I am feeling rotten this week; I have a urinary tract infection. Sorry if this is “tmi” but it does relate to the topic of my diet. Every time in the past 5 years that I have decided to eat healthier, lose weight, diet, etc., I have developed a uti about 2 weeks into it. I don’t know why it happens, probably something to do with chemistry, hormones, dehydration, ph balance, acidity, whatever. When I began this new way of eating a few weeks ago, I was positive it wouldn’t happen this time. After all, this was a lot more than just cutting calories. This was getting my system balanced, lowering acidity and raising alkaline. But 2 days ago . . . here we go again. I’m convinced that there is a more healthy natural way to get rid of my uti and heal my body than with antibiotics, but I’m just too new to all this and feeling too awful to think about it right now. Like they say, the best offense is a good defense.
Comfort Food
When I’m extremely tired or not feeling very well, I tend to fall back to so-called comfort foods. My version of comfort food isn’t mac and cheese or meatloaf; mine is invariably something smooth, creamy, cold and at least a little sweet. My go-to comfort foods are things like flan, tapioca pudding, or even a jello parfait, not one of which is good for me. Nevertheless this week I have been indulging in my comfort foods. Why is it that when we are feeling down in some way, whether it be physically, mentally or emotionally, we crave certain foods? Why at times of distress aren’t our bodies crying out for foods that are actually healthy instead of those things that will only make our problem worse in the long run? Maybe it does work that way for people who have rid their bodies of the nasty toxins lurking in our systems; who have retrained their taste buds. I’m sure there is some nutritional scientific answers for such questions but today I feel too yucky to give it serious contemplation. Meanwhile would someone please bring me some Crème Brule?
Is Healthy Fudge an Oxymoron?
I found a number of different recipes for raw vegetarian fudge online so I played around and came up with my own. It doesn’t exactly taste like traditional fudge but it does taste like a dark chocolate mounds bar. With this recipe in my arsenal, I don’t feel the need for commercial candy bars; this is way better. Keep it in the fridge because it will turn back into a liquid if you don’t (I learned that lesson the hard way). It isn’t vegan because of the honey in the recipe. Obviously this is very high in fat and calories so indulge in just a bite or two now and then. Enjoy!
Coconut Fudge
1 cup coconut oil (virgin, organic)
1/2 cup honey (raw, unfiltered)
1 TBSP. vanilla
3/4 cup cocoa (organic)
1/4 cup shredded coconut (organic, unsweetened)
Place the coconut oil in a glass container and set in a pan of hot water to warm the oil. Place all ingredients, except shredded coconut, in a blender and process until smooth and thoroughly blended. Pour into a pie pan or baking dish that has been lined with parchment paper. Place in fridge until firm (it won’t take long).
I Climbed Stairs Today!
I realize that to most of you, the above statement should be followed by an exclamation mark; but this is monumental for me. I haven’t been able to go up or down a flight of stairs like a normal person in years. Previously I had to hold on to the railing, using it to drag myself up and go down side ways. I had to put both feet on the step before proceeding to the next step and even then every step was painful. After only a few stairs I would have been breathing very, very hard and my chest would have felt as though it were going to explode. NOT today! It was only 2 flights of stairs in a parking garage, down and then back up a little while later, but it was my idea to take those stairs and not use the elevator. There was no pain in my ankles, feet or even my knees. I must admit that those body parts do feel a bit weak (I don’t know exactly how to explain that) but they didn’t hurt. And I only got slightly winded on the trip up the stairs, but only for a few moments and only a little bit. Things are really looking up a little more every day.
Dislike
Found another food today that I dislike – quinoa. Yuck. I’m starting to feel like I’m not going to find any new foods that I actually like. Tomorrow is kale. What will happen?
Weird Food
I wrote, earlier in the week, about my experience with fermented beverages, about caving in to my cheese obsession, and about making my own raw nut butter. I am 51 years old and have been eating the same way for all of those years. I’m enjoying feeling healthier and being pain free but I am having a very difficult time with all of these “weird foods”. I’ve never even eaten much in the way of fresh fruits or vegetables. I’ve never eaten sprouted grains and nut butter and coconut oil and I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to most of them but I’m determined to try. I don’t want to go back to feeling the way I did before and I definitely want this extra weight off. So far I’m not really enjoying the tastes and textures of the foods in my new diet. It’s just so incredibly different; it’s a whole new way of thinking. There’s so much health information to take in and remember. Take vitamins, use essential oils. Don’t medicate, vaccinate or exercise. Eat this, don’t eat that; cook this, don’t cook that; don’t cook in the microwave; this is bad, that’s good. Eat raw, eat clean, eat real; gluten-free, dairy free, soy free. AHHHHHHH! Who’s right, who’s wrong? All I can do is fumble and stumble along in my own way and hope that I don’t kill myself somewhere along the way by eating the wrong thing (or the right thing cooked the wrong way).
I Heart Cheese
I do; I REALLY do love cheese. Not stinky cheese or goat cheese, but just about every other kind of cheese. I’ve often said that I want to go on a cheese tour of France once day. I want to learn to make my own cheese. So now I’m on a diet which cuts the cheese (no pun intended) completely out along with all other dairy. Insert frowny face here. Cutting dairy from my diet has done some wonderful things for me. I think I’ve been lactose intolerant for a long time and just didn’t realize it. I’ve been experimenting with the whole cheese thing for several weeks and I develop a lot of digestive issues when I eat the stuff. The last 24 hours have been a major cheese/dairy consuming time for me. I’ve eaten ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, Monterey jack and a deliciously tangy sharp cheddar made from raw cow’s milk. Dairy’s been the most difficult thing to give up. I love butter, cream, sour cream, cream cheese and cheese in abundance. I’m not saying everyone should ditch the dairy from their diets but it has definitely been good for me. If you are going to include dairy in your diet, I would suggest going with raw organic products. I will from time to time be indulging myself.
