Too Much Time on my Hands Leads to Self-Experimentation

I am still self experimenting. I went on a 100km ride two weeks ago to see if I could go on my cycling trip which was a 286km ride to Algonquin Park. The ride went well. We tackled many hills and it down poured on us. Muscle wise, I was perfect. No aches or pains. However, after the ride stopped, I had a chest pain. That night I couldn't sleep. I had to use my inhaler (which is a steroid combo with a broncho-dilator) twice. My chest tightened and I struggled a bit getting in that air. I could breathe, but it was this sensation that I have this cement bag on my chest. I was trying to take in deep breathes, but no success. I called up my beloved to tell him the bad news. I just didn't want to be a burden and  hospitals are just not around when you are camping in the bush.

This was at my 50km mark. The weather was perfect! Too bad, so sad! 

Another way I know that I am going through a symptom is the inability to complete a yawn. I yawn, but can't make it. Anyhow, there is no congestion in my lungs. My airflow is normal according to a pulmonary function test I did at the hospital. My brother-in-law suggests that it may be anxiety and others have as well. They thought that is may be stress due to my dad passing away and me being the main caretaker of my mother. It may well be. All I know is that at times, it is hard to get that air in. I will be doing a methacolene test at the hospital which induces my lungs to have an attack. It is one of the ways to prove that I have indeed asthma since I do not seem to exhibit typical symptoms. My asthma specialist thought it was strange that I didn't experience symptoms during my ride, but after the fact. That ride was an experiment. This test will be an interesting one. I will let you know. I am suppose to be off the puffers for a couple of weeks. Then they pump the stuff into my airways and see how I fair.

In the meantime, I am still doing my diet experiment. I have been mostly paleo. My energy levels are stable. I get less asthma like symptoms so far. That could be also a placebo effect. What I do notice is when I do cheat on sugar, I get some of the symptoms. The reason is that to get the sugar out of your system and then re-introduce it, has its adverse effects. You are more likely to notice it then you would if you continually have sugar in your diet. I had some medjool dates yesterday. Seem healthy enough, right? Natural. No added sugar. No preservatives. Here is the thing. The natural occurring sugar is Fructose. It is still sugar. Your body reacts to it like it does with glucose. When broken down, it becomes glucose. Robb Wolf who I have mentioned before in my paleo blog site, refers to fructose is that "aunt" that looks innocent enough. The liver works harder to break down fructose than when it  receives straight glucose. Anyhow, at any rate, my innocent dates were evil. You live, you learn.

Here is a blog on Fructose by Amy Kabal who is a dietitian:

Fructose Effects on the Body

Here is another experiment of mine. Pure coffee. I bought a bag of coffee beans that are from Costa Rica. I learned from the Bullet-Proof executive that consuming coffee in its highest quality form has some benefits.

 Bullet Proof Executive- Coffee enhancing health

According,   Dr. Mercola and his associate   this form of caffeine binds with those receptors that are known to be addiction receptors (i.e. addiction to sugar).  Secondly, it helps to restore brain cells and heighten your energy levels. The trick is to be buy coffee beans that are grown in high altitudes where mold is non existent. Some coffee are processed with the mold. Avoid sun dried and aim for water processed. I got a coffee grinder and I selected some beans to have them roasted at the Green Beanery. Again, I will let you know how that works.

Perhaps all of this self experimentation amounts to one thing:  "Too much time on my hands."  I have been blessed with it. So why not use it?

Until next time,

Helga