Nutrition & Healthy Recipes

Many people have poor digestion which can mean painful gas, gurgling in the intestines, bloating, nutrient malabsorption, depression, anxiety, fatigue, moodiness, anger, sleepiness, allergies, weight gain, allergies, and more. Without a properly functioning intestinal tract, we can’t absorb minerals, make B vitamins, and assimilate fat soluble vitamins such as A,E, and D, so important to our immune system. Some of these
nutrients are critical for the gut-brain connection to function. If foods don’t digest well, fats become rancid, carbohydrates ferment, and proteins putrefy, creating discomfort.

The cause of these conditions are a processed food diet-- too high in starches and sugars - - as well as lack of fermented foods so necessary in supplying good intestinal bacteria.  These bacteria help us digest, absorb nutrients, make enzymes, and detoxify. We find that almost everyone we test needs to supplement good bacteria in the gut (80 percent of your immune system). That’s because antibiotics in drugs, water, and animal food kill our good gut bacteria. Normally this good bacteria would keep the bad bacteria in check. We commonly find candida/ yeast, parasites, toxic bacteria, fungus, or viruses as part of
the problem.

In addition, most of us eat improperly prepared grains. All grains should be soaked or sprouted for best digestion and nutrient assimilation. If not, they are a common cause of allergies and abdominal discomfort.

To help yourself: Begin by eating absolutely no foods containing gluten (wheat, spelt,rye, barley, oats). If you are quite ill, we advise eating no grains of any kind for a while. Gluten protein is the most difficult to digest food in the diet. It is like glue and gunks up the villi so they cannot absorb nutrients. This undigested gluten protein ferments and provides food for bad bacteria. Remember that many things contain gluten, including beer and processed foods. In some cases, you need to eliminate fruits for a while, too.  Also eliminate sugar because it is the favorite food for all the toxins listed above. Eat meats, fish, eggs, cheese ( unless you experience problems), and lots of vegetables. Soups made with broth are an excellent choice. Add good bacteria called probiotics with sauerkraut (no vinegar), cultured vegetables, plain yogurt, or pickles with live cultures.  Sometimes probiotic supplements are necessary.

According to Dr. Mercola, we should limit the amount of grains we eat to one or two servings per day. Our bodies were not designed to eat grain in the amount that we do, in spite of the advertising. Remember that the food pyramid was designed by the processed food industry and most of their products are made from grains. This includes cookies, cakes, pizza, wraps, pasta, donuts, crackers, buns, bagels and anything else made from flour.

Sources:
Stock & grain recipes from Nourishing Traditions Cookbook by Sally Fallon Cultured foods available from M.O.M.s Grocery in Arlington, VA. Bubbies sauerkraut is excellent for restoring probiotics.