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. 

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.

Thank You GoMacro!

I'm so excited to share with my readers that GoMacro has just signed on to sponsor the Awareness Walk for Gastroparesis, happening in Bellingham, WA on September 8th, 2012.

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.