Day 1 of A Whole New Way Of Eating

to heal. I did some research yesterday on how to heal leaky gut and an irritated gut. It seems I have still been bloated and I couldnt figure out what has not been working in my whole foods diet. It turns out, I hadn't done all the research I should have because let's just say, no changes were happening like I wanted to. I had been eating foods that were still irriating my gut and after doing a lot of research I found I need to eliminate all these foods for 6 weeks. This is how long it takes to heal with this extensive program. I am excited to at least learn that villi (the fingerlike things that move food in the intestines) is capeable of healing every 24 hours. Isn't that remarkeable. After 25 years of abuse to my body, eating all the dangerous foods to my gut, villi can heal in 24 hours. I knew God had to have mercy and let our bodies heal. The body is so forgiving. Also, the body can heal in 4-5 days I found, if avoiding foods that irritate it as well. I know this 6 week program is the total heal that the body needs and I have the protocol to do this. I have a path to follow now, and I think I might make it this time.

Foods to Avoid for 6 weeks

Dairy

Grains including all rice, quinoa, millet, amarath, oats and more

Legumes like peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas, soy and tofu

Starches like potatoes, carrots, beets, pumpkin, squash, and sweet potatoes

High glycemic foods

Bananas, dried fruit, and fruit juice

Sugars of all kind

Healing foods (the list is long, so I will name the ones I like to eat the most)

apples

apricots

berrries

grapefruit

lemons and limes

nectarines

peaches

plums

pomegranates

watermelon

pineapple

Veggies to heal (the list is long, so I will name the ones I like to eat the most)

alfalfa sprouts

asparagus

artichokes

bok choy

cilantro

parsley

celery

kale

rommaine lettuce

dandelions leaves

saurefraut (fermented foods)

chard

tomatoes(yeah)

zuchinni

scallions

Olive oil

Honey

Today I went to Good Earth and out of all the healing products I had on my list, Good Earth only had a few of the things at the store. I got: hemp seeds, hemp protein powder, chia seeds, Garden of Life Zyme-Ultra (a digestive and probiotic blend), a probiotic that needs refrigeration and is 20 billion strains of good bacteria, zinc, sea buckthorn, biotin, candex, yeast cleanse, zinc, a liqiud calcium, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, phyllim husk powder and tons of veggies. I spent a lot of money today, but I felt peace in knowing it was an investment in my health and healing. I looked for a recommended supplement called phytoplankton, but they did not have it. I would like to order that online and try it.Do I dare spend more money. I did take back a purse and top and got 118 in credit, so that helped pay for all these things I need for my healing quest. Here is the 6 week healing phase broken into two parts.

Part 1 (3 weeks long)

Only foods acceptable on list, no vitamins or minerals at this time, just your yeast candida cleanses, probiotics and digestive stuff. Eat hemp seeds when hungry, they do fill you up big time. I like that.

Part 2 (3 weeks long)

Introduce eggs and fish into your diet. Eat a little more brown rice.

I hope I can do this. I really want to heal my gut. I worry about major weight loss though. I know once my body is healed, the weight can be re-gained.

Cha Cha Bowl

This recipe came from Jeanetteshealthyliving.com, but I did adapt if by making it vegan, as well as changing a few of the ingredients around. This meal is fabulous. It is so light and nutritious, while being hearty and packed with flavor at the same time. I know I say you must try all my recipes I post, but this one, you must try.  I recommend you soak your quinoa and beans to reduce the lectin content.
Cha Cha Bowl

Ingredients for Pineapple and Zuchinni Salsa
1 zuchinni shredded with peel
1 carrot, shredded
1/2 c. pineapple tidbits
1/4 c. chopped scallion
2 T. fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1 garlic, clove minced
1 T. red wine vinegar
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
juice of 1 lime
1/4 tsp. salt
Combine all together in bowl and mix thoroughly.

Fresh Tomato Salsa
2 c. fresh tomatoes, chopped with seeds and pulp removed.
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. jalepeno pepper, minced
1.4 c. chopped cucumber, peel removed
2 T. fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1/8 tsp, salt
1 T. lime juice
Combine all together

-Quinoa, cooked in vegetable broth for flavor, and salt/pepper and evoo for flavor
-Black beans
-Chopped Avocado, optional

In a bowl,  add about 1 c. of cooked quinoa. Add a scoop of cooked black beans, then add pineapple and zuchinni mixture, as well as fresh tomato mixture on top.
You may substitute rice for quinoa. 

Mango, Strawberry, and Quinoa Salad

I made this the other night and while it is similiar to other quinoa (pronounced keenwa) salads in the past, this one had chopped baby spinach and strawberries. A combo of sweet, salty, and lime flavors, truly enhances this dish. I couldn't stop yumming while I ate this . I loved it so much that I ate this whole recipe in less then two days. You must try this! :)

  You need: (recommend organic produce)
1 1/2 c. Cooked quinoa
1 1/4 c. Seasoned cooked black beans, or 1 can
. 1/2 c. Chopped cilantro leaved, fresh
1/4 c. Chopped scallions
1/2 of a orange bell pepper
1/2 c. Chopped baby spinach, chopped finely
1 mango, diced
1 c. Chopped strawberries
1 medium cucumber, peeled and chopped.
Combine with cooled quinoa, mix together.

  Dressing
1/4 c. Extra virgin olive oil
2 T. Red wine vinager.
Juice of one lime.
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Black pepper
Combine and wire wisk until combined well. Pour dressing over quinoa mixture and mix well. Chill for 20 minutes at least before serving.

Three Years In The Making

Our three year anniversary is here. Boy, has it gone fast. Here are a few pictures that capture these three great years we've had.

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Here's to many more years together!!!

Green Algae

I have felt green for some time, I mean going green as in saving the trees, zero paper, stopping pollution, etc. Each time I am out in nature, I gain more appreciation for each tree, but fast forward 20 years from now. Do you think more trees will be saved from more people going green? Do you think more trees could be kept around to absorb the toxic pollution that is spread from the use of cars fueled by gasoline? We need our trees, and I have always been a huge advocate of saving our trees and our environment. What do you all think about green algae instead of gasoline? For the past few years, I have been following Josh Tickell's quest of saving energy, stopping pollution, and saving American's money. According to Good Morning American report, "Tickell just finished a 10-day drive from Los Angeles to New York City in his Algaeus. On the trip, the car averaged 147 miles per gallon in the city, where it runs on electricity alone. On the highway, where it works as a hybrid, it averaged 52 miles per gallon. Most amazing of all, Tickell stopped only six times for fill-ups. So how does the Algaeus get such extraordinary mileage? Essentially, the Algaeus is a tricked-out version of the already fuel-efficient Prius. Tickell added a nickel metal hydride battery and a plug to the hybrid car. Instead of gasoline, the car's engine runs on algae fuel. He currently fuels his prius with green algae and says, "The set-up is so effective that the Algaeus can run on approximately 25 gallons from coast to coast." Pause. Why isn't green algae available for everyone currently? According to a report from Good Morning America, It is "Developed by the green startup company Sapphire Energy, algae fuel is produced on a farm in the deserts of New Mexico. Proponents of algae fuel claim that it has the potential to be a new source of 100 percent carbon neutral energy that won't require changing the country's current energy infrastructure. That's because algae has the same chemical composition as gasoline and is, therefore, compatible with existing gasoline technology, from refineries to car engines. Unlike an oil rig, an algae farm can be located almost anywhere, and does not require converting farmland or nature preserves. Right now, algae fuel isn't available to consumers, but its makers hope to make it available commercially within the next five years. If you want to see green fuel become a reality, Tickell has a few suggestions. He recommends calling your representatives and urging them to create incentives for algae fuel, or holding a town hall meeting in your area to help spread the word about the technology." Imagine how much pollution could be reduced by fueling with green algae instead of gasoline. What are your thoughts on this?

Plastics To Avoid

Over the weekend, I educated myself about all unsafe plastics that you you may use in your kitchen. On the bottom of every plastic item is a number usually in the center of a triangle or circle. Check for these numbers, 3, 6, and 7. If you see these numbers on the bottom of your plastic kitchenware, baby/children's toys, baby bottles, and anything else that is plastic, throw them away. Most of these items are not made anymore due to FDA guidelines in recent years. Safe plastic items have numbers of, 1, 2, 4, 5. However, even most plastic water bottles with these numbers are bio-degradable and not meant to be used more then once. If you have purchased plastic items in the past few years, don't worry about the unsafe numbers are much, as more research has been done on BPA leached from plastics and harsh chemical consumption through plastics. More and more plastics are being designed to be safe nowadays, which really eases most peoples minds. But I still recommend you check the numbers on your plastics. Over the weekend, I found about 10 items in my kitchen with number 7 on the bottom, in which I threw away. Here are some other tips I recommend. 1. Never microwave anything in plastic, and don't use any plastic wrap in the microwave. There just isn't enough research done to know if this is safe or not yet. 2. Never re-use a plastic water bottle that is designed for a one time use. 3. Check the number on the plastic your are purchasing. I do know some people who drink out of glass water bottles since even stainless steal bottles have concerns about leaching nickel through the bottle. If you are interested in glass water bottles, you can check on amazon.com for some well made, safe, heavy duty glass water bottles. They are a little more pricey, but I recommend you read the reviews before purchasing any of them.

Common Food Staples, Fresh Produce, and Whole Foods Meal Planning Suggestion

My suggestion for Whole Meal Planning and Grocery Shopping:
I try to get items I will need for one whole week's worth of recipes. What I do is line up about five recipes (taking into account leftovers) and then get those items for the week. If I forget an item, I just make sure to get that item that day. Since I am using Jeanetteshealthyliving.com as my main recipe source for this whole foods challenge, I am writing down all the recipes I want to try that she has made, and then get my food list ready. This makes it so easy.

I wanted to list food staples here that you may find helpful to have in your pantry for your whole foods meal planning.

These are seasonings I recommend the most:
Paprika
Onion powder
Garlic Powder
Coriander
Cumin
Thyme
curry powder
sea salt
black pepper
oregano
basil
rosemary
cilantro (dried)
parsley (dried)
sage
celery salt
chili powder
lemon pepper
cinnamon
nutmeg
cloves

Canned Goods
(I am eliminating most canned goods because of my efforts to do whole foods, but I highly recommend canned goods for food storage purposes. There are still canned items I need to use sometimes such as coconut milk since I don't have patience to work with coconuts. I also recommend canned pineapple, and other canned fruits that may be seasonal. Also, tomato paste/sauce, and diced tomatoes are good to have on hand in case you don't have fresh tomatoes.

Packaged beans, rice, oatmeal and legumes
dried garbonzo beans, black beans, pinto beans, and other favorite types of beans you may use. Brown short grain rice, Oatmeal, lentils, quinoa and millet.

Meats
I don't eat much meat at all, but when I do (maybe 3 x a week), I like to turn to my freezer. I recommend salmon, shrimp, organic ground turkey and chicken.
I have made every effort to eliminate all red meat from my diet.


Pasta

Potatoes
I also recommend keeping a big bag of potatoes on hand.

Vegetable and Chicken Stock/broth
I go through this like crazy because I use it in so many soups I make. I recommend getting a case of it at Costco or any store that carries things in big bulks.

Non Dairy Items
Soymilk, almond milk (you can actually buy these in cartons that do not need to be refrigerated until openend.
tofu


Fresh Produce/Perishables
I go to the grocery often because I like to buy the most freshest produce as possible. This time of year, as summer approaches, I like to go to Farmer's Markets to get fresh garden produce and more seasonal things.
Veggies I use the most include:
Cauliflower
Kale
Chard
Parsnips
Dandelion leaves
brocolli
leeks
beets
cilantro and other fresh herbs like basil and mint
mung beans
corn
mushrooms
sweet potatoe
onions
garlic
zuchinni
carrots
celery
asparagus

Fruits
Apples
Berries in season
pineapple
peaches
nectarines
kiwi
lemons/limes
tomatoes
avocado
pears