Seborrheic Dermatitis Update 3 - Autoimmune Protocol

I have had highs (practically clear) and lows (how many flares must one person survive?) since last update.

I started using a honey mask before bed, guessing that "maybe" the anti-fungal properties of the honey would get rid of the last of my issues.  And I was looking so good, that I started adding food back in following Paleo Mom's book and website.

http://www.thepaleomom.com/2015/02/reintroduction-quick-start-guide-new-free-download.html


And then I had a mega-flare.  So I may have problems with the following foods:
tomatoes (fresh, cooked may not be a problem) (ugh!)
soybeans (I can adapt)
cinnamon (ugh!)
sugar (ugh!)


And this is how my face typically looks.  A bit of breakout "flare" response, little redness.  People still tell me I have beautiful skin ... and I just ... die ... every ... time!  THIS IS NOT BEAUTIFUL. 

Okay, okay.  I should not take out anger on ALL my skin, when just a bit of it is ugly.  Perhaps.

I have started using Stonybrook Botanicals Unscented Hand & Body Lotion on the SD areas rather than my oils from winter.  I got a bit crazy with the oil usage, and I believe that led to one of my mega-flares.

As to food, I'm still cooking more than grabbing for the processed foods.  But it will be an easy road to trip back to bad habits.  So I make a strong attempt NOT to buy what I do not want to be eating.  And my weekly cart is still filled with as much produce as processed foods, and most of it is for Himself.

I continue playing around with topicals and food combos in my journey to turn this off.  

I went lotion free for a while, but that led to as many issues with dry skin as too much oil.  So, lotion as needed.

I have ordered some sulfur ... maybe I also have a micro-nutrient deficiency?

The saga continues ...

Closing on a positive note, my sun sensitivity does not seem nearly as bad this year.  Did I fix that immune issue?

Diet Checkup, Seborrheic Dermatitis Update, and Leaky Gut

I continue to eat following the Autoimmune Protocol Diet laid out by Sarah Ballantyne, http://www.thepaleomom.com/ in her book "The Paleo Approach" http://victorybelt.com/the-paleo-approach-reverse-autoimmune-disease-heal-your-body/ (however, I continue to sprout and eat quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth for my vegetarian diet).  My skin "seems" to be improving on this diet, and perhaps I am addressing any leaky gut issues I may have.


Diet
I have not changed my diet from month 1, except that when I added nuts back in, I also added in cashews (which I was not supposed to do ... oops ... did not pay enough attention to that printout).  Sarah has linked her reintroduction process at her website http://www.thepaleomom.com/2015/02/reintroduction-quick-start-guide-new-free-download.html.


And how is the skin?

This is my two month photo.  I believe my skin is looking better.  I notice little of the tingling or pain following yawning that characterized my facial skin life from November 2014 through some of January.  I still have a fairly active patch along my left jaw line, and experience minor flare-ups at the nasolabial folds and right jaw line. 


Treatment Regime
I lightly scrub my dermatitis with salt each night, followed by a light application of coal tar, Alva-Amco's Psoriasin http://www.alva-amco.com/products/psoriasin. 

I use heavy duty moisturizer around and beneath my nose as that skin tends to get very dry.  I have two tins in constant use: Badger Balm's "Sensitive Skin Moisturizer Unscented" http://www.badgerbalm.com/p-369-badger-balm-unscented.aspx or Out of Africa's "100% Pure Unrefined Shea Butter Unscented" http://www.outofafricashea.com/products/organic/tin3.html.

Following a bath and before bed, I apply a light moisturizer to my face.  I'm currently using Logona Naturcosmetik "Moisture Cream Logona Free" http://www.logocos.us/logona/shop/product/1153-moisture-cream-logona-free.  It is expensive to me at $28 per 1.7 oz tube, 2.5x what almond oil costs.  However, my first tube has lasted over 3 months.  I do not need much per application.


Autoimmune Disease and Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic Dermatitis is often listed as an inflammatory condition, but few health care providers refer to it as an autoimmune disease.  But it is often linked to an improperly functioning autoimmune system.   Therefore, what is it? 

Eh, doctor's cannot say.  They do not know what causes it, how it develops, or what stops it.  There's not a lot of medical research into Seborrheic Dermatitis.  Which is kind of interesting, considering that several sites mention it affects 3% of the population (to compare, Healthline.com reports that 1% of the population is hospitalized yearly for heart disease). 


Diet Changes and Rx
Doctors hesitate to recommend/prescribe diet changes.  1st, they do not have much basis in nutrition.  2nd, patients generally don't listen anyway and doctors feel it is a waste of their time.

And 3rd, doctors do not make much money recommending dietary changes.  It is not a pill they can prescribe or blood numbers one can monitor.

In short, I've never had much to discuss with any medical professional when disease and diet are combined in a discussion.  


How "Leaky Gut"causes problems, Autoimmune Disease, and Treatment
What is the basic understanding of leaky gut?

Background -
Your immune system responds to proteins.  Exposure to foreign/unrecognized proteins kicks off the immune response - whether this be allergies, bacterial infection, or viral invasion.  

Your immune system congregates in areas where the outside environment meets the inside - head, neck, groin ... and digestive system.


Foods kick off immune response - 
The endothelial layer (digestive lining) is damaged (assumed to be due to modern life - stress and processed food stuffs) and allows partially undigested particles of food to cross into the bloodstream when it normally would not. 

Some of those partially undigested food particles are protein, which is recognized by the immune system as "foreign."

That protein exposure causes the immune system to kick into overdrive, which begins a vicious cycle - autoimmune disease.


How the AutoImmune Protocol addresses Autoimmune Diseases -
Reverse the leaky gut by eating soothing foods that allow the endothelial layer to heal, which arrests the autoimmune response by halting its exposure to partially digested protein particles.

Once the gut has healed, previously troublesome food can be reintroduced.



My Journey Continues
Am I seeing improvement?  Yes.

Am I healed?  Not yet.

I do not consider myself in remission, so I hesitate to add foods into my diet that might prolong my diseased state.

And yet, I miss many foods: lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas (I found an awesome chickpea cookie recipe just before this diet kicked off), corn (mostly tortilla chips, a processed food), tomatoes, and peppers.  I do not miss potato chips much, good thing I love sweet potatoes.  Taro chips are also an awesome potato chip substitute!

More recipes for Veganized / Vegetarianized AIP for Sebhorreic Dermatitis

Skin Update:
Am I seeing improvement in my Sebhorreic Dermatitis after 1 month?  I *think* so.  My skin does not tingle/have spikes of pain nearly as often as before (is this the itching I keep seeing listed as a symptom?)  It does not hurt to yawn.  And I do not have nearly as much redness as I used to see.  However, I am still using my coal tar daily, and I still have minor little eruptions here and there.  So perhaps my perceived improvement is wishful thinking?  Possibly.    


January 17 - 3 weeks, 3 days into diet

And today February 1 - 5 weeks, 4 days into diet

Sarah Ballantyne, The Paleo Mom, does mention that skin conditions are incredibly hard to address.  So I am in this for the long haul.  I am a little disappointing that I have not cleared up as quickly as I once did when kicking dairy out of my diet.  (Sigh)



Diet Update:
I lasted 2.5 weeks before adding buckwheat, quinoa, and amaranth back into my diet.  My vegan AIP diet was fairly devoid of protein (as in I could count my daily protein gram intake in the single digits), and I worried about muscle loss.  So I welcomed some proteinacious sources back with open arms (including NOW Pea Protein and Garden of Life RAW Protein).  However, I am sprouting the dicot seeds prior to cooking and eating.  This requires soaking in a slightly acidic bath (water and vinegar) for up to 24 hours and sprouting for an additional 24+ hours.  As a result, I often have something soaking or sprouting in the kitchen.

Luckily, you can freeze these seeds after sprouting and they retain their nutrients.

I am following Sarah Ballantyne's re-introduction of group 1 and 2 food products, all have been reintegrated with no problem (whew, no chocolate issue).  I read her book, The Paleo Approach, practically cover to cover and am adhering fairly closely to her prescription diet.  I found the book invaluable.

It is not until remission that you can add in group 3 and 4 foods.  As I am not yet in remission, I cannot yet eat those items, so I continue to avoid grains, legumes, nightshades, and various other vegetables and spices.


Recipes:
All recipes linked have made my re-make list.

I found the nightshade replacement posts by Sarah at Vegetalion extraordinarily useful.  She is allergic to nightshades, and has had to cook without them for years.

Replacing Potatoes
http://vegetalion.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-replace-nightshades-part-3.html

     Additionally, I've been using Plantain to replace potatoes in recipes.

Replacing Tomatoes
http://vegetalion.blogspot.com/search/label/replacing%20nightshades

Replacing Sweet/Bell/Spicy Pepper and their related spices
http://vegetalion.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-replace-nightshades-part-2.html

Replacing Eggplants
http://vegetalion.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-replace-nightshades-part-1.html



Breakfast -
I have continued with my morning green smoothie habit.  I use kale, spinach, and (strangely enough) purple cabbage.  There are some days when I think I cannot taste any of the greens, and other days where I think, hm, not many people would like this.  :)  Regardless, I can sweeten them up with more banana, berries, mango, rhubarb, apples, pears, citrus, etc. as needed.  I usually start with half the amount of fruit that a smoothie calls for, they are often just too sweet as written.

Purple Detox Smoothie
http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Purple-Detox-Smoothie-946684?prm-v1=1

I began converting granola recipes to grain free.  Basically replace all oats with a combination of sprouted buckwheat, amaranth, and/or quinoa.  You will find that the moisture from sprouting will require a longer cooking time.  But the response from family and friends has been quite positive.  No one has yet said, "I miss the oats."

A favorite granola recipe is Angela's from Oh She Glows Cookbook.  Using sprouted buckwheat and sprouted pumpkin seeds, I've needed to cut the oil and sweet in half.  I still get some clumps, but it is definitely less lumpy than the oat version.

Pumpkin Chia Porridge - replace oats with dicot seed
http://www.choosingraw.com/pumpkin-chia-porridge/


Snacks - 
Until the granola production restarted, I was mostly bereft of snacks.

I can eat Chia Pods, applesauce, and dried fruit from the grocery store.  But everything else is pretty much from scratch.  However, considering the price of Chia Pods, I can make them for much less than I can buy them.  A google search for "chia pudding recipe" gives you an enormous response.  Pretty much 3 Tbsp (36 g) chia seeds to 1 cup (240 mL/g) liquid (milk, water, etc.) gives you the basic recipe - add additional flavors as you desire.  I started mashing up half a banana in mine and that was all the sweetener I need.

Coconut Bacon
http://www.choosingraw.com/coconut-bacon-recipe-raw-or-cooked/
     I have used this in "sandwiches", on "pizza", in soup, and directly from the container.  It is quite tasty.

Raw Hummus
http://www.choosingraw.com/classic-raw-hummus/


Vegetable Chips - Plantains and Sweet Potatoes (I could bake these daily and they would disappear), I found carrots and butternut squash have too much moisture to bake crisply.
http://www.cooking.com/recipes-and-more/recipes/baked-vegetable-chips-recipe-308.aspx


Vegetables -
Cauliflower Walnut Taco Meat
http://thegreenforks.com/cauliflower-walnut-taco-meat/

Coconut Alfredo Sauce
http://meatified.com/paleo-alfredo/

Wild Mushroom Cream Sauce
http://www.thepaleomom.com/2014/09/herbed-chicken-savory-crepes-wild-mushroom-cream-sauce.html

Mushroom Cream Sauce
http://www.dailygarnish.com/2010/09/spaghetti-squash-with-vegan-mushroom-cream-sauce.html

Cauliflower Fried Rice
http://detoxinista.com/2011/09/vegetable-fried-rice/

Lemon Garlic Brussels Sprouts - no cheese
http://www.persnicketyplates.com/lemon-garlic-brussels-sprouts/

Morrocan Inspired Cauliflower Rice - I have to cut down on the crystallized ginger
http://www.thepaleomom.com/2012/07/recipe-moroccan-inspired-cauliflower.html

No Mato Sauce
http://theprimitivehomemaker.blogspot.com/2014/04/easy-no-mato-sauce-aip.html
     I cut waaaay down on the fat and prefer to use fresh herbs when available to the dried options.

Paleo Dirty Rice
http://elanaspantry.com/paleo-dirty-rice/

Spaghetti Squash, how to cook
http://elanaspantry.com/how-to-cook-spaghetti-squash/

Taco Shells - plantain based, and even the Omnivore liked them
http://predominantlypaleo.com/grain-free-taco-shells-paleo-vegan/

Vegetable Noodles - sweet potato, daikon radish, butternut squash
Chiba Turning Slicer is a recent purchase that gets almost daily use.  I really like the variety of noodle sizes you can get.  Do be cautious, these are remarkably sharp.


Entrees - 
Easy Coconut Curry
http://detoxinista.com/2013/07/easy-coconut-curry/

AIP Curry Spice
http://www.phoenixhelix.com/2013/06/26/curried-chicken-rice-stew/
     I've used both the seeded and seed-free recipe and recommend them both.

Cantonese Chow Mein Recipe Paleo Gluten-Free
http://therealfoodguide.com/paleo-cantonese-chow-mein-recipe/

Easy Pumpkin & Sage Pasta
http://detoxinista.com/2012/11/creamy-pumpkin-sage-pasta-vegan/

Ethiopian Vegetable Bowl
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Ethiopian-Vegetable-Bowl/

Mushroom & Spinach Quinoa "Risotto"
http://detoxinista.com/2012/11/creamy-pumpkin-sage-pasta-vegan/

Plantain Kale Pizza - top with Coconut Bacon, Avocado, NoMato Sauce, etc
http://www.thepaleomom.com/2014/06/guest-post-tyler-evelyn-bacon-kale-pizza-autoimmune-protocol-friendly.html

No-Bean Sweet Potato and Kale Chili - replace tomato with nomato
http://www.nutritionistinthekitch.com/2013/11/08/no-bean-sweet-potato-kale-turkey-chili-gluten-free-a-vegan-swap/

Tom Kha Gai AIP Soup
http://alt-ternativeautoimmune.com/2014/03/thai-chicken-soup-for-the-aip-soul.html
     Replace fish sauce with coconut aminos

Roasted Rutabaga and Parsnip Soup with Kale and Coconut Bacon
http://www.choosingraw.com/roasted-rutabaga-and-parsnip-soup-with-kale-and-coconut-bacon/

Vegetarian Pad Thaihttp://elanaspantry.com/vegetarian-pad-thai/


Dessert - 
Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
http://www.connoisseurusveg.com/2014/11/chocolate-pumpkin-pie-smoothie.html

Green Tea Coconut Ice Cream
http://minimalistbaker.com/green-tea-coconut-ice-cream/
     If you get a high quality matcha, go easy on the volume.  I think we use 2 Tbsp.

No Bake Pumpkin Tarts
http://detoxinista.com/2013/10/no-bake-pumpkin-tarts-vegan-paleo/


My next goal is to tackle Paleo baking with dicot seed flour: quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat.  I do miss pancakes and waffles.

Vegetarianized / Veganized AutoImmune Protocol - AIP Diet

My Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD) has been back for 4 months now.  It began developing while on vacation in October, and has steadily worsened.

When it first developed in 2008, I removed dairy from my diet and my SD went away in two weeks.  I had a re-occurrence a couple years later, and finally tracked it down to sneaky dairy.  Once the dairy was removed (again) the SD went away.

It is back.  So now I wonder, what am I responding to this time?  I started an elimination diet, wheat and gluten products went first.  I saw an immediate improvement in my SD and assumed I had this thing licked.

Except I didn't.  It continued to develop, fully present on both sides of my chin and nose and even began spreading to my left eye (a visit to an allergist left me with "You just have really sensitive skin, and maybe we should consider anti-fugal medication?"  Which absolutely destroys the internal system, BTW.)  This hopeless combination got me searching for another answer.

Because another doctor's visit will not address my issues.

Enter the AutoImmune Protocol Diet (AIP), a Paleo/Raw-transition elimination combo that my sister-in-law described as a baby's diet.  (I, personally, see a very close connection between paleo and raw diets ... which would probably freak out the extreme personalities who closely adhere to either diet ... ha ha ha!)

I call it the "no food" diet, only semi-jokingly.

No no no, (c) http://www.ag.ndsu.edu, the nightshades are not for you.

All the veggies you can eat (except nightshades: tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, tomatillo, chili powder and peppers ... uh, probably 75% of my typical veggie intake!), a few fruits (tropical fruits are discouraged ... they are generally high sugar, high water, and low nutrition content anyway), and only a few non-seed based seasonings are where you start.

And any meats you want ... which, I don't.  I just can't find meat appetizing, no matter how many times I sniff it (admittedly, I do find some cooking meat scents a bit revolting, which probably colors my opinion of all meat).

(c) NOAA Fisheries, Swordfish - one amazing predator

I could eat swordfish, because I remember loving it in pre-vegetarian times, but I can't afford swordfish.  Not to mention the ethical dilemma I face (their population is so low!)

Salmon (c) alaska-in-pictures, but the bears need salmon

I could eat salmon, but I can't stand the scent (nor, at last check, the taste) of it.  Besides, river damming has had a huge impact on their population. 


Maybe shrimp?  Uh, they have a funny texture ... maybe. 


I did like canned tuna ... but that whole mercury level gives me pause. 

Found at http://constantine.typepad.com/

So what seafoods have low mercury levels?  Seafood that feeds on plankton and krill (the originator of "fishy" taste).  It is a bit funny to me that we prefer plant feeders on land (i.e. cows to lions) but fish predators to krill feeders in the ocean (swordfish to salmon).  The "bottom" feeders have a fishier taste ... which, admittedly, I do not appreciate.

This list from United Health Care lists lowest mercury seafood
- Shrimp (wildcaught and U.S. farmed)
- Scallops (mom is deathly allergic so I tend to stay away)
- Sardines (the poor tinned fish) ... supposed to be "tuna like" as described by one site, recommending Spanish or Portuguese sardines http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/301739
- Wildcaught and Alaskan salmon (canned or fresh) (I feed it to my dogs several times a week, that scent has not gotten any more appetizing through the years)
- Oysters (I did not like them while living in New Orleans)
- Domestic squid (yummy ... apparently their texture does not bother me ... but they belong to the cephalopod group ... and they are so smart!  I'm not sure I can eat something that cool)
and
- Tilapia (I do not have any experience with this fish)

I imagine anchovies are also low in mercury.

Updates to come.  I do look forward to a couple eggs, since I have been bereft for some time now.  I do not eat omelets, but going grain free caused me to toss eggs back into the diet for baking purposes ... and really, fried rice!  So, a dozen eggs in the last year ... maybe?  Unfortunately, I don't get the whole egg yet, yolk only and only after symptoms disappear.

Waiting, waiting, waiting.  I'm bad at this.  I want it all NOW!

Also, no nuts or grains.  Few oils, only olive, avocado, and coconut are allowed.  When seeds return to the diet, I will add in buckwheat, quinoa, and amaranth.  These are not grass grains, but rather dicot seeds.  They are just used in similar ways to grass grains.  Breakfast porridge, here I come ... eventually.  However, I am going to have to change my entire grain approach to the RAW system.  Soaked and sprouted only.  I wonder if I can source sprouted flours?


I have found several websites incredibly helpful:
1) Sarah's blog explains it all, with useful science based reasoning -
     http://www.thepaleomom.com/autoimmunity/the-autoimmune-protocol

2) Mickey's site is a little less science heavy, but still covers all the pertinent information about AIP
     http://autoimmune-paleo.com/the-paleo-autoimmune-protocol-an-elimination-diet-for-autoimmune-disease/

3) Several recipes of Jessica's have been in regular rotation
     http://aiplifestyle.com/what-is-autoimmune-protocol-diet/

4) The pdf from Katie has been great for a quick cross check before cooking ... it is very splattered from kitchen testing
     http://wellnessmama.com/22689/autoimmune-diet/

5) Elena's Pantry - a couple recipes
     http://elanaspantry.com/


So what do I eat?
A lot of squash/pumpkin, coconut in many forms, and greens.  These make up the majority of my current diet.  I wonder if I will get sick of them?



Recipes I recommend (adapt as needed) ... I have found many recipes to simply be too high in fat and sugar for my palate.  I've begun halving the sweet and fat components in each recipe I make.  Additionally, I've been making half recipes (or quarter) to test them out before committing.  Here is the list of remakes that are entering regular rotation as I continue to seek out new and exciting-ish combos.


Substitutes
- Switch out all nut milks for coconut milk (canned is higher in fat, boxed is lower and better subs for most nut milks).

- Use olive or coconut oil in place of all other oils.


Breakfast - 
I have been living on green (kale with some spinach) smoothies: pumpkin pie, gingerbread, apple pie ... pretty much the only "safe" and sweet spices on the list are cinnamon and ginger.  Hence their excessive use.  

In addition to my vegan cookbooks, Incredible Smoothies website has been regularly sought: persimmon, apple, orange, pumpkin, pear, seasonal/holiday, and mango.  I often use mango as a banana replacement and pretty much the only sweetener in my smoothies (and yes, I miss stevia).

Squash Porridge?  Yes, please.  Very tasty.
Roasted Cinnamon Pear "Oatmeal"
http://healingfamilyeats.com/roasted-cinnamon-pear-oatmeal-aip/

As an alternative - this is really high in calories (over 600 for a 1 cup serving ... so use sparingly)
Coconut Granola
http://aiplifestyle.com/aip-granola/


Casseroles - 
http://aiplifestyle.com/sweet-potato-casserole/


Desserts - 
http://aiplifestyle.com/pumpkin-parfaits/

http://aiplifestyle.com/paleo-autoimmune-pumpkin-bars/

Ice Creams - I've been using the "Vice Cream" book by Jeff Rogers which was re-released as "Vegan Ice Cream", he has several raw ice cream recipes ... I hacked a Blackberry Raw Ice Cream from one of his berry recipes.  Mm, good.


Holiday - 
I would start this diet on Christmas Eve ... so I had to hustle to find some acceptable "holiday" treats.

Eggnog - thank you Isa
http://www.theppk.com/2010/12/matrioshka-eggnog/



Mushrooms - 
http://www.peasoupeats.com/2013/03/05/ultimate-vegan-stuffed-mushrooms/


Rice - cauliflower based (fresh works much better than frozen)
http://elanaspantry.com/paleo-dirty-rice/


 Sauces - 
Alfredos - Cauliflower based
     http://meatified.com/paleo-alfredo/

     http://ohsheglows.com/2014/01/20/cauli-power-fettuccine-alfredo-vegan/

 Cranberry Pear (I added a bit of butternut to further reduce the cranberry tartness)
     http://aiplifestyle.com/cranberry-sauce-two-ways/

Gravy
     http://glutenfreegangsta.blogspot.com/2008/10/coconut-gravy.html


Soups - 
http://www.adventuresinpartaking.blogspot.ae/2014/10/fall-in-bowl-roasted-butternut.html


Veggies - 
Squash Fries (the SO said they are as bad as Sweet Potato Fries, poor thing can't handle orange in anything but the fruit and carrots and cheese)
http://elanaspantry.com/squash-fries/

Baked Sweet Potatoes and Yams
http://www.thepaleomom.com/2011/11/recipe-baked-spiced-yams.html

Roasted Carrot Hummus with Orange

(remove the tahini when early in the diet!)

Evans Farm Co-op

1 pound carrots, cut into chucks

4 cloves garlic, bashed with skins on

2 tbsp olive oil

1 small orange, juiced and zested

1 lemon, juiced

3 tbsp tahini

Salt and pepper

Heat oven to 400.  Drizzle carrots and garlic with olive oil and roast for 30 minutes or until tender (stir halfway through)

Cool slightly then squeeze garlic out of the skins.  Blend veggies in a food processor.  Add the rest of the ingredients and puree until fairly smooth.

Eat with celery, cucumber, zucchini, etc.

So, the big confession, I do not love these foods.  There is not enough seasoning or variety to keep me enthralled.  But, it is worth it.  Granted, I cannot wait to add in seeds - that will widen my options amazingly!