My husband and I, albeit five steps behind everyone else, recently finished watching the entire Lost series. I must say we weren't completely satisfied with the last episode. We felt like we were just left hanging on a plethora of fraying loose ends with no hope of reaching the solid ground of firm answers. After this experience we decided we'd make our own TV show called, Found, in which everything going on in the show is painfully obvious, explained in triplicate with flannel board illustrations and flow charts, leaving no room for questions on what the next turn of the plot would be. I'm not sure such a show would be much of a hit, but at least it would leave people with a strong sense of security in knowing exactly what is happening in the show instead of leaving them in agonizing suspense. The only problem with writing such a show is, reality, with all its complications.
I've been pondering on reality a lot lately. Its an intriguing subject for me, especially since my struggle with mental illness lead me out of the realm of reality several times. Talk about a blow, when coming back to yourself you realize you've totally been living in your own little world, totally out of touch with what was really happening. It was devastating to have to face that truth the first time it happened and it lead to a lot of confusion. I felt like I could no longer trust myself to fully grasp reality so I began to always question my thoughts and perceptions on things. The most serious area of my life this affected was my relationship with God, I would question Him, "Are You really showing me this or telling me this, God, or am I just losing it again"? Satan really used this to perpetrate doubt in my mind and lead me out of obedience to God.
When you think about it though, reality isn't that easy of a thing to fully understand. There are so many intricacies that we are wont to look into but can't. We can't look into other people's hearts or minds when evaluating a situation. We can't know every detail leading up to an event or what the consequences will be of every action. Let's face it, sometimes, often times even, how we perceive reality isn't exactly spot on. That's not to say that we can't have a general idea of what's going on, but really, if we want to be honest, we're more often way out in left field than we are in the game. That's because, due to our own choices, we suffer frequent disconnect with the only True Reality, i.e., God. Jesus is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life. What can be more real than the Truth. What can be more insane than living without Him. Of course, if you're a believer you're always in touch just perfectly, no willful, defiant behavior there. If only. The clue phone is ringing, pick it up.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Custom Muffin
Here's one of my favorite gluten-free, other allergen free recipes. I like this recipe because its healthy, easy, and very versatile. You can customize it to fit the mood of your taste buds, AND you can make a bunch of them at once, freeze them and just thaw one out quickly when you have a hankering for such a thing.
Here's what you need:
- 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour* or baking mix (I like Pamela's Baking and Pancake mix because it gives a great texture and you don't have to add anything extra like xanthan gum or baking powder).
*add xantham gum per directions on the package and 1 tsp baking powder.
- 1/2 cup freshly milled flaxseed or gluten free oats or rice bran
- 1/3 cup sugar (you can substitute honey, just make sure you add it to the wet ingredients before you blend)
- dash of salt
- 15oz can of beans (butter beans and great northern beans seem to work best but you can also use kidney, black, pinto, or navy beans)
- 1 cup almond milk (or a liquidy puree such as applesauce, sweet potatoe, pumpkin, pears, berries, etc)
- optional additives: chocolate chips, blueberries, chopped dried apricot, coconut, sunflower seeds, etc.
Preheat oven to 400 F. Combine dry ingredients in large mixing bowl, along with whatever optional additives your heart desires and set aside. Drain and rinse beans and place in blender with almond milk (and honey if you're using it). Blend till creamy (2-3 minutes). Add blended ingredients all at once to the dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.
Divide mixture into a well greased twelve cup muffin pan and bake for 18 min. Remove and let muffins cool in pan on wire rack for 10 mins. Remove muffins from pan and allow to cool on wire rack an additional 10 minutes. Enjoy.
Much thanks to Edith Dingle, whose Funnin recipe gave me the idea for creating these muffins.
Here's what you need:
- 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour* or baking mix (I like Pamela's Baking and Pancake mix because it gives a great texture and you don't have to add anything extra like xanthan gum or baking powder).
*add xantham gum per directions on the package and 1 tsp baking powder.
- 1/2 cup freshly milled flaxseed or gluten free oats or rice bran
- 1/3 cup sugar (you can substitute honey, just make sure you add it to the wet ingredients before you blend)
- dash of salt
- 15oz can of beans (butter beans and great northern beans seem to work best but you can also use kidney, black, pinto, or navy beans)
- 1 cup almond milk (or a liquidy puree such as applesauce, sweet potatoe, pumpkin, pears, berries, etc)
- optional additives: chocolate chips, blueberries, chopped dried apricot, coconut, sunflower seeds, etc.
Preheat oven to 400 F. Combine dry ingredients in large mixing bowl, along with whatever optional additives your heart desires and set aside. Drain and rinse beans and place in blender with almond milk (and honey if you're using it). Blend till creamy (2-3 minutes). Add blended ingredients all at once to the dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.
Divide mixture into a well greased twelve cup muffin pan and bake for 18 min. Remove and let muffins cool in pan on wire rack for 10 mins. Remove muffins from pan and allow to cool on wire rack an additional 10 minutes. Enjoy.
Much thanks to Edith Dingle, whose Funnin recipe gave me the idea for creating these muffins.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Making the Change
I have to admit that making such a drastic change in my diet has not been easy, in fact, I'm still in the process of making the change. One would think that with all the problems these food sensitivities have caused me I would ban such foods from my life forever. Not so, I have a hard time being strong and saying no, especially after I've been denying myself some of the things I love for so long, I just get tired of it. Dairy has been the hardest to avoid, CHEESE! Here's the worst of it, when I do "cheat" a little, I figure, "might as well go all the way", go big or go home.
Other times I "cheat", not because I want to, but because I want to avoid the whole, "you don't have anything I want" food snobbery, as it can come across when I'm enjoying the hospitality of others. I just don't want to burden other people and force them to go out of their way for me. I'm slowly starting to get over this hang up though, and am starting to learn to either bring my own food (which still feels like snobbery) or let people know what I CAN eat.
So, besides cheating, which is part of making the change, learning your own weaknesses, my biggest tool for success has been family. By family, I especially mean my mom. She has food allergies too, and has waded through all the changes. She's been a very big support helping find the best flour blends, bringing food we can eat to different functions we attend together, letting other people know my "special needs" when she knows I'm not going to say anything. She has definitely been my biggest support and encouragement.
Other things that have helped: Writing down, everyday, what I want to avoid and why I want to avoid it (daily reminders like this help bolster my will-power). Making sure I have alternatives on hand when I start craving something in the "forbidden" category. Coming up with my own tasty recipes (some of which I will be sharing on this blog) that are healthy and satisfying. Doing the research and figuring out the best and most cost-effective way to buy allergen free foods. Learning to just do without certain things. Trying to keep a positive attitude and enjoy the good health that is a result of making these sacrifices, these changes.
Other times I "cheat", not because I want to, but because I want to avoid the whole, "you don't have anything I want" food snobbery, as it can come across when I'm enjoying the hospitality of others. I just don't want to burden other people and force them to go out of their way for me. I'm slowly starting to get over this hang up though, and am starting to learn to either bring my own food (which still feels like snobbery) or let people know what I CAN eat.
So, besides cheating, which is part of making the change, learning your own weaknesses, my biggest tool for success has been family. By family, I especially mean my mom. She has food allergies too, and has waded through all the changes. She's been a very big support helping find the best flour blends, bringing food we can eat to different functions we attend together, letting other people know my "special needs" when she knows I'm not going to say anything. She has definitely been my biggest support and encouragement.
Other things that have helped: Writing down, everyday, what I want to avoid and why I want to avoid it (daily reminders like this help bolster my will-power). Making sure I have alternatives on hand when I start craving something in the "forbidden" category. Coming up with my own tasty recipes (some of which I will be sharing on this blog) that are healthy and satisfying. Doing the research and figuring out the best and most cost-effective way to buy allergen free foods. Learning to just do without certain things. Trying to keep a positive attitude and enjoy the good health that is a result of making these sacrifices, these changes.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Consequences Part II
So, food allergies were a key factor of my bipolar I disorder? That's crazy!! (Cheesy pun is fully intended). They also caused fatigue, joint pain, slight swelling in my face, skin problems, thyroid problems and sleeping problems. Other people I know of have suffered from fibromyalgia, migraines, MS, and arthritis (and probably a whole slew of other things) all due to food allergies, their testimonies are most welcome on this blog.
Since I've cut out gluten, corn and dairy from my diet I haven't been on any medication for bipolar, NONE, and I haven't felt better or been more stable in my life! This means I've been able to be at my best in caring for my daughter, I've even been able to nurse her, which I couldn't do if I was on medication. I feel like my life has been given back to me and I praise God because I know He has been my healer and has used my doctor and others to help bring me into the wellness I'm experiencing.
The bad news, there are a lot of people out there who are suffering severely from food allergies and they don't even know it. Their symptoms are being treated by well meaning doctors, but the root problem has yet to be unearthed and dealt with. Some of them have digressed into such a critical state that their lives are being sucked away from them. I'm talking about people with severe mental illnesses and crippling diseases. I know that not all of these disorders are caused by food allergies, but I think it would be surprising to find out how many actually are.
When I first started professional treatment for my bipolar not one doctor looked beyond the symptoms. They just hammered away at the symptoms and forgot that there might be a cause behind them. Yes, they considered a chemical imbalance, but what was behind the chemical unbalance? None of them seemed to ask that question. Unfortunately a lot of patients are treated this way. I thank God that I was finally able to seek help from an excellent doctor who was willing to look beyond the surface and "get down to the nitty gritty" (more Nacho Libre).
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