Of Milk and Mason Jars: My Journey to Real Food

February 4, 2009
Of Milk and Mason Jars: My Journey to Real Food

For a long time I’ve wanted to write about my journey to “Real Food” or Traditional Nutrition. I’ve hesitated because it seems like a rather long story, and a journey that quite frankly I’m still on. It’s been a pretty amazing journey, spiritually speaking, in that it has empowered me as a woman to realize my potential at bringing healing and nourishment to my loved ones. Food preparation has always been a sacrificial act of love across all cultures. Unfortunately, I grew up in a time when the food culture was probably at an all-time low in this country. My journey, like many, began with a deep question and the search for answers. Read the rest of this entry »

Bieler Broth: A simple detox remedy

July 26, 2008
Bieler Broth: A simple detox remedy

One of the reasons my family eats the way we do is because early in our marriage, my husband started to suffer extreme, unexplained pain in his abdominal area. After exhausting all of our conventional medical options and being tired of hearing “just try taking this pill and see how you feel” and feeling like no one was looking at root causes, we began to take my husband’s healing into our own hands.
His journey is a long story, and I will share more in future posts, but he dealt with chronic fatigue, low energy, depression, symptoms of candida, frequent colds/flulike symptoms, gas, bloating, extreme discomfort after eating, acne, weight gain,…..the list goes on and on.
My longing to see my husband be healed and out of pain drove me to research nutrition, which lead me to a deeper study of immunology, microbiology, and anatomy. I was reading everything I could get my hands on about yeast, candida, blood type and its relation to all of this….you name it, I seemed to come across it.
One book, however, opened the door to more nutritional truth than any other, and that one is Sally Fallon’s book _Nourishing Traditions_. In addition to being full of tons of delicious recipes, each page’s sidebar contains excerpts from other books and journals. Some of the journal excerpts talk about the results of studies that will make your jaw drop, like what happened to rats who ate Kellogg’s Cornflakes every day compared to a group of rats who ate cardboard. Guess which group fared better?
Sally Fallon’s book also introduced me to a “maverick physician” named Dr.Henry Bieler. He is somewhat of a pioneer in the area of chronic disease and its link to nutrition.


“Dr. Henry Bieler, the author of Food Is Your Best Medicine, in over 50 years of
practice proved that high levels of toxicity in the body was very often the root
cause of most common diseases and ailments. This includes conditions such as the
common cold, flus, hayfever allergies, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome,
fibromyalgia, food allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, digestive disorders,
skin conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches and others.
fibromyalgia diet, constipation diet, diarrhea diet, adrenal
fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, diet, irritable bowel syndrome…”

Source

The quote above pretty much affirms all my husband has dealt with, and time after time I continue to meet or read about others for whom toxicity was the root cause of all of their health problems.
“Detoxing” is becoming quite en vogue, and many people are cashing in on the “detox market”. Herbs and kits promising to provide detox are all well and good, but I happen to believe (in Thrifty Oreganic fashion) that Henry Bieler’s right: Food is our best medicine.
There are lots of foods that God gave us that detox. One of them, in particular, is a weed that grows everywhere: dandelion leaves! Beets are also highly priced for their ability to detoxify. The nuts and bolts of detoxing are actually beyond the scope of this post, but one easy and inexpensive way to get started is with Henry Bieler’s famous broth:
Dr. Bieler recommends the following broth for detoxifying and restoring balance to the adrenal glands. He uses whole foods that happen to be at the peak of ripeness right now (in Oregon, at least!) So if you feel the need for a light and refreshing, detoxifying broth to drink, why not pick up some squash, string beans, parsley, and celery from the farmer’s market this weekend and brew up some of this broth!
I recommend this broth to friends anytime they aren’t feeling well and need something healthy in a pinch. Bone broth is wonderful too, but if you don’t have any on hand, this is a decent alternative, especially when you’re feeling under the weather becauase it’s quick to make.
Bieler Broth for Detox and Adrenal Healing

4 med. squash (zukes, yellow or summer)
1 lb. string beans, ends removed
2 sticks celery
2 bunches parsley, stems removed
fresh herbs, such as thyme or tarragon, tied together with a string. (optional)

1 quart filtered water
fresh whey, not powdered!! (optional)

“Henry Bieler recommended this broth for fasting, for energy, and overall health. He felt that this combination of vegetables was ideal for restoring acid-alkaline and sodium-potassium balance to organs and glands, especially the adrenal glands. Bieler brother is highly recommended for those under stress or suffering from stress-related conditions.

Place water, vegetables, and optional herbs in pot. Bring to a boil, skim, lower heat and simmer, covered for about 1/2 hour. Remove herbs. Eat as is or blend.

You may add 1 T whey to each cup of soup. If you’re a garlic lover, be sure to add some garlic and add sea salt to taste.”
I know it’s been out of print for a while, but I’m going to try to get my hands on _Food is your Best Medicine_.
If any of you have read it, please feel free to comment!

Green Popcorn

July 14, 2008

This is fast becoming our Sunday night “supper of choice”. My critical taste testing panel included one picky 3 year old and a somewhat finicky 18 year old. Both were licking the bowl when finished and asking for more! This is sure to please!

Sally Fallon writes “Popcorn is a nutritious snack enjoyed by young and old; but remember that it is prepared without the all important soaking or fermenting process, so don’t overdo!”

Here’s my “updated” version. Combined with the good fats in coconut oil and grass-fed butter, popcorn (rich in fiber) is enhanced by parmesan cheese, spirulina, and vegetable broth powder (such as Herbamare).

Green Popcorn
Makes 8 cups

1/4 cup popcorn
2 T coconut oil
sea salt to taste
1 Tbs Herbamare or Gaylord Hauser Vegetable Broth*
1 tsp spirulina
2 tsp nutritional yeast (optional)
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan (or other favorite cheese)
2-4 Tbs melted kerrygold butter to taste!

1) Melt coconut oil in large, heavy saucepan with tightly-fitting lid (or popcorn maker).

2) Add corn and cover tightly, cooking over medium heat, and shake constantly until popping starts.

3) Lower heat slightly and cook, shaking, until popping dies away.

4) Pour popcorn in large bowl. Add sea salt, herbamare, spirulina, nutritional yeast, cheese, and melted butter.

5) Mix well and enjoy!

We usually serve this for Sunday dinner with slices of cheddar and apples or other seasonal fruit! This also makes a great homemade snack; perfect for taking to the zoo or other places where overpriced junk food abounds!

*Note: Hauser’s vegetable broth contains soy flour, which should be used sparingly due to concerns over soybean over consumption.

Have I mentioned that I LOVE the book _Nourishing Traditions_?

 
 
 
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