Page 36 - Winter2017

liver, lamb, beef, chicken, pork, duck, goose, turkey, properly soaked of butter with just enough raw honey to satisfy
and cooked lentils, soaked and cooked oatmeal, and barley. Ginger and sugar cravings. As time goes on and blood sugar
mustard also offer good support for sulfation. normalizes, one will need this snack less and
less in between meals and in many cases, will
CORRECT DIGESTION AND CONTROL BLOOD SUGAR feel perfectly satisfied until the next meal.
Another essential function for obtaining optimal hormone balancing Insulin resistance, as well as sugar crav-
is optimal digestion and blood sugar control. To start, eliminate improp- ings, can be addressed in the same manner as
erly prepared grains and refined vegetable oils. For serious digestive above. The inclusion of therapeutic dosages of
issues, consider the GAPS Diet, especially the GAPS Introduction Diet, Mediherb’s Gymnema can be very beneficial in
a therapeutic diet designed to heal the gut. both stopping sugar cravings and re-sensitizing
The inclusion of digestive bitters or raw apple cider vinegar before cells to insulin. In many cases, Gymnema will
meals will stimulate the stomach to produce hydrochloric acid and pepsin, need to be used for up to nine months, but the
both of which are designed to begin the process of digesting proteins results are well worth the effort.
and minerals. Bile insufficiency or thick sluggish bile is often seen in Evening primrose oil or black currant seed
estrogen dominance. Common signs of bile insufficiency or biliary tract oil are also extremely useful in reversing insulin
stasis are constipation, light colored stools and stools that float (indicat- resistance. Additionally, they support hormone
ing a malabsorption of fat). The addition of supplemental ox bile can balancing in cycling as well as menopausal
help correct this condition. Consuming beet kvass, a traditional Russian women. Evening primrose oil is especially
lacto-fermented beverage, prior to meals is also extremely effective in suited for younger women, while black currant
thinning the bile stored in the gallbladder. This allows bile to be delivered seed oil supports perimenopausal and meno-
into the duodenum of the small intestine more easily, thus enhancing the pausal women best. As with all plant oils, it is
digestion of fatty foods. imperative to seek out high-quality therapeutic
As mentioned above, blood sugar regulation can be the cause of sources such as those provided by Mediherb and
waking at night for many women. Following closely the Wise Traditions Standard Process.
diet will be the most important step in creating stable blood sugar. Next Lastly, avoid eating after 7:00 PM (6:00 PM
will be establishing three regular meals daily. Do not skip meals or do to support weight loss) to ensure that the bulk of
intermittent fasting until blood sugar is steady. the digestive process is finished before going to
Along with regular meals and meal times, use Dr. Natasha Campbell- bed. Managing chronic stress and going to bed
McBride’s recommendation of incorporating her butter-honey mixture between 9:00 and 10:00 PM are essential steps
(see page 38) into the diet in between meals. This in-between-meals in restoring blood sugar regulation.
8
snack is designed to give the body longer sustaining energy in the way

SPEAKERS AT WISE TRADITIONS 2017

Ben Greenfield and his wife Jessa both gave presentations Eliza Vander Hoot, wife of Michael
at the conference. Ben gave guidance for those struggling Schmidt, gave an inspiring description
with weight loss while Jessa gave practical advice of her husband's struggles for raw milk
on getting started with an ancestral diet. in Canada at the closing remarks.

36 Wise Traditions WINTER 2017