and evil subversive plot going on here? As you say, Sick SELLS and they do. At the same time, our diets and supplements [some of us take to 'help' our systems, or we've systems that aren't working properly] can help and hinder us.
B-1 [thiamine], and B-12 in mega doses can help immensely, especially when, as shelley's done, you change your eating to the more SIMPLE things! My only mottoes are, vitamins that can't hurt you if you get too much in you [examples Iron and B-6, can be toxic and 'build up'] and with food-the fresher or fewer preservatives the better. Since I am one truly lazy cook, I am not talking difficult cooking here nor am I talking 'french cooking'!
I've found that there are lots and lots of simple recipies that can be done and easily...I've also 'evolved' a few to freeze and then micro-wave as needed. A good web site to find recipies is at http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/recipe/RecipeMain - I've browsed them and they all look fairly straight out and could help meet your needs...now, getting hubby and kids to eat it all-that's a different story? The few of the many I've checked out, aren't really far off from my own tweaking of recipies...
I found that meds did absolutely ZIP for me in the cholesterol department. I've also found that my current meds [MANY?] tweak blood-work#'s up and down to the absolute point of beyond confusion...Hope this 'rambling' helps! - 's! - j