Food Combining: Dinner One

Minestrone Soup

Had I followed the recipe perfectly I would have been fine. But alas I am used to using recipes as "ideas" and adding/subtracting ingredients as I see fit.

This soup is from "The Food Combining Bible". It's basically carrots, celery, potatoes, veggie broth, a little oil, some basil and oregano. I think that is it. So starch and veggies. A good combination. With out thinking I added KIDNEY BEANS. A protein. So I totally screwed up my first attempt. I was thinking I could have bread or beans.... yea well potatoes are a starch which eliminated the protein option... Gag. Also the soup wasn't filling enough for Hubs. He was super hungry after only 2 hours. So we had oatmeal. At 8pm. Something we wouldn't typically do. But a starch. Does that make up for the beans? I keep reading the book. I've probably read all of the sections several times now. Today the part that said something along the lines of picking one or two bad combination's and avoiding them stuck out. I really wanted to jump in with both feet. I'm still trying but it's going to take time for it to become habit.

Next time I make the soup I'll add pasta - a starch - and serve it with whole wheat bread - also a starch.

Food Combining

Starting today, I am going to attempt to Food Combine. I've read several books. The two I own: "You Are What You Eat" by Dr.Gillian McKeith (this was actually a gift I requested at Christmas) and "The Food Combining Bible" by Jan & Inge Dries. I picked this one up in a used book store prior to corn allergy discovery (PCAD). McKeith's book doesn't go into detail about the use of food combining but she does write about food allergies and sensitives and the use of ones pulse to help determine them. She also talks frankly about BM's and itchy bottoms. It's quite interesting actually. The Dries book goes into detail (um - hence the name of the book) about food combining. They reference Dr. Hay and Dr. Shelton quite a bit in this book. Both of the good Dr's did extensive research/work on food combining.

Both books discuss the benefits of food combining to aid in digestion and possibly help eliminate or alleviate food allergies. The basic physiological explanation is that when foods are eaten in specific orders they are digested properly and there are no "back ups" in one's digestive track.

"Although allergy is a disorder of the immune system, food combining removes the factors that induce the reaction. Eating different foods, mixed together, disrupts the digestion: gases and toxins are formed, and protein residues remain in the intestines. These are absorbed through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream, causing an allergic reaction. Food combining results in perfect digestion, improving the metabolism and making allergic reactions less likely." The Food Combining Bible Dries (pg 79)

This does not mean I am going to re-introduce corn into our diet. That would be ludicrous. My hope is that by food combining we can avoid situations such as the one we are in now - huge reactions, NO idea what from.

PCAD I'd occasionally call David and ask him to pick up dinner on the way home. I didn't typically care what he picked up just so I didn't have to cook and do dishes. While I miss the ease of an occasional to go dinner, both of us have a healthier lifestyle as a result of our meals being home prepared with out preservatives or additives.

Fasting

Through the course of history and even still today people practice fasting - the giving up of, traditionally food. There are religious reasons to fast and there are health reasons to fast and, I'm sure, there are several other reasons.

David and I fasted on Sunday 07.11.2010 for his health. He'd been sick from the effects of corn for several weeks in a row and we decided that giving his digestive system a break would be very beneficial. We ate nothing from when we got up Sunday morning until we woke, and broke the fast on Monday morning. We drank lots of water, a little organic chicken broth and a little 100% organic, clear fruit juice.

The following Monday morning David felt significantly better and had very little heartburn (which is the first symptom that he experiences from his corn allergy). He was feeling great until yesterday when he experienced heartburn all day. David's symptoms start with light heartburn, build up to chronic heart burn, shortness of breath and skin ailments (eczema, acne, rashes), digestive problems (constipation) and psychological effects (depression, anxiety, irrational thoughts). If we can end the allergic reaction at the first sign of heartburn he typically avoids the other symptoms which typically build within just a few days and not always in an "order" but usually after the heartburn the other symptoms hit together at the same time, or in very short succession.

So we are back to the drawing board on his allergy. He's experiencing more than heartburn right now and it was a quick build. He couldn't think of anything special about yesterday that would cause the problem.

Becca "Did you lick any envelops?"
David "No"
Becca "Did you have any meetings?" (They sit in the old "print" room)
David "No"
Becca "Did you eat anything from a co-worker?"
David "No"
Becca "What did you eat for breakfast?"
David "That new organic cereal" (I read the label 12 times - it shouldn't cause a reaction and wouldn't cause one all day if there were minute levels of corn - not on the label. He'd be sick for an hour or so right after breakfast.)
Becca "Did you handle a lot of paper?"
David "No more than usual"

And on and on and on until David falls asleep and quits responding. It's really aggravating for me to be unable to determine what is making him sick. We keep a corn free house including the bulk of our cleaning products and other household items. I'm careful about cleaning with questionable products in the early mornings so that when he gets home the fumes have dissipated (he's gone about 11-12 hours a work day). I wash all the fruits and veggies we purchase even the occasional "pre-washed lettuce" I purchase. We buy mostly organic because the labels are easier to decipher and 100% organic means that salts can't have "pouring agents." Speaking of salt we have only 100% sea salt that we have to grind ourselves....

(Keep in mind corn can be organic so organic DOES NOT mean corn free it just means it should have clearer labels and no hidden ingredients or miscellaneous "spices" listed.)

Needless to say the grocery bill is OUTRAGEOUS for 2 adults.

plaCes t O Read iNgredients

I checked a book out of the library that was all about purchasing organic foods. The bottom line was that home cooking from scratch was the best way to avoid additives and preservatives.... Well of course but for those of us with a corn allergy even home cooking from scratch can cause allergic reactions.

This means I'm the one parked in a corner at the grocery store carefully reading all the labels before anything gets placed in my cart. Organic does not = corn free. 100% organic means that in the labeling not much can be hidden under the ambiguous "spices" or "natural flavors". Corn is ubiquitous. It is used as a sweetener, lubricant, thickener, adhesive... and on and on...

Home cooking from scratch is basically all we eat. But chicken is sometimes packed with "broth". Even the whole chickens or the chicken breasts packed separately. Veggies are coated with wax to help prevent bugs and make them look prettier... and that wax often contains corn. One can see where I am headed with this.

I wish that corn and corn products were only found in food items but when I shop I have to read the labels on detergents, soaps, deodorants, household cleaning products, dog shampoos, toilet paper, medicines and so on. We have friends that have an allergy to wheat. I wish David had an allergy to wheat. Avoiding wheat is much more common. Individuals and families avoid wheat not just for allergy purposes but as a diet preference. It is easy to find "gluten free" items at the market in every aisle. I've only found one item that specifically says "made with out corn", but then it's in a list that also includes: soy, wheat and so on. That's ok, I'll take it.

Prior to corn allergy discovery (PCAD) I cooked from scratch for fun and because that's what my mom did. When time was of the essence however, I would occasionally pick up short cut meals such as frozen pasta with sauce in a bag and in the summer I purchased all our bread (we live in Texas and I made all our bread from scratch in the cooler months but hated running the oven in the summer heat). PCAD one could open the pantry, the fridge or the freezer and find these shortcut items. Now my pantry contains two short cut items that I purchase regularly and never make from scratch BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE TO. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is corn free. (Who-da-thunk??) I've emailed Kraft and have had a response. Ingredients do change in products but David has not had a reaction to this product so we continue to purchase and eat it. And of course Kitchen Basics products.

Happy label reading!! Be diligent even with safe products as companies do change ingredients from time to time.

Shower Spray & Automatic Dish Packets!!

I am delighted to find a shower spray and dish washing packets that we can use!! There are so many things that I HAVE to make from scratch all the time every day that when I find even little things, I have a small party in my head - corn free of course!! Below is an excerpt from a woman with Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products:

"Greetings Rebecca,

Thank you for your interest in Mrs. Meyer’s, and for taking the time to write. Our shower spray (I specifically asked about LEMON VERBENA SHOWER CLEANER)
and automatic dish packs (I specifically asked about AUTOMATIC DISH PACKETS LEMON VERBENA) do not contain any known corn derived ingredients.
...The automatic dish packs do contain active enzymes which come from bio-fermentation. I am having our lab research what plant source the bio-fermentation comes from, and I will let you know as soon as I hear back...."

She went on to tell me where corn came from in the other specific products I inquired about. How nice! I am so pleased to have had such a pleasant interaction with a company rep that I'm going to go buy loads of each product!

UPDATE - got the response already!!

"Hi again Rebecca,

The lab has confirmed that no corn ingredients are used in the bio-fermentation process for the auto dish packs, so those would be safe to use. Have a great day!"

Yea for safe products!!

Basic Semi-Sweet Chocolate Sauce or Candies

Ingredients
100% High Quality Cocoa Squares
Butter
Cream (or 1/2 & 1/2)
Milk
Vanilla (home made for us)
Sugar

Directions
In sauce pan melt cocoa. Add a touch of 1/2 & 1/2 or cream, vanilla and sugar. Whisk all ingredients until thoroughly mixed. I don't really have measurements - I do it to taste. It is important that the ingredients have enough time to thoroughly dissolve the sugar or the chocolate will be grainy but one must watch that it doesn't burn.
Storage is best in glass jar in fridge.

For a chocolate that can be solidified in the refrigerator or freezer use less milk/cream. Chocolate can be "shaped" by pouring into molds or mini cupcake tins.
Storage is best in freezer.

Tested & Failed

Items that David has used or been exposed to and has had a CORN ALLERGY reaction to & ingredient we believe that caused reaction:

Aleve caplets - Microcrystaline cellulose
Zantac 150 - Microcrystaline cellulose & Hypromellose
Tupperware - Plastics are made w/corn (not just name brand, all plastic food storage containers and reactions occur especially when hot food is involved)
Concrete sealant - Latex is made w/corn (this is particularly dangerous as fumes are inhaled causing shortness of breath)
Baking Extracts - Alcohol is present in nearly all extracts, corn syrup in most
Arm & Hammer Toothpaste - (I received a phone call from a company rep. and yes the sorbitol in their product is derived from corn starch. Bummer we liked that toothpaste, we are on to one made by Tom's of Maine.)
Envelop sealant - the kind that you "Lick to stick" are all made with corn
Painters Blue Tape - adhesives often contain corn derived products
Wood floor glue - we glued our bamboo flooring to our concrete sub flooring. This product caused huge reaction. David slept at the neighbors house for several days until the fumes cleared.
Paper-towels - when used in microwave with food to "prevent splatter"
Foot aerosol spray - We don't use any aerosol products in our house anymore but David walked through the garage in his friends home. His friend had just sprayed his boots and David was sick almost immediately.
The MICROWAVE at work - There are so many corn products being heated in the microwave in the employee kitchen at work David gets sick each time he uses it. He has stopped using it. He is tired of sandwiches and cold lunches but he doesn't get sick every day anymore.
Plastic water bottles - Corn is used in plastic bottles. The only plastic bottled water that David can drink is Fiji Water which is in a plastic bottle but he's never had a reaction to. We have replaced all our reusable water bottles with stainless steel and glass.



(This list was updated on: 10.14.2010)