Recipe Review: Chili Chili Bang Bang

I came across this fun blog a few months ago and tried the Breakfast Stuffed Peppers and Carrot Pecan Muffins, I saved this recipe to try later. Chili Chili Bang Bang not only has a fun name but turned out very flavorful and the recipe makes plenty, I froze most of it for quick meals later on. I garnished mine with some SCD yogurt, chopped scallions and bacon bits. Whole Foods carries a pre-cooked nitrate free bag of bacon bits that is great for salads or scrambled eggs. Thanks Primal Kitchen Chaos for a great recipe!

Book Review: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down; A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman

Have you ever been drawn to a book? Have you ever been looking through a shelf at the library or book store and one says to you, "pick me, pick me"? It has happened to me only a few times in my life, the most recent being this one. I was at my local library looking through a number of books that had been donated but that the library did not want on it's shelves for one reason or another, they were all marked .25 cents. I picked this book up and it spoke to me, the picture on the cover, the unusual title, it just said you have to read me and find out what I am all about.

This story is heart wrenching. It is about a refugee family from Laos that is relocated to the United States. The only possessions they have with them; their family and their culture, which they cling to desperately. Their infant daughter suffering from epileptic seizures is brought to the local county hospital for treatment and the story unfolds revealing a clash of Western and Eastern medicines with a young child caught in the middle. This is not the usual case of the parents either declining treatment or insisting on non-standard treatment. These parents want treatment but do not even understand how to administer the prescribed medicines and are sent home expected to comply and then held accountable for the care of their daughter who is at one point placed into state custody because of their non-compliance.

Anne Fadiman's writing is incredibly rich and easy to get caught up in. If you have ever wondered about our medical system and why sometimes you feel like you are running into a brick wall to get the help you know you need but can't find the right avenue to get it you will understand the dilemmas in this story. I don't want to give too much away but I can say I learned more about the Dr./patient relationship, our medical system, the Hmong and their culture as well as enjoyed the beautifully written story.

Book Review: The Second Brain

If you are looking for an intense read on the human body's digestion, this is the book for you!
Your Gut Has a Mind of it's Own, The Second Brain a Groundbreaking New Understanding of Nervous Disorders of the Stomach and Intestine by Michael Gershon, M.D. has given me an education and greater understanding of how my body gets it's nutrients from food and what an amazing wonder it is. Have you ever thought about the acid in your stomach? It can dissolve metal, why doesn't it dissolve the stomach? Did you know that even if you are paralyzed your gut has it's own nervous system and will still properly work without cues from your brain?

This book is written by an M.D. but in a very readable style. It is certainly not leisure reading but I enjoyed finally understanding so much. Dr. Gershon details much of the current research he has been involved in and his own story of wanting to become a researcher, but the bulk of the book is a step by step explanation of what happens to food you eat, called Part II The Travelogue. Information is power so if you need to understand your digestive system better I strongly recommend this book and I just posted my copy on Paperback Swap!

Balance, what it means to me.....

I started this blog thinking it would cover the spectrum of my intestinal life, Healing with good food, Balancing my emotions and hormones, and Living, all the fun things I am finally able to do now that I am once again healthy. I have definitely covered the food portion, out of 145 posts most of them are recipes. There is a whole other part of healing that makes just as much of a difference for me as eating well, I call it Balance.

I am a bit overwhelmed trying to explain, and it will take more than one post to do it. The first thing I want to address as part of living balanced is stress. When I am stressed, I mean really stressed it doesn't matter what I eat, I hurt. I am not talking about the "I forgot to buy some milk" kind of stress. I mean the loss of a loved one, a new baby, or moving, changes that bring in a new phase on the time line of your life. Stress doesn't always come from a negative event either. I have one friend that suffers from migraines triggered by stress. She once found out she was getting a huge tax return and got so excited she got a headache.

The last year I have been reading all I can on Yoga and Meditation, the one book that explained to me how and why I should meditate is "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn. If you are wanting the benefits of mediation in your life and don't exactly know how to start you need to read this book. It is based on the program of stress reduction at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and has been in print over 15 years. I have been reading and implementing this book into my life over the last 6 months.

I consider myself a beginner at meditation (which is probably why I haven't been blogging about it) and have been pleasantly surprised by it's benefits. I think more clearly and can handle busy times calmly and I have learned to detach from some situations and emotions. It sounds cold in a way but it actually is very helpful to take a step back from out of control emotions and anxiety and put them in proper prospective. When I do this I have more energy available for the areas of my life that are most important, number one right now is healing my digestive system. That is one connection between your mind and body, we can easily tire ourselves out just by being overcome with thoughts and emotions. Staying in that state depletes the body of the energy it needs to stay healthy. We can't sleep well, food doesn't digest, it all culminates in illness.

The part that really surprised me is how much more I am enjoying the joyful times. Because I am calm and open to so much more I am able to enjoy the good times with clarity and gratification. What does meditation involve? Well, there are volumes written on the subject but to distill it all down it is about learning to live with your emotions, feel them and then move on and live in the moment, enjoying the now! It does take time and commitment but will change every aspect of your life for the better. More to come on balance in the future!

Book Review: Mimus

I love to read in the summer when it's so hot in the afternoons that even in an air conditioned building you still feel sticky. My problem is finding a good book, you know the kind I am talking about, where you read the first few pages and then can't put it down. You read in every spare moment you can find and almost can't sleep till you finish the book and if you do fall asleep you dream about the characters.

Mimus was a book like that for me. My 16 year old daughter suggested I read it after she finished it and now my younger son is taking his turn. It is classified as a Young Adult book but hey..I just turned 40..I can use all the Young anything I can get. Mimus is the story of a young prince who is captured by the enemy kingdom and forced into being a jestor in the court of the enemy king while his own father(and king) is locked up in the dungeon sentenced to death. Anything more and I will be giving too much away. It was a very engaging read and perfect for the lazy days of summer, I will be reading it aloud to my youngest son next. What books have you been enjoying this summer?

Book Review: Grain-Free Gourmet

I am trying to learn to live simply. Minimal belongings=more time for fun. The past few months I have been de-junking my home and trying to simplify. Some conflict has arisen as I look at the shelves of cook books I own. Many were gifts, some I purchased on vacation, many are stained and tattered, they all hold memories.....of food I can no longer eat.

Just when I am wondering what I will do with all of that shelf space I discover there are SCD cook books out there! Yahoo! I purchased this one from Amazon after a failed first attempt with another cook book (more on that another time) and feel like I hit the motherlode. This cook book is packed with beautiful pictures and great recipes, all SCD legal. I can't post any of the recipes due to copyright laws but I will share some of the names with you. Cinnamon Pecan muffins, Strawberry Shortcake, Apple Pancakes, Caramel Sauce, Seven Layer Lasagna, Stuffed Sweet Peppers....the list goes on. So far every recipe I have tried has been delicious and more than I expected. There are also recipes for the basics, tomato sauce, yogurt, barbeque sauce and dressings. If you are just starting on this diet I think this book would be a great place to get to know the great things you CAN eat. Kudos to authors Jodi Bager and Jenny Lass!

This is a picture of the Cinnamon Pecan Muffins I made and they were even better than they look.

Book Review: Organic Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck

Ellen Sandbeck is one of my newly found favorite authors. I read two of her books this past Winter and have a few more on my TBR (to be read) list. This book was literally life changing for me. Because of my past health issues I have been interested in organic housekeeping for the past 13 years. I have purchased too many expensive organic cleaners trying to help myself and my family, after reading this book and employing Ellen's methods I am enjoying a clean house and spending a fraction of the time and cost to do it.

The subtitle of this book is "In Which the Nontoxic Avenger Shows You How to Improve Your Health and That of Your Family While You Save Time, Money, and Perhaps, Your Sanity". It is a mouthful but truly explains what the book is about. The first chapter starts at the beginning, how to organize, store and declutter, after all why learn how to clean it if you don't really need or want it? The following chapters go into detail on how to clean the kitchen (everything from the refrigerator to the toaster and safe food handling), bathrooms, bedrooms, laundry and general cleaning tips. The last chapters cover your car, indoor air quality, the yard, and pet care. Needless to say everything a typical home needs to keep clean is covered in these 400 pages from your coffee pot to your dog.

Now I know you are thinking, 400 pages? on cleaning? how boring.... but Ellen has a style that presents the information in an interesting and at times humorous way. She recommends using vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and natural soaps, things you can buy at your local grocery or drug store. Last but not least the book has an excellent index which I have used many times since reading it as I have needed to reference a particular item. I can't say I enjoy cleaning the bathroom but I have a system now that gets it clean without harsh cleaners in a minimal amount of time and with minimal cost.

Book Review: The G Free Diet A Gluten Free Survival Guide

I ran into the library to pick up a book the other day and my librarian, who has Celiac's and has been a wonderful resource for me brought out this book. She didn't know I had gone to the SCD diet and thought I would enjoy this read by Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Now that is service!

I checked out the book and brought it home, wary because I have heard the controversy surrounding it. I sat down to take a look at it and was pleasantly surprised. The book truly lives up to it's name, A Gluten Free Survival Guide. I was happy to see chapters on how to identify gluten, how to modify your kitchen to accommodate gluten and gluten free family members, how to order at restaurants and how to handle the dreaded dinner party. The chapters are insightful and very funny.

Elisabeth's own story is heart wrenching, she like many, diagnosed herself after many years of pain. There are only a few recipes, one from her Italian grandmother for meatballs and sauce I can't wait to try, as well as lasagna and baked Penne. Overall I learned a few tricks and thought this was a very worthwhile read. Thanks Terrie Ann!

Book Review- Living Well Emotionally by Montel Williams

I recently saw Montel Williams being interviewed and was intrigued by his strength and candidness in discussing what he has learned from having MS. His book, Living Well Emotionally Break Through to a Live of Happiness, embodies his journey emotionally as he has learned about depression and happiness. Since being diagnosed with MS and being on many medications whose side effects include depression he has learned how to pick himself up and move through the negative "spiral" of emotions. He has also studied happiness and presents to the reader a very detailed picture along with much research to show us step by step how to keep yourself well emotionally.

The book includes many anecdotes and experiences as well as current research by qualified doctors who have done numerous studies to find out what makes people happy. Montel wraps it all up in the final chapter by giving 17 Powerful Tips for Living a Happier Life. He tells us through all his pain and uncertainty about the future he has overcome the hold of depression and lives a happy life.

I thought this book was very thought provoking and enjoyed reading it. Depression is the main symptom I have when ingesting gluten and dairy. I don't deal with it anymore but I certainly know the feelings of being overwhelmed and the chain of emotions that follow. I like the message to live your life with good diet and exercise habits and to enjoy beauty and relationships and things you love to do. It is simple and straightforward and will leave you with the steps you need to take control.

Breaking the Vicious Cycle- A Book Review and the Specific Carbohydrate Diet

A cure for Celiacs? This book instantly caught my attention. In almost 2 years of researching and reading everything I can on Celiac's Disease it is the first time I have heard of a cure, everything else described it as chronic.

Elaine Gottschall's experience in studying diseases of the digestive system gives her the expertise to explain to us her findings. She has a Master's degree from the Department of Cell Science at The University of Western Ontario where she spent 4 years studying the effects of sugars on the digestive tract. She went on to publish many works on intestinal health and it's relationship to overall health and behavior. She passed away in 2005 at 84 years of age. Her bio states she "tirelessly pursued her scientific research until her death" This book is not only for Celiac Disease patients but those suffering from Ulcerative Colitis, Chrohn's Disease, Diverticulitis, Cystic Fibrosis, Chronic Diarrhea, and Autism. It is a short read, the first 70 pages explain Elaine's research and ideas while the last 90 pages are dedicated to recipes to help you get started on the diet.

In a nutshell the research presented shows that for various reasons the balance in the intestines and colon is upset and you are not able to digest complex sugars (ie: any grains, potatoes, all sugars except for honey, and dairy products except for homemade yogurt). These cannot pass through into your bloodstream at a cellular level and stay in your intestine becoming food for the "bad" bacteria that live there. The bacteria overpopulate and in response your body creates mucus to protect itself from their toxins, which starts the "vicious cycle" spoken of in the title.

You eat more, the bacteria populate more (creating toxins), and you create more mucus which keeps you from absorbing all nutrients, while the toxic waste of the bacteria spreads throughout your body, which makes you sick. The solution presented in this book is to eliminate all complex sugar chains from your diet for 1-2 years, thus starving the "bad" bacteria as well as replenishing the good bacteria through Elaine's own recipe of homemade yogurt, restoring balance and curing your disease. She calls this diet The Specific Carbohydrate Diet.

I tried the diet for 2 days and did feel improvement in my overall health and energy. I am considering committing to it for 2 months and possibly even 1 year. Knowing how important it is to follow this diet "fanantically" and being on such a restrictive diet already I am taking a little time to decide. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who thinks they have ill health due to their digestion. It is very informative even if you are not interested in starting the diet.

Here is part one of the SCD

Here is part two of the SCD

Here is part three of the SCD