On Jan 17, 2005, at 12:33 am, William wrote:
>> When you say this- do you mean paleo cured your zinc deficiency, or
>> you
>> started taking zinc supplements at the same time?
>
> Paleo cured the zinc deficiency. The reason I took zinc was bad
> migraines,
> which always re-appeared about 3 weeks after I stopped taking the pill.
> Some time after starting paleo I stopped zinc, and never had another
> migraine. It was originally raw paleo and real kefir made from raw milk
> only for quite a while.

Hi William


All I can say is hmmm... I have been on paleo for the best part of a
year now and I'm still plagued by a variety of symptoms.  I suspect
zinc deficiency based on my enlarged prostate, poor sense of smell and
possibly because of my white nails.  However, I don't get the loss in
appetite that should come with zinc deficiency.  My theory for that is
my adrenal fatigue is severe enough to hinder my body's use of fat and
carbohydrates for energy (ie permanent hypoglycaemia), which is a
common symptom.  I have also read that zinc deficiency can be related
to liver problems - and I've always been slightly jaundiced.  So based
on all this speculation I am (or will be soon) taking zinc, milk
thistle (for the liver), saw palmetto and pygeum africanum extract (for
the prostate), adrenal and thyroid extracts, and tamulosin
hydrochloride (prescription medicine to relax my bladder muscles until
the rest of the cocktail kicks in).

And I am the first to say I don't like taking tablets unless it's
essential!

>  Do you think there
>> is any hope for my thyroid and adrenal glands?
>
> Yes.
> I was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency a few years ago. The test
> IIRC
> is blood pressure is supposed to rise when one stands from sitting or
> lying. Mine didn't change. This problem has also disappeared.
> I used to make a simple beef stew, and always put powdered seaweed in
> it;
> the iodine might have supported thyroid function enough that such
> problem
> was not noticed. Never been tested for thyroid function though. Too
> lazy
> to do the temperature test.

How long were you eating paleo before your adrenals recovered?  I have
read that it can be years in some cases.  How did you know things were
improving?  I did start taking iodine but stopped quickly when I
learned that unless your hypothyroidism is caused by iodine deficiency,
then supplementing iodine can make matters worse.


I think I will take a decent (but safe) dose of zinc and copper for a
few months.  I'm aware that they compete for absorption with calcium
and magnesium, but I eat plenty of eggs and green veg so I'm unlikely
to get an imbalance deficiency.  Right now, this seems like my best
shot.  Failing that, unless I learn something new to guide me to the
real root of my problems, I will just sit it out eating paleo and cross
my fingers that things improve.  At least I know things can't get worse
this way.

Ashley