I started several weeks ago
an elimination diet which wipes out all products containing soy, corn,
peanuts, gluten, sugar and artificial sweeteners including alcohol,
eggs, and dairy. For any of you that look at labels, you know these
items are in nearly everything. Corn and soy are often even fed to the
animals we eat, therefore we are still consuming corn and soy! And
usually, genetically modified corn and soy! For those of you that don't
look at labels I can guarantee you will find one, if not all those
ingredients in your pantry and refrigerator and frankly it's time to
start reading labels! The tricky thing is the FDA passes some
ingredients as "unharmful" in our country. The FDA also allows food
companies to change the names of these items so that you don't recognize
them. You don't even know you are eating potentially harmful
ingredients because the common names are changed to upwards of 50
different words on the label. To see some of your kids favorite
processed foods exposed, look
here: http://mywholefoodlife.com/process-foods-exposed/
What
is the purpose of this diet and WHY? Well, I have had health problems
for quite a long time now. Unidentifiable for the most part to every
physician I've seen. So I started doing my own research. Those 7 items
listed above are grounds for major food intolerances in most people
because they have either been genetically modified (GMO's) or because
they have been changed over the course of time to be something our body
doesn't tolerate well. These 7 items have been linked to;
obesity, acne, headaches, asthma, and to auto-immune diseases like fibromyalgia to name just a few.
I am
not only doing this for myself but also for my family. My family is
getting slowly weaned off of these items while I am going full speed
ahead. The best part is I do FEEL better already. Don't get me wrong it
is a super challenge especially when I go out with friends and I can't
eat and I can't drink and sugar surrounds me. It has been a great test
of my will power.
Now I know what you are thinking, "I
can't do that!" or "everything in moderation!" I agree with you and
they are my exact OLD thoughts. But it is extremely important that you
remain off all 7 ingredients entirely to let your body heal and to test
which of the ingredients might be causing you some trouble. And if I
can do it. You can too! Read JJ Virgin's The Virgin Diet to find out more. She says the sugar cravings go away, but I'm not so sure. I am still having dreams about food especially
sugar and cheese. In one dream I had my face buried in cake. I don't even typically like cake!
I
have recently learned the importance of medical grade probiotic and I don't mean
the kind your doctor will likely prescribe you, but REALLY high quality
stuff. Also fermented veggies like sauerkraut or fermented yogurt like
kefir. Keeping the good bacteria in your guts healthy is vital. I'm
getting ready to try to make my own sauerkraut and kefir:
http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/raw_almond_milk_kefir/
and
http://www.nourishingdays.com/2012/11/open-crock-sauerkraut/
In the meantime, I've purchased some high quality sauerkraut guaranteed to have pre and probiotics at http://www.goldminenaturalfoods.com/
I
also started making my own vanilla and it's so easy! It's great for
flavoring coffee when you aren't supposed to have sugar. Most vanilla
you buy at the store has added sugar. Check your labels!
I bought
my vanilla beans on Amazon.com or go to vanillaproductsusa.com. Your
mailbox will smell great too when you order them online! Use about 8
beans per cup of mid grade 70-90 proof vodka. Chop the beans into 1/2 in
pieces and them to a cup of vodka and shake daily for 4-8 wks!
I
buy Silk Almond Milk Unsweetened right now because I just don't have
time to make it myself from Almonds on a regular basis. Notice I typed
UNsweetened. There is a ton of added sugar in the chocolate and
original! If you want to make your own milk I suggest you invest in a
Vitamix. Best kitchen device ever! Silk Almond Milk is one of the very
few brands that doesn't contain an ingredient called carageenan.
Carageenan is known to cause IBS (inflammatory bowel syndrome) among
other gastrointestinal issues. I'll say it again, check your labels! If you don't recognize the word it's probably not good for you.
I made my
own coconut milk the other day. This is the website I used:
http://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2012/05/how-to-make-your-own-coconut-milk/
This
particular recipe has an extra step or two that allows you to keep the
pulp of the coconut for baking later or to put into smoothies. There is
another easier one I will try next time:
http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/easiest-coconut-milk-recipe-improved/
And
if you are like me and hate coconut, get used to it, your taste buds
will adapt. It's too good for you to not include it in your diet! Buy
shredded coconut in bulk at Tropical Traditions.com.
Since
starting this diet I eat one or two nutritious protein shakes per day
made solely of coconut oil, hemp protein, and pea protein from
SunWarrior.com. I add in a little Amazing Green superfood from
Amazon.com plus fiber like organic psyllium husk from India or chia
seeds and ground flax. Mix in some cacao powder if you like chocolate,
frozen berries (organic if you can find it), nut butter (not peanut),
and some organic kale or spinach greens. For a twist, add cinnamon or turmeric. Both seasonings have amazing health benefits.
Start
drinking organic coffee. Coffee is one of the most sprayed foods out
there. If you have to sweeten your coffee like I do try to sweeten it
with some coconut milk or stevia. If you can't handle the bitterness of
stevia, use a very small amount of local raw unpasteurized honey or
maple syrup.
If you are having health issues I can
guarantee the food you are eating is playing a part in the grand scheme
of things. Read JJ Virgin's, The Virgin Diet. You are what you eat and we
are the only people advocating for our own health. The government and
medical community would love for you to keep eating crap, so would big
businesses like Kraft who feed your kids their favorite Mac and Cheese
with yellow 5, which is banned in other countries. Subscribe to Food Babe, she's a huge advocate for food labels. http://foodbabe.com/
Be smart, make smart
choices, and stop buying conglomerate companies products who put additives in our foods that are making us sick. Take a stand for our
right to know what's in our food and petition against Monsanto to know
what is in our food!http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/
Before you buy something check
the label. Use http://www.ewg.org/ guides to the healthiest cleaners and
skin products before you buy them!
I'm sure this is just the beginning of a lifelong journey. I see a future of me.... in the kitchen.... a lot. But if I can make good whole foods, I know what is in it, and I can share that information with the people I love and make a difference in their lives, well then, it will all be worth it.
My thanks goes to all the people who have helped teach me things along the way. And many thanks to the genius ladies who advocate health and write recipes into blogs like the ones listed above. God bless the internet for the knowledge at my fingertips!
No comments:
Post a Comment