Results

What changed? Why?

Measurements and evaluations criteria
The value of this experiment is measured using 3 criteria:
  • Ability to affect symptoms (BFS, Neuropathic tingling, lost sensitivity, inflammation that restricts motion)
  • Impact on vital signs
  • Impact on blood work
Knowing that these 3 are working synergistically anyway – it’s clear that great blood work reduces in lower symptoms, etc. But the measurable elements of each are independently observed.

Criteria # 1. External, observed physical symptoms
  • BFS Leg -Changes are easy to detect (visual activity)
  • Neuropathy tingling (independent tingling) - Changes are easy to detect (tingles when I am at rest)
  • Neuropathy numbness (decreased sensitivity on bottom of foot, not true numbness) – Over the long run, the changes here will be hardest to detect. The amount of numbness (on the bottoms of my feet) is impossibly hard to quantify. It is ever-present, seems a constant. If it ever did change, I suspect it would be so slow as to make it impossible to describe the difference between before and after. For the purposes of this experiment, assume the experiment starts with a certain amount of numbness (reduced sensitivity) at the beginning, and the same amount at the end, and that is constant throughout every minute.
  • Inflammation stiffness in ankle and foot - Changes are easy to detect (ability to flex toes back quickly, ability to flex cycle big toe repeatedly with good response, restrictive feeling, joints that pop or don’t, heavy feeling)
  • Toe curling (always the right foot, 2nd toe) – some muscle misbehaving. Easy to detect visually. I have not had toe cramps or curling during the entire experiment except brief, minor ones in my right foot on Day 15 and Day 22. None since those.

For more information on symptoms, see my daily diary / experiment notes, below.

Criteria # 2. Vital signs (daily)
  • High blood pressure -I did not take a lisinopril (for blood pressure) during the entire experiment. Prior to this experiment, I had lost 10 pounds and didn’t need the lisinopril as often. I took lisinopril daily when I weighed 210 pounds (25.6 BMI). I took lisinopril every few days when I weighed 201 (24.5) prior to the experiment beginning, sometimes daily.  Once I began the swap (choosing only veggies and eliminating my usual diet choices), I never needed it again, from the first day (200 pounds, 24.3 BMI). I believe that a safer, lower BMI is best, because it means my body doesn’t have to work so hard near its breaking point. As I write this, my BMI is 22.5 on Day 25, 185 pounds.
  • Prediabetes high blood glucose - My fasting blood glucose was never high (120 or higher) during the experiment. It was very rarely over 100.
  • Weight loss -The experiment shows that Type II Diabetes (or pre-diabetes) and neuropathy are symptoms of a problem. The problem may be better defined as an overburdened pancreas. Seems weight loss has made my pancreas operate perfectly. I’m guessing, I don’t know anything about a pancreas. Weight loss has been steady over the course of the experiment.

For more information on vital signs, see the summary table of my measurements, below.


Criteria # 3. Blood test results (weekly)
  • High cholesterol and triglycerides -I stopped taking Tricor on Day 16, following my good blood test results on Day 15. The subsequent blood test (Day 22) showed good cholesterol and triglycerides organically, without the Tricor. I have not needed any cholesterol medication since Day 16, for the remainder of the experiment.
  • Blood cell counts and platelets -I am on blood thinners before, during and after the experiment, due to arterial stents 6 months ago. I take a prescription of Rivaroxaban daily. There may be some effect on my blood cell counts. This should have no effect on my long-term problems (triglycerides, cholesterol, blood glucose). The blood thinner is a constant throughout the experiment.
  • Nonprescription supplements (vitamins and minerals) -I modified my supplements on Day 23 to try to reduce my inflammation by lowering the amount of B6 I was taking, and a few other supplements that are probably obsolete given my current diet. So, we have modified the supplements and will monitor the effects via the next blood test on day 29. My inflammation symptom is monitored and logged daily.

For more information on Blood test results, see the accompanying blood test sheets, below.


Criteria 1. Physical Symptoms
I'm going to give you the daily blog as a pdf. Just a lot of details in there. Maybe too many.

CLICK HERE to read the daily blog of symptoms, just as I wrote it
Criteria 1. Physical Symptoms summary
Note that BFS is the abbreviation for Benign Muscle Fasciculation Syndrome, leg muscle twitches

BEFORE = BFS routinely at 100% in the middle of the night. Neuropathy constant in feet (not severe) and toes (real). Inflammation = constant stiffness of joint in the evening, especially left foot.

When I say my BFS is at 100%, this is what I mean













Summary of symptom findings:
Day 1 = Dinner banana, carrots, snap peas. I'm hungry, but inspired and enthusiastic.
Day 2 = No record
Day 3 = Lentil soup, black beans and pico. I thought these were ok.
Day 4 = Skewered veggies, including zucchini, onions, bell peppers
Day 5 = Barely eating. Symptoms mild until I ate fruit (Inflammation & neuropathy tingling)
Day 6 = Decided to use AutoImmune Protocol Diet, with more limitations. First day of kale salad mix. Neuropathic tingling stops for first time.  Low water intake. BFS woke me up at 3 AM = Bad night!
Day 7 = BFS flares up at night to 100%.
Day 8 = Felt inflammation stiffness in toes after eating melon. BFS flares up at night (laying down in bed) = Bad night!
Day 9 = BFS at 75 %. Neuropathic tingling stopped in the morning, returns after eating fruit. Note that laying down exacerbates BFS. Note that inflammation (after eating fruit) is more sensitive than blood glucose (still tests normal). Great reduction in BFS drinking water. Inflammation greatly reduced using turmeric supplement. Day ends with extremely light symptoms.
Day 9 = Blood test # 1 shows normal cholesterol and triglycerides (taking meds). Huge improvements over last blood test. A1C = 5..5
Day 10 = Extremely mild symptoms flare to 100% BFS after evening treadmill and bed time. Conclude that circulations affects BFS. Bad night!
Day 11 = Inflammation symptoms sensed but blood glucose levels good. First day with protein. had no protein until now. Highest inflammation day so far (ate a lot of cantaloupe and watermelon).
Day 12 = Mild symptom day, really a good day. BFS max at 10 percent today.
Day 13 = BFS remains mild during the day. No neuropathy during day. Treadmill at night BFS increases to 50%. Medium inflammation.
Day 14 = All day, all symptoms very mild.
Day 15 = Treadmill during the day. All symptoms mild.  Ate fruit at lunch, no flare up.
Day 16 = All symptoms mild.
Day 16 = Blood test results very good. Omitting the Tricor (cholesterol medicine) because of my great blood test results.
Day 17 = First day no Tricor (cholesterol meds).  Morning mild symptoms.  Dinner mistakes (mandarin oranges and corn on the cob).  treadmill in the evening results in BFS flare up from10 percent to 70 percent.  Medium (not mild) neuropathy returns.  BFS has the deep muscle churning. Conclude that BFS from treadmill at night. Neuropathy from corn.  BFS reduces as I go to bed.
Day 18 = Wake up to neuropathy tingling gone. Inflammation back to mild. BFS 10 percent. My good diet has quieted the BFS and just sitting upright will reduce the BFS and it is tolerable, doesn’t wake me up. Mowed the yard at BFS increases to 40 percent (blood flow!) Symptoms reduce at night.
Day 19 =BFS = 10 percent. Inflammation = medium. Neuropathy = Just a bit. Ate some fruit, so inflammation medium.
Day 20 = Toes hurt, uncharacteristically. Treadmill at lunch. Ate a whole cantaloupe with dinner. BFS = 70 percent. My blood glucose at 97 does not indicate the problem, but my toes do. At 11 PM, I noted that, "I thought that neuropathy followed high blood glucose levels, but my BG = 69. Actually, really low."
Day 21 = in the morning, BFS 15 percent. Inflammation slight. Neuropathy = none. BFS treadmill increases to 40 percent. That evening just sitting in a chair playing a video game for a while, BFS down to 5 percent. My toes were burning until 8:15 PM when I took my nighttime supplements, including turmeric. Burning, heavy toe feeling is getting worse.  I ate no fruit today, could it be I am supplementing B6 too much? cannot figure out why I am having such a bad toe day (inflammation).
Day 22 = In the morning, symptoms mild. No neuropathy. Had some cherry plums at night, no detrimental effect. Laying on the floor at night watching TV, BFS rises to 40 percent. Laying on floor = worsens BFS.
Day 23 = At 3 AM, BFS 90% woke me up, leg bouncing off the sheets in every sleeping position. Still running 50% or more at 7 AM. A bad night.  Cannot really explain this. just from laying on the floor on day 22? Odd! At night, sat on the floor and BFS flares to 75 percent.
Day 23 = Blood test results very good. My cholesterol and triglycerides are normal without medication.
Day 24 = in the morning, BFS muscles at 50 percent, but activity interferes with rest.  probably from cantaloupe I ate last night at 7 PM.  Either supplements or food are causing increased inflammation. Obviously, something is helping my vital signs, maybe diet, maybe supplements, maybe both. I cannot get any simpler and safer than kale at the store, in the way I am doing now. No clue why BFS affected by sitting upright or laying down. My horizontal position, diet and water intake are the primary factors in my BFS symptoms severity. Made a huge modification to my supplements, eliminating some that were heavy in B6. Keeping some that are good for inflammation. Ate 4 small mandarin oranges and tingling begins, lasts briefly.  At night, symptoms mild.
Day 25 = BFS mild, inflammation has been gradually reducing over the past few days, but always there. Likely a side effect of my neuropathy, as it doesn’t change with intensity according to my BFS, so not likely tied to BFS. Inflammation responds to food and time, so I assume can be mastered. It reduces slowly, but can increase quickly if I make a mistake. It may take longer than 30 days to eliminate it, to learn to eliminate it, etc.
Day 26 = BFS at 5 percent very mild. I ate an apple and got some slight inflammation. One apple! Neuropathic tingling – Very difficult to detect. At night, Inflammation = Mild in right foot, nearly mild in left foot. No burning sensation in any way.
Day 27 = A quiet day. Woke up with BFS at 40 percent, but subsequently BFS at 10 percent most of the day. No neuropathy tingling.
Day 28 = A quiet day. Woke up with BFS at 50 %, but much lower the rest of the day. Inflammation a little worse than normal. (Fruit?). No neuropathy tingling.
Day 29 = Woke up with BFS at 30 percent, but much lower the rest of the day.
Day 30 = Woke up with BFS at 30 percent, but much lower the rest of the day.  A mild day.
Day 30 = Blood test

Note: That was a total of 4 bad nights, out of 30.
Criteria 2. Vital signs (measured daily)
BEFORE
For the past few years, my vital signs have typically been:
  • Weight = between 200 to 210 pounds
  • Blood pressure = approx 130 to 140 over 90 (yes, I took a pill for this every 3 days or so)
  • Blood glucose (in the morning) = between 120 and 140 (and during the day average 120

Initial Vital signs indicate high blood pressure (10+ years) and high blood glucose (15+ years)
DURING THE EXPERIMENT

Day 1= 200 pounds, 125/77, 91 BG
Day 2 = No data
Day 3 = 194 pounds, 128/77, 96 BG
Day 4 = 193 pounds, 128/81, 95 BG
Day 5 = 192 pounds, 120/77, 109 BG
Day 6 = 192 pounds, 136/84, 101 BG
Day 7 = 191 pounds, 120/83, 117 BG
Day 8 =  190 pounds, 120/82, 83 BG
Day 9 = 190 pounds, 125/86, 99 BG
BLOOD TEST 1
Day 10 = 190 pounds, 123/83, 88 BG
Day 11 = 188 pounds, 123/89, 90 BG
Day 12 = 189 pounds, 122/83, 93 BG
Day 13 = 189 pounds, 128/84, 83 BG
Day 14 = 188 pounds, 114/75, 86 BG
Day 15 = 188 pounds, 125/79, 78 BG
Day 16 = 188 pounds, 115/84, 83 BG
BLOOD TEST 2
Day 17 = 187 pounds, 116/85, 80 BG
Day 18 = 188 pounds, 123/79, 91 BG
Day 19 = 188 pounds, 116/77, 88 BG
Day 20 = 188 pounds, 128/87, 86 BG
Day 21 = 188 pounds, 122/86, 95 BG
Day 22 = 187 pounds,  124/79, 75 BG
Day 23 = 186 pounds, 117/74, 78 BG
BLOOD TEST 3
Day 24 = 185 pounds, 121/78, 88 BG
Day 25 = 185 pounds, 124/75, 85 BG
Day 26 = 185 pounds, 121/83, 78 BG
Day 27 = 184 pounds, 116/79, 90 BG
Day 28 =  184 pounds, 121/81, 81 BG 
Day 29 =  184 pounds, 106/75. 78 BG
Day 30 =  182 pounds, 114/79, 66 BG
BLOOD TEST 4

SUMMARIZE
  • Weight loss = 18 pounds.
  • Blood pressure = Always normal during the entire experiment with no blood pressure medication taken during the 30 days.
  • Blood glucose = Fasting blood glucose never exceeded 117 mg/dl, typically well under 100 mg/dl.
  • Daytime (lunch or afternoon) blood glucose measurements always less than 100  mg/dl.

Result = All vital signs completely normal with no exceptions during the experiment.



Criteria 3. Blood tests (weekly)
BEFORE
  • For the past few years, I have taken a daily prescription to lower my cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Even with the meds, I always fail.
  • For the past few years, my A1C levels were slightly high, prediabetes. This is shown in my A1C and blood glucose levels. No med for my blood glucose.
  • For the past few years, my weight has been = between 200 to 210 pounds

DURING THE EXPERIMENT
  • My daily blood glucose levels were excellent, typically less than 100. As a result, my A1C is slowly lowering (it is a 90 day test).
  • During the second week, my cholesterol and triglycerides were normal, which is unbelievable. I stopped taking the meds after the second blood test, and the subsequent blood tests showed my cholesterol and triglycerides were normal without needing meds.
  • My HDL and LDL never budged.
  • My cardiac risk is calculated as "normal;" for the first time, ever. I have greatly reduced my cardiac risk.

I have stopped taking cholesterol and triglycerides medications. Also, my cardiac risk is much lower. I am no longer at any risk of diabetes. All of this without any meds - just diet. My triglycerides have not been normal in my entire adult life until now.

So, I guess it's not "genetic".
What does it all mean?
As a final result of the Experiment


Criteria # 1. External, observed physical symptoms
BFS Leg
  • BFS is my longest-duration physical symptom. It began so long ago, I don't remember the origin, maybe 20+ years. Compared to neuropathy, 3 years. High blood sugar maybe 10+ years? BFS was mild until my April vein ablation procedures, about 2 months ago. Prior to the experiment, (early July 2019) my daytime BFS was at least 50 percent constantly, 100 percent at midnight.
  • Left leg BFS is much worse than right leg BFS. More than double. All notes regarding severity are based on left leg.
  • I learned that BFS is affected by diet and was greatly reduced by omitting carbs, starches and sugar. I went from waking me up (3 AM) at 100 percent to never waking up at 3 AM. BFS varies from 10-50 percent when I wake up, it begins building as soon I am laying down at bedtime. Daytime BFS symptom is now reduced by at least 75 percent as a result of the experiment. Night time BFS changes are harder to measure because it can be quite active, but cramps are greatly reduced.
  • BFS instantly responded to dietary change (became much milder in the first few days) when carbs were removed, and remained mild for the entire experiment. Carbs, starches and sugars are responsible for the first huge decrease in symptoms.
  • I typically slept all night without interruption and most days are extremely mild (less than 15 percent).
  • BFS activity increases by varying blood flow, the pattern and reasons are unclear to me.
  • Did my blood flow increase since the vein ablation surgery?  I think so. Let's assume increased blood flow.  Since surgery (April 2019 through mid-July 2019), my resting BFS is about 10 times worse that before the surgery. 
  • Since surgery (April 2019 through mid-July 2019), my daytime BFS is worse that before the surgery. It was typically about 15% pre surgery and 50% post surgery, using my reasonable Western diet (egg mcmuffins, very few fried foods).
  • Dietary effect - Since surgery, my daytime BFS (walking or sitting) was high (50%) until I started the Experiement diet (August 2019), which decreased daytime BFS down to about 15%, or less. Supplements can further reduce it down to 5 percent.
  • How is my BFS and blood flow affected by exercise? Once dietary changes began, daytime BFS could increase by 50% from treadmill activity, but soon lowered to very mild levels if I sat in a chair, stood or walked around.  It's hard to understand how exercise affects blood flow.  
  • If I lay horizontally (watch television or in bed), circulation is affected. Laying down increases BFS activity a lot (similar to treadmill levels), typically rising 30 percent after a couple of hours. Before surgery, initial BFS was mild (when watching TV) and final BFS (after a couple of hours) wasn't too bad - maybe 40% max, and it rarely cramped.  After surgery (early July 2019, pre-diet), initial bedtime BFS can increase from 50 % to 100% and create cramps in a couple of hours. After Experiment, diet changes are in effect - inital bedtime BFS can increase from 10 % to 70% in a couple of hours, but much fewer cramps.
  • For decades, BFS was initally limited to my calf muscles. Since vein ablation surgery, BFS now affects more muscles in my lower leg. Sometmes tugging on tendons that move my tores slightly. My feet muscles are not affected.
  • Finally, even the MedMassager, a vibrating foot pad to stimulate (increase) blood flow, increased BFS by 10 percent or more.
  • How much does BFS rise during the night? Wake-up BFS varied greatly as the Experiment continued. I don't know why yet. I just know I was able to sleep because of the reduction in cramps.
  • Wake-up BFS (6 AM) can be as low as 10 percent. Perhaps turmeric quantity is the factor determining whether it is 10 percent or 40 percent in the morning, because my food intake is constant, yet BFS still varies slightly in morning intensity. I am still learning about the correct quantity and varieties of turmeric supplements. If turmeric helps blood flow and BFS hates good blood flow, what is the supplement secret? Anecdotal tales of magnesium supplements seem more likely, but dietary minerals have been constant except for how big my kale salad serving size is - either huge (weeks 2,3) or large (week 4). In summary, it could be supplements or food that drive down the 6 AM BFS symptom. I have not pinpointed the factor that makes it 10 percent or 40 percent at 6 AM. 30 days was not enough time to refine this into a repeatable conclusion.
  • Regarding "Wake-up BFS" science, there is still work to be done.
  • BFS activity could usually be reduced by drinking A LOT of water, usually. Occasionally, water had no effect.
  • I don't know what the BFS is made from. It doesn't seem directly tied to inflammation.....? It is exacerbated by carbs, starches and sugars, but at the end of 30 days there are so few of those; and in the morning, there is still substantial BFS from laying down (good circulation).  In conclusion, I cannot manage the BFS to the point that it is always mild. However, it only sucks after laying down all night. It is generally mild (so mild that it can be completely ignored) during the day.
  • Worst case combination was to get on the treadmill at night, then lay down to watch TV for a couple of hours. This is easily mitigated by getting on the treadmill earlier than dinnertime.
  • BFS is mildest in routine, daytime activity conditions (standing, sitting). Not good at night. It will be important to stay vigilant to the effects of carbs and sugars to keep this under control. I do not know what, if any, hope I have that this will improve in the future (on its own) just due to eating right. Will the intensity drop back down in all conditions? It is worth monitoring, and worth not screwing up. Turmeric? Keep a tight watch on this symptom. It's discomfort was the sole reason I ate only salad and chicken for 4 weeks. I don't want to find myself in this desperate position again.
  • BFS levels are always worse at night due to laying still for prolonged hours.

Neuropathy tingling (independent tingling, at rest)
  • Tingling reduced within the first week, became very slight in toes and left both feet altogether.
  • All independent tingling completely disappeared until normal conditions (walking, sitting briefly) in legs, feet and toes about the second week. I am basically free from tingling neuropathy.
  • Very mild tingling can return (first felt in ankle area) in cases of inflammation brought on by sugar (fructose from fruit).
  • Unlike BFS, any residual nighttime tingling stops when I wake up in the morning. This is very odd, because it can return at night when I sit still in a chair doing work for 3 hours, but after I lay down in bed overnight, there isn't any. Hard to conclude how being motionless affects tingling. Perhaps there is more inflammation in the evenings, moments before my big turmeric supplement. My only night time supplements are now turmeric (1350 mg) and magnesium. That's the difference between 9 PM and midnight.
  • Tingling is more sensitive than blood glucose problem ranges at all times. After fruit (especially watermelon), tingling can begin but BG is below 100 (normal). Tingling happens before blood glucose changes. Presumably because the damage is done to the blood vessels and nerves?
  • Tingling (at any time) is completely un-noticeable when wearing shoes.
  • Inflammation can be mitigated by drinking water or taking turmeric supplements. This can wipe out tingling.
  • Anything that can affect inflammation seems to be associated with tingling. Inflammation more sensitive than tingling. Inflammation occurs before tingling. it is possible to have mild or medium inflammation but zero tingling.
  • Completely gone are the days when I could strike the surface of my foot and feel that tingling reverberate up my leg. Any existing tingling is localized and not weirdly reverberant. Used to be, my neuropathic tingling was extremely reverberant, when it first struck me.
  • Mild tingling can return (in legs) if I sit in a chair for 3 hours or more.
  • Mild tingling can be eliminated by walking around or taking a hot shower.
  • It is widely believed magnesium affects inflammation and probably tingling, but I did not see any effect from magnesium lotion. I already take a daily magnesium supplement pill.
  • I feel like the leg tingling exists just below my ability to perceive. It isn't cured only reduced. If any factors come up (inflammation or low circulation conditions) then tingling can return.
  • I was especially pleased to feel zinging tingles on the top of my feet after using the Med Massager, which implies nerves healing.
  • Tingling used to be very distracting for me, and is practically nothing to me now. Very mild... None, most of the time.
  • There is no distracting "medium" or severe tingling. It's quite mild, if at all.
  • There is no tingling distraction in my toes that is irritating when bedsheets touch the tips of my toes. For a couple of years, up until very recently, this was true.
  • Tingling levels not truly affected by time of day. perhaps very slightly more at night. Tingling is truly tied to blood flow!
  • In summary, tingling is hugely reduced by the experiment, and I am hopeful that good blood flow conditions, good blood chemistry and low sugar may provide additional opportunities to further heal in the future. Lots of my body stats are much healthier, can the slight tingling damage heal? Likely so.
  • Let's plan on using that Medmassager in the future :)

Neuropathy numbness (decreased sensitivity on bottom of foot, not true numbness)
  • Changes here are very difficult to detect.
  • The amount of numbness (on the bottoms of my feet) is impossibly hard to quantify.
  • It is ever-present, seems a constant.
  • If it ever did change, I suspect it would be so slow as to make it impossible to describe the difference between before and after.
  • I noted some numbness difference on the bottom of my feet after using the MedMassager. It may be temporary.
  • I was especially saddened to put the outside edge of my feet on the MedMassager as this is clearly the most numb.
  • Nothing is actually "numb" there is a real loss of temperature sensitivity, but I can "feel" every small tickle as the bottom of my feet are touched. So, whatever conducts temperature, that's reduced but not gone. I can sense the semi-numbness every time I stand on a solid floor (tile or concrete). It is kind of weird, but I am used to it. I hope it clears up.
  • This is the most persistent symptom left after the Experiment is concluded.
  • The bottom of my feet felt normal prior to neuropathy, 3 years ago.
  • The bottom of my feet changed as neuropathy wore on, I can't explain it. Felt like a layer of mud on them, and decreased sensitivity to temperature. I could still feel them if touched with my finger.
  • The bottom of my feet feel sore and tender since the MedMassager arrived during week 4. Only these past few days, sore and tender. I don't know if that tenderness is a good thing or a bad thing.
  • In summary: This may be changing but I can't tell. I am hopeful that good blood flow conditions, good blood chemistry and
    low sugar may provide additional opportunities to further heal in the future. Lots of my body stats are much healthier, can the sensitivity damage heal? Likely so.
  • Let's plan on using that Medmassager in the future :)

Inflammation stiffness in ankle and foot
  • All inflammation problems began when the neuropathy began. This is separate from BFS. Unrelated.
  • Can be tested and described through its many manifestations (ability to flex toes back quickly, ability to flex cycle big toe repeatedly with good response, restrictive feeling, joints that pop or don’t, heavy feeling)
  • I don't recall being able to really distinguish details about it prior to the experiment. I think the neuropathy was masking so much, if that makes sense. Now that there is essentially no neuropathy, I can feel where, and how much inflammation is occurring.
  • Inflammation is directly tied to food, and only food. Watermelon was the worst this month. Prior to the experiment, I had similar inflammation increases. Hard to tell which food affected inflammation back then because so many foods threw the BFS and tingling ON that I could only perform basic inflammation checks.
  • My pre-Experiment inflammation check was if I could pop my toes, ankle and the top joint of my foot. I would lay in bed (or on the floor) and try to pop my toes, etc. if they were so stiff they couldn't pop, then that was a fail.
  • During the entire course if the experiment, at no time was my inflammation so bad that my toes wouldn't pop. So, inflammation is clearly reduced now, compared to pre-Experiment levels.
  • Inflammation is very rarely at zero, It is almost constantly felt at some level. can be mild.
  • Inflammation is worse on my left foot (top) and toes. Same locations on right foot can have inflammation, but seem linearly less severe.
  • Inflammation became the most interesting symptom of the experiment. Even small amounts of fruit (melons, one apple, some cherries) were adequate enough to increase inflammation in my feet (top) and toes.
  • Inflammation can be triggered by the slightest thing, yet is perceptibly flared up a bit, a LONG TIME before blood glucose measurements would even notice. That is to say, my blood glucose measurements would remain normal, while the inflammation would pick up suddenly and distinctly at small changes. It was easy to turn the inflammation on, and practically impossible to reduce it.
  • Inflammation reduced with water and turmeric. In other words, better circulation meant less inflammation.
  • Inflammation levels did not depend on time of day.
  • Inflammation was often "the only symptom I had", excluding numbness, which never left. Tingling left sometimes. Other symptoms could be very very very mild or zero, and tingling is right there, acting alone after fruit.  Some fruits seemed not to have an effect (blueberries, plums) but this is a matter for further study. It was pretty obvious that watermelon is a guarantee ticket.
  • The AIP diet is my primary anti-inflammatory plan. Stick with it. Inflammation  is more than just popping toes. it hurts, it makes my toes feel stiff or heavy. It may be the source of occasional burning.  It is the first signal that there is a sugar problem in the blood vessels. keeping inflammation at bay could be the ticket to a healthy circulation system and better healing all around. it is the first alert, even when blood sugar is fine, inflammation has the bad news.
  • During the experiment, inflammation was clearly reduced in severity compared to pre-Experiment levels. Toe popping proof enough. It needs to be closely monitored and treated as a warning system now that I can feel it distinctly, even at mild levels.

Toe curling (always the right foot, 2nd toe)
  • Brief, minor ones in my right foot on Day 15 and Day 22. None since those.
  • This is a non-symptom now. A couple of months ago, it was predictable and prevelant when laying on the floor watching TV.
  • No need to monitor this in the future, unless it starts recurring.
  • This is practically gone as a result of the dietary changes.
  • Success.


Criteria # 2. Vital signs (daily)
High blood pressure
  • I did not take a lisinopril (for blood pressure) during the entire experiment. Prior to this experiment, I had lost 10 pounds and didn’t need the lisinopril as often.
  • I took lisinopril daily when I weighed 210 pounds (25.6 BMI).
  • I took lisinopril every few days when I weighed 201 (24.5) prior to the experiment beginning, sometimes daily.  
  • Once I began the swap (choosing only veggies and eliminating my usual diet choices), I never needed it again, from the first day (200 pounds, 24.3 BMI).
  • I believe that a safer, lower BMI is best, because it means my body doesn’t have to work so hard near its breaking point. As I write this, my BMI is 22.5 on Day 25, 185 pounds.
  • At no time during the experiment was my blood pressure high.
  • At all times during the Experiment, my blood pressure was textbook perfect, and it is the best it has been in my entire life.
  • The Experiment was nothing short of a "high blood pressure" cure.  Certainly, affected by diet and weight loss.

Prediabetes high blood glucose
  • My fasting blood glucose was never high (120 or higher) during the experiment.
  • It was very rarely over 100.
  • At all times during the Experiment, my blood glucose was textbook perfect, and it is the best it has been in my entire life.
  • Because A1C is a 90 day test, we won't see the true benefits, the real low A1C test results until Halloween 2019.
  • I have perfect blood glucose measurements every day, including morning measurements. INCREDIBLE and unprecedented for me.
  • The Experiment was nothing short of a "high blood glucose" cure. Certainly, affected by diet and weight loss.

Weight loss
  • The experiment shows that Type II Diabetes (or pre-diabetes) and neuropathy are symptoms of a problem.
  • The problem may be better defined as an overburdened pancreas.
  • Seems weight loss has made my pancreas operate perfectly. I’m guessing, I don’t know anything about a pancreas.
  • Weight loss has been steady over the course of the experiment.
  • My BMI is so normal it is unbelievable.
  • I have lost some muscle mass in legs and arms due to diet choices and workout regimen choices and weight loss. I will have to decide if that can be restored, or if I am better off so puny.
  • My weight right now (Day 30) is 182 pounds, so 18 pounds less than when the Experiment started.
  • This is really, really good for my health and previously suspected fatty liver.
  • Am I headed down to some lower, natural weight for my body type? Will I need to eat more to retain or build muscle mass and strength? I don't know. It's clear that my physical body works better at a lower BMI (the lower the better, so far).  How much weight loss was "needed", how much results from eating so few carbs, where does it lead? 30 days wasn't enough time to answer these.

Result = All vital signs completely normal with no exceptions during the experiment.


Criteria # 3. Blood test results (weekly)
High cholesterol and triglycerides
  • I stopped taking Tricor on Day 16, following my good blood test results on Day 15. The subsequent blood test (Day 22) showed good cholesterol and triglycerides organically, without the Tricor.
  • I have not needed any cholesterol medication since Day 16, for the remainder of the experiment.
  • I have not been "off" Tricor for at least 15 years.
  • This will have to be CLOSELY monitored as new foods are introduced in the future.
  • This reduction has greatly improved my cardiac risk score.
  • This is a no kidding miracle. It greatly exceeded my expectations in its speed to normalize and its ability to normalize without meds.
  • I credit Experiment food omission choices, not weight loss.
  • This change in carbs, sugars, etc was very very good for my cholesterol and triglycerides.

Blood cell counts and platelets
  • I am on blood thinners before, during and after the experiment, due to arterial stents 6 months ago.
  • I take a prescription of Rivaroxaban daily. There may be some effect on my blood cell counts.
  • This should have no effect on my long-term problems (triglycerides, cholesterol, blood glucose).
  • The blood thinner is a constant throughout the experiment.
  • Blood thinner will end, per surgery protocol, n 2020. I look forward to retesting my blood cells and platelets under the new normal food conditions.

HDL and LDL
  • Were completely unaffected by diet modifications; omissions or the sudden increase in my leafy green vegetable intake.
  • That must be "genetic", eh?
  • The Experiment food choices and my routine exercise regimen had absolutely no effect on my HDL and LDL.

Nonprescription supplements (vitamins and minerals) -I modified my supplements on Day 23 to try to reduce my inflammation by lowering the amount of B6 I was taking, and a few other supplements that are probably obsolete given my current diet. So, we have modified the supplements and will monitor the effects via the next blood test on day 29. My inflammation symptom is monitored and logged daily.

What we learned!
If you only learn one thing from this experiment:
Perhaps my salvation thus far (symptoms lifted, vital signs and blood work improvements) isn’t based solely in the kale salad that I have been eating – but in the foods that I have NOT been eating. We know that (obviously) it is an isolationist, elimination diet, there are many foods I am not eating. But, it is interesting to ponder. I excluded a lot of foods initially and then began relying on the kale salad and chicken. I’ve gotten so accustomed to seeing the kale salad as the answer. Instead, the Experiment's Lesson must include 2 parts:
  • Kale and rotisserie chicken = Yes
  • Egg mcmuffins = No

We know this is true because:
  • The first 5 days there wasn't any kale, but I saw great improvement in my symptoms. So you don't "need" kale to reduce the painful symptoms. Nothing magic about kale. Simply get rid of the carbs, starches and sugars.
  • My BFS reduces in the morning just from walking around. The BFS goes down because I am upright (sitting or walking). My BFS didn't need kale to go down. Simply get rid of the carbs, starches and sugars.
  • I used to think egg mcmuffins helped bring my blood sugar down in the morning, just to get something to eat, but my morning blood sugar is amazing all day long, with no breakfast.
All of these conclusions are the benefits from what I don't eat.

This is the ultimate lesson = kale was never the answer to lowering my symptoms, omitting carbs , starches and sugars lowered my symptoms.
"It was what I didn't eat".

Kale salad, chicken and supplements are the answer to:
  • Not being hungry
  • Ingesting vitamins and anti-inflammatory effects to promote healing.

In the end, it was both of these ideas working together.
I must find a way to make this the lasting message:
  • Completely omit carbs, starches and sugars (and alcohol and candy and ....)
  • Eat only safe, anti-inflammatory foods (use the AutoImmune Protocol diet as a rulebook) with the great majority being green, leafy vegetables (I recommend kale salad and chicken, lol)
  • Supplement safely with vitamins and / or minerals