8/31/12 Daily Food Journal - Gallstone/Healthy Gallbladder Foods

Tough time getting to sleep last night. Once I did the dreams were vivid and strange. I actually slept in MUCH later than I thought.... So that is what a 1/4 tsp of magnesium feels like at bedtime! It did really help the gallbladder/liver discomfort subside.

Just before bed I read posts from both sides of those who had gotten their gallbladder removed and those who chose diet and lifestyle change while keeping their gallbladder. I saw that many folks had complaints that doctors don't prepare them for the potential side effects after surgery, nor what foods they should eat. No, it doesn't sound like everyone can go back to eating greasy and unhealthy foods as they did before removal. After all, you're removing an organ that stores bile and specifically helps to digest fats, without it bile drips directly into the intestines and on numerous sites I've read this may actually increase the risk of chronic diarrhea or more serious diseases like colon cancer. So as popular as the surgery has become (remember when removing tonsils was popular?) I still feel it needs to be absolutely necessary! The bonus I saw with many folks overall is that they were forced - by their body screaming at them - to eat a healthier diet. Not such a bad mechanism if it actually requires you to live healthier! Who knows, it may prevent some from developing more serious diseases in the future.

I can't help but wonder how the removal of this organ can be seen as the solution. The stones formed in the first place and wouldn't they continue to form if the diet was still the same? People can still get stones in the liver...

Another interesting correlation I've read about is food allergies/sensitivities, low stomach acid, magnesium deficiency and their role in gallbladder health.  

Just briefly I will list some of the common do's and dont's with foods I've come across for those having gallbladder/stone issues. These are merely suggestions I've gathered. You are the best at discerning the needs of your body, but these were some things I commonly found- a very alkaline diet (minus meats and grains):

DO Eat:
Beets
Cucumber
Celery
Carrots
Sweet Potato
Asparagus
Artichoke
Zucchini
Green Beans
Fish (salmon, freshwater white fish)
Baby Greens
Chard
Garlic
Ginger
Lemons
Apples (green)
Berries
Pears
Avocado
Parsnip
Radish
Seaweed
Turmeric
Flax Oil/seed
Coconut Oils
Olive Oil
Rice, Millet, Quinoa (my additions)

DON'T Eat:
Heavy fats/deep fried foods
Eggs
Dairy (Milk, cheese, ice cream, sour cream)
Gluten (Wheat, Barley, Rye, etc)
Corn
Poultry
Red Meat
Coffee/Black Tea
Carbonated beverages
Alcohol
Refined/processed sugar
Cabbage family
Nuts
Oranges/Grapefruit

My biggest challenges from this list are: no chicken, corn, or dairy. I've found my body is more sensitive at times than others too. Sometimes I can do dairy and be fine, maybe my gallbladder enjoys processing the fat that day :) Same goes for chicken and corn. There is a balance to be had with fat intake. If I go "no fat" I'm doing myself a diservice. I need to eat some in the form of oil or avocado, at least, otherwise there is discomfort. Personally I've found my gallbladder speaks most when I: a) need to eat, b) have eaten too much at one time, or c) I am under too much stress. My body is the teacher and I try to be a good student (most of the time). We've become so accustomed to convenience and those foods aren't usually the most optimal choices for our bodies. Time to listen and re-learn how to keep the body healthy!
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This morning I diverted from my "routine" and went out to breakfast. Seemed like a morning to give my gallbladder some work...?

Milk Thistle (2 caps)
1/8 tsp Mag

Breakfast: Taco Salad- Baby greens, spinach, green onion, refried pinto beans, chicken, corn tortilla chips, guacamole, salsa, small amount of grated cheese
Glass of Apple Juice
Digest Basic Digestive Enzyme

Cup of Rooibos Chai

Lunch: Leftover Taco Salad
Digest Basic Digestive Enzyme

Afternoon :  12oz. Green Juice- Chard, Dandelion, Cucumber, Celery, Carrot (not green...), Green Apple, Pear, Ginger, Lemon, 1/4 tsp flax meal

Dinner : Leftover Salmon Salad (1/4-1/3c) with cultured veggies and tiny drizzle of Tofu Tahini dressing

Snack : Organic Raw Revolution Bar- cashews, dates, sunflower seed kernels, agave nectar, almonds, sprouted flax seed (GB wasn't a big fan of this tonight...then I looked at Total Fat: 14g/2g Sat ~ Yowza!)

12oz Green Juice

Journaling this is turning out to be really helpful for me to see what I am ingesting, my reactions and the habits I have. Thanks to my friend Diane in NC that suggested I do this!

8/30/12 Daily Food Journal

Boy, I felt sluggish getting out of bed this morning. My nose & throat felt congested too. Detox?
I really have to watch how many liquids I take in closer to bedtime. I'm finding that even if I stop drinking them 3 hours before bed I am up 1-2x in the middle of the night using the bathroom. For those who are interested I seem to wake up just past 3AM. In Chinese Medicine this may be related to Liver/Lungs. Ohhh, that fog that blankets the skies is here today....

8/30/12

Flower Essence blend: same as yesterday
Milk Thistle (2 caps)

Water upon waking

Breakfast:
Kitchari: Mung bean and brown rice (soaked overnight) with Kombu, seasoned with brown mustard seed, cumin seed, ginger, bay leaf, turmeric, dulse, cardomom pods, Redmon's Real Salt, coconut oil;
added fermented veggies

Tea: Pau D'Arco, roasted Dandelion root, Licorice root

Slight headache, sluggish

EFT: "Tapping Into Vibrant Health" & "Loss and Grief"

oh funky feeling day

1:20pm : 12 oz. Green Juice - cucumber, celery, dandelion, chard, kale, pear, green apple, ginger, lemon

Here comes the sun...finally!

2:10pm : Salmon Salad Wrap- canned salmon, vegan mayo, celery, romaine lettuce, fermented veggies, wrapped in brown rice tortilla
Digest Basic Digestive Enzyme

3:00pm : Glass of water

Late afternoon Liver/back discomfort (some stress at orientation meeting)

5:00pm : 12 oz. Green Juice

Time for the heating pad...

6:00pm : small bowl of Kitchari w/ cultured veggies and tofu tahini dressing

8:00pm : 1/8 tsp magnesium in 1/2 glass water

Daily Food Journal 8/29/12 and why I am doing this

I'm on a path to Living Wholeness. Not only physically but mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I'd describe myself as someone who tends to view the big picture of life from a spiritual perspective, though I get my reassurance from tangible results. I have faith but I like real life examples, keeps the inspiration flowing. That's the part of me drawn to blogging my experience.

So I've had a number of health concerns that I have been working to resolve for some time. Some physical... digestive, loose stools, burning sensations, probable gallstones, food sensitivities, mild dry/red rash on face (lower cheeks), PMS, cramps, breast inflammation/soreness, lethargy; some mental/emotional... anxiety, PTSD, forgetfulness, scatteredness, brain fog, interrupted sleep, sometimes depression. Stress has been a big part of all this.

I've tried so many therapies, diets, ideas over the past 8 years. Now I am taking what I have gathered, "digesting" it and coming up with my own truth out of it all! I am grateful for all of the assistance I have had up to this point and for all there is yet to come. My intention for posting this publicly is that it be available for others looking for some ideas to their health concerns on their own path to Living Wholeness. This is not meant to prescribe anything to you but a place to share information. What might be good for me and my body may differ from you. I'll let you be in charge of your own wholeness.

Being that I have tried so many things, I will only briefly list them here and if anyone would like to discuss them in more detail I would be happy to if you comment this blog.

Here goes: Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Sound Healing, Herbal Medicine, Rife, Juicing, Allopathic Prescriptions, Network Chiropractic, Massage, Cranial Sacral, Reiki, Shamanic Healing, Flower Essences, Vitamin Supplementation, Positive Affirmations, Guided Visualization, EFT, BodyTalk, Somatic Experiencing Workshop, Soul Memory Work, Toltec Breathing Exercises, Maori Massage, Intuitive Arts Training, Astrology. There may be some I have forgotten.

You might be curious what has worked the best - ? For me, the most effective modalities for stress reduction have been: Sound Healing, Massage, Reiki, EFT, and Shamanic Healing. Oh! And a nice cup of lavendar and lemon balm tea, a hot bath with epsom salts and a nice foot massage with lavender and almond oils. One of the hats I wear is a that of a Reiki practitioner (Master Level), fusing different shamanic breathwork and healing techniques in the work I do. In 2011 I began providing Reiki treatments at a Community Clinic and trading treatments with friends. It's worked too! I think this really helped me take my own healing to the next level. Part of putting the power back into my own hands and feeling great helping others!

I'd love to hear success stories from folks on their journey to Living Wholeness...let's network our inspiration and support here!

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What I think I will do with the format here is list the supplements I am taking at the beginning and then list the food, along with any reactions I may have. (A little background...I tend to be very sensitive to supplements so that is always FUN, yet I still keep on trying 'em!) If I am really on top of things for the day I will post the time. If you have any questions or wonder why I'm trying this or not doing that, feel free to write me. I'm jumping in at 'present day' with this and like I said, I've tried many things already....

(Disclaimer: I am not perfect and may eat some things that don't seem so "strict" to the more disciplined folks. What I am is HUMAN, giving myself permission not to be perfect all the time and to instead LOVE & ACCEPT myself while reaching Living Wholeness... because loving yourself, forgiving yourself and accepting the authentic being that is YOU is spectacularly important to vibrant health!)

8/29/12

Flower Essence Blend: Rosemary, Agrimony, Impatiens, Chestnut Bud, Red Chestnut, Cherry Plum
Milk Thistle (1 cap)
B12

Upon waking: Feeling/thinking Gratitude & 1/2 glass water

Breakfast/Morning:
12oz juice: Celery, Cucumber, Dandelion, Romaine (from garden!), Radish, Green Apple, Pear, Ginger, Lime (I've been drinking green juice on a daily basis for 3 months now)

Gluten Free English Muffin (Brown Rice) w/Vegan Pesto, Cucumber Slices, and Redmon's Real Salt

Lunch:
Zucchini "Spaghetti" (from garden!) with Garlic, Curry, Turmeric and Redmon's Real Salt

Slight headache today, very tired afternoon

Mid Afternoon: (I splurged, feeling low blood sugar and our local co-op has sushi chef making fresh all day)
Sushi - brown rice, nori, crab, tuna, avocado, roe, mayo, and sriracha sauce
Digest Basic Digestive Enzyme

Tea (1 cup)- Pau D'Arco, Roasted Dandelion Root, Licorice Root
Tea (1 cup)- Red Rooibos Chai

Early Evening:
12oz juice - same as AM

Evening Snack:
Raw Revolution Organic Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Bar (YUM!) Contains (all OG): cashews, sunflower seed kernals, agave nectar, dates, cocoa, almonds, raspberry powder, sprouted flax seed

12oz. water

Organic Salad: Greens (from garden!), shredded carrot, shredded beet, artichoke, broccoli, cucumber, basil, fermented veggies (cabbage, carrot, beet, parsley, garlic, sea salt) with Tofu Tahini salad dressing

1/4 tsp sodium bicarbonate (aluminim free) in 1/2 glass water before bed