What's Your Resolution?

While I’m not too keen on making one single big New Year’s Resolution, I do appreciate the tradition of reflecting on the events of the past year and thinking about how to move forward in the year to come.  If you’re anything like me, you don’t need a special season to set high expectations for yourself; you’ve already got the goals set with a detailed plan in place to ensure they will be reached in a timely fashion.  Ahh, the joys of being a Type A personality! Maybe you have made a single resolution for 2013 or perhaps you’re in the same boat as me, but in any case remember to stick to your guns, regardless of missteps, temptations, and naysayers. 

Don’t be too hard on yourself when you aren’t perfect.  I’ll give you an example:  Dave decided he would start eating 100% gluten-free for the New Year.  Twelve hours into 2013 he grabbed a beer out of the fridge and drank half of the bottle before realizing that his beverage was not gluten-free (another reason to rid your home of everything containing gluten!).  Clearly, this was not intentional, but a misstep still the same.  Instead of throwing his hands up and declaring gluten-free to be an impossible feat, he told me about it, we both laughed and then decided to buy some gluten-free beer to make things easier for him.  Likewise, don’t give up when you make a mistake or feel bummed about making slow progress.  As my husband frequently tells me, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”  So true.

Temptation can present itself in many forms, but we are most likely to give in when feeling vulnerable.  Make a conscious decision to remove yourself from situations that may result in giving in to temptation.  Don’t make exceptions.  Constantly remind yourself of the big picture, whether through gathering with like-minded people once a week, posting words of encouragement in your home, or simply spending some time each day in quiet thought to stay focused. 

Do what you feel is right, regardless of those who may doubt your abilities or ideas.  Remember that we are all here to do the best we can with the time we’ve been given.  Others may not understand your goals, but as long as you can see the big picture and feel you are heading in the right direction then that is all that matters.  Maybe you have noticed that YOU are one of the naysayers from time to time (we all are, really).  In this case, try not to doubt others but instead provide encouragement and learn to appreciate we all have different paths that are waiting to be discovered. 

What are your goals for 2013?  I hope you are able to achieve them and much more in the months ahead.  Cheers!

**If you are thinking about going gluten-free for 2013, take a look at my step by step plan HERE.  

Organization Part III - De-cluttering the Technology in Our Lives

I hope everyone has been enjoying the posts about de-cluttering!  Last week I discussed a difficult topic for some, the wardrobe.  This week I’m going to take de-cluttering to the next level by suggesting that while technology has undoubtedly made many positive contributions to modern life, it may also be preventing many of us from achieving, growing and living.  By the way, this is quite the revelation, coming from a former iPhone and Facebook addict!  Clearly, I still have an affinity for technology as I’m writing this for my online blog, and I’m not suggesting we give up on technology all together but perhaps, for many of us, a bit of reflection is necessary.  Just as we need be particular about relationships, food, and possessions, so should we be mindful of how we spend our most precious commodity – time.

The Phone  

I’m sure most of you reading this have a smart phone of some sort.  Maybe you’re texting someone right now, in which case unless you’re telling them how awesome my blog is, then put the phone down!  In all seriousness, as much value as smart phone technology brings to daily life, the dependence upon smart phones can provide severe limitations and also detract from quality of life.  I doubt I need to go into “the rudeness factor” as I’m sure most of you have experienced this by being put on the back burner whilst your companion checks his email, returns a text (or 10), or catches up on Words with Friends.  In my opinion, this is just plain rude, but unfortunately, this behavior is becoming quite commonplace and, therefore, acceptable in modern society.  As I have learned from my own experience, becoming more mindful in these situations helps to gain awareness of one’s own behavior. 

Over a year ago I noticed I was becoming very involved in my phone and decided to, for the most part, eliminate my use of the cell phone.  I still carry my cell phone, but without a data plan and now only use it to place the occasional phone call.  It’s not uncommon for my phone to be turned off for days, or even a week at a time.  Very rarely do I miss the ability to surf the web or look up directions, weather, etc.  I find that now I regularly engage in more human behaviors like asking someone for directions or the time, and carrying a book or journal with me if I know I may be waiting for a while.  It’s refreshing to depend upon myself rather than a machine.  

If you would like to de-clutter the phone usage in your life, please take a look at these simple suggestions:

1.       Become more mindful of your behavior.  If you notice you frequently check your phone for email or texts, or feel the need to respond immediately when you hear your phone’s notification ring, take a step back and adjust your behavior.  Unless it’s truly urgent (see #3), try not to immediately pick up the phone, especially if you are in the presence of company.  On that note, if you are with company and know you will need to answer a call or respond to an email, give your company a heads up.  This is a very polite approach and tells others that you value their time as well as your own business.

2.       Separate yourself from the phone for periods of time throughout the day.  Learning to live without your phone or turning your phone off for a small time frame at some point during the day can help with detachment, especially if you use your cell phone all day for work.  Dinnertime is a great opportunity to turn off the phone, set it aside, and devote time to the family, your pet, or yourself and enjoy a lovely meal, without distractions. 

3.       Learn when to classify communication as “urgent.”  It seems these days everything is urgent…but is it really?  “Urgent” means different things to each of us, but if it can wait, without negative repercussions, then it’s not really urgent. 

4.       Adjust the role of “phone” in your life.  Some people use phones simply to communicate with friends and family.  Other people use phones to play games, check out the App Store, text with abandon, surf the web, shop and occasionally make phone calls.  Whatever your use for the cell phone, ensure it makes sense for what you are trying to achieve in life.  If the hours a day playing games and surfing the web are making it difficult for you to accomplish personal or professional goals, then perhaps it’s time to turn it down a notch.

Television

As part of the de-cluttering efforts in our household last year, we decided to severely downgrade our cable.  Now, notice I said we downgraded, not cancelled, because we just aren't quite ready to give up television all together.  I definitely understand how it can be relaxing to unwind after work with a favorite TV show or watch a sports game at home over the weekend with friends.  However, it’s easy to become caught up in it all, especially with DVR technology, as Dave and I learned... 

It was earlier this year, after we returned from a week-long vacation.  While we were gone, we had recorded a week’s worth of “our” shows, ready for us to view via DVR upon our return.  I felt overwhelmed, knowing that we had to watch the previous week’s shows before the new ones aired that week, lest we should fall further behind.  As silly as this may be, the sheer thought of watching all of these shows in a day or two’s time actually stressed me out!  A couple of episodes in, Dave and I looked at one another, simultaneously sighed and turned it off.  A few weeks later we got rid of the DVR, HD, and downgraded our cable.  As dramatic as it sounds, I immediately felt freed as I had become somewhat of a slave to my TV.  All of a sudden, I had loads of time for other pursuits and no longer felt the need to unwind with TV every night. 

Activities

Entertainment comes in many forms, but I believe the best spark careful thought and true appreciation.  Sometimes entertainment can involve technology, but all too often these forms of entertainment can be consuming and mindless.  Try to balance technology in your entertainment activities.  Instead of spending free time gaming or watching reality TV or mindlessly surfing the web, try these ideas:

1.       Swap movie channels for a few quality films and the theater.  If you love the movies, why not cancel your movie channel subscription and use Netflix?  This way, you will look forward to just a few quality films each week instead of watching movie upon movie from the moment you get home to the moment you fall asleep every night.  Even better, try attending live theater or your local independent film theater from time to time to gain a different perspective on acting and film-making.    

2.       Enjoy the great outdoors.  While I most certainly wouldn’t call myself an “outdoor enthusiast” (hey, I live in Colorado, that title is reserved for the truly obsessed!), I do love nature and enjoy a tame hike, camping excursion, or fishing trip.  If you are reluctant to participate in outdoor activities because they aren’t your thing, start small and take a little picnic or walk the dog through the park every Saturday. 

3.       Get a hobby!  There’s quite a lot to be said for developing a hobby, something personal and special to you.  Perhaps this hobby is crafting or writing or cooking or something sports-related, but make sure it’s both mentally stimulating and rewarding. 

4.       Read.  Seriously, it’s a very under-rated activity!  Read whatever appeals to you, whether it’s a book about home design or FDR’s biography.  Or both.  Reading opens the door to new ways of thought and helps to understand others.  At times, read things you would not normally choose or be drawn to. 

5.       Frequent museums, festivals, art walks and other cultural events.  There are so many wonderful people and things to be exposed to in these environments.  Even if you are somewhat reserved, as I normally am, I find a small amount of exposure to these sorts of events to be quite fulfilling.

6.       Learn something new.  This is very fun, as you can choose anything you’d like!  I’ve noticed there are plenty of affordable classes around that teach languages, cooking, and various crafting skills.  If a class is not your thing (it’s not mine either!), try teaching yourself or finding someone who can teach you one on one. 

My personal examples may seem a bit extreme to some of you and an impossible idea for others, but I’m not suggesting that my decisions are the solution for everyone.  We all have our own unique experiences and I appreciate that; however, I truly hope these ideas have sparked some thought and inspiration.  

The Social Experiment

I have a confession to make – several weeks ago I conducted something of a “social experiment.”  You see, for a few weeks I had to walk to work which is not exactly a quick jaunt down the road, so the mile plus of pavement and stoplights gave me the opportunity to think sans dogs, internet, and other distractions.  A few days into it,  I decided to make some changes and see how people, both strangers and acquaintances alike, reacted to said differences.  These are the strategies I implemented:

1. SMILE – In general, keeping a pleasant look on one’s face yields positive results.  The other day I noticed a young woman jogging down the street.  She had a slight smile on her face and bopped her head to the music on her Ipod.  I took one look at her and thought, “Wow! She must be happy!”  Sadly, this sort of observation is rare, at least in my experience.  As I walk downtown, I notice people everywhere with what appear to be scowls or looks of malcontent on their faces.  Perhaps most people are simply thinking about something serious or concentrating on getting to work or maybe they really are just plain miserable, but I've learned it doesn't take much effort to keep a look of contentment on one’s face.  I recall the time period in high school shortly after I had my braces removed.  As a result of the orthodontics, not only did I have great teeth but I also had a new found self-confidence and smiled much more as a result.  I received so many compliments on my beautiful smile and subconsciously started to smile a lot more.  As I got older I noticed my smile getting thrown to the wayside.  After all, being a grown up means being serious, right?  Life becomes so much more complicated with bills to pay and other people to take care of and really important appointments that can’t be missed.  Even with all of that seriousness, I think it’s important to hold onto whatever joy we may have.  But, please, don’t walk down the sidewalk grinning ear to ear and chatting away with your imaginary friend.  You may then have a problem more serious than the scope of this blog J

2. Greet people – A simple “hello” will do in most situations.  By greeting people (happily, I must point out), it becomes apparent that we value them.  Now, when I was walking to work I obviously didn't greet every person I saw (that would be tiring!), but I made it a point to greet people whom I saw on a routine basis.  For example, there is a machine shop several blocks from our condo.  I see the same few workers out front everyday and usually just walk right on by.  As I've started to greet them, not only does it make my walk more pleasant, but I have a feeling that they felt more appreciated as well.  I remember how my grandfather used to wave and say “howdy” to everyone and I believe it brought him the greatest joy to show others he cared no matter if they were the town gossip or the local preacher or crazy Aunt Sally!  City living is much different than country living, but that doesn't excuse us from our responsibility to treat others with kindness.  Try it.

3. Use common courtesies– Those who know me well know that I abhor rudeness and can’t stand how “people these days” seem to have no respect for one another.  OK, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I think it’s pretty safe to say manners are not as commonplace as they used to be.  A large part of courtesy is respect, and once that hurdle is cleared it becomes quite easy to practice proper manners.  I’m not talking about which fork to use at the dinner table, but rather common courtesies such as holding the door open for others, helping someone trying to carry  heavy items, holding the elevator, saying “pardon me” when appropriate.  You get the idea. 

THE RESULTS

You may be wondering how my “experiment” ended.  Did I notice a big change in how others treated me?  Perhaps not a big change, but my pleasant demeanor did receive many lovely compliments from strangers on the street.  I’d like to think I helped brighten their day a bit.  Most notably, though, I noticed a change in myself and how I felt at the end of the day – happy, just what I was going for  J

Dinner Table Discussions

Several months ago Dave and I went to a wine tasting event a few blocks from our condo and ran into a neighbor with his girlfriend.  As I had not yet met his girlfriend, I introduced myself and we began to have a lovely conversation.  Over the course of the next hour, we discussed travel, food, and our experiences growing up in different parts of the country.  Never once did we discuss work and never once did it occur to me to bring it up.  Later that evening, as I was packing for a weekend trip, I realized I had not asked her what she did for a living.  It seemed strange at first and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had carried on a lengthy conversation with someone I didn’t even know, fully engaged, and walked away having gained a new perspective from a person who, for all I knew, could have been a touring ventriloquist!  What a strange but intriguing interaction! Would I have had a better conversation with her had I known her career?  Or, would I have had some amazing insight into her as a human being had I known she was a waitress or a doctor or a stay at home mom? I really don’t think so.  

Maybe we are going about this conversation thing all wrong.  Perhaps we’ve just become accustomed to discussing work all of the time, but truthfully, is that the way to live?  When there are so many things to talk about, why not discuss some of those “off” topics at times.  While everyone else is lamenting about workload or horrible bosses or annoying co-workers, how about bringing up the new restaurant downtown or a funny personal anecdote or thoughts about future or past travels?  While difficult, I’ve been consciously trying to steer my conversations away from the predictable and on to more interesting and fresh topics.  Likewise, try having a conversation with someone new without discussing career, or weather, or any of those predictable topics.  See where it takes you.  Maybe it will be the best conversation of your life! 

Reviving the Blog

I started this blog partly for myself as a way to express my thoughts, but a large part of my motivation comes from the desire to inspire others to live healthy, fulfilling lives.  Upon much reflection and an obvious hiatus from the blog, I've come to realize that my inspiration doesn't always come from food (although, I must admit food plays a large role in my life). Like most of you, I find my thoughts frequently wandering and this is often reflected in my writing.  Over the past several months I haven't stopped writing; in fact, I have close to 20 different blog entries I have started but neglected to finish.  I find that when my life is "cluttered" - whether simply from tangible items taking up precious space in my closet or a messy house that I can't find the time to clean, to more serious issues like toxic people absorbing my time or a job that feels like a deadend - it is easy to lose sight of myself and quite difficult to see anything with much clarity.  In my personal experience, it takes the elimination of these distractions before I can move on to a positive, productive place in my life.  I feel as though I'm making great progress and look forward to sharing with all of you.

Through much self-reflection, I have learned that a large part of living a fulfilling life, for many, involves staying focused on a few key concepts.  Yours may be different, but here are some of mine:

Creating beauty - As a visual person and one who loves to create asthetically-pleasing things, I love the idea of finding beauty in everything.  Food, home decor, nature, our own unique style - these are all places I observe beauty daily. And, while life can't always be attractive, I find the opportunity to brighten things up a bit is constantly awaiting us all.

Staying inspired - It can be incredibly difficult at times to feel inspired, as I know from personal experience.  After working long hours, running errands, and taking care of the family, one can feel exhausted, at best.  I find that constantly reminding myself of goals, ideas, encouraging stories or my own special memories is crucial to my personal growth.  I am inspired when I read, talk to others, listen to music, or even when I daydream.  Once open to the idea of staying inspired, life becomes more meaningful.

Making each moment special - Now, this is a critical concept to living a fulfilling life, but one that requires to be carried out with a great amount of intent, at least at first.  It is often the "everyday" parts of our lives that we go through without much joy or expectation.  A trip to the dry cleaner, vacuuming the house, walking the dog - hardly any of us look forward with anticipation to these "chores."  So, the question is, how do we make these moments count, if even just for ourselves?  Here's an example: I often work from home, rarely leaving the house during the day and sometimes with no human interaction until Dave gets home.  It's easy to get caught up in myself with this type of schedule.  I find that giving myself a few key things to look forward to each day helps me to stay focused and value my days at home.  I look forward to listening to my favorite jazz or classical music while working from my home office, taking a mid-morning stroll with the dogs, preparing myself green tea and a square of dark chocolate each afternoon, and allowing myself some time to journal or simply think for several minutes at some point during the day.  While obviously there are days that are more full, more frustrating, or more exciting, these "small joys" help me appreciate the days that would otherwise seem like they don't matter.

I hope some of these ideas strike a chord with you.  Stay tuned for more food talk, recipes, insights, glimpses into my own life, and more.  Thank you for reading :)

Reflection

I hope you’ll forgive me for the lack of food talk in this particular blog post. There has been a lot going on in my life lately, and as I’m working through some pretty complex emotions, I find that it’s incredibly therapeutic for me to write.

The past couple of months have introduced some real challenges into my life. As usual, December was a whirlwind month, with lots of parties, events, and shopping. Just a few days before Christmas, my grandfather passed away so Dave and I made the trek back home to Missouri to attend his funeral. Many of you know how special Grandpa was (and is) to me, so it’s been an emotional process to deal with this loss. But, as strange as it sounds, going back home was an enormous blessing in disguise. You see, I haven’t always appreciated my family or my roots. To some degree I’ve even been a little embarrassed about where I grew up and have always had a bit of a complex about being from a small town in the Midwest. When I was little, I dreamed about getting out, travelling, and escaping Missouri for good. The amount of energy I devoted to my plans of relocation finally paid off when I moved to Colorado with the idea that I was finally “free.” However, since my departure, I’ve come to realize that what I had wasn’t so bad to begin with. It’s that whole “don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone” lesson that we all learn eventually. I don’t know if I’ll ever move back to Missouri, but I do know that it will always be home to me, and I love that.

Some of you know that Dave and I are excited to start a family of our own but have been struggling with a few infertility issues. While my diet has certainly improved my health on this front, there are some problems that just won’t go away, no matter how hard I try. We learned shortly after returning from Missouri that having a child naturally is not much of a possibility for us right now. I can’t say I was shocked, but news like that is definitely hard to take. This comes after devoting a good two years of my life to religiously charting my cycles, temping, reading fertility blogs daily, researching like crazy, taking various supplements and vitamins, adjusting my diet, exercising more, exercising less, visiting a million different doctors, spending tons of money, and taking fertility meds (some of which made me really sick!). By far, the hardest part of this whole ordeal has been going through each cycle getting so excited and truly believing I was pregnant, then finding out I wasn’t, telling Dave, and subsequently being heartbroken each time. It’s taking some time to internalize everything, but that’s ok. Yeah, I know I’m still young, anything could happen, and I shouldn’t give up hope – I’ve told myself all of that a million times. But, the fact of the matter is that this is just plain difficult to go through.

So, as I’ve been working through all of this intense emotional stuff, one would think I’d want to tone it down a little and watch a funny movie or something. No, not me. I tend to be a very cerebral person, so the deeper the better! Upon the recommendation of my cousin, I have been reading “The Highly Sensitive Person” by Dr. Elaine Aron. This book has had such an impact on the way I view myself (past, present, and future) and how I interpret the actions of others. I’ve identified so strongly with the information in this book that I’m reframing nearly every significant event that’s happened in my life in terms of being a highly sensitive person (HSP). I think the title of the book is a bit misleading, as some people I’ve talked with immediately think they are an HSP simply because they cry at movies or struggle with emotions on a regular basis. That is NOT what this book is about. HSPs make up about 15-20% of the population and include equal numbers of men and women. Being highly sensitive mostly has to do with the amount of stimulation your brain can handle before reaching a “shut off” point. HSPs tend to reach this point much more quickly than the majority of the population. As a result, many HSPs are labeled as shy and introverted. These terms have negative connotations in western society, and even though most HSPs are not shy and many are not introverted (there IS a difference between the two), we grow up with those negative labels thinking something is wrong with us. I can relate as I was constantly scolded for being too quiet and shy when I was younger. Looking back, I now realize that my highly sensitive nervous system was working overtime trying to process all the information I was getting. Being quiet didn’t mean I was scared to talk, it just meant I had some things to work through in my head before engaging in conversation. I am finally recognizing my difference as something positive instead of trying to rid myself of my bad habits of “thinking too much” or being “too quiet” in social situations. As an HSP I do value alone time more than the average person, and I believe I also need lots more of it. When I am around people, I generally prefer to have serious conversations, not because I’m depressed or unhappy, but because that’s what I honestly love to do. My family is filled with HSPs and I’ve noticed that we tend to have a LOT of serious conversations at family gatherings. I love that :) Thankfully, my husband has a highly sensitive gene as well (which is probably why we gravitated toward each other), so we’re able to share our experiences and talk through this together. I found this book immensely helpful, and hope this doesn’t sound like a “woe is me, I’m so tortured!” type rant. Obviously I just touched on a few things related to HSPs, but if it sounds interesting to you, I’d encourage you to grab a copy of the book at the library or bookstore. It’s always nice to do a little self-reflection.

Thanks for reading. I promise next time I'll discuss food :)

Friday Thoughts...

Keeping an Open Mind

Many of us are searching for holistic, natural solutions to weight gain, disease, and other ailments, but oftentimes we’re too quick to put everyone in the same box. The point I’m trying to make with my blog is not that everyone should eat how I do, but that people should constantly search for and make the best decisions for their particular situations. I follow Chris Kresser’s blog fairly regularly and really like his outlook on nutrition and health. I especially enjoyed his post today which touched on the idea that there is not one single solution to fit everyone’s health needs. Many people in the paleo community are way too set in their ways and as a result they don’t even entertain viewpoints differing from their own. The same can be said for proponents of most other mainstream diets. While it’s true that we are all human and have the same basic chemistry, we are still very different (especially genetically) and therefore may require different treatments for similar conditions.

Maybe some of us need to go completely gluten-free, others might need to eliminate dairy, and still others may require nutrient supplementation beyond the norm. I’d like us all to be proactive about our health and continually search for the right answers to our health questions. Be open to making changes and don’t become so set in your ways that you disregard helpful new information. You may be asking “if that’s the case, then why are you so adamant about consumption of animal products?” My answer to you: At the core all humans do require the same basic nutrient profile, and while supplementation can be helpful, nutrients are most beneficial in their natural state. Many important nutrients only occur in animals, which is why I believe consumption of these products is so vital to good health. That being said, I will respect your position on food much more if you have done proper research to determine what’s best for you (health, lifestyle, and ethics) AND the planet.

There are tons of different diets out there and the paleo/primal approach is just one of them. While the basic premise seems to work for my particular health problems, perhaps a different approach is better for you. I’ve done some research and experimental cooking with other diets (particularly raw, vegan, and vegetarian) and can see the appeal but am also aware of the nutrient deficiencies that come along with these diets. They can work for SOME people, but be careful that you’re not just jumping onto a wagon that seems like it’s the right choice. Like I said earlier, we’re all different and what works for one person may not work for you, no matter how right the concept seems to be. Whatever route you choose, I encourage EVERYONE to eat a whole foods based diet, minus all the chemicals and processing found in modern foods. We can probably all agree that this alone will make most people feel lots better!

On a slightly different note, I’ve noticed lately that the “traditional foods/whole foods” lifestyle seems to be under attack by mainstream media and, of course, most corporate food manufacturers. (Note that I’m not talking about Whole Foods itself, which seems to be thriving with its vegetarian agenda :). Folks trying to make smart, educated decisions about food are made out to be neurotic and extreme. Sure, there are some crazies out there, but is drinking raw milk really that weird? It’s been going on for centuries and only became an oddity in the last fifty or so years. Is demanding that our food be free of hormones and chemicals really an over-reaction or simply a desire to turn back the clock to the way things used to be?

Orthorexia … seriously?
Have you ever heard of orthorexia? It’s a new term used to describe people who take healthy eating to the extreme. Most true cases involve a person who cuts out all “unhealthy” foods to the point where they are eating virtually nothing. The true orthorexic is a person who takes eating healthy too far and may blame every ailment on what they eat (or don’t eat), won’t leave the house for fear of being introduced to toxins, and isolates themselves from friends and family members because those people don’t adhere to their lifestyle beliefs. These people obviously have problems that have more to do with emotional issues than a pure desire to lead a healthy life.

Orthorexia is essentially a very specific type of anorexia. However, orthorexia is also being used to describe people like myself (and you!) who are simply concerned and proactive about their health and food choices. I read one article in which it described a supposed orthorexic’s activities: she shopped for fresh vegetables at a farmer’s market, drank raw milk and made raw dairy products at home, shopped at a health food store for raw nuts and then sprouted them herself at home. This woman was made out to be a complete nutcase, when in reality she is probably very educated about food and nutrition and uses this knowledge to better the health of her family.

Orthorexia, our nation’s newest health crisis, has been all over the news lately which I actually find to be quite comical. For as long as I can remember, the news media has been obsessed with reporting on how fat, lazy, and unhealthy Americans are. There are entire television series that profile the lives of extremely overweight people, special news programs discussing the tragic rates of obesity in our children, and of course “The Biggest Loser” which challenges overweight people to compete to lose the most weight. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard the term “obesity epidemic” on the news – always in reference to the typical American eating a typical processed foods based diet. So after being told day in and day out that we are fat, lazy, and unhealthy, suddenly we also have an extreme problem in our country where people are trying to be too healthy and are therefore “orthorexic.” That’s just ridiculous.

Don’t get me wrong, I know there are people who have eating disorders that stem from serious issues. The pathology of eating disorders is different for everyone: some people are obsessed with perfection, some are starved for attention, some are emotionally unstable, and some may develop neurosis about particular foods or chemicals. I would group orthorexia under the eating disorder umbrella but I don’t think the traditional foods industry should be penalized for this. A person prone to developing neurotic behaviors in relation to food is probably prone to obsessive or destructive behaviors in many other areas of life.

There is an extreme for everything but to attack an industry that is doing mostly good things is ridiculous. Should we blame an orthorexic’s issues on the decision to lead a healthy lifestyle? Absolutely not. Should we discourage others from trying to be healthy for fear that they might turn out like the true orthorexic? Of course not. Am I concerned about developing a complex about food and becoming orthorexic myself? Nope. Truthfully, for the first time in my life I feel like I finally have power over food because I have knowledge about it. I honestly believe that the more we educate ourselves on proper nutrition and how to obtain whole sources of foods, the healthier we will be. Most would agree that this is not a crazy statement, and I suppose that is where I was trying to go with this post…in a really round about way.

Stress, anyone?

I just can’t help myself. If I don’t have anything to obsess or stress about, Lord knows I’ll hunt something down. It’s really quite annoying. Oftentimes, if I’ve had a relatively peaceful day, I’ll find myself having nightmares that evening…nightmares about ridiculously exaggerated daily events! I feel like I have some sort of autoimmune condition where my sanity attacks itself over and over to the point where I’m a complete mess!

It all started when I was younger. It was fun back then; I would make lists to stay organized, I would make sure I was always responsible, always on time, and always adhered to the social norms. Looking back, it was actually a pretty rough life for a kid in elementary school. I was constantly under my own self-imposed pressure to be perfect. I also read a lot (not a bad thing) and developed a grammatical intelligence far beyond my years. I loved reading other kid’s papers in school and correcting all of their grammatical errors (how weird is that?!). This further contributed to my perfectionist mentality.

What the heck does all of this have to do with cooking and health, you might ask. It actually has a lot to do with it, in my kitchen anyway. Yes, I want to find that perfect combination of ingredients and create meals that everyone will love, but that won’t always happen. And I don’t need to beat myself up if it doesn’t. Preparing food should, first and foremost, be a therapeutic activity.

For me, cooking has become the ultimate in healing. Not only is my body healed when I cook with whole, organic foods but my mind is also restored. That may be an odd thing to say since I think most people view cooking as a pesky household chore, but I think it needs to be approached differently. I have found that when placing more of an emphasis on quality of ingredients, your grocery store purchase suddenly becomes much more valuable. No longer do I throw a few boxes of mac and cheese on the shelf and forget about them, but now I know every single food that is in my kitchen and where it can be found. Also, when I have really great ingredients in my home, it’s difficult NOT to make nutritiously dense meals.

When I’m super stressed, I find comfort in slicing veggies for a homemade soup or creating a flavorful meat sauce on the stove. On those days when I’m full of anxiety, I usually go for more familiar dishes and skip the twenty step gourmet meals. Cooking familiar foods simply and from scratch is a very therapeutic experience. Maybe it’s all those succulent aromas, maybe it’s the feeling of being in my own kitchen away from the world, or maybe it’s just knowing that I’m going to be eating a deliciously healthy meal, but suddenly my soul is happy. I encourage you all to find that peace for yourselves.

Some Hard Evidence for Skeptics

I wanted to write a quick post today as a response to some of the questions I’ve gotten lately as to how I know this diet is “working” for me. As I mentioned in my original post, I don’t participate in fad dieting and have never made a lifestyle change as drastic as this one before. The decision to change my diet came after a lot of research, contemplation, and quite frankly, a little desperation. If I hadn’t seen results so quickly, I probably would have gotten off this horse a while ago. But, I think if you’re really dedicated to doing this thing, a good 30 days of strict eating will change your life forever.

So, how do I know this is working for me? Besides feeling lots better both physically and mentally, I’ve also witnessed physical changes in my body signaling that I’m on the right track. Of the most notable change is the regulation of a monthly cycle, which used to be almost non-existent. The most amazing part of this whole process has been how quickly these changes happened. Like many people, for me it was all about getting my insulin under control and that was as simple (or difficult, depending on how you look at it!) as cutting out processed foods, grains, soy, legumes, and sugar. Once my insulin became regulated, I began to have monthly cycles and noticed the disappearance of symptoms like sugar cravings, headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and ovarian pain.

Aside from the alleviation of these symptoms, I recently received the news from my doctor that my hormone levels are completely normal, for the first time in my life. I can’t explain how I felt when I received this news. Knowing that I have successfully figured out the solution to my problem – a problem that so many doctors had not been able to fix – is gratifying, to say the least.

Not only have I had great experience from going paleo, Dave has had some amazing changes as well. His report of high cholesterol last year was definitely cause for concern, and we immediately started following all the conventional wisdom in an attempt to lower it. Being the concerned wife that I am, I rushed to the library and got several books on how to lower cholesterol. We cooked with vegetables oils, ate egg whites only, cut out what little saturated fat was in our diet, replaced animal protein with tofu, and ate lots of whole grains. Since we were on this track anyway, these weren’t major changes for us. Of course, I soon discovered this was not the best way to healthy living and we made a complete 180 degree turn to a paleo lifestyle. Four months into eating a higher fat, lower carb diet, Dave had his cholesterol checked. His results showed that his bad cholesterol had gone down and his good cholesterol had gone up!

While I waffle back and forth as to how much stock I want to put into routine medical tests, I must say I’m quite ecstatic about these results. This proves a lot more than me simply saying I “feel better” or a paleo diet is “delicious and easy.” These results are so real and meaningful to us and provide tangible evidence as to how this diet actually is healthy.

Raw Milk is Scary, Right?

It wasn’t long ago that I remember being terrified and, quite frankly, disgusted by the thought of drinking raw milk. Along with the majority of Americans, I have been programmed to think that raw milk is dangerous while pasteurized milk somehow holds the key to better health. Just a few years ago, I remember chugging glass after glass of tasteless skim milk because I believed it alone could fulfill my need for essential nutrients like calcium and vitamin D.

Last summer amidst my research, I was introduced to the idea that raw milk is not only nutritionally superior to pasteurized milk, but also that the latter is really not beneficial at all. At first I scoffed at this idea, remembering all the horrific stories I had heard about the contamination of raw milk. As I started to open my mind a bit more and look at the facts, I began to think that maybe the American public had been led astray. However, due to my stubborn nature (thanks for the Irish genes, Dad!), these concepts were still pretty hard to accept. But, while combing through some articles on the Weston A. Price website one evening, something hit home as I began to read about the traditional practices of family farms.

My mom grew up on a farm. Sometimes, when I tell people that, they instantly start in with their judgments. A common misconception is that people who live on farms (especially in the Midwest, where I’m from) are ignorant and lack the mental capacity required to make educated decisions. While I can’t speak for everyone, I do know that in my experience this is absolutely NOT true. Traditional family farms, which are few and far between these days, follow much of the same treasured wisdom that our ancestors passed down generations ago. Sadly, a large part of this wisdom has been devalued and even forgotten in modern society. The pasteurization of milk is an excellent example of this. My mom can recall drinking tall glasses of fresh milk straight from the cow for breakfast during many of her childhood years. Although pasteurization was already in full swing when my mom was growing up, my grandparents were not at all concerned about contamination of their raw milk. Instead, they reminded my mother and her brothers how precious this food was for their health. By the time I came into the picture, my grandparents had scaled down their farm and long since gotten rid of their dairy cows, but I always thought those stories my mom told of drinking fresh milk were pretty cool.

A Violent Process

I recently heard the pasteurization process referred to as “violent.” After learning about it myself, I really can’t argue with that statement. When milk comes out of the cow, it is a living food with so much to offer. Pasteurization literally takes the life out of milk. It kills essential organisms and bacteria that help strengthen the immune system and protect against disease. Pasteurization also destroys lactase, the naturally occurring enzyme in milk that is required to digest lactose (milk sugar). Valuable nutrients that naturally occur in raw milk are fragmented during processing, often to the point where they are no longer beneficial. Pasteurized milk is frequently vitamin-fortified, meaning that the vitamins which were destroyed in processing have to be added back into the milk via more processing. Homogenization goes a step further and destroys nutritious fat globules by passing milk at very high speeds through a filter. By the time pasteurized milk gets to the consumer, it’s really just another processed food.

Allergies, Intolerance, and Raw Milk

I do want to briefly touch on lactose and casein sensitivities since I know they are a very real concern for many people. As I mentioned above, raw milk contains an enzyme called lactase that helps the body digest milk’s sugar, or lactose. Since pasteurization has been pretty main stream for the past one hundred years, many people no longer produce lactase in their gut. These people have trouble digesting milk and are referred to as lactose intolerant. Thankfully, I’m NOT one of those people, but I do feel pretty sorry for those that are. If you are lactose intolerant, remember raw dairy contains vital enzymes that will help your digestion, not hamper it. From what I’ve read and heard from others, it’s best to start with small amounts and work your way up to a full glass of milk. As you introduce more lactase into your body, it will more easily be able to digest lactose. This seems to work for most people and hopefully it will work for you too! If you are one of the unlucky few who just can’t seem to digest raw milk, there is also the option of trying fermented dairy products like yogurt and kefir, both of which can be made at home using raw milk. Fermented dairy products contain bacteria that make digestion even easier and usually don’t cause problems with even the most sensitive stomachs. Fermented dairy products are also an alternative to raw milk for those with casein allergies. The fermentation process predigests casein, making it much more tolerable for those with allergies.

A Little History

It’s certainly important to understand the reasoning behind pasteurized milk in the first place. By the end of the 19th century, there were some very serious problems with the conditions of milking parlors in highly concentrated cities like New York City and Boston. At that point in time, cows lived in confinement, wading in their own waste and eating things that no living being should be forced to eat (not much different from some factory farms today). People became very sick and many even died from diseases which were passed on to humans through contaminated raw milk. Pasteurization was a solution to a very serious problem, but, arguably, not the best solution. Instead of addressing the obvious issue at hand – sanitation of the milking parlors and diet of the cows – law makers decided to make pasteurization mandatory. With various political and economic interests stirring the pot, this story has many different angles but it’s truly a shame that so many people were able to justify the destruction of such a healthful food.

If you look at the numbers today, raw milk is not the health threat that it once was. In fact, you are assuming more risk by consuming fresh produce than drinking a glass of raw milk. It’s important to remember that raw milk has built-in mechanisms to help protect against contamination even if pathogens are present. Since the pasteurization process kills off beneficial bacteria, pasteurized milk has no way to fight off infection. If you’re interested in looking at specific studies involving raw milk vs. pasteurized milk and its effect on health and safety, check out the Realmilk.com website.

Raw Milk Availability, Denver and Beyond

The laws regarding the sale of raw milk vary from state to state. While it’s legal to sell unpasteurized milk for human consumption in a few states, most have passed laws making it illegal or very difficult to obtain. Fortunately, here in Colorado we are able to buy “cow shares” to get around this legality. By paying a one-time fee to purchase the share in addition to a monthly or yearly boarding fee, consumers can get fresh, raw milk each week from a local dairy. Since the share owners technically own a portion of the cow and never pay for the milk directly, this practice is not a violation of Colorado state law. Sadly, some states have even made share owning illegal.

My Personal Raw Milk Experience at Windsor Dairy

The decision to “go raw” was a big one for Dave and me. As I mentioned earlier, it was quite a step for me to even consider drinking unpasteurized milk, but the facts do not lie and it’s easy to see how much healthier a whole foods approach is. In the beginning, I expected to have a hard time finding a raw milk dairy, but I was pleasantly surprised by the many local dairy operations there are to choose from in the Denver area. We ended up settling on Windsor Dairy for several reasons:

1) Windsor is the only dairy in the country, raw or otherwise, that tests every batch of milk for milk-borne pathogens (listeria, e. coli, campylobacter, salmonella).

2) All cows are 100% grass-fed and hormone/antibiotic free.

3) They are certified organic.

4) Our downtown farmer’s market, Denver Urban Homesteading, is a weekly drop-off site.

After researching Windsor and being thoroughly pleased with what we learned, Dave and I decided to visit the farm. They hold free tours every Friday and Saturday at 3pm and actually require a visit to the farm prior to purchasing a share, so we were happy to check out the operation. On one of those strange spring-like days in the middle of January, we made the trek up to Windsor to buy our cow share. As we got out of the car, we were greeted by a couple of hogs, and a herd of goats. We could hear chickens clucking and saw a flock of lambs in the distance. After walking around the farm and visiting all of the animals, we went into the milking parlor to observe the milking process. It was a cool experience that I would recommend to anyone, even if you’re not interested in the raw milk stuff. It was definitely a breath of fresh air to see farm animals living happy and healthy lives as they were intended to.

For those interested in other farm fresh foods, Windsor Dairy has a store located on the farm offering beef, lamb, chicken, pork, eggs, and raw cheese. In addition to cow shares, they will soon be offering raw goat milk shares. Share owners receive a discount on most products. If you’re interested in purchasing some of these items but can’t make it up to Windsor, check out one of their drop-off sites in Boulder, Denver, or Fort Collins. They also offer cheese, cream, and butter making classes on-site throughout the year.

Raw Milk and Financial, Ethical, Personal Concerns

So, I’m sure you’re wondering just how expensive it is to drink raw milk every week and if it’s worth the price. Here’s how I see it:

1) Health. Raw milk contains lactase and other probiotics to aid digestion. It contains naturally occurring forms of essential nutrients and is full of beneficial bacteria that strengthen the immune system. Raw milk is an excellent source of healthy fats which are vital for nervous system health, especially for children. Pasteurized milk cannot make any of the aforementioned claims.

2) Safety. The raw milk I drink is always tested for the four main food-borne pathogens before it is given to share owners to consume. The same can’t be said for ANY brand of pasteurized milk. Plus, raw milk contains probiotics and bacteria that will help fight pathogens if they do happen to be present. Lastly, raw milk dairies often have feeding regimens and living conditions that are far superior to those of conventional dairies which ensure the safety of the end product.

3) Peace of mind. I know exactly where my milk comes from. I know exactly where the cows that produce this milk live. I know exactly what they eat, and I can visit them at any time.

4) Local. By drinking raw milk, I’m supporting local business and sustainable farming practices.

5) Personal/ethical reasons. I feel good about helping these cows lead pastured lives. I also strongly oppose conventional farming practices involving corn, soybeans, and grains which destroy topsoil, so I like to encourage pastured-raised animal products.

We DO pay a premium to have such great quality milk every week. Windsor Dairy allows consumers to purchase a half share or share of a cow. A half share (which is what we have) is a half gallon of milk per week and a share is one gallon of milk per week. We paid $25 to purchase the share itself and our boarding fees are about $17 per month. If you do the math, that’s a little over $4 per half gallon. Yes, that’s a lot but it’s worth it to us. Of course, we are only a family of two, so if your family is larger or you have kids then this starts to add up pretty quickly. In the end, this is a personal decision.

Regardless of how you feel about raw milk, I think it’s important to remember that there ARE still family farms, just like my grandparents’, that understand the wisdom in traditional food preparation. Not all cows are factory farmed. Not all cows are crammed into a feedlot and stuffed full of grain and corn. Some actually do live quite happy and healthy cow lives on green pastures and these are the types of operations we need to support because they enable us to lead nourished lives.

A Different Take on Food

I’ve always loved to cook and I’ve certainly always loved to eat! However, my interest and personal experience with food and nutrition has ventured far beyond the realm of simply eating good food and has expanded into a world where food is sacred, and perhaps even healing. To me, this blog is a representation of where I’ve been, what I’ve learned, and how I’m moving forward to live a healthier and happier existence while eating a diet many would call “unconventional.” It’s also a way for me to share all of this with friends and family and, of course, receive feedback from others!

To give you a point of reference, I do follow a primarily Paleo/Primal diet while also incorporating some elements of the Weston A. Price diet. As a result of these dietary changes - I don’t know any other way to say this - my body has literally started to heal itself because it is finally being nourished in the way it was intended to be. For those of you unfamiliar with the Paleolithic diet (or “Paleo”, as I’ll call it), the focus is on eating food as our ancestors did many years ago. This means that I’ve cut out virtually all gluten, grains (including corn), soy, refined sugars and processed foods. I’ve replaced these foods with meats, fats, vegetables, and fruits. Unlike many people on a Paleo diet, I do eat raw dairy products from pastured cows (as Weston A. Price recommended). This may sound like a lot of changes for many people who follow a standard American diet, but I promise it’s well worth it and still possible to eat fantastic meals!

As a person who was terrified of red meat and butter for the longest time, this was NOT an easy transition for me. I can even recall a year in college when I refused to eat any red meat. During my early 20s, I consider myself to have been quasi-vegetarian, avoiding meat most of the time except the occassional fish fillet or chicken breast. Never having been one to participate in fad dieting, changing my entire way of eating was a lot to ask. But, after fifteen years of dealing with polycystic ovarian syndrome and a host of other problems as a result of this serious hormonal imbalance, I began my quest for answers. After reading Nourishing Traditions, recommended by my brother-in-law, everything started to make sense. At that point, I started researching even more intensely and began to put together the pieces of my health puzzle. It took quite some time for me to internalize all of this new information that discredited nearly every nutritional certainty I had ever believed in. After months of researching on my own, I realized that while my personal health issues definitely had a genetic component to them, they were most likely being exacerbated by what I was putting inside of my body. Slowly, I began to eliminate all of the foods I mentioned above and focused more on whole protein and fat sources. I now regularly eat eggs, raw milk, coconut oil, pastured butter, nuts, homemade stock, lots of meat/poultry/fish (including red meat!), vegetables, and fruits and I’m not fat nor have I gained any weight since changing my diet! In fact, I've unintentionally lost about 20 pounds all while managing to maintain and strengthen my muscles. Since adopting this lifestyle six months ago, I feel healthier and, more importantly, I KNOW I’m healthier. The chronic headaches and migraines that I formerly accepted as "part of life" have now disappeared. I no longer catch every cold, flu, or virus that comes near me (acutally, I haven't been ill at all since changing my eating habits). My stress levels have decreased drastically and many of my friends and family have even noted how much more laid back I seem to be. I have more energy. I’m happier. And - the most significant sign of my improvement – I’m now having regular monthly cycles. As a woman who had always been told she was infertile, this is a major victory and quite an emotional turning point for me.

Just to clarify, I’m not advocating that this diet will “heal” your disease or make all of your problems go away. I’m simply stating that eating a Paleo diet will most likely make you feel better and help to eliminate many of the ailments we’ve come to accept as normal in today’s society. As your immune system is strengthened by eating nourishing foods, your body will begin to repair itself, become less susceptible to viruses, and will be better equipped to protect itself from future illness.

Obviously I'm a big fan of the Paleo diet, but I also believe there are so many advantages to eating local, organic, and pastured food whenever possible. If making the change to a Paleo diet is something that seems a little "out there" or you simply don't agree with the general principle of it all, then I'd strongly suggest that you look into replacing more conventionally grown/raised produce and meat with better quality food whenever possible. It makes such a big difference in terms of what your body is able to get out of the food and it also tastes lots better!

On a side note, I’d like to point out that I generally don’t like labels, particularly when referring to dietary habits. I think it creates unnecessary pressure to adhere to “the rules.” I refer to my diet as Paleo even though I choose to eat raw dairy products and a select amount other foods that aren’t normally considered "Paleo." I eat what I know is most beneficial for my body based on research and also take into consideration how my body reacts to certain foods. And, of course, I have personal taste preferences that also shape my eating habits. Since most people consider the Paleo diet to be a lifestyle as opposed to a fad diet, there is inevitably a lot of tailoring that happens. It’s important to stay in tune with your body and know which foods cause reactions and are generally lacking in nutrition, and then make a conscious effort to keep them out. When I do treat myself to something that may not be on my list of most nutritionally dense foods, I don’t beat myself up about it. This isn’t a diet to lose ten pounds in a month, so just because I ate some ice cream doesn’t mean I’ve totally strayed from the plan. Our culture today is so strikingly different than it was even one hundred years ago, so part of the challenge is adapting this lifestyle to modern living. Keeping that in mind, I usually don’t plan on eating cheat foods and when I do, I tend to eat way less than I did a year ago… Probably because I’m not addicted to them anymore!

I have acquired TONS of information from why gluten is so hard to digest to where to find grass-fed burgers in Denver and how to incorporate Paleo principles into everyday cooking. Honestly, with all of this information bouncing around in my head, I’m getting a little overwhelmed! While I’ve found most of my friends and family are interested in learning about nutrition to some degree, I get the impression that they don’t like hearing about it as much as I like talking about it :). I need a parking place for all of this information as well as a healthy outlet in which to express myself. I love cooking, I love researching, and I love writing, so this just makes sense. This is where I will let it all out and hopefully make some new friends along the way.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this. I hope you'll join me on this journey and, of course, feel free to drop me a note anytime!

P.S. For all you “non-Paleo but still health conscious types” out there – you’re totally welcome on my blog! We don’t discriminate. I’ll have bunches of information about organic food, local restaurants, exercising, the environment, etc. Welcome :)