Ch-ch-changes!

This nourishing newbie has taken several baby steps in 2010 to get to where she is now.  If I look back at where my food thoughts & philosophies were at the beginning of 2011, I realize as a whole we've come a looong way, even if it feels like I still have forever to go.  However, let's take a walk down memory lane to see what prompted several changes within our family unit to eating more nourishingly.

Early last year, I wanted to make a commitment to eat more sustainably and economically. I initially thought this meant eating animal meats sparingly (for cost-effectiveness, as I didn't want CAFO meats but mostly organic or grass-fed meats) and eating more vegetarian-like.  While eating vegetarian now and then may be okay, after I read how true vegetarianism isn't the healthiest option, I decided to disembark on this quest and instead seek out organic and grass-fed meats on sale and eat these regularly.

As my only child approached the age of 1, I knew she'd be weaning off breastmilk soon and would need a suitable milk replacement.  Many told me, "It's okay if she doesn't drink milk, it's not that essential," which was fine or may be true for them, but I knew if she didn't really care for much juice (which was a good thing, in my opinion), and water alone wouldn't sustain her, we'd need to find something.  The thing was, she had already shown reaction to milk-based formulas.  So I tried giving her goat's milk, store-bought cow's milk, and farm-fresh milk, only to find she had resistances to all 3 (by vomiting).  Those with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies often do fine with raw milk, which was why I tried that route.

So instead, I chatted around, and decided I'd try making a homemade coconut milk mix for my little one.  It involves mixing 1 can BPA-free coconut milk (we use Native Forest); 3 tablespoons Grade B Maple Syrup; 1 teaspoon vanilla; and 1 quart of filtered water altogether.  I gradually mixed this in with bottles of breastmilk and she transitioned wonderfully.  My little one is still growing and in the 50th percentiles for height & weight and most of her teeth have come in.  The coconut milk speaks for itself!

After she turned 1 and was weaned at 13.5 months, I began to think about what I needed to do for myself in terms of health.  There were some initial challenges I had had with myself & my daughter after she was born that were a bit disconcerting for me.  She was low birth-weight.  I had a postpartum blood clot in my leg.  I got mastitis 3 times.  It was like one blow after another and I felt like I couldn't recover.  I started to take an honest look at my health and wonder, "How could I improve things for the next time?"  Admittedly, I had been on antibiotics for acne for years, and even though they were mostly topical in nature, the years where I had taken them orally had surely done some damage.  I wasn't crazy about being on prescription medication any more if not absolutely necessary, and felt like it was time to press the reset button, so to speak.  Additionally, I experienced many painful stomachaches and cramping that would leave me debilitated, laying on the couch while my little one played around me.  Not very much fun for a new mom or a little toddler seeking parental interaction.  So over the summer, I began looking into my options, spoke to my birth doula and a few others, and met with an integrative medicine doctor who started me on a month-long liver cleanse and modified diet.

This diet meant the following things went out the window:

• Red meat; bacon; all dairy milks & milk products (except for live unsweetened cultured yogurt); gluten-containing bread & gluten products; artificial sweeteners; white, refined sugars; chocolate; caffeine (meaning all my teas & coffees!); peanuts; citrus; etc. 

At first it felt like a death sentence.  What will I eat?  But I knew about the GAPS diet and knew this diet was easy compared to that, and I was hopeful I'd still see benefits.  But here's what I could eat:

• Chicken, turkey, lamb, cold-water fish, eggs, legumes, some beans; white or sweet potato, rice, gluten-free products; fresh/frozen fruit & vegetables; unrefined oils; ghee, etc.
• Basically, if I made it, if it was pure, unrefined, and didn't have dairy or gluten or red meat, I could eat it.  It actually meant I could be creative and find new yummy, nourishing things to eat.

The diet worked and I kept on it for a good 3.5 months.  I felt relieved of my symptoms almost immediately and during the first week of the detox, noticed the so-called "die-off."  My limbs felt achy and sore, which meant the bacteria was probably working  its way out of my body.  My favorite anecdote from this experience is that even my chiropractor noticed a difference.  After a few adjustments into the diet & detox, he noted that I was even easier to adjust than before, because I had probably gotten rid of a lot of inflammation!  The stomachaches ceased and I believe my gut was heading back to "realignment."

Throughout the diet, several other changes occurred in our kitchen and pantry.  I started cooking with coconut oil.  When dairy was okay to be added back into the diet, I began cooking with low-temp pasteurized butter, obtained from a local dairy.  I found a few decent gluten-free flours, with which I can use in moderation.  I experimented with almond, hazelnut and pecan flour.  I made grain-free brownies and grain-free nut butter cookies, all yummy and worth eating again.  

I began ordering free-range chickens and eggs from a local farmer as well, and in December, participated in my first big red-meat order from a grass-fed farm!
And perhaps the biggest shock for me is that I finally started taking Fermented Cod Liver Oil!  Yes, almost every day, if I can tolerate it, I'll gulp down a helping of that.  

There are so many other changes I could document, but perhaps the biggest are these:

At the start of 2010, I was eating your Standard American Diet (SAD).
By the end of 2010, I was eating more paleo-like, with the exception of adding raw dairy into the mix.  

• Instead of cereal for breakfast, I'd have eggs, a smoothie, or a homemade gluten-free muffin or bread.
• For lunch, I'd eat leftovers, like chicken, fish or turkey burgers, a sweet potato with coconut oil & cinnamon, etc. instead of sandwiches or granola bars.
• And for dinner, I'd try out things like stir fry, salmon, gluten-free dairy-free pizza.  

That is not to say whatever I was eating before was all bad.  Those "other foods" all have their place and in my opinion, are okay in moderation, depending on what your dietary needs are.  As Dr. Saxena said at The Center for Living Wellness, "There are good foods which just may not be the right fuel for your body."  Can I get an "Amen"??

Here's what I'm looking forward to trying in 2011:

• Kombucha
• More grass-fed meats (and learning how to prepare them)
• Making my own yogurt, mayonnaise, or coconut milk!
• Picking our own fruits & veggies from local farms and learning how to preserve them so they'll be good, fresh & ready to eat year-round!

The point is, not all of these changes were made overnight, and what I thought I needed was much, much different than what I believe it is now.  I tweaked how I shopped and cooked throughout the year and I believe if you want to make similar changes or see a positive impact in your overall health, you can too!

So, what are your goals for 2011?

The Spice is Right Contest Winner Runner-UP = ME!

Merry Christmas to me!

Last I posted, I had entered myself into the Mambo Sprouts The Spice is Right Giveaway.  I regularly checked back at the website to see if they had drawn the winners, and then in early December I received an email from the Mambo Sprouts marketing team indicating that I was a runner-up and would be receiving a 10-item sampler set.  SWEET!  Who doesn't love free stuff, and who doesn't love GOOD free stuff?  I sure do.  I happily received my package prior to leaving for the holidays and was so jazzed.  Here's what was in my stash:

from L to R:
peppermint flavor, vanilla bean, almond extract, cardamom seed,
lemon peel, cinnamon, ground cloves,  nutmeg, and ginger (not pictured: vanilla extract)

I even received a set of coupons, which I'll be sure to take advantage of.  The paper in the picture might look a bit disheveled--I believe an item or two tarnished the final package I received, but the coupons are still definitely useable!

This nourishing newbie also received an ice cream maker from Santa, so the vanilla bean came in just the (St.) 'nick of time.  Can't wait to share more nourishing tips with you all in 2011.

Happy New Year!

Going organic?

Often times when people think of living and eating in a more healthy manner, the first thing they tell themselves is, "Well, I MUST buy organic!  That is going to be SO expensive!"  or  "I don't know how So & So does it. They must have deep pockets, because have you seen that organic stuff? It's expensive!"
Trust me, we've all been there.  Feeling super overwhelmed about the prospect of finding and being able to afford all organic.  Wondering if we'll see dramatic impacts on our health.  Also wondering if we'll look ridiculous trying to ensure foods meet our organic "standards."

Well, I have good news!  At least when it comes to produce.  A while back, one of my favorite companies, the Environmental Working Group, created a list of "The Dirty Dozen."  If you follow any kind of health blog or news, you've probably heard this list come before.  The EWG ranked the fruits & vegetables most contaminated with pesticides in the dirty dozen list; in other words, the produce you WANT to buy organic.  They also have a list of the "Clean 15," which are fruits & vegetables with the lowest pesticide count, meaning you could go either way (conventional or organic).  You can even download a pocket guide here or find an app for your iPhone!
You better believe I carry one of these reference lists in my wallet.

One easy way for me to remember, when I can't scramble into my wallet to find the list, is to think of fruits or vegetables with thin skins as generally containing more pesticides if conventionally grown, and fruits & vegetables with thicker skins having more protection or barriers from pesticides if conventionally grown.  This isn't true in every case, but considering that peaches, blueberries, apples, nectarines, cherries, potatoes & imported grapes are on the dirty dozen list, I generally feel safe with this assumption.

Now, if knowing that some of your favorite fruits & vegetables are high on the pesticide list isn't enough to sway you in trying to buy organic or locally-grown, consider what pesticides might actually do:

"The growing consensus among scientists is that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood.  Scientists now know enough about the long-term consequences of ingesting these powerful chemicals to advise that we minimize our consumption of pesticides." 

(EWG's Shopper's Guide available @ FoodNews.org)

Furthermore, a recent report from Pediatrics shows that there may be a link between pesticides found in children and the incidence of ADHD.  So, while sometimes it may not seem affordable, convenient, or just feasible to always get organic, it is still worth the consideration.  And if you can't, rinse your produce thoroughly!  Children have enough obstacles to deal with; preventing ADHD is just one wonderful way you can help them on to a better life!

So, if you buy organic, where do you get your produce?  At the grocery store?  Through a CSA (community supported agriculture)?   A co-op?  Your own backyard?  Do tell!