Friday 9th February 2024

I saw my herbalist/functional medicine practitioner yesterday to go over my blood test results. She advised me to take a magnesium supplement instead of the calcium. Calcium supplements aren’t very good for you because they can fur up your arteries and cause cardiovascular disease.

She thought it was most ignorant for my doctor to tell me to simply just take calcium. One possible cause for a calcium deficiency is low magnesium, so the plan of action is to take 400mg magnesium daily and then retest my calcium in 3 months time.

Also, my B12 and folate are low at present although my doctor didn’t mention it.

My herbalist has recommended that I try a hydroxy B12 injection which is actually something I’d been thinking about. I have the details of someone to go to privately.

My level of B12 on the NHS is within range but at the low end. Folate was only 3 which again is at the low end so once I start B12 I was told I can begin supplementing the folate. My ferritin was optimal fortunately because I use iron patches regularly.

We also talked about cholesterol as mine is a bit high. She advised me to have the following healthy fats.

Avocado, walnuts, extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, almonds and oily fish.

I won’t be doing a low fat diet as it isn’t healthy because a loy of the time sugar is used instead and I’m meant to be reducing my sugar intake. My dilemna is I really love cake and I enjoy baking.

So, I made some healthy pecan cups, which have figs and dates in which I whizzed up in a food processor and pressed into cake cases, then poured melted dark chocolate on top. They make s healthy treat and taste delicious!