It’s brought back lots of memories to see your Italian meals – I was in Rome for a week in April. Did you encounter Valvona and Crolla while you were in Edinburgh? They are an excellent delicatessen, with owners of Italian descent, who sell some wonderful Italian cured meats, among many other things.

Hi Janet–

No, we didn’t run across Valvona and Crolla.  I’m finding out all about this great stuff after we’re gone.  We’ll be back, though, so we’ll hit it then.

Thanks for the info.

MRE 

My dear spouse and I travelled in Tuscany in October 2005, and had no problem eating low carb. We noticed all the meats, especially the processed ones like sausage, were fatter than what we now get here in the USA. My continuing problem in Europe is finding something to drink if you don’t want alcohol. Or absolutely hair raising coffee! Bottled water seems the only choice.

And one of my continuing problems at home is finding ANY meat with enough fat to make it tender! That’s probably why I usually opt for seafood, although I have to drench it in butter!

Okay, Dr. Mike- enjoy the rest of your trip, DON!T take any more sleep medication, and get saturated with the Tuscan landscape. Not to mention wine!

Hi Dorothy–

Pork is indeed grand.  And the pork of my childhood was the same as yours.  It’s nice to be able to get it again in Europe.

I won’t come near a sleeping pill after my last disastrous experience, although I still don’t remember anything about it.

Cheers–

MRE 

A couple of things…

First, I don’t think a teaspoon of honey per day is going to do your insulin sensitivity a lot of harm. A teaspoon is only 4 grams of carbs, so just cut back 4 grams from somewhere else. Having said that, I don’t know if the local honey will do the trick or not. Keep me posted on your self experimentation.

Second, the best thing I’ve found for seasonal allergies is a nasal steroid spray. I’ve had huge success myself and used these meds on zillions of patients with success. The specific medication I’ve had the best success with is Flonase, which is now generic and much less expensive. It takes a couple of squirts up each nostril a few times per day until the symptoms subside, then only a squirt once per day to keep the symptoms at bay. The important thing is to get the inflamed membranes un-inflamed (which the Flonase does nicely), and then you tend to have many fewer symptoms even without the medication. Give your doc a call and see if he/she will call you in a prescription for some Flonase.

Keep me posted.

Cheers–

MRE

Thanks for that! I was starting to worry that the sugar in honey would undo all the work I’ve put in.

Unfortunately Flonase isn’t currently an option for me. With the downturn of jobs in my industry I currently find myself laid off, no health insurance and no money. Am working on supplemental plans, but nothing has kicked in yet. My doc won’t call in a prescription to save someones life (his standard policy), so any prescription cost would also include an office visit.. way out of my budget. Luckily the pharmacist took pity on me when she saw me sobbing in the otc allergy section today and suggested a combo platter that has me breathing for the first time in days. I could kiss that woman!

But as for the honey – it was suggested to me to take raw local honey, but tonight I caught one of Sara Snow’s shows on discovery health and she said her husband had beaten his allergies with local bee pollen (instead of honey). Normally I don’t watch her show because shes a little too into soy and grains for my taste, but it was interesting to see one more person who said it worked. She said he had to start off with just a few grains and work his way up to 1-2tsp/day.

Anyway, enough of my babbling. I just wanted to say thanks and tell you I saw it again on tv tonight. I’ll be starting it soon. Now that I know it won’t kill my insulin sensitivity I figure it can’t hurt to try. They say it takes months, so you might not hear from me until next allergy season. But I’ll surely let you know how it works. I’d much rather cure this with food than take more meds any day.

If you would rather cure it with food, try an all-meat diet.  Most meats are not particularly allergenic.  In fact, some physicians put people on all-beef diets to help with allergies.  Give it a try and let me know.

Cheers–

MRE 

I was wondering if you had read the “Potbelly Syndrome”. He talks about the importance of infections raising cortisol, which may precede obesity & heart disease. It would be fantastic to get your input.

Paul

Hi Paul–

I read the book a couple of years ago.  I had some real problems with it.  He makes some good points, but is dead wrong on others.  Maybe I’ll break it out, reread, and do a full review.

Cheers–

MRE 

Glad to see you’re enjoying Italy! I always had similar thoughts when people touted a Mediterranean diet, as when I was in Italy, I ate about the same way you are now. Very little pasta.

But that isn’t the reason I’m writing. I’m actually hoping you can help me out with a small dilemma.

Three years ago I moved to a new state and ever since my pollen allergies have been nothing short of horrendous. I’ve tried natural cures, supplements, otc medications, prescription medications… nothing is helping and I’m currently in the middle of an allergy attack that has literally brought me to tears.

Someone suggested to me that I try taking a tsp of local honey every morning because the bees will make it from local pollen. Supposedly doing this will help me work up a tolerance to the pollens over time. At this point I’m so desperate I’ll try anything.

So I know you say that a little honey every once in a while is not bad as surely paleo man must have come across it occasionally. But my biggest worry is what taking 1 tsp of honey every day will do to my diet and insulin sensitivity. Thoughts?

Thanks so much!

Hi Janet–

A couple of things…

First, I don’t think a teaspoon of honey per day is going to do your insulin sensitivity a lot of harm.  A teaspoon is only 4 grams of carbs, so just cut back 4 grams from somewhere else.  Having said that, I don’t know if the local honey will do the trick or not.  Keep me posted on your self experimentation.

Second, the best thing I’ve found for seasonal allergies is a nasal steroid spray.  I’ve had huge success myself and used these meds on zillions of patients with success.  The specific medication I’ve had the best success with is Flonase, which is now generic and much less expensive.  It takes a couple of squirts up each nostril a few times per day until the symptoms subside, then only a squirt once per day to keep the symptoms at bay.  The important thing is to get the inflamed membranes un-inflamed (which the Flonase does nicely), and then you tend to have many fewer symptoms even without the medication.  Give your doc a call and see if he/she will call you in a prescription for some Flonase.

Keep me posted.

Cheers–

MRE 

Hi Arti–

I’m always concerned about meat quality, so I try to buy naturally raised pork.  I’m sure you can find natural bacons made without all the bad stuff available in many supermarkets.  These products are becoming more widely available all the time.  With a little effort, I’m sure you can find them in Canada.

Good luck.

MRE 

you have me wondering…

what was the oil in the vinaigrette?

how long did it take for all those courses?

Hi Connie–

I don’t know what the oil was in the vinaigrette, but it wasn’t olive oil unless it was the lightest olive oil I’ve ever tasted.

The entire dinner took about two hours.

Cheers–

MRE 

all that Euro meat and no mention of Rocco anywheres !

Yes, it’s so sad.

Cheers–

MRE