Autumny Tastes

It's been a while since I have written. I had to go through another test and this time it involved coming off of all of my supplements for a grand total of six days. Yeah...not fun! I mean, I'm glad to be reminded of how they work and all, but it was a very long, ill-feeling week and my body is still getting its momentum back one more week after the test completion. I keep reminding myself that this recent test will reveal a lot more as to what is happening in my body and why it is over-reacting to so many common things. And, all in all, will help cure me of many allergies. :)

One of my latest culinary delights, during the test week, was a soup that I altered heavily from A Living Without Magazine recipe. I'll call it.... Sweet Turkey Soup.



Cook in oven on 400˚F for 45 minutes:
1 large onion, chopped
some carrots, chopped
2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
2-3 tablespoons olive oil

Boil, in large pot, 4 cups turkey broth
Add in [makes it bubble really fast for a minute!]:
¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
[For spices, I like to mix them all together in a bowl with a small wire whisk to assure that the flavor will be evenly distributed before adding them to liquids.]

Add to the boiling broth:
1 pound turkey meat (cooked)
Vegetables from oven

Simmer everything together, with the lid on the pan, for at least 15 minutes and viola! Amazing autumny soup!

Great thing about soup is that it reheats very quickly over the stove. Curious thing about this particular soup is that it really seemed to relax my insides and did not inflict any annoyances. Knowing what foods cause trouble is just as important as finding the foods that provide comfort to the inner workings of the body.


Homemade gingerbread complements this recipe quite well. (This was allergy-converted from The Joy of Cooking and instead of sugar I substituted agave nectar, which is a natural sweetener. Lately I've been trying to lower my processed sugar intake. I'm sure I will blog about that in the future.)

Kicking the Cold Out

Part of this diet is trying new things and -- what may seem like bizarre -- new remedies. Since the cold is spreading to every other person right now, I thought I would reflect on the cold I had last week. I got rid of it in five days. I kid you not.

After catching the infectious green snot with my neti pot, I began the battle immediately. I find that downing steaming chicken broth and peppermint tea constantly helps a lot. Also, something called Bieler Broth (this is where the quasi remedy comes in). It's steamed zucchini, celery, garlic, green beans, parsley, and hot water all blended together. Definitely not a common drink in my kitchen, but it is not as bad as it sounds. Bieler Broth is often used during detoxing and is helpful during acute illnesses. It is high in magnesium and apparently works to build your alkaline reserves (which has to do with a chemical balance in your blood) and improves liver function.  It also works to restore potassium and other important nutrients and minerals to the endocrine glands of the body. During the process the cold germs still tried to battle onward, but they soon lost. And, through it, I felt about the same as if I had taken Tylenol cold (which only works to cover up the symptoms, not fight them).

Now, the cold is in the trash with the mountain of tissues. I've used this regime a few times with the same results. :)

Some remedies/supplements haven't worked for me (occasionally making things worse since I am so sensitive to everything right now). But, the ones that do... I am grateful! Because living without them is -- literally -- quite painful and very uncomfortable. I am glad to take the chance when necessary (though, yeah, sometimes nervously). Take risks -- many are worth it.

Other cold-defeaters I have come to learn: humidifier to loosen mucus, avoid sugar (bacteria tends to feed off of it) and dairy (which thickens mucus), avoid large meals because you want your body to focus on fighting the infection off and not digesting food, and, of course, good rest.

Greetings World!

It’s been one year and four months since I had to completely take out dairy, wheat, raisins, yeast, and aspergillus (mold) out of my diet. It’s been five months since I’ve had to take out peanuts, tree-nuts, and corn out of my diet.

I’ve given up on most of the medical care world. All my life I’ve wondered if fuzzy thinking, constant cramps and headaches, dry mouth, skin rashes, and much, much more are normal. Doctors’ answers have almost always been “that’s not supposed to happen,” “you’re just making that up”, or “I don’t know, don’t worry about it.” Obviously all of those are not normal! When I saw a Naturopath – who treat the cause of a problem through natural methods rather than covering up symptoms through chemical based medicines -- she immediately saw food allergies/sensitivities as the culprit. Boy, was she right! After eliminating the trouble making foods, 90% of my asthma went away and I don’t have the symptoms above (plus so many more I discovered). Right now we are working to repair my GI tract (due to Leaky Gut syndrome) and someday I will be able to have most – if not all – of the forbidden foods again. How’s it going? There have been a lot of ups and downs, especially since my body is so sensitive to everything. Over the past month I have FINALLY been able to eat small portions of treenuts and corn each week. This is a massive improvement!

So, why is all this happening? In my opinion, man was not created to digest chemicals and pesticides. The digestive system is fragile and cannot take such beatings. When I eat processed foods now, I can feel my insides come apart and I just feel gross. I rarely use chemical based drugs and am on natural supplements and herbs. They make all the difference in the world! Did you know that curry is a natural inflammatory decreaser? And that ginger calms the stomach, as does peppermint? I can feel God saying, “What’s up with all the medical junk and your man-made chemicals? I gave you the remedies through My earth! They’re right in front of you.” Naturopath medicine is amazing!

So many people have asked me to write a blog about my diet and lifestyle that revolves around it. To most people, cutting out the major foods of the American diet and not using a microwave (I find these make me sick), is like hitting a brick wall. “What CAN you eat?!” is a frequent question I hear. Exploring the world of natural medicine rather than reaching for a bottle of Motrin is another mystifying concept. So, here’s my blog…