Well, about a month ago, I had an MRI. This was the scientific test that could see if all this hard work has paid off. And the drumroll . . .
I had NO NEW lesions and the others were smaller or stabilized. Jehovah Rophe! God is my healer.
This news was so exciting for me. Saying no to the foods I could not eat had paid off. Oh and taking countless vitamins.
So I am officially off my MS medication. First, because the new diet is being more effective than the drug and secondly, Kyle and I are going to work on #2 in the new year.
By the way, Caleb has been doing allergy clearings, www.naet.com, for his eczema and its getting so much better. I rarely have to give him his topical steroids. It sounds strange but it works.
Here is to a happy and healthy New Year!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
An Unexpected Challenge
Well, I thought I had been doing great and then I started gettting this "heat" sensation in my leg and a tingly feeling in different parts of my body. Weird, I know. And all the while I have been focused on getting my son through his allergy clearings using NAET http://www.naet.com/ .
Luckily or was it divine providence, I was seeing my holistic doctor that week. As we talked through how I had been feeling, loose stools for the last few weeks and that I had eaten a short rib a day before this started, he wasn't surprised.
So he changed up my supplement schedule to some heavier doses, if that is what you call it. And said Iif I dont't see improvement soon, to have an IV of minerals done. But I am starting to feel better, amen. But I did return to a stricter diet and more vitamins & minerals (which is what he said I was lacking due to the loose stools).
But again, I know I am not alone. The great Jehovah Rophe is with me. He knew this was going to happen but He gave me people around me to support me, encourage me and help me out. Lord, thank you. I should always count the blessings you have given me.
Luckily or was it divine providence, I was seeing my holistic doctor that week. As we talked through how I had been feeling, loose stools for the last few weeks and that I had eaten a short rib a day before this started, he wasn't surprised.
So he changed up my supplement schedule to some heavier doses, if that is what you call it. And said Iif I dont't see improvement soon, to have an IV of minerals done. But I am starting to feel better, amen. But I did return to a stricter diet and more vitamins & minerals (which is what he said I was lacking due to the loose stools).
But again, I know I am not alone. The great Jehovah Rophe is with me. He knew this was going to happen but He gave me people around me to support me, encourage me and help me out. Lord, thank you. I should always count the blessings you have given me.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Read All About It! A visit to my neurologist and some other musings
Praise! Praise! Praise! I went to my neurologist appointment yesterday to check-in. She checked my balance, my coordination, my strength. And she said I look better than ever. Awesome! And then she asked what I have been doing. I answered, what you call "complementary" medicine. And the main part of it has been dietary and I've stuck to it. She was impressed and encouraged me to keep going. She is also going to share my blog with others to encourage them.
So my current battle is my son's eczema. I want it gone. So I had him computer screened at CAM. Now I need to work on not giving him the things that give him allergies-- like dairy. And I am starting to do NAET http://www.naet.com/, today was our first day. It was definitely something I have never expereinced before. But I am willing to give it a try. Its non-evasive and definitely interesting. Check it out.
Also, for gluten free I did the Old Spaghetti Factory. It was great and the Mizithra cheese is sheep based! Yea!
So my current battle is my son's eczema. I want it gone. So I had him computer screened at CAM. Now I need to work on not giving him the things that give him allergies-- like dairy. And I am starting to do NAET http://www.naet.com/, today was our first day. It was definitely something I have never expereinced before. But I am willing to give it a try. Its non-evasive and definitely interesting. Check it out.
Also, for gluten free I did the Old Spaghetti Factory. It was great and the Mizithra cheese is sheep based! Yea!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Cookies!! Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies!
So I went looking for a recipe that used gluten free Oat Flour and found a recipe for the Heart Healthiest Chocolate Chip Cookies in the world presented by the Vegetarian Times.
This recipe called for walnuts (which my kiddo is allergic to), brown sugar and canola oil--so I made some changes that make it even Healthier and its yummy too. So here is the recipe:
1 c. almond butter
1 1/4 c Palm Sugar (you can find this at Henry's--its lower on the glycemic index than agave)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 c of gluten free oat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon (this can be removed if you have allergies or dislike)
2 c. gluten free rolled oats (i use the ones from Bob's Red Mill)
1/2 c. of Chocolate Chips (73% cocoa)
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper.
2. Blend almond butter. Make sure it has a smooth, oily texture of peanut butter
3. Whisk together palm sugar and ½ cup water in small saucepan, and bring mixture to a boil. Pour brown sugar mixture over ground almond butter, add vanilla extract, and stir until no lumps remain.
4. Whisk together oat flour, baking soda, sea salt, and cinnamon in separate bowl. Stir oat flour mixture into almond mixture. Cool 10 minutes. Fold in oats, then chocolate chips.
5. Shape cookie dough into 2-inch balls, and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until cookies begin to brown and tops look dry. Cool 3 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
This recipe called for walnuts (which my kiddo is allergic to), brown sugar and canola oil--so I made some changes that make it even Healthier and its yummy too. So here is the recipe:
1 c. almond butter
1 1/4 c Palm Sugar (you can find this at Henry's--its lower on the glycemic index than agave)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 c of gluten free oat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon (this can be removed if you have allergies or dislike)
2 c. gluten free rolled oats (i use the ones from Bob's Red Mill)
1/2 c. of Chocolate Chips (73% cocoa)
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper.
2. Blend almond butter. Make sure it has a smooth, oily texture of peanut butter
3. Whisk together palm sugar and ½ cup water in small saucepan, and bring mixture to a boil. Pour brown sugar mixture over ground almond butter, add vanilla extract, and stir until no lumps remain.
4. Whisk together oat flour, baking soda, sea salt, and cinnamon in separate bowl. Stir oat flour mixture into almond mixture. Cool 10 minutes. Fold in oats, then chocolate chips.
5. Shape cookie dough into 2-inch balls, and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until cookies begin to brown and tops look dry. Cool 3 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Vacation Recap and UDI's
Vacationing with a 15 month old is not a vacation. Especially when vacation is in the middle of nowhere with non-kid things to do. Therefore, I am still working through Nourishing Traditions. I asked my holistic doctor about this book and he said it was good but still missing the whole picture about our food supply. Hmmm . . .
The other thing that has delayed me is that my husband is making a career change. With this going on the focus has been the direction God wants him to go in and us as a family as well. So we have been taking one step after another and seeking the counsel of Godly men and women as well as fasting and praying. And just like my health, God is doing an amazing work in my husband and me in regards to this. So my blogs might be a little inconsistent for awhile but you know why.
Finally, I made a great find on my vacation in Colorado. Udi's Gluten-Free Foods http://udisglutenfree.com. Their bread is AWESOME! I've been able to make french toast, have a sandwhich, a piece of toast with butter because this bread is tasty. Since everything is orginally frozen and can be frozen I filled up my entire carry on suitcase with their products. I have yet to try the muffins, bagels etc. I will keep you posted. Also they have a gluten free granola that is awesome too and is not made with sugar but honey and just a small amount too. Whole Foods carrys it so if you dont want to order online.
The other thing that has delayed me is that my husband is making a career change. With this going on the focus has been the direction God wants him to go in and us as a family as well. So we have been taking one step after another and seeking the counsel of Godly men and women as well as fasting and praying. And just like my health, God is doing an amazing work in my husband and me in regards to this. So my blogs might be a little inconsistent for awhile but you know why.
Finally, I made a great find on my vacation in Colorado. Udi's Gluten-Free Foods http://udisglutenfree.com. Their bread is AWESOME! I've been able to make french toast, have a sandwhich, a piece of toast with butter because this bread is tasty. Since everything is orginally frozen and can be frozen I filled up my entire carry on suitcase with their products. I have yet to try the muffins, bagels etc. I will keep you posted. Also they have a gluten free granola that is awesome too and is not made with sugar but honey and just a small amount too. Whole Foods carrys it so if you dont want to order online.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Nourishing Traditions Part I: Fats
Okay, so I'm reading this book (or cookbook I should say) on recommendation from a co-worker. Nourishing Traditions is 634 pages thick. The beginning is a review of main foods or ingredients I should say. Fats is the first part. So for my vacation I decided to read it. One of my strengths is that I am a Learner. Therefore I read everything. If you don't feel like starting the read this is a summary of the take aways for me on "fats."
Fats are not a bad thing if they are the right kind. They can actually be good for you. If you don't get enough of the healthy kind you can get cancer, heart disease or other health problems.
Therefore, saturated and monunsaturated fats are the best then polyunsaturated in limited amounts.
Eggs are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. But they need to be organic free range (insects and green plants) eggs not supermarket eggs. Otherwise you get more omega-6s than you need in the eggs and not enough Omega-3s.
Saturated fatty acids help make up your cell membranes and helps them function properly.
"Prevention of heart disease will not be achieved with the current focus on lowering cholesterol--either by drugs or diet--but by consuming a diet that provides animal foods rich in protective fats and vitamins b6 and b12; by bolstering thyroid function through daily use of natural sea salt, a good source of usable iodine; by avoiding vitamin and mineral deficiencies that make the artery walls more prone to ruptures and the buildup of plaque; by including antimicrobial fats in the diet; and by eliminating processed foods containing refined carbohydrates, oxidized cholestral and free-radical-containing vegetable oils that cause the body to need constant repair." --Nourishing Traditions
I was told to use expeller-expressed oils. Why you say? It is the safe, modern technique for extraction that drills into the seeds and extracts the oils keeping the antioxidants safe and the fatty acids.
Fat Soluble vitamins are good for you. vitamin a, vitamin d, vitamin k and vitamin e. And guess what? yummy butter is the best source for these nutrients. But "the fat soluble vitamins occur in large amounts only when butter comes from cows eating green grass."
To help with join stiffness know that pasteurization destroys the "antistiffness" factor that is only present in raw butter, cream and whole milk.
In regards to oils--coconut oil is the best. You can do medium amounts of olive oil. And small amounts of seaseme oil, safflower oil, and flax seed oil. Don't use canola oil. For more info, read the book.
Carbohydrates are next . . .
Fats are not a bad thing if they are the right kind. They can actually be good for you. If you don't get enough of the healthy kind you can get cancer, heart disease or other health problems.
Therefore, saturated and monunsaturated fats are the best then polyunsaturated in limited amounts.
Eggs are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. But they need to be organic free range (insects and green plants) eggs not supermarket eggs. Otherwise you get more omega-6s than you need in the eggs and not enough Omega-3s.
Saturated fatty acids help make up your cell membranes and helps them function properly.
"Prevention of heart disease will not be achieved with the current focus on lowering cholesterol--either by drugs or diet--but by consuming a diet that provides animal foods rich in protective fats and vitamins b6 and b12; by bolstering thyroid function through daily use of natural sea salt, a good source of usable iodine; by avoiding vitamin and mineral deficiencies that make the artery walls more prone to ruptures and the buildup of plaque; by including antimicrobial fats in the diet; and by eliminating processed foods containing refined carbohydrates, oxidized cholestral and free-radical-containing vegetable oils that cause the body to need constant repair." --Nourishing Traditions
I was told to use expeller-expressed oils. Why you say? It is the safe, modern technique for extraction that drills into the seeds and extracts the oils keeping the antioxidants safe and the fatty acids.
Fat Soluble vitamins are good for you. vitamin a, vitamin d, vitamin k and vitamin e. And guess what? yummy butter is the best source for these nutrients. But "the fat soluble vitamins occur in large amounts only when butter comes from cows eating green grass."
To help with join stiffness know that pasteurization destroys the "antistiffness" factor that is only present in raw butter, cream and whole milk.
In regards to oils--coconut oil is the best. You can do medium amounts of olive oil. And small amounts of seaseme oil, safflower oil, and flax seed oil. Don't use canola oil. For more info, read the book.
Carbohydrates are next . . .
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Cooking with the girls!
Last weekend I had 4 friends over to cook "gluten free" and other allergen free recipes. God made us for community and cooking in community was no exception. And we are going to do it again and have each of us bring a new recipe to the table.
Here is a look at what we did:
Lemonade (this was adapted from Elana's Pantry)
2 quarts water
¼ cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed) (or a little more with some fresh lemon peels)
3 dropper-fulls stevia
see http://www.elanaspantry.com/sesame-crackers/ for recipe. All I can say is yum!!
We made the following topper for them that worked out fantastic. http://www.elanaspantry.com/parsley-pesto-with-sundried-tomatoes/
I don't recommend salsa with them. But butter, coconut oil also work well. next time I want to try them with guacamole and maybe make them a little thinner and crispier.
Roasted Asparagus http://www.elanaspantry.com/roasted-asparagus/ I've made this recipe since then and it continues to be a hit
Finally, we made Agave Lime Chicken. http://www.elanaspantry.com/agave-lime-chicken/ This turned out to be super moist and super easy. We loved it. One recommendation: I actually sliced baby potatoes to put around this too and most of us enjoyed them, my husband did not want me to mix the potatoes in. It was a little too sweet for him.
(Note: for dessert we made a Cocount Butter Cookie and a Chocolate cupcake. While they were okay I want time to work on the recipe before I share it.)
Here is a look at what we did:
Lemonade (this was adapted from Elana's Pantry)
2 quarts water
¼ cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed) (or a little more with some fresh lemon peels)
3 dropper-fulls stevia
- Fill a 2 quart jar with water, almost to the top, leaving 2 inches of space for other ingredients
- Add lemon juice and 3 dropper-fulls of stevia
- Serve cold, over ice, with a slice of lemon or you can freeze strawberries or raspberries in your ice cubes for a colorful look
see http://www.elanaspantry.com/sesame-crackers/ for recipe. All I can say is yum!!
We made the following topper for them that worked out fantastic. http://www.elanaspantry.com/parsley-pesto-with-sundried-tomatoes/
I don't recommend salsa with them. But butter, coconut oil also work well. next time I want to try them with guacamole and maybe make them a little thinner and crispier.
Roasted Asparagus http://www.elanaspantry.com/roasted-asparagus/ I've made this recipe since then and it continues to be a hit
Finally, we made Agave Lime Chicken. http://www.elanaspantry.com/agave-lime-chicken/ This turned out to be super moist and super easy. We loved it. One recommendation: I actually sliced baby potatoes to put around this too and most of us enjoyed them, my husband did not want me to mix the potatoes in. It was a little too sweet for him.
(Note: for dessert we made a Cocount Butter Cookie and a Chocolate cupcake. While they were okay I want time to work on the recipe before I share it.)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Review: stellaLucy Gluten-Free Market and Gluten Free Menus
Recently my mom showed me an article about a store in San Clemente (California) that was a Gluten-Free Market. The article spoke about people going gluten-free to help with health reasons like lupus, arthritis, etc. And how it can be difficult to find all the items that are out there. I was curious so I checked them out online at http://www.stellalucy.com/.
There are so many different products out there that I run into each time I go to a different grocery store but the thought of going somewhere that had everything in one place was exciting. And you did not have to go searching for the "gluten-free" tag because everything was gluten free. So then i just had to worry about--no corn, no soy, no dairy, no sugar.
Well, I found my opportunity. My grandma turns 70 this weekend so we decided to drive up to OC (Orange County) to have dinner with her and my grandpa. And of course to stop at stellaLucy!
The shop assistant was super helpful. She took all my food restrictions to help point out what products I might want to consider. While I don't normally do this due to budgeting, I walked out of the store with 9 new products. I will give an update on them as I use them.
The other shout out I must give is that I tried the gluten-free menu at PF Changs and Claim Jumper recently. Both were satisfactory, expecially the gluten free Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Egg Drop Soup--yum! I know there might have been something else I should not eat in there but I felt fine after so an occasional visit is not a problem.
And I can't wait for tomorrow. I am doing some gluten free cooking with some of my girlfriends. It should be a good afternoon of experimenting and prayerfully, good eats.
There are so many different products out there that I run into each time I go to a different grocery store but the thought of going somewhere that had everything in one place was exciting. And you did not have to go searching for the "gluten-free" tag because everything was gluten free. So then i just had to worry about--no corn, no soy, no dairy, no sugar.
Well, I found my opportunity. My grandma turns 70 this weekend so we decided to drive up to OC (Orange County) to have dinner with her and my grandpa. And of course to stop at stellaLucy!
The shop assistant was super helpful. She took all my food restrictions to help point out what products I might want to consider. While I don't normally do this due to budgeting, I walked out of the store with 9 new products. I will give an update on them as I use them.
The other shout out I must give is that I tried the gluten-free menu at PF Changs and Claim Jumper recently. Both were satisfactory, expecially the gluten free Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Egg Drop Soup--yum! I know there might have been something else I should not eat in there but I felt fine after so an occasional visit is not a problem.
And I can't wait for tomorrow. I am doing some gluten free cooking with some of my girlfriends. It should be a good afternoon of experimenting and prayerfully, good eats.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Money Saving Tip: Vitamins, Vitamins and More Vitamins
My doctor said I needed more vitmains in my system. Our food today is so engineered that it has less nutrients in it than when my gransparents were you. Therefore, I was taking about 40 pills a day initially. I had A LOT of detoxing to do and re-training of my high-carb, high-sugar diet. But vitamins are not cheaps
Therefore I decided to see if there were cheaper places to get the same supplements including the brands my doctor instructed me to take. So online I went. I found http://www.iherb.com/. While they did not have everything that I was supposed to take, they had a lot and for less money especially when you bought in bulk.
Hope this money saving tip helps others!
Therefore I decided to see if there were cheaper places to get the same supplements including the brands my doctor instructed me to take. So online I went. I found http://www.iherb.com/. While they did not have everything that I was supposed to take, they had a lot and for less money especially when you bought in bulk.
Hope this money saving tip helps others!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Banana Bread, Part II
Okay so I tried the recipe from the Gluten Free Goddess blog. And it turned out pretty good. So here it is with my changes. If anyone makes it, let me know what you think is missing. I want to figure out maybe how to add butter or eggs--does this replace the Olive Oil. I'm not sure how ingredients work together . . . anyone?
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil the bottom of a standard bread loaf pan and dust with rice or corn flour.
Combine in a large bowl:
3-4 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup puree)
1/3 cup light olive oil (I just used the expller pressed olive oil from Trader Joe's)
1 cup organic light brown sugar (I acutally used Nutive Palm Sugar)
2 teaspoons bourbon vanilla extract
Whisk together in a separate bowl:
1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour blend ( I used 1/2 cup of coconut flour and 1 cup of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon arrowroot starch
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (you can get this at Henry's)
1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon
Add the dry ingredients into the banana mixture and stir until smooth. If the batter looks too thin and wet, add more gluten-free flour, a tablespoon at a time, to thicken the batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the center of a preheated oven for an hour, until the loaf is firm, a bit crusty, and a wooden pick inserted into the center emerges clean.
Cool the loaf on a wire rack.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil the bottom of a standard bread loaf pan and dust with rice or corn flour.
Combine in a large bowl:
3-4 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup puree)
1/3 cup light olive oil (I just used the expller pressed olive oil from Trader Joe's)
1 cup organic light brown sugar (I acutally used Nutive Palm Sugar)
2 teaspoons bourbon vanilla extract
Whisk together in a separate bowl:
1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour blend ( I used 1/2 cup of coconut flour and 1 cup of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon arrowroot starch
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (you can get this at Henry's)
1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon
Add the dry ingredients into the banana mixture and stir until smooth. If the batter looks too thin and wet, add more gluten-free flour, a tablespoon at a time, to thicken the batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the center of a preheated oven for an hour, until the loaf is firm, a bit crusty, and a wooden pick inserted into the center emerges clean.
Cool the loaf on a wire rack.
Banana Bread, Part I
I'm craving baked goods. This week has been a stressful week and I've wanted to cheat. Whether it be a non-gluten free muffin, cookie or whatever. But God is my strength and my portion, so while I have eaten less veggies than I should I know this is not the time for weakness but rather God's strength . . .So my mom and I are going to make this Banana Bread recipe we found at http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com and I will update you soon on how it goes. And share the recipe with ya'll.
Finally I want to share a quote that God has given me to encourage me:
"Hurricanes are different from tornadoes. There is an element of preparedness you can have for them, yet you can never be truly prepared for the force of impact. What you can prepare for is the ability to have a steadiness of soul when they hit." --author Denise Hildreth.
Finally I want to share a quote that God has given me to encourage me:
"Hurricanes are different from tornadoes. There is an element of preparedness you can have for them, yet you can never be truly prepared for the force of impact. What you can prepare for is the ability to have a steadiness of soul when they hit." --author Denise Hildreth.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
How many times can you say no to temptation?
Last week got super busy in Cayman, but I wrote the below on the plane ride back . . .
How many times can you say no to temptation? Back to my previous
thought on accountability without it we can't make it. You need to have
someone willing to jam you up!
In regards to breakfast, I was about to break and then I discovered
that Cayman grocery stores carry gluten free cereal and almond milk.
Yea! I could keep going
And then came my fall. At the festival I was eating rice n beans for
dinner and the very nice and generous donut lady had hot cinnamon mini
donuts that she kept giving us. Not just one or two times but three times the offer came and I
said no. And then the fourth offer came and my curiousity took over.
And four mini donuts later, the guilt arrived.
I know I should not have given in, but there was no one to keep me accountable. God reaffirmed to me the importance of having someone who is holding you accountable and not just with your food choices but with your walk with God too. I definitely need to talk to my friend Megan when she gets back from vacation. I've learned I need someone who understands and I need someone holding me accountable!
How many times can you say no to temptation? Back to my previous
thought on accountability without it we can't make it. You need to have
someone willing to jam you up!
In regards to breakfast, I was about to break and then I discovered
that Cayman grocery stores carry gluten free cereal and almond milk.
Yea! I could keep going
And then came my fall. At the festival I was eating rice n beans for
dinner and the very nice and generous donut lady had hot cinnamon mini
donuts that she kept giving us. Not just one or two times but three times the offer came and I
said no. And then the fourth offer came and my curiousity took over.
And four mini donuts later, the guilt arrived.
I know I should not have given in, but there was no one to keep me accountable. God reaffirmed to me the importance of having someone who is holding you accountable and not just with your food choices but with your walk with God too. I definitely need to talk to my friend Megan when she gets back from vacation. I've learned I need someone who understands and I need someone holding me accountable!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Traveling with a Special Diet Part II: Eggs and potatoes . . .
It has only been 4 mornings in Cayman and I'm tired. Tired of eating eggs (any way you like 'em) and potatoes for breakfast. We have a buffet set out for our team of volunteers. Pancakes, cereal, french toast, bacon while at home it doesn't look good unless you say it's gluten free, sugar free or made of turkey but in Cayman it all looks good.
So I have to believe, you the reader, is there holding me accountable. Well, besides God. Again, God says "Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No." And I'm accountable to Him.
It reminds me why it is important in our Christian walk to have others to hold us accountable to walking with Jesus, to be Jesus' representative on earth. Because, as for the food, I'm still vulnerable. My flesh wants pancakes but I know they are not good for me. Know you are not alone when desire is there to "cheat". But God is there to give you strength.
So I have to believe, you the reader, is there holding me accountable. Well, besides God. Again, God says "Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No." And I'm accountable to Him.
It reminds me why it is important in our Christian walk to have others to hold us accountable to walking with Jesus, to be Jesus' representative on earth. Because, as for the food, I'm still vulnerable. My flesh wants pancakes but I know they are not good for me. Know you are not alone when desire is there to "cheat". But God is there to give you strength.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Traveling with a Special Diet, Part I and Surrender
I’m currently flying over the Gulf of Mexico on my way to Grand Cayman for a Miles Ahead Do Something Festival (www.dosomethingcayman.com) . For the next 11 days I will be working in paradise or close to it—beach front resort with off the beach snorkeling. Oh wait, I will be working. Rumor has it I might not see the beach much! The drawback, I’m away from my husband and child, and I have not been away from either of them for more than 3 days.
But God has already been using this time for me to be closer to Him. This month God has been speaking to me about SURRENDER. I need to surrender all things to Him: family, work, friendships, health and my relationship with Him. It is the source of un-healthy stress in my life which overall is not good for me or for anyone. Why don’t I trust God, why don’t I surrender all to Him. He has proven over and over again that He alone is my Jehovah Jireh, my healer, my portion, my strength. But my sinful nature takes over—I want control! But we cannot possibly control everything and isn’t it comforting to know God has it all in His hands.
This brings me back to what my holistic doctor keeps quoting from Matthew, “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” I am not trying to surrender, I AM surrendered. I am choosing not to stress, instead I take care of what I can but give it all to God. (Of course, it’s easier said than done.)
This leads me to my challenge on the gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and so on diet I’m on. I packed what snacks I could but I have had to put aside my worry about staying on the diet. I’m going to eat and eat as healthy as options are available. Hopefully, they don’t bread a lot of their foods.
But God has already been using this time for me to be closer to Him. This month God has been speaking to me about SURRENDER. I need to surrender all things to Him: family, work, friendships, health and my relationship with Him. It is the source of un-healthy stress in my life which overall is not good for me or for anyone. Why don’t I trust God, why don’t I surrender all to Him. He has proven over and over again that He alone is my Jehovah Jireh, my healer, my portion, my strength. But my sinful nature takes over—I want control! But we cannot possibly control everything and isn’t it comforting to know God has it all in His hands.
This brings me back to what my holistic doctor keeps quoting from Matthew, “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” I am not trying to surrender, I AM surrendered. I am choosing not to stress, instead I take care of what I can but give it all to God. (Of course, it’s easier said than done.)
This leads me to my challenge on the gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and so on diet I’m on. I packed what snacks I could but I have had to put aside my worry about staying on the diet. I’m going to eat and eat as healthy as options are available. Hopefully, they don’t bread a lot of their foods.
Majestic Garlic and Budgeting
I promised my friend, Erika, that I would write about this product-- http://www.majesticgarlic.com/index.php . On one of my shopping trips to Whole Foods I discovered this dip. I have a rule to buy two “experimental” products when I go to Whole Foods. It keeps me from buying up the store and keeps me within budget. Of the two products, this was the find (I will not recommend the other: it was a gluten free, candida free bread recipe that ended up being hard as a rock!.) Back to Majestic Garlic. It only has a few ingredients—garlic, cold-pressed safflower oil, flax seed oil (Omega-3s) and lemon juice (non-concentrate). So besides being really good for you—it was really yummy. I used it as a dip for raw veggies, a spread over steamed veggies and potatoes and over salad. It was good every time. If you get a chance, pick it up—I think you will be surprised that it is a great alternative to ranch dip.
I mentioned budgeting above. I can not say how important that is when you begin to eat healthier. For some reason eating healthy, organic is just more expensive. Therefore, it is important to create a budget and stick to it. One of the things I had to implement was the cash envelope system. Each week I take the food money for the week out of the ATM and keep it in an envelope. I then use it when I go to the store. Knowing what I have keeps me from buying frivolous items are too many “experimental” items that I may not like and therefore will end up wasting if it is really bad.
I mentioned budgeting above. I can not say how important that is when you begin to eat healthier. For some reason eating healthy, organic is just more expensive. Therefore, it is important to create a budget and stick to it. One of the things I had to implement was the cash envelope system. Each week I take the food money for the week out of the ATM and keep it in an envelope. I then use it when I go to the store. Knowing what I have keeps me from buying frivolous items are too many “experimental” items that I may not like and therefore will end up wasting if it is really bad.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Yes, I'm a foodie: Pizza & Arnold Palmer
God gave us food and the ability to make some amazing dishes. Right? Well I think one staple in many of us's diets is, you guessed it: Pizza!!
And last night I used the coupon that I got in the mail for www.zpizza.com .We have eaten there a few times pre-allergen day since its walking distance from our home. My husband called it "healthy pizza" since they use organic products. I just thought it was just expensive and Costco Pizza was typically my choice. He likes his pizza all greasy with lots of pepperoni. And Z Pizza definitely does not do greasy.
Back to last night . . . I ordered a large half and half for my husband and my mom. Half Pepperoni and half California. Both were very happy with theirs (my husbands taste buds have been evolving since I have changed the way we eat at home. One day he will come fully around, I think.) And then with the coupon I got a free small pizza. And that is where I tried their new Berkeley Vegan on a gluten free crust (note: their gluten free crust only comes in the small pizza).
The Berkeley Vegan comes with marinara sauce, vegan cheese, veggie burger crumbles, mushrooms, tomatoes and I replace the onions, bell peppers, zucchini with pine nuts, avocado and artichoke hearts. It was soooooo good!! And surprise, surprise-- the cheese did not have soy in it. (Which is something I can't eat). So I thought to share the info on the cheese because it was very tasty. The brand is called Daiya and their website is www.daiyafoods.com. It has a search for locations to buy it too. Daiya is free of all the common allergens.
Onto my other suggestion for Arnold Palmer. Elana's Pantry has a recipe for lemonade made with stevia. But yesterday I made a version of an Arnold Palmer but instead of black tea, I used Tzao's Passion. My son got a hold of it and took a sip and wanted more. Enough said.
And last night I used the coupon that I got in the mail for www.zpizza.com .We have eaten there a few times pre-allergen day since its walking distance from our home. My husband called it "healthy pizza" since they use organic products. I just thought it was just expensive and Costco Pizza was typically my choice. He likes his pizza all greasy with lots of pepperoni. And Z Pizza definitely does not do greasy.
Back to last night . . . I ordered a large half and half for my husband and my mom. Half Pepperoni and half California. Both were very happy with theirs (my husbands taste buds have been evolving since I have changed the way we eat at home. One day he will come fully around, I think.) And then with the coupon I got a free small pizza. And that is where I tried their new Berkeley Vegan on a gluten free crust (note: their gluten free crust only comes in the small pizza).
The Berkeley Vegan comes with marinara sauce, vegan cheese, veggie burger crumbles, mushrooms, tomatoes and I replace the onions, bell peppers, zucchini with pine nuts, avocado and artichoke hearts. It was soooooo good!! And surprise, surprise-- the cheese did not have soy in it. (Which is something I can't eat). So I thought to share the info on the cheese because it was very tasty. The brand is called Daiya and their website is www.daiyafoods.com. It has a search for locations to buy it too. Daiya is free of all the common allergens.
Onto my other suggestion for Arnold Palmer. Elana's Pantry has a recipe for lemonade made with stevia. But yesterday I made a version of an Arnold Palmer but instead of black tea, I used Tzao's Passion. My son got a hold of it and took a sip and wanted more. Enough said.
Friday, April 30, 2010
God Provided: Elana's & Pancakes
So rice cakes just weren't cutting it. I wanted bread. Good bread. And I needed it without sugar, sweeteners, fruit juice sweetened and vinegar. Elana's Pantry came to the rescue. Go check it out: http://www.elanaspantry.com/ (see also previous post on her piccata. yum!)
Almost everything I have made from her blog has been great. Try her lemonade recipe with stevia. It is so great to drink something besides water and tea. I used a drop less of stevia, put some lemon peel in it and made ice cubes with strawberries.
The other craving I have been having are Pancakes. Trader Joe's has a gluten free pancakes/waffle mix. I tried it and used coconut milk instead of milk. They are dense and need some flavor such as blueberries or cinnamon or something. If you try it, let me know.
Now I made Breakfast for dinner last night. Some eggs, turkey sausage and pancakes. This time I used Elana's recipe. http://www.elanaspantry.com/gluten-free-pancakes-revisited/ Yum! I made a couple changes, once everything was mixed it seemed a little too thick. So I added some Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk, no more than 1/4 cup (Trader Joe's has it in a carton with the soy milk stuff). And while my husband used syrup on his (we are working on that!) I used Trader Joe's unsweetened applesauce for mine and my son.
God has truly blessed us with amazing resources like the recipes of Elana and Trader Joe's. I am definitely thankful!
Almost everything I have made from her blog has been great. Try her lemonade recipe with stevia. It is so great to drink something besides water and tea. I used a drop less of stevia, put some lemon peel in it and made ice cubes with strawberries.
The other craving I have been having are Pancakes. Trader Joe's has a gluten free pancakes/waffle mix. I tried it and used coconut milk instead of milk. They are dense and need some flavor such as blueberries or cinnamon or something. If you try it, let me know.
Now I made Breakfast for dinner last night. Some eggs, turkey sausage and pancakes. This time I used Elana's recipe. http://www.elanaspantry.com/gluten-free-pancakes-revisited/ Yum! I made a couple changes, once everything was mixed it seemed a little too thick. So I added some Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk, no more than 1/4 cup (Trader Joe's has it in a carton with the soy milk stuff). And while my husband used syrup on his (we are working on that!) I used Trader Joe's unsweetened applesauce for mine and my son.
God has truly blessed us with amazing resources like the recipes of Elana and Trader Joe's. I am definitely thankful!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Megan and Chicken Piccata
God has blessed me with some amazing people in my life that are on a similar journey. One of them is my friend, Megan.
About a year ago, Megan started having the symptoms of MS. She having temporary paralysis in different places, a UTI that would not go away and other stuff. She started the process of seeing a MD then a neurologist and they wanted to run an MRI on her. But she freaked out during the MRI. Closed in spaces don't always work for people. I know I had to talk to God and lift up the prayers of others to make it through mine. You don't want to focus on yourself. I think that is probably a good idea for life in general too.
So instead, she went home and her parents had her see a Naturopathic. The lady told her she was gluten intolerant, B12 deficient and some other stuff. She started the regime the Naturopathic put her on and she became symptom free. When she does get off the recommended diet her symptoms start to come back. Interesting . . . .
So Megan has been a great partner in crime on this adventure. And she introduced me to The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam. And her website: www.elanaspantry.com
Tonight, I am making Chicken Piccata from her cookbook. It's super delish and then I am just adding some veggies and baked potatoes on the side. I recommend checking it out (see below, including some product tips to keep the cost low as eating healthy is not cheap in blue).
Gluten Free Chicken Piccata (you can find this at http://www.elanaspantry.com/chicken-piccata/ )
2-4 organic boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (1½ pounds total)
½ cup blanched almond flour (as you just breading the chicken, you can use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour http://www.bobsredmill.com/ instead as it is cheaper. You can usually find it at your local health food store like Henry's, Whole Foods and surprisingly some Vons carry it too)
½ teaspoon celtic sea salt (I just use the sea salt I got at Jimbo's)
½ teaspoon all purpose chef's shake (I like the Spice Hunter brand, its at Henry's for all you Cali peeps)
5 tablespoons grapeseed oil (Trader Joe's has it in their brand)
5 tablespoons olive oil (get the expeller cold-pressed olive oil at Trader Joe's)¼ cup fresh lemon juice (William's Sonoma has a great handheld juicer, I highly recommend one as fresh lemon is used a lot)
1 cup chicken stock (Trader Joe's)
¼ cup brined capers (I just get the cheap capers at Vons and drain the juice because I don't want the vinegar--anyone else have a suggestion?)
¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally, butterflying them open --if the pieces are large, cut them each into two pieces after you cut them in half
Put chicken pieces between two pieces of parchment paper and pound them with a heavy skillet until ¼ inch thick
Mix together flour, salt and chef's shake
Rinse the chicken pieces in water, then dredge thoroughly in flour mixture, until well coated
Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil in a large skillet on medium high heat. Add half of the chicken pieces and brown well on each side, about 3 minutes per side
Transfer from pan to a plate, add the other breasts and cook, then remove from pan
Place plate of chicken breasts in the oven while preparing the sauce
Add lemon juice, chicken stock and capers to the pan and use a metal spatula to loosen the browned bits and incorporate them into the sauce
Reduce the sauce by half then whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons of grapeseed oil
Plate the chicken, pour the sauce over it and sprinkle with parsley
Serve
About a year ago, Megan started having the symptoms of MS. She having temporary paralysis in different places, a UTI that would not go away and other stuff. She started the process of seeing a MD then a neurologist and they wanted to run an MRI on her. But she freaked out during the MRI. Closed in spaces don't always work for people. I know I had to talk to God and lift up the prayers of others to make it through mine. You don't want to focus on yourself. I think that is probably a good idea for life in general too.
So instead, she went home and her parents had her see a Naturopathic. The lady told her she was gluten intolerant, B12 deficient and some other stuff. She started the regime the Naturopathic put her on and she became symptom free. When she does get off the recommended diet her symptoms start to come back. Interesting . . . .
So Megan has been a great partner in crime on this adventure. And she introduced me to The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam. And her website: www.elanaspantry.com
Tonight, I am making Chicken Piccata from her cookbook. It's super delish and then I am just adding some veggies and baked potatoes on the side. I recommend checking it out (see below, including some product tips to keep the cost low as eating healthy is not cheap in blue).
Gluten Free Chicken Piccata (you can find this at http://www.elanaspantry.com/chicken-piccata/ )
2-4 organic boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (1½ pounds total)
½ cup blanched almond flour (as you just breading the chicken, you can use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour http://www.bobsredmill.com/ instead as it is cheaper. You can usually find it at your local health food store like Henry's, Whole Foods and surprisingly some Vons carry it too)
½ teaspoon celtic sea salt (I just use the sea salt I got at Jimbo's)
½ teaspoon all purpose chef's shake (I like the Spice Hunter brand, its at Henry's for all you Cali peeps)
5 tablespoons grapeseed oil (Trader Joe's has it in their brand)
5 tablespoons olive oil (get the expeller cold-pressed olive oil at Trader Joe's)¼ cup fresh lemon juice (William's Sonoma has a great handheld juicer, I highly recommend one as fresh lemon is used a lot)
1 cup chicken stock (Trader Joe's)
¼ cup brined capers (I just get the cheap capers at Vons and drain the juice because I don't want the vinegar--anyone else have a suggestion?)
¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally, butterflying them open --if the pieces are large, cut them each into two pieces after you cut them in half
Put chicken pieces between two pieces of parchment paper and pound them with a heavy skillet until ¼ inch thick
Mix together flour, salt and chef's shake
Rinse the chicken pieces in water, then dredge thoroughly in flour mixture, until well coated
Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil in a large skillet on medium high heat. Add half of the chicken pieces and brown well on each side, about 3 minutes per side
Transfer from pan to a plate, add the other breasts and cook, then remove from pan
Place plate of chicken breasts in the oven while preparing the sauce
Add lemon juice, chicken stock and capers to the pan and use a metal spatula to loosen the browned bits and incorporate them into the sauce
Reduce the sauce by half then whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons of grapeseed oil
Plate the chicken, pour the sauce over it and sprinkle with parsley
Serve
Monday, April 26, 2010
Roots
The first 4 days were horrible of my detox. Not that I felt bad but all I could have were veggies. Day 5 was the start of adding grains back into my diet and I could not wait especially as rice was on Day 7. But I made it through and learned I definitely did not like millet, buckwheat and even rice did not taste good to me.
when I saw my doctor after that, he informed me that my body was probably rejecting grains at the moment so I should focus on eating roots with my veggies.
Do you know what roots are? I did not know what he meant. Come to find out they are just potatoes, yams, carrots. I could do that.
Since then I have learned the many ways of cooking a veggie and a root--steam, saute, bake and yum--they are good.
So fast forward to 3 months later and lots of vitamins later. I'm eating grains again and surprisingly I LOVE Veggies! Sometimes they are the center of my dinner.
So going forward I hope to share the pros and cons of recipes and shopping items and just the process, because I definitely thinks its important to trade ideas with each other. So look for more to come!
PS I still don't like buckwheat in any form including flour. yuck!
when I saw my doctor after that, he informed me that my body was probably rejecting grains at the moment so I should focus on eating roots with my veggies.
Do you know what roots are? I did not know what he meant. Come to find out they are just potatoes, yams, carrots. I could do that.
Since then I have learned the many ways of cooking a veggie and a root--steam, saute, bake and yum--they are good.
So fast forward to 3 months later and lots of vitamins later. I'm eating grains again and surprisingly I LOVE Veggies! Sometimes they are the center of my dinner.
So going forward I hope to share the pros and cons of recipes and shopping items and just the process, because I definitely thinks its important to trade ideas with each other. So look for more to come!
PS I still don't like buckwheat in any form including flour. yuck!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Why? Part II
When God asked me to go on a journey to help others with MS, I started with the first thing I knew. Maybe God wanted me to start a support group through the MS Society. A support group like the Cancer Care ministry at the Rock Church, http://therocksandiego.org/ministries/cancercare/ . So I called a contact at the MS Society and told her what I wanted to do. She referred me to their support group coordinator and I left a message. While I was waiting for a phone call back, I began speaking to friends and family including a few others with MS. And then I was out to lunch with my intern and one of our volunteers. I shared what I was thinking about and she (unbeknowest to me was diagnosed with MS) responded with, "There is another way. I have been MS free for 10 years." Really? I couldn't believe it. But I knew she was telling the truth, everything was adding up. She referred me to the Center for Advanced Medicine (CAM), http://solvingtherootcause.com/ around Thanksgiving.
The day before Thanksgiving, I went for an appointment. How could I help others with their MS if I had not looked into all the options? Right? Right.
I learned a lot that day. I had a problem with dairy, soy, corn, peanuts (no more Snickers), and gluten with some other items thrown in. No diary?? No more pasta, bread? Then they explained that what they find in most patients given a MS diagnosis is that they aren't getting the right nutrients. And therefore their body responds with MS. Hmmmm . . . . But first I needed to go on this detox diet and chronicle everything including my PH.
With the holidays starting I decided to take the next month getting prepared to detox but I still wanted to eat my Grandma's Christmas chocolate turtles with homemade caramel, yum! I wanted to do this right-- no cheating. My Doctor at CAM tells me, because Jesus said it, to "let my yes be yes and my no be no." Therefore, no cheating!
So I started by cutting most diary and sugar out of my diet and experimenting with the gluten thing. A crazy thing happened, I started having more energy. (Just to give an example of what my energy had been like, when I was with my little one during his short wake periods I would find a strong desire to take a nap . . . just close my eyes a little and I had to fight this with all I had until he went down for his nap and I could finally close my eyes.)
With this happening, I could not wait till the day after Christmas. I was excited about the challenge and what God had in store for me to learn about being healthy.
By the way, the MS Society had not called back. I took it as God making sure my Journey did not go down that path.
The day before Thanksgiving, I went for an appointment. How could I help others with their MS if I had not looked into all the options? Right? Right.
I learned a lot that day. I had a problem with dairy, soy, corn, peanuts (no more Snickers), and gluten with some other items thrown in. No diary?? No more pasta, bread? Then they explained that what they find in most patients given a MS diagnosis is that they aren't getting the right nutrients. And therefore their body responds with MS. Hmmmm . . . . But first I needed to go on this detox diet and chronicle everything including my PH.
With the holidays starting I decided to take the next month getting prepared to detox but I still wanted to eat my Grandma's Christmas chocolate turtles with homemade caramel, yum! I wanted to do this right-- no cheating. My Doctor at CAM tells me, because Jesus said it, to "let my yes be yes and my no be no." Therefore, no cheating!
So I started by cutting most diary and sugar out of my diet and experimenting with the gluten thing. A crazy thing happened, I started having more energy. (Just to give an example of what my energy had been like, when I was with my little one during his short wake periods I would find a strong desire to take a nap . . . just close my eyes a little and I had to fight this with all I had until he went down for his nap and I could finally close my eyes.)
With this happening, I could not wait till the day after Christmas. I was excited about the challenge and what God had in store for me to learn about being healthy.
By the way, the MS Society had not called back. I took it as God making sure my Journey did not go down that path.
Why? Part I
The happy faces smiled at me from the instruction manual of Rebif. Yes, you can live a full life with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) but is that all there is and there are many "what ifs". What if, in the long run I lose my vision? I've had optic neuritis twice and it was worse the second time. Eventually, will I still be walking? My friend's mother is sometimes in a wheelchair. Oh, and don't forget that you have to have your liver tested every 6 months to make sure you are not destroying it while on the Rebif or Avonex or whatever you are on.
I had just had a baby 4 months prior to this new "episode" of optic neuritis. I immediately had to stop breastfeeding, take a dose of steroids to stop the attack and then go on a the MS drug, Rebif. No problem, I told myself. It's okay. It will heal. I won't have blurry vision forever. But God was talking and He wanted me to listen . . .
He was saying "You have been diagnosed with this disease. You know I have been there for you. I've showed you how you can be a help to others going through the same journey, but are you ready to take it a step further?" I wasn't sure what "further" meant but I was willing to take steps to find out. I think God wants us to go on the journey. Just look at the Israelites when they were going to the Promised Land. To get there they had to go on a journey.
(see Why? Part II for more of what led me to holistic medicine)
So this is my journey! I am a few months into the process but my cousin was just diagnosed with Type I Diabetes and Celiacs last week. And it hit me, she is struggling with the changes she has to make and I too struggled (and still struggling) with the changes I have had to make. But I have the stories of others to encourage me, so far she doesn't. And so I want to encourage you--you may not be dealing with MS but something else. Stay strong! And go on the Journey . . . .
I had just had a baby 4 months prior to this new "episode" of optic neuritis. I immediately had to stop breastfeeding, take a dose of steroids to stop the attack and then go on a the MS drug, Rebif. No problem, I told myself. It's okay. It will heal. I won't have blurry vision forever. But God was talking and He wanted me to listen . . .
He was saying "You have been diagnosed with this disease. You know I have been there for you. I've showed you how you can be a help to others going through the same journey, but are you ready to take it a step further?" I wasn't sure what "further" meant but I was willing to take steps to find out. I think God wants us to go on the journey. Just look at the Israelites when they were going to the Promised Land. To get there they had to go on a journey.
(see Why? Part II for more of what led me to holistic medicine)
So this is my journey! I am a few months into the process but my cousin was just diagnosed with Type I Diabetes and Celiacs last week. And it hit me, she is struggling with the changes she has to make and I too struggled (and still struggling) with the changes I have had to make. But I have the stories of others to encourage me, so far she doesn't. And so I want to encourage you--you may not be dealing with MS but something else. Stay strong! And go on the Journey . . . .
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