Book Review: The Gastroparesis Healing Diet

A few months ago I was curious what else was out there on the topic of "healing gastroparesis." As some of you know, I've been writing for the Healing Gastroparesis Naturally website for some time and working on the book this past year (to be released end of May!). To my surprise, the image for The Gastroparesis Healing Diet came up with its upcoming release date in March. I could not be happier to see we were not alone when it came to using the word healing. Not to mention the cover looked so delicious and inviting! 

I contacted the author Tammy Chang, a nutrition coach and cook living in the San Francisco Bay area. While she does not have GP herself she has knowledge of how the gut functions and experience with creating nourishing meals to help heal the body, having worked one-on-one with clients and wrote her first book, The Nourished Belly Diet. She admitted this was not an easy task, finding GP to be the complicated disorder that many of us know firsthand. But she shared in her book that she "found the GP community, along with it's taking in people's harder days, is also extremely loving, supportive, and strong." Between the medical research plus interviewing and talking with those who live with GP (some of whose stories you will find in the book), she was able to get a good understanding of how to create ideas for a healing diet. 

Upcoming Webinar - Foods for Healing GP

Top 5 Foods for Healing Gastroparesis 

with Chalyce Macoskey

Join us as we explore the top 5 foods that can help you gain back your quality of life when living with gastroparesis and learn what the term healing can mean for you. At the end of the talk, there will be a Q&A session to help answer any questions you may have plus ideas on additional resources.

Health coach and certified aromatherapist Chalyce Macoskey will share an approach she has used with hundreds of clients over the years to overcome some of the most difficult challenges when it comes to digestion. She has helped to change my own life for the better and it is my hope she can do the same for many others living with GP. You can read more about when I was first introduced to Chalyce and her work here. 

We look forward to chatting with you soon! 

When: Date and Time: Wednesday  2/01/2017  11:00 AM - (US/Pacific) Duration: 1 hour Audio: Dial-in Number:   (712) 770-4652 Access Code: 711781 International Dial-in Numbers: View List Online Meeting: Screen Sharing / Video Online Meeting Link: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/journeywithgp Instructions: At the scheduled date and time of the meeting, dial into the conference line. When prompted, enter the Access Code followed by the pound key. To join the online meeting, click on the meeting link listed above and follow the prompts to join the meeting. For 24/7 customer service please call (844) 844-1322

SmaryPants Wellness Package Giveaway

"We are on a delicious mission to put health in reach of more children and grown-ups by bringing simplicity and sanity to our supplement routines."

As someone with digestive trouble, you most likely know how difficult it can be to get the important nutrients in when eating food and even drinking at times can be such a challenge.  We are advised to take vitamins but how do we do that when many of them are enormous, chalky, hard to swallow pills, ones that come back up with fish-burps, or require 4-6 a day?!  And can we trust the ingredients and the bio-availability?

Low-FODMAP Garden - Spring

Now that spring has arrived and summer is just around the corner, it's time to grow some of my own foods!  Keep in mind these plants may not work for everyone.  I love to experiment and try new foods in small amounts to bring some color and nutrients into a restricted diet.  When prepared right, you might be surprised what you CAN have.

Following a low-FODMAP diet has probably been the best dietary change I've made to not only help get rid of the bacteria overgrowth (SIBO) last fall, but has continued to provide relief from bloating and nausea.  If you haven't seen my GP guide to this food list you can check it out here.

Stage one of the garden includes the following so far:

Strawberries - Juiced or added to smoothies using a Vitamix/Blendtec.
Chives - Chopped finely and added to soups or really any dish.  Otherwise, can be used for flavor in soups/broth, then removed before serving.

Zucchini - Cooked and used in soups and such as Bieler Broth, or a side/sauce with zucchini ribbons.

Romaine - Juiced
Spinach - Juiced, steamed and pureed, smoothies, omelette
Bok Choy - Soups (pureed if needed), omelette

Next on the list to plant include carrots, squash, herbs, and cucumbers!  Whatever I don't or can't use will go to friends who would love fresh, homegrown produce :)

Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potatoes

This morning I posted on the Journey with GP Facebook page about my simple breakfast for the day and of course a recipe was requested!

"Small cup of Perfect Energy tea, 1 egg + egg white scramble with a few pieces of leftover Moroccan spiced, steamed sweet potato."

The spice blend used includes some wonderful digestive aids and releases a sweet, exotic aroma in the air.  I was inspired by a dish I used to make years ago, Moroccan chicken with almond couscous, when we engaged more in dinner parties, entertaining friends through food and drinks.  For my best friend's surprise 30th birthday party, I had the entire stove top covered with multiple pans, simmering mounds of spiced chicken in broth, shallots and fresh dates.  She still talks about that dinner to this day!

Bieler Broth - Nourishing Green Soup

Looking for a way to incorporate more vegetables in your GP diet?  After a long fall/winter of potatoes, yams, squashes and carrots, this is a refreshing and light soup that digest easily.  It was created by Dr. Henry Bieler, author of Food is Your Best Medicine.  I've adjusted the recipe to include the taste of celery but not the actual blend, as it is often not well tolerated on our stomachs.  Both zucchini and green beens are excellent sources of potassium and sodium.  
When prepared and cooked right these green veggies digest surprisingly well.  Add in some simmered ginger and fresh parsley, both wonderful digestive aids, and you have a nourishing soup. 

Homemade Nut Butter - Mmm!

Image credit to www.paleoblocks.com

Have you ever had the chance to experiment with making your own nut butter?  I recently came across the picture below that shows the simple how to steps and just had to share.  Nut butters are a great way for those with gastroparesis to fit in some extra, nutrient dense calories in the day.  Most can tolerate 1 tablespoon which can provide a source of good fats and protein.  By making your own you can not only choose your favorite nut (peanut, almond, cashew, etc) and save money, you can get creative with the ingredients.

Macrobar Giveaway

It's time for the monthly giveaway.  I'm so excited because Go Macro has kindly offered to participate by giving three of their most GP friendly Macrobars out to not only one, but THREE of you!

If you have been following me for awhile you are probably aware of my love for these delicious, protein packed, organic, non-GM0 bars.  Most of the GP'ers I've worked with and have been in contact with seem to tolerate them quite well, including myself.  In addition, Go Macro was a big sponsor of the first annual Awareness for Gastroparesis Walk last September, donating funds for GP research and boxes of bars for the walkers and volunteers.  

Gastroparesis Friendly Breakfast

You've probably heard it from your parents:  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Has this changed for you since your digestive trouble began?

Recently I've started posting a weekly "curious question" on the Journey with GP Facebook page, with thoughts on food choices, symptoms, remedies and so on.  Over the weekend the following question was asked:  "What do you tolerate best in the morning?  Juicing, smoothies, eggs, coffee, yogurt, cereal, etc."  It was nice to see such a variety of answers as well as some support for those who tend to have more nausea this time of day.

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!

Missing Minerals Part II: Cashew Smoothie

To continue with ways to increase missing minerals, an excellent source of magnesium and zinc can be found in cashews.  They can be a great addition to your smoothie in the form of cashew butter or used straight from the package if you own a Vitamix or Blendtec.  Recently, I was given the opportunity to post one of my favorite past time smoothie recipes for Shiloh Farms Blog, one my family and friends enjoy very much!  The recipe itself has too much fat for most GP'ers, but that can easily be reduced by making a few adjustments.  

Missing Minerals found in Fresh Crab

Two minerals essential for human health, zinc and magnesium can often be found deficient for those with gastroparesis as well as many other digestive disorders.

Magnesium helps to regulate blood sugar levels, helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, supports bone health and helps keep a healthy immune system.

Zinc has many benifits, including the metabolism of the food we eat.

While in Baltimore, I was able to enjoy what they are known best for, blue crab!  I'm a big fan of crab because it is hign in protein, low in fat and easy to digest for many.  Just 3 oz contains 20 g of protein, 1 g of fat, 13% of daily magnesium and 20% of the daily zinc recommended! 

Pancakes for Everyone!

Years ago, I enjoyed nothing more than entertaining friends and family with dinner parties and brunch gatherings.  My absolute favorite meal to make has always been breakfast.  On Sunday mornings friends and their kids would arrive, ready to chow down on stacks of my famous blueberry, spelt flour pancakes, topped with pure maple syrup and served with farm fresh eggs.  Now I'm ready to bring this tradition back to the table, GP style!  Keep reading for nutritious details and a 15% discount!

Bone Broth Brings Relief and Nourishment

"Chicken soup...heals the nerves, improves digestion, reduces allergies, relaxes and gives strength."
-Hanna Kroeger, Ageless Remedies from Mother's Kitchen


Since my digestive problems began so many years ago I have tried everything under the sun.  You name it, from medications to meditation, Vitamix to vitamins, supplements to smoothies, prayers to purees, acupuncture to acupressure, yoga to yogurt, and finally denial to dying of starvation.  Some friends, some enemies, yet all have been a part of the journey finding some light in this long and narrow digestive tunnel.

Recently, I decided to take a step back and "simmer" down to the basics, pun intended!
Today, I am going to take us a few steps beyond chicken soup.  Packaged broth might be good for flavor but does not contribute any nutrition.  I want to talk about why I believe my recent journey with long-simmered stocks can be an essential part of our diet, nourishing not only to the soul but our entire being.  For centuries, cultures all over the world have used this basic remedy to cure hundreds of diseases and ailments.  As they say, it's grandma's penicillin.