This was my meal tonight--a home cooked southern soul food spread of vegan yumminess. Sweet potato with just pumpkin pie spice as the topping, chickpea mac and "cheeze," pinto beans, and plenty of greens. I was so full and satisfied after eating this lovely meal, I was reassured and I knew that YES! This is what a high carb life is all about.
But earlier today I was reflecting on a time when I wasnt so satisfied with the way I was feeling while I was eating this way. I was absolutely SICK! Let me explain... Ill go back about 2 months ago when I had some severe symptoms. Extreme headaches and paralyzing dizziness along with fatigue and heart palpitations. Then the left side of my face went numb. I was completely clueless about what the cause could be. I wondered if it was my blood sugar so I borrowed a glucometer. To my suprise my reading was at 113 fasting! Not good. I started to question Raw till 4 (which I had been following for 5 months at this point).
I began doing some research about my symptoms to no avail... until I stumbled upon a small article about patients who had been misdiagnosed with symptoms similar to mine. They were sent to specialists for MRI's and even admitted to the hospital because of their B12 levels. My symptoms matched up almost perfectly with the symptoms these patients experienced. That's when I remembered that I too have had problems with B12 in the past. I had gone months without taking any supplementation. At this point I was dangerously deficient.Through more research I found that B12 not only supports the production of red blood cells but also the metabolizing of carbohydrates into glucose (which would seem to explain my dilemma). One credible article talked about patients who had higher blood sugar readings because of the deficiency yet returned to normal readings after administering B12. I began to take B12 injections. Dizziness, headache, and heart palpitations were almost instantly gone after just one dose, (The nerve damage is gradually healing and I can feel my face again!) In addition my blood sugar regulated itself just like the patients in the article! Where my readings were a worrisome 113, they have adjusted to 88 or 89 fasting and various normal readings after eating!
This experience was an absolute nightmare for me which is why I decided to write about it. I wouldnt want anyone to go though what I did. The B12 issue is not just a vegan problem, a vegetarian problem, nor a Raw Till 4 problem. I was diagnosed with this deficiency as a jam packed meat-eater and cheese enthusiast. I knew I had this issue but I was too foolish to keep it at bay. I suffered the consequences. Lesson learned!
Whit Whitley
#vegan #vegaweightloss #highcarb #highcarbvegan #hclf #vegetarian #rtf #rt4 #rawtill4 #rawtill4success #veganlife #veganstyle #meatlessmonday
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