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Here's to Your Health:  Anti-Inflammatory diet - thoughts? support?  |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 01 2009 : 03:57:29 AM
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I have had a really rough night. Sneezing, wheezing, watery eyes, achy, tossing/turning....you get the idea. 
I've been diagnosed w/a variety of ailments including type 2 diabetes (on januvia), high blood pressure, fibro, arthritis (a couple of herniated disks to boot), diverticulitis, migraines, and allergies. I've been on all kinds of meds (some that are now FDA blacklisted) and my medicine cabinet looks like a small pharmacy. I'm overweight by about 50 pounds on a 5'2" frame...and even though I'm curvy (always have been)..now I'm mostly round. That cute little hourglass shape I used to have in my late 20s has turned into an apple (and it's not in anyone's eye....) I've tried every diet and then some. I'm hopelessly addicted to carbs and often use food as a comfort for my stress... My liver enzymes are high...there is all this "inflammation" in my system but the docs can't find out why and it's been this way for several years. I won't let arthritis specialist give me any more of those kinds of meds. I'm in constant pain. Some days are better than others. I stopped my naproxen because it was playing havoc with my gut.
I'm only 49...some days I feel like I should be 80. I have a cane, splints for my wrists/ankle/and right elbow, pain meds, pain cream, and pain patches. Now I don't use these all at once or all the time...but I seem to be using some combo of them routinely.
So, I'm reading at 3am about an anti-inflammatory diet. There's a list of IF foods out there that combines the glycemic index with foods that are rated for their inflammatory properties when eaten. I lost a lot of weight while on Atkins several years ago and know I do better with no/low carbs but I struggle to stay with it. I'm thinking I need a better plan. I am really good at taking care of everyone else but myself on a regular basis. My home situation is about to get much more stressful in the coming months and I need to get a handle on this before then...or I'm afraid I won't be able to hold up to the pace/needs of my family.
Anybody else have any experience with anti-inflammatory foods as support for chronic pain??? |
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Roxy7
True Blue Farmgirl
1083 Posts
Robin
Denver
CO
USA
1083 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2009 : 05:36:34 AM
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I havent but I feel your pain...literally. I also feel better on a low carb diet. I have been struggling with gastritis for almost a year and have been trying new thingsin the diet. It may be worth a try.
hugs. |
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pinkroses
True Blue Farmgirl
2350 Posts
Sheila
Virginia
USA
2350 Posts |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2009 : 11:02:27 AM
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I'm 48 and have a whole raft of ailments, some quite serious. I haven't heard of the anti-inflammatory diet
I don't have much advice except, it is worth a try to get your pain and stress under control...I'd try it. In fact I'm going to research it now =)
Hugs and support. I know some of what you are going through. Keep posting and maybe we can all feel better with support from each other and research into what to do.
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2009 : 1:18:33 PM
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The name of the book I downloaded is The Inflamation Free Diet by Monica Reinagel. Basically in using the IF rating scale, foods with a positive rating are anti-inflammatory while those with a negative rating are inflammatory. (IF - inflammation factor) It's also a cummulative thing as well. You don't have to cut out all the things you like that might be inflammatory just balance that with anti-inflammatory foods. There are tables galore in this book as well, and worksheets if you are into that sort of thing. It also outlines 3 basic plans a prevention/maintenance plan, a therapeutic plan, and a weight loss plan. Each with a different IF/carb/fat/calorie total for the day. So with all my "stuff" I probably need to be eating foods fairly high on the IF scale but with lower carb totals to lose this stubborn weight. There are meal plans for each of these eating plans for a week and recipes too.
So...I have coffee for breakfast...then a small diet soda/popcorn/gummies at the movies...and a small pb/j and more gummies and more diet soda later. No wonder I feel like poo. |
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marjean
True Blue Farmgirl
3851 Posts
Marsha
Deltona
FL
USA
3851 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2009 : 1:59:20 PM
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I really feel for you. I just poured out my health issues in another forum about feeling like having the flu all the time. But, I can give you this advise straight from my doctor who is one of the best homeopathic in this country. She trained under the leading one from Texas. Anyway, she puts all her patients no matter what your health or weight on the candida diet. It is in itself an anti-inflam. diet. I too have reflux and Lyme and a raft of stuff. Stay away from chemicals and fumes like at gas stations. Let someone else put it in. Don't even go to the station. When you have this kind of problem it only compounds it and stays in your system. I too have liver damage from the lyme and was in severe pain for two years. She gave me a homeopathic remedy call Inflammation I. I can't stress this enough to all my dear farm sisters with health issues that the doctors can't get well. You can heal with natural medicine administered by a trained homeopathic physician. She has worked wonders with me.
I was sent home to die 4 years ago and she saved my life. I know this kind of treatment works. You have to have faith and patience to see it through. Replace all the bad foods with the good and no matter what the craving don't go back. You can do it. I can only eat organic foods and no sugar, gluten free etc...So believe me if you need any moral support I can offer it gladly.
Hugs,
Marjean
Farmgirl sister #308
handmade cards and jewelry, vintage tote bags and more at www.jeanpatchbymk.etsy.com
jeanpatch.wordpress.com
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Tapestry
True Blue Farmgirl
1223 Posts
Cheryl
Wisconsin
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2009 : 12:09:13 AM
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What an interesting thread this is. Marsha I talked to someone several wks ago who mentioned a diet to avoid yeast (candida)for the treatment of fibro. I think this bears further investigation on my part. StarMeadow I think there are a lot of us on this forum with similar problems that you have. I also have fibro, and GERD, IBS and diverticulosis seem to go hand in hand with that condition. I've had it many years but just when I think it can't get much worse it does. I too have done Atkins and found I felt much better but I agree, its a very hard diet to stick to. Please keep us updated as you learn new things with your book. Maybe we can all benefit.
Happy farmgirl sister #353
Look for rainbows instead of mud puddles 
http://fantasm01.imagekind.com/
http://tapestrysimaginings.blogspot.com/ |
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JudyBlueEyes
True Blue Farmgirl
657 Posts
Judith
Spokane
Washington
USA
657 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2009 : 06:54:57 AM
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I have had great success with the South Beach Diet. It has more veggies than the Atkins, and you get to add in fruit. Also, for the sense of carbs, you can have beans - and hummus right away (in Phase I) ... anyhow, it is very good for heart problems and diabetes. The other thing for inflammation, a friend of mine has been taking turmeric pills and is feeling relief of her arthritis. She was putting turmeric in her foods, but got tired of everything she ate being yellow! Good luck!
We come from the earth, we go back to the earth, and in between, we garden! |
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2875 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2875 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2009 : 08:27:18 AM
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Google the Paleo or Caveman diet. You can eat all the meats, veggies(except potatoes & beans), fruits & nuts you want. No sugar, no grains etc. My sis' friend had debilitating arthritis & follows this diet & has NO PAIN now. She also lost 20 lbs(even though she was already thin)
My sis also follows it & always had heartburn, & now does not.
I have been also doing it this summer except for July, when I was studying for a huge exam & working 12 hr days & grabbed a few of the bad things..Mostly Matzo bread, which I love, most people would cheat with a piece of chocolate cake..but I cheat with Matzo bread. weird I am.
Anyway, sugar & white type carbs are BAD BAD BAD for imflammation. |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2009 : 7:45:20 PM
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I've read the Paleo diet book...yeah I know that sugar and white carbs are no-no's but they are sooooo yummy! Tonight it was fresh homemade minestrone soup. (I went to the farmer's market today.) I cut back on the potatoes in the recipe and also the pasta. It was all organic though. I HAD to eat well tonight cause after the farmer's market I went through McDs for an iced coffee and burger! (They say that confession is good for the soul....)
I can't say that following a new diet is not about losing the weight...cause I really, really, want too BUT, it's not the primary goal right now. Pain control...that's the goal.... (that could be a t-shirt). When I lost all my weight (almost 30 pounds) on Atkins...I did feel better, I'll admit it. But there were other people at work "dieting" too...a few doing weight watchers, one at medical weight loss, one doing sugar busters, and a couple of us doing the Atkins thing. And we all lost about the same amount of weight...only the sugar busters gal kept hers off...why? Because she never went back to eating the way she did before she took sugar out of her diet....the rest of us...chunko... Then I had another child at 40 and that weight that crept up on me...stayed around.
Oh and Cheryl...I did see a specialist years ago about the whole candida thing. I was even taking different kinds of meds to help with that...it was primarily to help control my migraines (which were at their height in my late 20s early 30s) Didn't work. There is a book out there though about that...hmmmmm...let me think...the Yeast connection or the Yeast syndrome...something like that...but it's certainly worth a look see again... |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Aug 03 2009 : 08:20:45 AM
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T~
I know what you mean. A few years back I was in a fight with a lupus diagnosis and it was really kicking me around. I introduced chlorophyll, enzymes and probiotics to my diet and really gained my life back. I trade in 13 different RX drugs to taking either algae or barley for the chlorophyll, a broad based enzyme, and a probiotic (acidophilus and bifidus). I really like Jordon Rubin’s products (Garden of life). I am finding too that eating more raw foods allows my body to have to work less and has more time to heal. Best Luck to you…
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/RFBlog/
www.twitter.com/RuralFarmgirl
www.ruralandraw.blogspot.com
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Aug 03 2009 : 09:06:47 AM
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Alee you are such a sweetie! OK..so I've had coffee, pizza, and a diet coke so far today...the diet is still in "infancy"...but I've been going through the list of foods and picking out foods I like that have good anti-inflammatory properties. Later I intend on having roasted veggies with spices (of some ilk) and water...I really need to drink water. Oh and cantalope was a surprise too. Right on par with strawberries. And red cabbage is somehow better than green... And brussel sprouts & asparagus...nice! So that's going to be the roasting... the sprouts, asparagus, onion/garlic, and 1/2 a fresh cantalope. Spice to be determined.
Judith...I had no idea they made tumeric "pills"...good to know. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Aug 03 2009 : 7:31:23 PM
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And Alee, they were! Did about a 1/4 cup olive oil, w/1 crushed clove of fresh organic garlic and a splash of balsamic vinegar...toss w/veggies...sprinkle w/crushed pepper/sea salt...roast.
OK...so if I add up all my veggies....asparagus, brussel sprouts, garlic clove, eggplant, zuchinni, olive oil, garlic salt, black pepper...and my fruit salad...cantalope, strawberries...then subtract my blueberries (and the ice cream cone I had at Mc Donald's) I end up with a positive 402. Of course in the carb department the ice cream cone complete trashes a day (if on induction for Atkins) and the fruit is a second runner up with 22 cho's. BUT the roasted veggies came in at a nice low carb of 8.5 total (including the garlic and pepper seasonings) Oh and I did grill up some delightful polenta which I couldn't find on the IF list but in the carb dept. the 4 small slices were almost as bad as the ice cream cone (and equally as tasty).
As I have read today...In the meat department...interestingly enough, beef sometimes comes in better than poultry. For example 3oz of 80% lean ground beef has an IF rating of -5, whereas a 3oz chicken breast hits you for a -23. BUT 3oz of duck is 26 and the same with goose at 38. And here's another jaw dropper...an Italian sausage?....23 but 3oz of turkey breast -106!!!!
Fish of course is a good thing...especially cold water wild caught fish. A nice 3oz piece of Arctic char will get you 622 on the IF scale but if you want to have a piece of Atlantic cod you'll only net 71. Remember that farm raised fish is eating a (primarily) grain based feed. Whereas your wild caught fish is eating, well, other fish. I think that is why your garden variety poultry is so high. The book does not distinguish between your back yard poultry that is eating bugs/worms/etc, from the big farm birds that are eating a grain diet. Eggs are also in the negative range but not horribly so (-43). Again eat it with something that is anti-inflammatory to balance out it's negative effects.
It is, if anything, a "thoughtful" diet. In the end, I suppose...if you just cut out the sugar and white carbs, you would be way ahead of the game for sure. However....I am still going to pursue this for a bit to see if it lowers my pain threshold at all.
Thankfully I get a massage tomorrow. Oh...and I've added back into my day a multi and a B super... Those are the ones I take routinely with my Rx meds.
OH and Marjean...this is going to be extremely important to try to stay healthy with this because I've taken up riding the motorcycle...whew! There are SO many smells and they are all right there in your face and coming at ya at 60 miles an hour!!!
Thanks all for the kind words and encouragement!!
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2009 : 08:13:33 AM
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StarMeadow, I think you are on the right track with the anti-inflammatory foods. About 10 years ago, I met a woman who had lived with MS for many years. She ate a macrobiotic diet and credited that with her continued good health and lack of side effects. The way she explained it to me then, the point was avoiding inflammatory foods (apparently a macrobiotic diet is essentially the same thing). So there's a testimonial for you, even though it's at second hand.
I have a hard time resisting carbohydrate rich foods myself. And I'm trying to scale back on them because my father was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a few years ago, so I figure there's a good chance he will have handed down that genetic makeup. We both love italian bread!
The best quick and easy switch I've found is simply trading white for whole grain in just about everything: whole wheat bread, brown rice, or quinoa. Essentially no difference, but there you go: a whole grain, lower carb version of the same thing.
(But I don't know how they stack up as far as anti-inflammatory effect).
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2009 : 4:31:16 PM
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Alee, I can be sensitive depending....I am very conscious about what I wear scent-wise so it's really noticeable when someone else has perfume on or whatever. I did have a problem on the bike a couple months ago where I had to have my hubby pull over because I thought I was going to be sick...(behind a very large truck)... I think it may have been paired with low blood sugar too. I can't do heavy perfumey air fresheners either. AND, of course I have a ton of airborne allergies.
Amiee (love the finger lakes area BTW) I followed a macrobiotic diet back in my youth. I was hanging with a group that was all about that.. Pritiken too. I gradually moved back into a vegetarian diet and went vegan for about 3 months. But I just didn't feel right. I was constantly in a state of anemia. I added back in chicken and fish eventually but when I got married (about 19 years ago) to a carnivore....I went all the way back to eating all kinds of meat. It's funny...my oldest (almost 16) never had meat until he was about 3... but it's my little one (9) who leans towards not eating meat. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2009 : 08:47:45 AM
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When I was doing Atkins...I did just that! I don't know...grazing...cows...moo.... Just call me "Daisy" LOL
When I'm at work though it's terrible! Some days I don't find time to eat at all! I know I have to carve out the time but.... I guess when they find me keeled over in the hall or in the parking lot between buildings, they might take a task or two off my desk! Other days it's just the opposite and I eat too much of all the wrong things. I try to stay out of the teacher's lounge around any holiday or PT conferences. It's a mine field of "goodies". Usually by the coffee too. I'm taking a small 4c pot to my office this year. Then I can have flavored decaf blends or hot tea whenever I want AND avoid the sugar bombs! :-) |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2009 : 09:40:23 AM
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I have hypoglycemia and can relate to the low blood sugar thing, I'm also hypothyroid and have other metabolic and digestive issues...Now my liver is not doing so well, even though I've cut out red wine that my doctor told me to drink some years ago...I'm having a devil of a time losing weight and having enough energy. Fumes and smoke make me ill and I completely feel for you. By all means sugar and hfcs are evil and cause a lot of trouble. I hope you find your balance and the right life change/diet for you...I've been worried about you and hoping that the anti-inflammatory diet will help you feel better.
If you like it, green tea is good for you in a number of ways and makes good iced tea. =) Take care ok?
*hugs*
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Tapestry
True Blue Farmgirl
1223 Posts
Cheryl
Wisconsin
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2009 : 5:48:37 PM
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I had to check back in on this thread and see how things are going. You know what my biggest diet problem is? My hubby...LOL. He loves to cook and does 99% of it around here. I can beg him not to buy me sweets but does he listen? Ummmm nooooo. He'll come home from work and hand me a candy bar..a Hershey's bar with almonds of course and says "here honey, you deserve a treat today." He's all heart that man and I've gained a ton of weight in the 5 yrs we've been married. He knows I have absolutely NO will power when it comes to chocolate. Do any of you gals who have inflammatory issues crave chocolate? Since being diagnosed with fibro 14 yrs ago it's been a big problem for me. I never had much of a sweet tooth before that and was slim. Now....blimp city.
Alee I love hearing about tomatoes helping with inflammation. I also know they contain lycopene which is really good for your heart. I've read in Dr. Peter Gott's newspaper column online that a diet with no sugar and no flour will help you lose weight and feel better. I guess the thing that bothers me so much is gosh, I know I've tried lots of diets and the bottom line is I just need to change how I eat and portion control. It's just so danged hard :(
Happy farmgirl sister #353
Look for rainbows instead of mud puddles
http://fantasm01.imagekind.com/
http://tapestrysimaginings.blogspot.com/ |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2009 : 6:01:48 PM
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I can handle that....! :-) I love tomatoes.
Tonight's dinner was Szechuan Beef and Bean Sprouts (with rice) serves 4 (and it did serve only 4)
1lb eye of round steak
1/4 chicken broth
1 T soy sauce
1 T Szechuan sauce
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (left these out)
4 plum tomatoes, cut into 8ths
2 c fresh bean sprouts
1 T chopped fresh cilantro
Cut the beef against the grain in strips.
Mix broth, soy, S sauce, and pepper flakes in bowl.
Mix in beef and let sit about 10".
Drain beef; save marinade.
Brown beef in a skillet or wok.
Add tomatoes, bean sprouts, and marinade to skillet/wok.
Stir fry till veggies are heated.
Sprinkle w/cilantro.
Makes 4 servings.
I made rice to go with. And yes this does feed about 4 people. I served it with fresh fruit for dessert. My hubby's brother stopped by for dinner and he loved it. Boys...well...oldest son so-so...youngest no way too spicy (and I left out red pepper but used a regular pepper blend) so he had left over spaghetti. Hubby wasn't home but I think he would have wanted the red pepper flakes so I could have added after serving boys. I like spicy too.
I used soy sauce in this but usually I sub in Braggs Liquid Aminos for my soy sauce...waayyyy less sodium. And my chicken broth was organic "no chicken" chicken broth (ha ha when cooking up beef) I also added a clove of garlic..well..because I LOVE garlic!
Overall, this recipe would way overshadow the rice in the IF department...but rice is high carb.
The recipe as written for 1 serving is 200 calories and 6 carbs. If you are looking for exchanges it would be 1 veg, 4 lean meat, 1 fat. (w/out the rice!) This is a great recipe if you are looking to add iron as well. Iron is more easily absorbed when you mix it with foods high in C (like the tomatoes)... Of course I'm thinking you could add other veggies if you liked like some pepper(s).
I probably won't serve it again though...just because it didn't go over well with the boys. |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Aug 06 2009 : 02:37:57 AM
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| Oh Cheryl!!! I was just thinking that last night as I was VERY stressed out (by home stuff/teen) and sat stuffing my face with mint chocolate chip ice cream and searching the internet for a Fry Bread recipe! I know what you mean about the choc. Now, I can't say that it's his fault at all cause I've always loved choc and sweets BUT....I do keep it around for him and it's soooooooooo darn handy!!!! And of course, once you eat the sweet, you need to find the salty....the best? Chocolate dipped potato chips. Yep. There. I said it. Now prior to my "changes" pre-m was the worst on the sweet/salty.... now it's just an underlying theme.....ah well.... Or donuts. When I was pregnant with the little guy...my doc said, :"T! Donuts are NOT a food group!" Not so bad nowadays. And, don't you wish that treat could be somebody else doing the dishes...or a load of laundry...or allowing you a half hour in the tub without a question regarding "where's my whatever"???? |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 06 2009 : 06:50:24 AM
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I read an article last night at work that had studies behind it that said if you switch to a 70% raw food diet, you can drop up to 15 pounds healthily in 10 days! It said that alot of the foods we eat confuse our bodies and our liver and kidneys are busy doing things they aren't meant to do instead of doing the metobolic processes that detox and cleanse the body. They also said it was VERY important to supplement with B12 if you do this. So today I am stocking up on B12 and fresh fruits and veggies.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Here's to Your Health: Anti-Inflammatory diet - thoughts? support? |
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Anti-Inflammatory diet - thoughts? support?
