Tuesday, October 28, 2014

My Energy Has Increased Because of Doing This....

I have been taking something new in the last few months... and it has been helping me. I have severe adrenal issues and also thyroid issues and have tried a variety of things to help, but there is certainly no magic cure.

I have tried many things that do help in a slow way and I am thankful. This has helped in a bigger way and my energy is going up little by little and I am very thankful. :) I am taking gelatin water and blackstrap molasses and I drink it together like a tea. Here it is with cheese and apples, which make a good snack.



 I have found that I need a lot of protein( it can be a help for adrenal issues)...  and I find that I do much better with a lot of protein. One source advised 24 grams of protein for breakfast... and I tried... I really did, but I cannot eat enough to make up that much protein for breakfast... it would take 4 eggs (and I am getting so that I do not like eggs after having them so often.. and there is no way I can even eat 4 eggs!) or quite a bit of beef, etc. So, though I felt a bit better... I couldn't keep it up... and I never even got up to having 24 grams of protein a day most days, let alone in the morning. However, I found that when I did extra protein for breakfast, it really did help, so I continued looking for ways to do this.

 Different brands of gelatin have varying amounts of protein.. this one has 11g of protein for each tablespoon, which is great. I am taking about a tablespoonful in the morning and a teaspoonful before bed, so even with other protein sources, I am still probably not getting 24 g every day, but that is okay.

The best way that I have found to mix it is to put a small amount of cool water in the cup and sprinkle the powdered gelatin over it.
 It starts to dissolve, but needs to also be stirred in. It will be very thick... I have used more cool water at times, so that it wasn't so thick, but then it isn't hot enough for me to drink after I add the hot water, so this amount works well for me.

My husband drinks the gelatin water just plain, but I do not like the smell of it, so I have added blackstrap molasses, which I know has many good health benefits. When I started taking this drink, I was taking it before bed and I have heard reports that blackstrap molasses can aid sleep. I suffer from insomnia which is connected with the adrenal issues, so that was a plus for me... and it did help some. These small helps were such an encouragement to me and though I did not take it regularly, I could tell that it was helping when I did.  At first, I took the gelatin as a preventative for joint issues because my husband was taking it, so I wasn't very committed to it... I didn't think I really needed it.


 Here is the thick gelatin that is all dissolved in the water.

My husband takes the gelatin for his knee.. he had a meniscus tear in his knee and was headed for surgery to "fix" it. He was in lots of pain, unable to do stairs w/o a lot of pain or the knee trying to give out on him... I drove him to and from work for weeks because his knee hurt so much when he drove, etc.

 I do things in as healthy of a way as possible and he decided to try some things, although he was very skeptical that any of it would help... we did several things for many months... gelatin water is one of those things... and he no longer limps and has actually started running again... with no surgery! This helped him to believe more in the natural ways of doing things and he has since started to take better care of his body.

 Gelatin is said to be good for joints, skin, hair and nails, digestion, a source of protein and more.... it has even been said to be of some help as an anti inflammatory.  The little packets of gelatin in the grocery store can help a little, and we used them for a while... but the gelatin found in the health food store... such as the one shown above... has helped much more and has a higher protein content. I had to pay about $19.00 for the container, I think... and it says it has 38 servings (1 tablespoon) in the container, so this is not a cheap thing, but I feel that it is really worth it to me. My energy has been so non existent for so long and I had no choice but to take long daily naps.... and severely limit activities... but now I am only taking a short nap once or twice a week... and I am doing more activities.. there has been a big improvement.


 I poured the boiling hot water into the cup with the dissolved gelatin and stirred it well... it mixes very easily at this point.

 Note:  After drinking this Gelatin/Molasses "Tea",  it is VERY important to rinse out the cup... or the bit of gelatin left in the liquid at the bottom will form a very hard layer in the bottom... especially if left overnight... yes, we have learned this the hard way. :)  It will clean out after hardened, but takes more work.


 Here is where I add the blackstrap molasses and stir it in. The amount varies. For a while, I added 2 tablespoons each time (morning and evening) so that I would get a larger amount of iron from the molasses... and it also helped my energy level ... but I became concerned about taking in that much of a sugar and didn't want to irritate or start  a candida problem, so I usually only use 1 teaspoon at a time, until I can do more research on the subject and experiment a bit. I may increase it again, but for now I am content with the progress I am seeing and do not want to unknowingly create some other kind of issue, so I am just being careful.

 Blackstrap molasses has many possible benefits - for hair, laxative effects, iron source, calcium and magnesium and other minerals and more. I have heard of people who were unable to take iron tablets because of constipation or other problems, but they did great on blackstrap molasses. If you are interested in it, you should do your own research... I am only sharing what has worked for me.. but I am not a doctor and am not advising that it will work for you. Note: Molasses and Blackstrap Molasses do not have the same benefits.. blackstrap molasses has much more good nutrition in it than regular molasses.  The blackstrap molasses that I bought.. also at the health food store... was about $7 or $8 for a 31 oz container, which should last quite a while.

 Here it is all stirred in and ready to drink. As I have been taking this combination consistently for a while, I have noticed a more stable energy level...without as many ups and downs. It is not perfect, but in my search for more energy and better health, these two things have really helped and I plan to continue them. For so long, I have found nothing that would help, so this is huge for me.  I have been able to function much better and add things to my schedule... and I have loved having some energy again, although I still have to be careful not to overdo it.  This is not the only thing I am doing for my health, but it has been a successful addition and I am so thankful to have found it. I still have down days where exhaustion hounds me all day, but I am not having as many of those at all... and I find that those days tend to be the days when I didn't have any gelatin in the morning, so it makes sense to me to continue it. I will continue my search for improved health... and for now I am so thankful for a simple and easy thing like this.

By the way, this has worked well for me... and the gelatin and other things worked well for my husband, but I am not a doctor and would never advise you to think I am saying this is some sort of "cure all".  I am just sharing what has worked well for us. It doesn't taste bad... and has become one of my "regular" teas that I drink every day or twice a day.

Sometimes there are health issues that we can face that can be quite discouraging... and it seems there is no help for them. If you are in a place like this, I hope you won't despair... God made our bodies and He knows the answers to the health issues we face and so we just keep searching and waiting on Him to show us. I feel that this is one of those areas He has allowed me to learn and I am so thankful... and I will also keep searching. Thank you for coming to my blog today and I hope that your health is good or continues to improve.



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54 comments:

  1. I am glad your 'tea' works for you. I am loving your bright red cup and red transferware plate. The cheese and crackers make a nice snack with tea. Thank you for linking up with me and have a fabulous day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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    1. I just bought my cup last week at a church garage sale and I really like it. :) Thank you for the link up party. :)

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  2. Glad you shared the mix that works for you. That's great to hear! Love the transferware and red mug. Thanks for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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    1. I am thankful to have my special mixture to use... it sure helps... and I am enjoying my new mug and the plates. Thank you for the link up party. :)

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  3. Glad to hear it is working, slow but sure. It wasn't fast enough for me so I purchased protein powder and in the morning around 11am I make a shake, one scoop = 24g protein, 1/2 banana, 1 tbs quick, 1 tbs peanut butter, 1 ice cube in the bullet and voila instant protein. Give it a try l

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    1. That sounds good... I do also have kefir smoothies most days... and many times I add protein powder... and snack on peanut butter in the day, so I am doing some of the same things... so maybe I am getting more protein than I think. Thank you for sharing this w/ me. :)

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  4. What extremely helpful information and I'm so glad it's working for you! Thank you so much for sharing :) Have a lovely day!

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    1. Thank you.... I am so glad it is working also. :) I appreciate your visit.

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  5. I'm glad your tea is working for you. Another option might be a container of greek yogurt (17 gms protein) with 2 tablespoons of hemp seed mixed in (5 gms). Easier than eating 4 eggs for breakfast!

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    1. Good idea... I do eat greek yogurt sometimes and I also use the hemp seeds... but it seems I also needed this extra.. my "tea". :)

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  6. So glad this is helpful to you. I enjoyed reading about how you prepare your special tea. Best wishes!
    Beth

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    1. Thank you.... I am so glad to have found something that is helping. :)

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  7. It is great that you have found something that works for you. Your photos are lovely, and I love the background colour on your blog. It is so refreshing (and easier on the eyes) to see other colours than white backgrounds on blogs.

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    1. Thank you... such nice comments and I really appreciate your visit. :)

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  8. Hi: I am so sorry you are suffering so. I will add you to my prayer list. The information you shared is very useful. Thank you for joining us each week. Blessings, Martha

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    1. Thank you... I will appreciate your prayers... I also appreciate your link up party. :)

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  9. Wow, this is amazing! I so happy that it is working for you!!! :)

    -Lara @ Methodical Living
    http://methodicalliving.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you.. I am glad too. Thank you for visiting. :)

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  10. This sounds very interesting! I am glad that it is working for you. Thanks for sharing at So Much at Home. God Bless.

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    1. Thank you.... I am too. Thank you for the link up. :)

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  11. I might try this-thanks for the tips! My body has always had issues, but they are minor compared to what some deal with!

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    1. You're welcome.... it is an ongoing thing to preserve our health, especially when we are trying to re-gain our health. I keep trying new things and I am thankful this is helping... it is not the only answer, but it does seem to be a piece of the puzzle, for me. :) Thank you for visiting and I hope your health improves. :)

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  12. I love that natural methods can be used to supply nutrients and other things our bodies need. Thank you for sharing your "tea" recipe and step by step instructions. Glad to meet you through The Weekend Brew.

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    1. I do too... the unnatural methods may seem to help for a while, but then our bodies have to deal with the bad stuff from those also... I would much rather use the natural methods that are not harmful. Thank you for visiting and I agree... it is nice to meet you. :)

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  13. Thanks so much for linking up to Teach Me Tuesday last week. You are very much appreciated. Starting this week, we will no longer be visiting you, instead we will be pinning each and every link. We want to give you more exposure! Hope to see you again this week!!

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    1. Thank you... I appreciate your visit and I will be returning. Thank you for the link up. :)

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  14. Interesting! I have adrenal and thyroid issues as well - trying the gelatin sounds like a good idea. (Art of Homemaking Mondays)

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    1. I hope it helps you if you decide to try it... there is certainly no magic cure with this, but I am so thankful for every piece to the puzzle that helps... a little or a lot. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  15. I am so glad that you've found something natural that has helped both yourself and your hubby! I enjoyed learning more about your healthful protein drink.

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    1. I am too.... thank you for visiting... it was nice to have you. :)

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  16. Hmmm this sounds quite interesting, thanks for the information and thank you for linking up at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings

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  17. WOW this is amazing. I know molasses has a lot of iron in it, but I never thought of mixing it with gelatin. Thank you for sharing your interesting post with us here at “Tell Me a Story."

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    1. It has been amazing for me.... and I am still continuing it. :)

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  18. I ordered some gelatin with silica from Swanson Health Products. They have great prices. For my joints I also take emulsified cod liver oil (helps with the taste) and a bit of Aloe Vera juice in my Kampuchea tea that I home brew.
    http://hazel-moon-blog.blogspot.com/2011/05/kombucha-tea.html

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    1. That sounds good... I will have to check Swanson out..... Thank you for visiting. :)

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  19. This is a very informative post. I have Thyroid issues as well and I am looking for something natural that I can take. Right now, I am taking synthroid and I hate it. Thanks so much for sharing this.

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    1. I hope your search goes well.... I have found that natural has been so much more helpful to me... without the side effects that medicines give. Thank you for visiting. :)

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  20. This is interesting! I have autoimmune issues, and a lot of pain and inflammation in my joints. And my energy level has been non-existent for a long time, along with insomnia. I would love to try this. Are you still drinking this gelatin tea? Does it still work for you?

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    1. I stopped for a few months... not because I didn't want it or need it, but because I just got too busy and didn't do it and I was doing better and not "needing" it as much. :) I have actually done very few vitamins for a long time and knew I needed to start them up again. I have been surprised how well I have continued to do, though... and I really think it helped to build up my body and has done so much good for me. I have recently started taking it again - the combination of gelatin and blackstrap molasses... and am also doing other things... as I am trying to increase my health again. Even with the long break from this and other vitamins, I am not way down like I was in the last few years. What a blessing!!! My sleep is doing better much of the time also, although I do have to really work on that area on a daily basis.

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  21. Hoping it all works out for you. Your photos are lovely and so is your home.

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    1. Thank you... it was so nice to have you visit. :)

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  22. Good to know. Will have to look into getting some of this. Thank you for attending the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty. I shared your post.

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    1. I have been so thankful to have this work so well.... and it seemed to have a building effect that has lasted well also. Thank you for visiting and sharing.

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  23. I'm so glad you've found something that helps you. I have trouble getting enough protein as well because I don't eat huge amounts of meat or eggs. One thing I've found helpful is keeping a jar of organic natural peanut butter (the kind that has no added ingredients and must be stirred at first) in the refrigerator; a few times a day I eat a tablespoon of it for a protein snack.

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    1. Good idea! I have also used peanut butter... and nuts and other things. The blackstrap molasses and gelatin helped my energy and also other health issues, like joint problems which I rarely struggle with anymore It has been a blessing. :)

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  24. I had no idea that gelatin and blackstrap molasses had such health benefits. I am going to have to look into these some more; I have such a problem with my nails splitting and breaking and have chronic low iron.. this might help with that.

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    1. I hope it works for you as well as it has for me.... such a blessing. :)

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  25. I'm happy you found something that works for you. Thanks so much for sharing this information as I'm sure many could benefit from this as well! Pinning to share.

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    1. I am too... I had tried so many things... thank you for visiting and for sharing. :)

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  26. Very interesting. I had never heard of this. :) Lisa

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    1. I find that the more I learn, the more I see I still have more to learn! :) I think that will continue for my whole life! Thank you for visiting.

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  27. I have heard there are many benefits to blackstrap molasses. SInce having kids I have been plagued by low energy and thyroid issues. You hit the nail right on the head I am not getting enough protein. I didn't even realize it until you posted it. Thanks for the helpful info.

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    1. You are welcome... it has sure helped me.... Thank you for visiting. :)

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