Post Procedure: Healing with Love, Rest and Soup

Another procedure survived!  It's sad when going under anesthesia becomes as common as the yearly check up, especially at the age of 32.  I can't even actually count how many times I've been through it, though it still feels like a strange and confusing place to be.  When we arrived at the clinic, my husband in tow with our entertainment bag of phones, Ipads and magazines, I went through the usual paperwork (no, I don't need a copy of the HIPPA practices I have signed a hundred plus times), clinical questions and dressing in the oversized hospital gown that makes you feel like you have disappeared under a king size bed sheet.  T and I got cozy, him playing a game on Ipad and me drooling over summer recipes in the latest Real Simple (don't ask me why I torture myself).

July Giveaway: Barlean's Coconut Oil

When I was initially diagnosed with GP fat, became an instant fear as I'm sure many of you can relate to.  However, with the encouragement of the right dietitians and friends, I learned how to include the right fats in small amounts.  After doing some research, coconut oil seemed to be the friendliest one to incorporate and I have been hooked since.  For myself and those I've worked with this seems to digest the best out of most choices for fats.  It is rich in lauric and caprylic acids, great source of medium-chain triglycerides (easier to break down than long-chain), and may support the structure and function of the immune system, cardiovascular system healthy metabolism and energy production, as well as body, skin and hair care.  

Barlean's is a local company here in Bellingham that supplies high quality, organic, non-GMO and gluten free products.  Not only have they been a big supporter of the GP Walk but have generously donated a 16 oz jar for this months giveaway!

For a chance to win you must be subscribed to the newsletter.  Just leave a comment below, either on your favorite way to use coconut oil or what you would like to try using it for.  Look for the name randomly picked on July 16th!

***Note, changed date from 15th to Tuesday the 16th.

To read more about the benefits of coconut oil you can go to the last year's blog post for lots of delicious details.  Look forward to hearing your ideas!

Congratulations Trish O., your name was randomly chosen for the Barlean's giveaway!  Look for an email with details.  Thanks everyone for the comments, I might have to include another giveaway for coconut oil in the future :)

Recipe: Homemade Turkey Loaf and Burgers

Recipe: Homemade Turkey Loaf

This is a recipe that my dear friend Lori and I have adapted from the book Eating Alive II, finding it to digest quite well if animal protein works well with you.  Fat is limited with the use of lean turkey meat and easier to metabolize coconut oil.  Spinach is a wonderful green that, when cooked, works well for most.  If not an option then an alternative recipe for turkey burgers is also posted below.

Wonderful served with roasted sweet potatoes or pureed squash, or a couple slices of avocado and low fat baked potato chips!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin is a bit of an obsession of mine this time of year.  Starting in early September when the fog begins to settle in, the love affair begins.  Grain-free pumpkin pancakes* for breakfast and banana pumpkin smoothies for a an afternoon snack.  As the weather cools and the leaves begin to fall in October, starting the day with hot cereal with a scoop of pumpkin and almond butter to energize my morning, and tomorrow warm pumpkin soup with a drizzle of coconut milk to warm the evening.  

Simple Squash Soup

What do I love more than a delicious fall meal?  A simple soup made from those delicious leftovers!  Even with a "broken" stomach, being in the kitchen still brings such pleasures, especially when I know the food is nourishing and good for me, body and soul.  However, there are always days when energy is low or the day is long, when a bowl of warm and comforting soup with minimal effort is calling.  We may eat mini meals but that doesn't mean we have to prepare them that way.  Rule of thumb in the GP kitchen: cook once, eat twice (or multiple times!).

Grain-Free Pumpkin Pancakes

This time of year I can't get enough of this delicious, nutrient dense, GP-friendly food!  Pumpkin is an excellent source of vitamin A (1 cup has 760% of the daily value!) as well as vitamin C, iron, and calcium.  The variety of ways to use it are endless, for example adding a scoop to hot cereal, smoothies, soup, etc.  Most recently I experimented with a recipe for a protein rich breakfast that would include the pumpkin love.  The result was a light and fluffy crepe like pancake, with plenty of fall flavor!

Coconut Oil: Nutritional, Medicinal and Easy to Digest

Coconut Oil...just the thought of this or any oil for that matter used to put me in panic mode, fearful of the painful consequences they can have on our sensitive and slow moving stomachs.  However, my good friend Kinsey and her mega-researching began to convince me otherwise when it came to this nutritional and medicinal fat.

If you can bare with me through a bit of science jib jab I can explain.  Coconut oil is unique from all other fats and oils because of how it is digested and metabolized.  All fats are broken down into fat molecules known as fatty acids which are further classified by their length.  There are short-chain, medium-chain (MCFAs) and long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs).  When joined with another molecule called glycerol they form tryglycerides and MCFAs become MCTs, long-chain LCTs.  Most fats in our diet include LCTs such as soybean, corn, canola and olive oils.  Coconut oil is made up of MCTs which contain the caprylic, capric and lauric acids responsible for the antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial properties.  Some of us with idiopathic gastroparesis are told it was possibly caused by a virus of some sort in which case coconut oil could be beneficial.  For those with diabetic GP read further.