Your gut health is important and sometimes it can play an important role in the management of other health conditions such as lipedema. This blog will review research that examines the incidence of the genetic markers for Celiac disease called HLA-DQ-2 and HLA-DQ8 in women who have lipedema. This blog does not substitute for an individualized nutrition assessment by a registered dietitian. What is Celiac Disease? What is Gluten? Which Grains are Gluten Free? Lipedema and Gluten Research Study What are HLA-DQ2 and DQ-8? Conclusions of Gluten and Lipedema Analysis Should I Start A Gluten ..read more

Lipedema is a chronic medical condition affecting the fat tissue. It results in an uneven fat distribution in the body, with the hips, legs and arms most likely to be affected. It afflicts women predominantly and generally begins in puberty. It is chronic and progressive. While it might look like cellulite it is not. Cellulite and lipedema can appear the same, but lipedema is a medical condition with pain, easy bruising, and fat nodules under the skin. it is chronic and progressive. Image by Tatiana Maksimova via Canva. Treatment includes compression garments, manual lymphatic drainage, exerci ..read more

This blog on chyle leak diets does not replace an individualized nutrition assessment by a registered dietitian. To book a nutrition assessment, click here.  I’ll be discussing chyle leaks, what they are, how they appear and what to do about them, specifically what to eat if you have a chyle leak. Much of the information in this blog comes from the publication by McCray, 2011, see the reference section at the bottom of this page. What is Chyle? Why is it Called Chyle? What is in Chyle? What is a Chyle Leak? Causes of Chyle Leaks Signs and Symptoms of Chyle Leaks What are Triglycerides ..read more

I pride myself in being a nutrition geek and researching and referencing all my blogs and presentations. So, as per usual, I set out to test some claims about castor oil, specifically around castor oil for lymphatic drainage and for lymphedema to see if I could find any evidence. Like many natural therapies, the evidence was sparse, but I will outline what I found for you below. But first, let’s begin with some background on castor oil. Keep in mind, this blog is not meant to diagnose or treat any conditions. Speak to your health care professional before beginning any new treatment, and make n ..read more

This is a review of the Queen of the Thrones Castor Oil Pack; including Organic Castor Oil and Organic Cotton Pack for the Liver. The reviewer did receive a complimentary product for testing but was not paid for her opinion. As with any medical treatment it is always advisable to discuss any changes in your treatment plan with your health care professionals. This review is one person’s experience of using this product and is not meant to diagnose or prescribe.  Reviewer: First Impressions? How Did It Feel? What Did You Like About it? What  Didn’t You Like About it? What Should Othe ..read more

Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins don’t work properly and are not able to return all the blood back to the heart. It is also called chronic venous insufficiency or CVI. Normally, blood should flow from your feet back up to your heart. As the blood moves through the veins, it passed through one-way valves that keep the blood from going backwards towards the feet. Sometimes, the one-way valves fail and the blood follows gravity back to the feet. This is called venous reflux. Thankfully, we have a lymphatic system, that can help to move some of this pooling blood, but when th ..read more

This blog is not meant to diagnose or treat medical conditions. If you have suspect stubborn fat on your body and wonder if you might have lipedema, then read this blog to review the differences between lipedema and cellulite.  Can Our Environment Make Us Fat? What is the Endocrine System? What are Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals? What is the Obesogen Hypothesis? Where do Endocrine Disruptors Come From? What is Bisphenol A? How To Reduce Exposure to BPA (Health Canada, 2020 and NIEHS, 2023) What are Phthalates? How Do Endocrine Disruptors Make Us Fat? What Makes a Substance Hazardous? Co ..read more

Let’s talk about the pros and cons of salt. This blog is not medical advice, please consult your health care provider What is Salt? How Much Salt Do I Need? How Much Salt Do We Eat? How Much Salt Should I Eat? Pros of Salt Iodization Taste and Flavor Food Preservation Electrolytes Cons of Salt High Blood Pressure Cancer Edema Should I Limit Salt if I have Lymphedema? Can I Go Too Low with My Salt Intake? Different Types of Salt Table Salt Black Lava Salt Celtic Salt Fleur de Sel Himalayan Salt Kosher Salt Pickling Salt Sea Salt Trace Minerals in Salt What is the Best Salt to Use ..read more

This blog is not meant to diagnose or treat conditions. References are contained at the bottom of the article . What is the Gut? What are the Gut Lymphatics? Why Care About the Gut? Components of the Gut Lymphatics The Villi The Lacteals and Collecting Lymphatics The Microbiota Probiotics Prebiotics Snybiotics The Villi, Lacteals and Microbiota How to Have Healthy Gut Lymphatics Bottom Line on Gut Lymphatics References for Gut Lymphatics What is the Gut? The gut is the common word for the lower gastrointestinal tract or GI tract specifically, the intestines. There are a small and lar ..read more

I want to address the use of the supplement serrapeptase for treating lymphedema and lipedema. But first, let’s start with some definitions. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases What is Lipedema? What is Serrapeptase? What Does Serrapeptase Do? Anti-Inflammatory Actions of Serrapeptase Anti-Fibrosis Actions of Serrapeptase Anti-Infection Actions of Serrapeptase Other Actions of Serrapeptase Precautions for Serrapeptase Should I Try Serrapeptase for my Lymphedema or Lipedema? Bottom Line of Serrapeptase for Lymphedema and Lipedema For Patients Handout References for Serr ..read more