this one

and for the dildo I would suggest you both enjoy shopping for it online

I hope this help 😄

I have used Flourish Probiotics by Eu Natural. These are actually probiotic supplements. i had a really bad case of stomach problems with nausea and lack of appetite. I was recommend this and did some research before deciding to go in for it. Basically, this is a natural combination of healthy bacteria that helps to support digestion, urinary tract and gut health. The brand Eu Natural is actually highly recommended when it comes to natural products. I will attach a link so you can read more into it. But definitely a go for me:
https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Probiotics-Women-Lactobacillus-Saccharomyces/dp/B07KFPCCLP

Good luck

Hijacking because this is the top comment. My wife went from grudgingly occasionally allowing anal, to demanding it, begging for it, wanting to be butt fucked nearly ever time we have sex. The biggest change was the lube we used, after years of using cheap grocery store (like KY) and cheap Adam and Eve junk we finally found a great lube that works. Sliquid Sassy this stuff is amazing, water based so it's safe for condoms and toys, glycerine free so it won't get sticky, and it washes away pretty easily.

Other than the HUGE improvement that the lube made, I would suggest good digestive care, use a Fiber supplement Psyllium Husk is easy and cheap if you don't mind fairly big pills.

Finally, butt hygene, we use a bidet in our home, it's weird at first but once you get used to it you will never want to go back to TP again. Wife also uses an enema bag to clean up before a full blown butt fuck session. I can't speak to that except to say that we have never experienced any "accidents" after she's used the enema.

Good luck, the wife is totally into butt stuff all the time and now has literal SCREAMING orgasms from it. Wishing the same to you!

I believe /u/DigestibleComestible is referring this this Gelatin, which is the one that I see most often referenced in any Paleo related article. Per the reviews, most users notice change around the 3 month mark, after taking 2tbsps/day, every day, but they didn't specify which issues were relieved for them, so I can only assume they mean their overall skin tone/feel/etc.

Of course, incorporating bone broth from healthy animals is always the best way to get nutrients.

Anecdotally, I have been using this gelatin for ~1 month now, and so far I have noticed that the flaky, dry skin on my hands doesn't show up anymore, my facial hair is generally softer, and the cuticles on my fingers seem to be doing very well.

Make your own!

The recipe I use is:

• 6 egg yolks
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 2 cups half and half
  
• 1 cup whole milk
  
• 1 1/2 cup bourbon
  
• Lactase drops (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VSTRY8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_cQb.BbECFVZ0W)
  
• Nutmeg (garnish)
  
  Directions: mix well, chill, garnish with nutmeg immediately before serving
  
  The bourbon is optional, but helps with the shelf life and food safety concerns of raw eggs. This article has a good discussion (and is where I stole the recipe from, before I changed it slightly): https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-homemade-eggnog-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-214298
  
  If you have issues with eggs, take 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp of baking soda dissolved in a large cup of water at the same time as eating the eggs, and it'll help (baking soda absorbs hydrogen sulfide, the smelly gas I make when I eat eggs).
  
  Edit: formatting
  
  

I am very sorry you have to go through this :( If it makes you feel any better, I feel your embarrassment. I have sweating issues. I sweat more than most people and pretty much no deodorant works for me. I've even tried prescription antiperspirant that burnt my armpits. It embarasses me greatly but isnt enough to be a medical condition.. so. You're not alone. Anyways! Back to you!

Did you know they make fiber pills?

NOW Psyllium Husk 500 mg,500 Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013OW2KS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_484OCb6K8BRPB

I bought those a month ago and I've been taking 6 a day. 3 with lunch and 3 with dinner. It helps you poop and when you wipe, your butt is pretty much already clean. You do have to drink a bottle of water with them though or risk constipation. For me, I just take the pills and down the water as fast as I can. I HATE drinking water but these pills make me drink more than ever.

Some tips that have helped me drink more water: invest in a 32oz water bottle. When you wake up, down a standard size (16oz) bottle of water. When you're at work, drink a full 32oz bottle of water. After work, drink another standard size bottle of water. Drink more if you can but if not, this should be plenty to sustain your body. I drink flavored water in my 32oz bottle at work to encourage me even more.

Also, have you heard of PooPourri? I haven't used it, but maybe you should look into it! I've heard nothing but rave reviews. You spray it into the toilet before you go and then after you flush, it makes the room smell amazing.

Yes it happened to me. I say "happened" because I have found a solution.

A little background first. I have had "watery stool" pretty much all of keto (~18 months) and before I started Keto when I was eating badly. I don't know if it is due to some form of IBS (probably) or whatever, but it wasn't so bad that I just had to get it checked out.

I started IF this year and I noticed that after every meal (only 2 meals) I had pure water coming out of my ass almost. Like clockwork. I do eat veggies some and am not doing a full zero carb diet or anything. But I did notice that I wasn't getting much soluble fiber (veggies seem to be mostly insoluble which doesn't slow down the works).

Anyway, I was tired of this pattern messing up my plans of having to actually go places and do work after lunch (but I wanted to keep fasting). Anyway, did some reading and decided to try a fiber supplement first. I had some old fiber I had in my desk from early in Keto. I had trouble mixing it and I didn't like the taste, so I gave up on it early on, plus it didn't help. Anyway, I still didn't like it and it barely helped.

Long story short, I came upon Psyllium husk powder link and tried it. I've been on it about a month now maybe.

After some experimenting with dose timing, I started taking one TBSP mixed in about 32oz of water WITH or a few mins BEFORE my meal. I also mix it with crystal light so it doesn't taste like I'm eating mud. With the crystal light, it's honestly no issue to drink it. DRINK IT FAST THOUGH! If you wait too long, this stuff will turn into a sludge and it becomes much harder to drink.

It may take some time for your body to adjust to this, in terms of changing your bowel, but it has for me. I stopped having to go in the afternoon after lunch. I pretty much go one time after dinner now. The stool is more firm but still not hard. I would describe it as "fluffy". Much more pleasant experience.

Someone else said "more fat" but I think it's the fat the caused my problem. This stuff, when taken with a meal, seems to soak up some of that stuff in your stomach, intestine and keeps the liquid from flowing down so fast. After you've been on it a while, it finally starts to work thru your full digestive system and regulates everything.

I haven't noticed that many side effects. The only ones I've seen are I've started farting again (whether this is bad, only others can say) and once in a while, I will get some stomach rumbling as things settle after a meal or approaching my daily movement. Nothing painful, but I can usually tell when things are ready to move. I don't really see this as a negative either.

Anyway, maybe you should check it out. I read that you should get 25-35g of fiber a day, and especially on keto, I was getting nowhere near that. Especially soluble since it comes mostly from fruit. With 2 doses of this a day, I can get pretty close to the goal.

I'm not guaranteeing results, it just worked for me. For about $20 (counting buying the crystal light) it's probably worth trying. Also something to consider, there is some buzz around gut bacteria and things like that. While I don't know all that much about it, some of the beneficial bacteria that feeds off carbs likely dies out when on keto. This stuff can rekindle some of that bacteria and theoretically re-balance that system. Probably should do some of your own research if you want to know more. I'm no expert.

EDIT it also helps you feel quite full after you drink it, so it can help you possibly cut down on the calories in your meals and make hitting macros more attainable.

I take this for DHA: http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Vitamins-Softgels-90-Count-Bottle/dp/B002XDQSSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414533054&sr=8-1&keywords=vega+dha

I think $20 for 3 months is pretty affordable and I don't take it every single day because sometimes I forgot so it lasts longer. I didn't want to give up fish for a long time because I wanted to make sure I got heart healthy nutrition due to my own personal health situation and I'm happy with these supplements so far.

That's the thing about living in America (dunno if you live there or not.) ALL fermented foods should have probiotics. But everyone has an irrational fear of getting sick so they kill all the good bacteria.

If you're willing to buy probiotic pills, a 3 month supply of this is what I recommend: http://www.amazon.com/Enzymatic-Therapy-Acidophilus-Pearls-Capsules/dp/B000BQ8ATQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1372712235&sr=1-1&keywords=probiotic+pearls

I can tell you they work for sure. It went through the ultimate test of relieving me of my.. ahem... toiletry issues. Always buy probiotics from Amazon. They're way, way overpriced in stores. The one I linked is 90 days for 16 bucks. At the store 30 is 20 bucks.

Food-wise, Activia greek yogurt is good. I'm never sure about saurkraut, so I just pass on it. I can never seem to find organic, unpasteurized.

One of the best is Braggs apple cider vinegar. Has to be organic. Braggs is the most well-known and available brand. Shake it up so the brown sediment at the bottom (those are basically the probiotics) "dissolves" evenly into the liquid, then put two tablespoons into a glass of water and gulp it down. It's also said to aid in fat loss and a lot of celebrities use it for that purpose, but Im not entirely certain if that's true or not.

If you can find organic, unpasteurized pickles, go for it. But chances are due to the laws of the land, you wont have much luck in that department. It's supposed to be really easy to make your own though. And you can even use the leftover juice of storebought pickles if you're lazy.

They also make probiotic teas. This brand in particular has a probiotic that can withstand high temperatures, meaning it wont die off in the hot water. I've used it personally and can tell it works. I'll give ya the Amazon link in case you're interested. Ignore the price tag. It's for a pack of 6. You'll find single boxes of them for like 3-4 bucks at walmart.
http://www.amazon.com/Bigelow-Tea-Lemon-Ginger-18-Count/dp/B002XWSNCA/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1372712693&sr=1-1&keywords=lemon+probiotic+tea

My life changed when I started using fiber pills. I personally use these, Psyllium Husk Capsules, to help keep things solid and stay "cleaner." Give it a shot!

Also, don't sweat it too much. A good top shouldn't worry too much about it being squeaky clean up there. All you can do is try your best to prepare and whatever happens, happens.

I've had good luck with NOW Foods Super Enzymes. I also like their papain.

These are just what benefited me, obviously YMMV. :)

I would pick something other than the lacto at your LHBS.

• L. brevis from White Labs or The Yeast Bay
  
• L. plantarum/brevis from Omega
  
  My first pick would be Lacto brevis, and then I'd pick L. platarum from probiotic capsules over omega. You can look for other sources here:
  
  http://www.milkthefunk.com/wiki/Alternative_Bacteria_Sources
  
  I'm not a huge fan of Goodbelly, though others love it.
  
  Doing a starter for lacto is A-OK. I usually keep a jar in my fridge.

I would like to recommend something that worked for me, Enzymes. I use a product you can get on amazon http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Super-Enzymes-Capsules/dp/B0013OXKHC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425396051&sr=8-1&keywords=super+enzyme.

It helps digest food and allows your stomach to "rest" a little. Also be sure that you are chewing your food enough. Don't let your stomach do the work, allow the teeth and saliva(contains natural enzymes) do the work. I hope this helps a little and you can get through sooner rather than later.

Skincare Rave I just started oil cleansing with evening primrose oil, and I really enjoy seeing the makeup just melt off on my cotton ball. Weirdly satisfying. I haven't completely converted over from cleansing with cold cream, but it might be coming. (And no breakouts! No rosacea flair ups!)

Makeup Rave I got Bite Lip Crayons a while back, but recently added the Red Velvet color to my 'daily face'. Love it! It stays so much better than regular lipstick, while also not being as drying as regular matte lippies. The color is BOLD and awesome. :)

Makeup Rant I decided to try out Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals foundation for its 'natural' blah blah. I hate it. The coverage is non-existent in my color (palest). Like I literally feel like it's clear, and I'm just putting moisturizer on my face. Yah for wasting $50!

Nailcare Rant of the friggin year - OPI Nail Envy for Sensitive/Peeling! This little bottle of nail death has KILLED all the progress I've made on my nails over the last few months. I've been taking Biotin and adding collagen to my coffee, and my nails have flourished! Then I use this Nail Envy crap on my fingernails just for the heck of it (cause I got it for my toes), and I have had broken nail after broken nail after friggin broken nail!

Also, that collagen I linked above - I'm in love! I got it because my mom read that it's good for thyroid/autoimmune issues, and I've noticed a significant increase in my energy level on top of the nice hair and nail growth...minus the sad effect of body hair ALSO growing in faster, haha.

Here's a vegan DHA-EPA Omega-3 supplement: https://www.amazon.com/Deva-Nutrition-DHA-EPA-Delayed-Release/dp/B005R5CARY

You may also want Kelp for iodine: https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Way-Kelp-600mg-VCaps/dp/B00024D1ZA and I know you are already getting your B-12, but for everyone else, I recommend taking as a liquid sublingually https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015YDVT48

Beyond that just make sure you get your leafy greens (kale, collards, spinach, broccoli, etc) for calcium and iron and you should be pretty good to go.

Some people are just more prone to them than others. That said, peeing after sex is always a good idea, especially if you guys are doing oral sex, as that's introducing more bacteria to the area. Wash your hands before fingering her, and try to touch your fingers just to the vagina and clit, not near the urethra if you can help it. She should also be drinking more water anyway, but staying hydrated can help prevent UTIs! If she feels one coming on, tell her to chug massive amounts of water and flush it out of her system.

​

You should also 100% be washing your strap too. Is your strap able to be separated from the toy? If not, you may want to upgrade to a strap that is separate from toys, like this one: link. That way you can wash the strap too - this one is machine washable, which is nice!

Buy regular milk and use these drops to make it lactose free. In the long run it ends up being cheaper because regular milk is so cheap lately. RIP milk farmers. Still is sweeter but to me tastes more like milk than some of the other lactose free options.

You will have to experiment but I use 1.25-1.5 droppers full in a gallon.

Lactase Drops 15 ml | Lactase Enzyme Supplement | 76 Servings | Safe for Infants | Non-GMO | Kosher Certified | Physician Formulated | Seeking Health https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VSTRY8?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

For the lazy
In capsule form
NOW Foods Psyllium Husk 500mg, 500 Vcaps https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013OW2KS/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_-1UyxbFEQHK2M

Edit;
As I've been reminded, I have not done any dosage research so this first link may work, it may take more, for the true of heart and colon! As always, ask your doctor! Or guess and check, but just know I am not any kind of professional nor do I particularly know what I'm talking about :p

For the true of heart and colon

In powder form
NOW Foods Whole Psyllium Husk, 24 Ounce Bottle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OSSUP0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_tai_EQ0yxbYGKD38H

Just reading through some other comments, I would agree that your calories are too high and you're consuming too many carbohydrates. I'd cut your carbs down to below 20g per day and up the fat content in your diet. 1 easy way to add more fat in your diet is bulletproof coffee, especially since you're already drinking a lot of coffee. Here's my 2 recipes:

Iced (this is my daily go to): 8oz cold brew, 1 TBSP heavy whipping cream, and 1 TBSP MCT oil, blended for about 10 seconds. Pour over ice. Optional: add a tiny amount of SweetLeaf Sweet Drops. The coconut flavor is my favorite. I usually double this recipe every morning.

Hot: 8oz fresh brewed coffee, 2 TBSP unsalted butter, 2 TBSP coconut oil or MCT oil, blended until butter and oil is melted. Optional: add a tiny amount of SweetLeaf Sweet Drops.

I like this one from amazon for collagen!

And the only protein I've found that dissolves well in my coffee is Bowmar, it's super fine and doesn't clump up like other ones I've used. PEScience is great too if you have a blender and can pulse it a bit to get the clumps out.

>I've heard that B12 is quite hard to get from a plant based diet, is this true?

Yes, vegans need to supplement B12. I recommend getting the Deva multivitamin.

>What supplements should I take?

We also need a source of EPA and DHA, and AFAIK Ovega-3 is the cheapest option. Other supplements you may need are D3, zinc, and creatine.

>Any good quick meal suggestions?

My go-to meal is black beans fried in olive oil because of their hearty texture. Depending on how involved you want to get, you can add spices like basil and paprika and vegetables like onions and tomato.

>Any advice for what to eat when I'm out and about?

If you guys have Chipotle, their sofrita is an excellent tofu burrito.

I could be wrong, but the Blue Ice one is pinging alarms for me. Not really bad alarms, but more like they're selling an ineffectual money-waster.

I'd go with a simple Omega 3 supplement. Which can be hard to find, as you normally want one with high EPA/DHA and few actually list those contents. Labdoor.com does a good comparison of products. For personal recommendations, I like NOW Ultra Omega, and Nutrigold is pretty good too.

PRO-15: #1 Recommended Best Probiotic Supplement: 60 Once Daily Time Release Pearls - 15x More Effective than Capsules with Patented Delivery Technology - Easy to Swallow - Promotes Digestive Health https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JEKYNZA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_PFGtxbSWN448P

These are what I get

I would look into probiotic supplements (I use these, they are a bit pricey, but work well. You can get straight acidophilus really cheap at walmart or a pharmacy as well.

If you are near a Fry's, they have carbmaster which fits into Keto pretty well. I have not found another yogurt that will work with Keto.

I'd just rather take something from a bottle lol like these for example. I'm looking for a Pure For Men substitute because I'm trying to cut on expenses..

I'm from Mexico, border with Texas, so I have access to HEB, Walmart, Costco, Target, etc. so something from there would be really helpful lol THANKS!

Absolutely! Your welcome.

I personally chose to take my collagen in capsule form because the powders tasted funny and it was too much maintenance for me. I’d always forget to add the powder to my drink.

Codeage Multi Collagen Protein Capsules, Type I, II, III, V, X, Grass Fed, All in One Super Bone Broth with Collagen, 90 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076V14RBV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_otpXDbJMH81TN

But if you do t mind the powder here’s another one that is highly rated.

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder - Pasture Raised, Grass Fed, unflavored 20 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K6JUG4K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LMpXDbWVHEWPH


I use this rosehip oil and it lasts me about a month.

Aria Starr Rosehip Seed Oil Cold Pressed For Face, Skin, Acne Scars - 100% Pure Natural Moisturizer - 4 OZ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9XS6B6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DFpXDb7TXCS1G

If you goal is to do a frugal keto, then OMAD (one meal a day) is probably your best bet. My plan isn’t exactly OMAD because the BPC is pretty calorie heavy, but it satiates me and holds me over through lunch/dinner.

Breakfast: BPC (Bulletproof Coffee). I use 2 Tbsp of unsalted Kerrygold and 2 Tbsp of MCT oil (you can sub coconut oil for the MCT). I use this brand of MCT.

Approximately 53g of fat, 460 calories.


This leave all of my protein and around 50g of fat for late lunch/early dinner. This can be varied: grilled chicken with an avocado. Steak and broccoli with cheese. Fish and asparagus, etc. The key for me is the BPC in the morning as it holds me over throughout the day. Also remember to drink A LOT of water as keto will cause you to lose a lot of water weight. I also drink an apple cider vinegar drink a couple of times a day to curb hunger/cravings. Just a Tbsp of ACV with a Tbsp of lemon juice in a full glass of water with a few drops of stevia.

Hope that helps! Oh and buy almond flour at Costco, the Kirkland brand is really good! And check out /r/kerorecipes for meal ideas!

I've tried this enzyme supplement and this expensive probiotic with some success. Looks like this and this are the most popular on Amazon though, from NOW Foods (a good brand), and cheaper.

DHA and EPA can be elongated by your body from short-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fats; we can metabolize these ourselves provided an adequate omega-3 intake and in appropriate proportion to omega-6 (since they share the desaturase enzyme).

However, to be on the safe side, you can purchase Vegan algae-based supplements with preformed fatty acids. They are a superior source to fish oil, given algae can grow in a non-toxic, hermetic environment, whereas fish is dangerously polluted to the point it negates positive effects.

Pretty much everything in the supplement world is a scam, at least as far as over marketing products with pretty labels and lots of "science" to make their product superior to the next guys. Most people in the bodybuilding world already know this but it is unfortunate that there are people who want to take advantage of dieters now as well.

Always look at the lesser marketed products for comparison.

Here is the Now brand for 15 bucks vs 30 for bulletproof brand. The only difference is that you did not just read a 3 page ad for the bulletproof product that would have jerked off your ego just enough to not care that you are paying a lot more.

http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-100%25-32-Fluid-Ounces/dp/B0019LRY8A/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397232291&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=pvl++mct

This is not against bulletproof. This is just supplements in general so that I am clear that I am not just hating on one brand.

Also that is just a quick search. If you search for an online vitamin store in your area you may find one even cheaper. The now and pvl brands are both good and come without price inflation.

Ugh. I thought I didn't have them with my first, but I realized I just couldn't see them on my underbelly????? Just a thought if you're interested, I've been taking this https://www.amazon.com/Vital-Proteins-Pasture-Raised-Grass-Fed-Collagen/dp/B00K6JUG4K/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1487174652&sr=8-8&keywords=collagen&th=1 and it has some other good vanity and health benefits too? Can't exactly report on if it's helping that specific problem, but it's really easy to take.

Here is a link to the kind I'm using:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XM0Y9SE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_4Ww6wbCGVWWWK

Yes, regular coconut oil is good too. But not as good.

When you're taking MCT oil, it's almost like eating ketones. It enables your body to get used to distributing ketones around your body and using it for energy. It also enables you to stay in ketosis easier when you mess up and eat incorrectly.

So it kind of gives you a head start and a buffer zone.

Hang in there. Euphoria is just around the corner.

I'm about 3 weeks into fermentation of my first kettle sour attempt. I used Swanson L. Plantarum capsules, 10 of them, rather than goodbelly. They worked really well, as I was down to 3.5 pH after about 16 hours @ 95F (I had pre-soured to 4.5 with lactic acid). https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BZ3YWXC/

Depending on your culture of lacto, I have heard it can take as much as 72 hours, especially if you are trying to go really low with the pH. But going beyond 3 days is sketchy IMO. I'm just learning the kettle sour process myself but I wouldn't want to leave my wort more than 1-2 days before boiling and pitching yeast.

My guess is your goodbelly shots did not have enough lacto in them, so it was just a really slow start. Pitching more next time would probably be safe. The capsules worked great though, if you want another method to try. I don't know if the flavors are different between the capsules and goodbelly, they might be, but the simplicity was key for me. I would guess any differences are minimal.

By the way, make sure to keep your lacto no hotter than 100. It can actually do just fine in the 80s or even at room temp. The quickest pH drop supposedly happens right around 95 though. Source: http://www.milkthefunk.com/wiki/Lactobacillus#Commercially_available_Lactobacillus_strains_and_their_pH_change_over_time

​

Looks like you have thoroughly researched keto.

Avoiding heavily processed foods is generally a good thing. Of course, time and budget may limit some people's ability to do it.

Losing 10+ pounds has a huge positive influence on your health. This positive influence may outweigh the negative influence of a few extra nitrates. As you near your goal weight, it may make more sense to focus more on avoiding processed foods.

I've lost 45+ pounds in six months even though dairy is a fairly big part of my diet. I eat heavy cream, cheese, homemade yogurt (low-sugar, high-fat), and butter. If you limit your dairy intake to dairy from grass-fed cows, you'll even increase your intake of omega 3 fatty acids which is a good thing.

With dairy, let your diet progress guide your intake. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary.

Add potassium, magnesium, and sodium to your list of supplements to keep your electrolytes balanced. Also, take a B12 / folic acid supplement to keep levels of homocysteine under control. Fish oil is more effective per gram than flaxseed oil. Read this link for details http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/Why-not-flaxseed-oil.shtml

1 gram of net carb to get 3 grams of fiber sounds like too much. For example, psyllium powder has 7 grams of fiber for every gram of carbs. http://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Psyllium-Powder-24-Ounce/dp/B002RWUNYM

Also, magnesium supplements will help to keep you regular. I don't supplement with extra fiber and seem to do okay. Again, different people may have different results.

Raw vegetables are better. As for cooking, steaming is probably better than boiling since fewer vitamins and minerals would be leached out. However, heat is the thing that denatures water-soluable vitamins. This link has some useful information. It claims that the fat-soluable vitamins aren't damaged as much by heat - http://healthyonraw.com/does-cooking-destroy-nutrients-in-vegetables/

Nutrition labels can be misleading because any carbs / serving that are less than 1 gram are rounded down to 0. The calories per serving can help you to work backward and discover the amount of calories that may be due to carbs. Protein has 4 calories per gram and fat is 9 calories per gram (MCT oil is 7 calories per gram). Take the calories per serving and subtract 4P and 9F to find the calories due to carbs. Divide the result by 4 to find the grams of carbs. Of course, protein and fat grams are rounded as well which will affect the result.

Some people report no problems with artificial sweeteners. Some can't tolerate them at all. Some are okay with some, but not others. Try to see what works for you. Best is to avoid them altogether if you can manage to do so.

Good plan to avoid exceptions. They will derail you if you let them.

Hey girl, I'm there with you! Sucralose gives me migraines so I can't have it either. I like the BCAA capsules (even though they're large, they're something my body can handle without headaches) and I also use Quest protein powders (contain less than 2% Sucralose and I find this doesn't really affect me) and protein bars. You could also try using collagen powders that are unflavored like Vital Proteins unflavored, or even do the Isopure zero carb protein powder, which is unflavored/unsweetened.

​

I don't take preworkout, so unfortunately I don't have a lot of advice to offer there, especially if you're looking for caffeine free. Have you tried capsules instead of powders for these? Here's one I just found online: https://www.bodybuilding.com/store/evlution-nutrition/pumpmode.html

There is a BCAA powder from XTend that is free from artificial sweeteners. The GNC person helped me find it. Link: https://www.bodybuilding.com/store/scivation/xtend-free.html?skuId=SV4090069&PLASKU=SV4090069&mcid=CG_PLA_US_OD_Segment_US_New_Desktop_High_Margin&gclid=CjwKCAjwxILdBRBqEiwAHL2R8-YGa6FIsJkQwe6gFUNCBflu35-6bhp5-_BZvT2qnbfJ5gzLSWO5khoCUOUQAvD_BwE

I highly recommend adding MCT Oil, it's very ketogenic and pretty much taste-free. I go for this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-100%25-32-Fluid-Ounces/dp/B0019LRY8A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345347937&sr=8-1&keywords=MCT

For protein powder itself, I like Optimum Nutrition’s Platinum Hydrowhey—it’s low in carbs and tastes pretty good. http://www.optimumnutrition.com/products/Platinum-Hydrowhey-p-271.html

I know it's about as reliable as a reddit comment, but someone asked a question on their Amazon listing and that was all in the reply by another customer. I read their description and sure enough, they mention its a "full spectrum" containing Lauric Acid. I went to a few other listings and they specifically say they contain only C8 and C10. Like I said, the NOW brand was cheaper anyways so I made the switch.

Have a look for yourself. I encourage everyone to do their own research.
https://smile.amazon.com/Premium-MCT-derived-only-Coconut/dp/B00XM0Y9SE/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1523467309&sr=1-4&keywords=mct%2Boil&th=1

A regiment of apple cider vinegar twice a day, Pro15 probiotic and CandidaFX helped me with Candida.

As for your stack, optimal cognitive function is complex and depends on the right balance of various neurotransmitters. Increasing activity in 1 system (e.g. dopaminergic) allows you to influence the balance towards that system and any benefits that might have e.g...

• Increasing cholinergic activity, in my experience, improves deep thought, decision making and patience but hinders my ability to focus and immediate motivation.
  
• Increasing dopaminergic activity improves energy, motivation and focus but decisions are made faster (less thought out), I lose time over-focusing on unimportant things and it makes me very impatient and irritable.
  
  In your stack you are increasing activity in all the brain's major systems, which in my experience results in monkey mind/scatterbrain, not superbrain. Everybody's brain chemistry is different. To start, perhaps you should try focusing on each system, 1 by 1, to get to know YOUR brain and how you respond, what supplements/dosages are most effective, etc instead of trying to guess based on what you read on here from quackdocs like me.

I am not surprised to see this. Though this is not the product I used, probiotics are really great when it comes to providing relief from digestive problems. Mine was called Flourish Probiotics by Eu Natural. A natural combination of good bacteria. This one

Psyllium Husk capsules are great for promoting bowel movements. You can also get psyllium husk in powder form but I think it's way easier to take a couple capsules with a glass of water. Friendly tip - start slow and only take one or two per day, and drink plenty of water.

This page should give you all the information you are looking for. There are no studies using hemp as a specific food source, but ALA to DHA conversion should be similar no matter what food source you use. Conversion rates are low, although the science is not clear on how detrimental this may or may not be for health. Overall, if you want to be on the safe side, supplement with 200mg/day of DHA pills and you will be good to go. Otherwise, just keep living your life while making sure to get enough ALA in the diet (through flax, chia, and/or hemp).

Just for info, I buy these, which is a 2 month supply for less than $30. That's about the best price I have found for vegan DHA.

There's a good chance that since your body isn't used to the amount of fat you're eating, the fat is not getting broken down properly and squirting out your b-hole. I would suggest taking some enzymes until you adapt. Betaine HCL, ox bile, and lipase are the best supplements for this period, which you can get as part of an overall "digestive enzymes" supplement, like this one.

I use Swanson L. Plantarum pills, 2 pills per gallon. Cheap and easy, works like a charm. Sours to my preference in ~18-24 hours. Lately, after having one batch go a bit too sour, I've been erring slightly on the side of undersouring, and finishing with a small dose of lactic acid to dial in that last bit of punch.

​

https://smile.amazon.com/Swanson-Probiotics-Regularity-Gastrointestinal-Supplement/dp/B00BZ3YWXC?sa-no-redirect=1

Just take a probiotic! They're inexpensive and way more effective than eating yogurt/ fermented foods alone. (You should still eat those foods and avoid heavily processed and sugary foods though!)

I get this one on Amazon.. It's NOT the cheapest but it is super effective. You can get cheaper ones and it will still make a difference.

I love the Spare Parts harness because they have the most control out of ones I have tested. They don’t move around too much so I can control the cock with more accuracy (such as being able to penetrate my partner without putting my hand on the strap on to guide it). They are also washable, and very comfortable to wear. They aren’t the cheapest (and neither are VixSkin cocks) but they are absolutely worth the money. I am on my second one after owning one for ten years before replacing it.

The VixSkin cock by Vixen Creations I own feels like an extension of my body and I’ve owned it for 13 years now. I have found that my partners love the VixSkin feel as it feels the most similar to a real cock (many partners can’t tell a difference when penetrated). I have found the harder plastic of other dildos to be uncomfortable.

Source: I’m a trans guy and a strap on is v important to my sex life.

Try fiber and enzymes.
Veggies and/or psyillum husk or equivalent. For the enzymes, this seems like a decent one from a respected company,
http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Super-Enzymes-Capsules/dp/B0013OXKHC/ref=sr_1_6?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1313810358&sr=1-6

The fiber will help you're gi tract move things easily and cleanly, depositing when you should. The enzymes can help with further digestion of certain kinds of foods.

I recently started taking Now Foods Probiotic. If you have the money VSL-3 is probably the best one. I felt a euphoric effect and a generalized sense of well being after taking it.

https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Probiotic-10-Billion-Veg-Capsules/dp/B002S1U7RU/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1504993292&sr=1-2&keywords=now+foods+probiotic

https://www.amazon.com/Potency-Probiotic-Capsules-Ulcerative-Colitis/dp/B0014R4RZW/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1504993280&sr=8-2&keywords=vsl+3

You should not have to deprive yourself of cheese if you are lactose intolerant. Lactose is a sugar. Read the label of the cheese and if it is 0 sugar, it is lactose free. The general rule is that aged cheeses are more than likely to be 0 sugar than things like American cheese. And velveeta has more lactose in it than the equivalent amount of milk. Also, butter is fine too. I use it all the time. If you like to cook and want to continue to use things like milk, cream and sour cream, I suggest getting these [drops](
http://www.amazon.com/Supplement-Certified-Formulated-Seeking-Health/dp/B003VSTRY8/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1465042860&sr=8-1&keywords=lactose+drops). You add them to the product and in 24 hours it is lactose free. It does make it a little hard to be spontaneous in the kitchen, but it is better than working with alternatives. I do use soy, almond, etc products but not when it comes to serious cooking or baking. They just fall short when compared to the real thing.

Sometimes when you cut you eat "volume" type foods, like all the fibrous veggies. Remember too much fiber can back you up.... Which is why some people have problems with quest bars. There are 2 types of fiber.


I take 3 fiber pills in the morning. This keeps me pretty regular, regardless of what I eat. But it has taken trial with my body to figure out what works.

Someone mentioned Smooth Move tea. This is great, but I wouldn't recommend it all the time. Other things that help me go is peppermint tea, or ginger tea (esp if I'm gassy). Kombucha also usually helps. Maybe you could try a pro-biotic. What do you eat at maintenance that you dont eat on a cut? Dairy?? Greek yogurt? Could be something as simple as that....

You should take probiotics to help with that, they're basically good bacteria that boosts your immune system, helps your digestive track, etc.
Me and A LOT of other people have had a lot less bloating since taking them, it seems. Eating gluten could also contribute to bloating. I take these: probiotics

Psyllium Husks are the best thing that happened for me. I take one a day in the morning and I'm perfect for my afternoon runs. I only have to run into the woods like once every other month now versus once a week!

Yeah but I paid way less than the one they have listed...you may have to wait til it’s back in stock directly from the seller instead of 3rd party or choose a different one.

https://labdoor.com/rankings/fish-oil/quality

You will be fine with any of these around the same ranking. Here’s a direct link to the nutrigold one to get you started:

Nutrigold Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplement, 2100 mg, 180 Softgels https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004O2I9JO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3sd1Cb1A0F8MK

My favorite fish oil: http://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Ultra-Soft-gels-180-Count/dp/B000SE5SY6/
It's the cheapest for the amount of EPA/DHA I've found.

As far as multis, there are a few good ones, my favorite is Controlled Lab's Orange Triad, mostly for the extra joint support.

Here, I can save you some money.

NOW Ultra Omega 3 Fish Oil 360 caps $40.50

• http://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Ultra-Soft-gels-180-Count/dp/B000SE5SY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344266166&sr=8-1&keywords=NOW+Ultra+Omega+3+Fish+Oil
  
  
• 4/day = $0.44/day
  
  Life Force Multiple 360 caps (Year supply) $41.64
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GFPD0G/ref=rcxsubs_dp_chrt?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
  
  
• Taking 1/day (take 1, not 4 like the bottle states) = $0.11/day
  
  Healthy Origins Vitamin D 5,000 IU 377 Drops (Year supply) $6.99
  
  
• http://www.iherb.com/Healthy-Origins-Vitamin-D3-Drops-5-000-IU-68-fl-oz-377-Servings/40027
  
  
• Taking 1/day = $0.01 / day
  
  True Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate 1900g (Year supply) $23.56
  
  
• http://www.truenutrition.com/p-961-creatine-monohydrate-powder-100-grams.aspx
  
  
• Taking 5g/day = $0.06
  
  Comes out to $112.69 for the year.
  
  Want to add beta alanine?
  
  TrueNutrition Beta-Alanine 1500g $56.70
  
  
• http://www.truenutrition.com/p-990-beta-alanine-powder-100-grams.aspx
  
  
• Taking 4g/day = $0.18/day
  
  Total now is $181.66 for the year
  
  Coupon codes:
  
  
• iHerb - $5 off first order: OFU651
  
  
• Truenutrition - 5% off order:

500 isn't bad. I get NOW Foods Ultra Omega-3 and those are 750 (500/250) with no fish burps. In addition to any focus benefits Omega-3's provide they have also been shown to be a great supplement for your heart which is primarily why I take them.

I use these, you can find them a little cheaper from other sellers if you look. Get 3-4 brews for under $10 and works really well.

Swanson L. Plantarum Probiotics Bowel Regularity, Gas, Bloating, Immune Support, Gastrointestinal Balance 10 billion CFU Supplement 30 Veggie Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BZ3YWXC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BE4vCb9SZXJGJ

As a fellow (I assume) lactose intolerant, did you know you can make your own lactose free milk without breaking the bank? Just buy regular milk and some of these bad boys drop them into the milk, shake and leave it in the fridge for a few hours. Now you've got your own LACTOSE FREE MILK BABY - and if you've got a sweet tooth it's great too because by breaking down the lactose for ya, your tongue gets a chance at some of those sweet broken down sugars which everyone else just gets in their stomach. One bottle of that shit will DELACTIFY about "52 pints" (oh America, when will you stop using your silly made up measurements) of milk! Way cheaper than some of the ridiculous prices I've seen on lactose free milk in stores.

Keep them B O N E S strong!

I'll third this comment. Whole Psyllium Husk makes you nice and regular...almost life changing and I'm not exaggerating. It's also good to take with water about 30 minutes before a meal to fill you up before you eat. Though a word of warning, it swells in water...great for filling up your stomach but if you let it sit it will swell up before you drink it and then you'll have to eat it like cream of wheat.

I recommend working your way up from 1 tablespoons to 2 then to 3...if you increase the dose too fast, your body biome won't acclimate properly and you'll get loose shits and instead of nice logs. The cheapest I've found is the Now Whole Psyllium Husk on Amazon.

I also use the Now Probiotic.. I'm now very regular with a good BM or two everyday and no more IBS or hemorrhoids.