online program q and a for food, eating, and cooking · they are the japanese red beans and...
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©2013 The Whole Journey, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, distribute, train from, or create derivative works from without permission.®
©2013 The Whole Journey, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, distribute, train from, or create derivative works from without permission.®
Online Program Q and A for Food, Eating, and Cooking
Questions and Answers from the online program have been divided into five main parts: Food, Eating and Cooking; Supplements; Symptoms, Conditions, and Remedies; Testing; and Miscellaneous. The main idea from each question has been bolded in turquoise. The questions have been alphabetized based upon those highlighted words. Links are bolded in blue.
Q: How does alcohol raise blood sugar? I understand that alcohol is metabolized in the liver like fats, and when I searched for carbs in wine, zeros coming up in every database. I understand how coffee raises blood sugar (via cortisol), but how does wine/alcohol (without sweetened mixers) raise blood sugar? A: Basically, wine is sugar and most alcohol is fermented from grains. By consuming large quantities, it’s as if you were eating all of those grapes/grains, and you would raise your blood sugar and have an insulin spike. It is good to have some fat and maybe a protein-based appetizer with your wine. Most of the time we start drinking before we have anything to eat, or we have bread, which makes it worse and makes you crave more. If you can handle it, have some good quality cheese, or a few nuts, or some guacamole dip with healthy chips with your alcohol. That will prevent the huge spike in blood sugar. Just like if you have some coconut oil in your coffee, it’ll prevent the cortisol spike. With alcohol, you’re getting an insulin spike.
Q: Is it true that we should not use more than a couple of tablespoons of almond flour a day? A: I don’t see any problem using almond flour in small amounts. However, it can turn rancid when you heat it up too high, and it also depends how old it is. We use almond flour in a number of our recipes. I especially love our Almond Torte Cookies. As always, everything really should be eaten in moderation.
Q: Are you familiar with Costco’s Ancient Grain pasta with organic brown rice, corn, quinoa, and amaranth? Is it good to use or not? A: I have heard of that brand, and I think it’s a great alternative to pasta. The corn is organic, so it is okay to use. The first ingredient in another quinoa pasta by Ancient Harvest is corn, so at least with the Ancient Grain pasta that you mention, corn is not the first ingredient and, thereby makes it more acceptable.
Q: You mentioned not to combine fruit with other foods, but what about avocado?A: Avocado, for our intents and purposes, does not count as a fruit. It’s not going to ferment because it’s not full of sugar, and it has plenty of fat to stabilize it. You can use avocado with plant-based protein powder. Q: Which beans are the best for soups/chili? I know there are some we don’t digest well.A: Aduki beans (a.k.a. adzuki) are my favorite. They are the Japanese red beans and sweeter. They are featured in our Quick Turkey Chili recipe. If you haven’t made it yet, try it! I’ve made this in every cooking class I’ve ever had in clients’ homes. I make it every winter at least three times. I double the batch and freeze half. I also love black beans, pinto beans, and garbanzo beans. The only two beans I would say NO to are kidney beans and great white northern beans. They are very hard to digest. Humans have a hard time digesting the protein structure in kidney beans, and great white northern beans share the same protein structure.
Q: Is it okay to have ONE beer while on the candida cleanse and would a digestive enzyme help?A: Yes, ONE beer on the cleanse is fine. Take an enzyme and 2 extra Sac B afterward and enjoy.
Q: Is there a certain time of day to drink the bone broth with coconut oil and gelatin?A: Any time is good, but I’d suggest using it as a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack OR before bed if you have anxiety at night or trouble sleeping.
Q: Would you advise to continue drinking bone broth each day indefinitely or have just a few times a week?A: A few times a week is good.
Q: Where does one get the ingredients for the bone broth? I inquired at Jimbo’s in Carlsbad for the ingredients, and they said they do not have any organic or natural chicken bones or organic chicken feet. Do you have any suggestions on where to go?A: You can use the leftover carcass from a whole chicken after you cook and eat it, and then you can usually get chicken feet at some farmers’ markets to add in. The Leucadia Farmer’s Market on Sundays sells chicken feet, or you can order them at US Wellness Meats.
©2013 The Whole Journey, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, distribute, train from, or create derivative works from without permission.®
Q: You mentioned the bone broth from The Flavor Chef, but I notice it’s chicken based, and I’ve always read about drinking beef bone broth. Does chicken really offer enough of the benefits? A: Yes chicken broth offers enough benefits!! See this blog post for more information. We like the chicken broth without the fat (so no GAPS type of chicken broth) to help the body heal. Beef broth is fantastic and can be used as well. You get a bit different nutrient profile and more support for the kidneys because you are getting more marrow. Chicken bone broth contains more collagen because of the feet.
Q: Is there another bone broth on the market that you could recommend besides The Flavor Chef? It’s a bit pricey to order, and I don’t want to always have to make it myself.A: I haven’t found another ready-made bone broth besides The Flavor Chef, but if someone does make beef bone broth and sells it, they would make a killing. I suggest making a ton of bone broth when you make it and just freeze it. That’s what I do, so I only really make it once a month.
Q: I have been making bone broth, but it isn’t as gelatinous as it has been in the past. I wonder if it is still good for me. I have added the gelatin, so maybe that helps.A: Adding the gelatin is a good idea. Or, to make it more gelatinous, you can buy chicken feet at the Leucadia Farmers’ Market (if you live in the San Diego area), or you can go to a butcher to see if you can buy chicken feet.
Q: I’m struggling a bit with making bone broth. I am not able to get bones only at the store, so I bought a whole chicken and cooked it. There doesn’t seem to be that many bones. I know I can buy it, but it’s pretty expensive. Can you offer up any suggestions or tricks that I may have overlooked? A: You can poach a whole chicken to make the broth – just remove the cooked meat from the bones after one hour of cooking and reserve it for soups or other dishes over the next few days. You can also buy organic chicken drumsticks. They are usually cheaper per pound and have a lot of bone vs. meat. Since you cannot get chicken bones at your store, you might try looking for grass-fed beef bones at a healthy grocer, butcher, or farmers’ market. There is a vendor in San Diego County (Homegrown Meats) that sells beef bones. The Flavor Chef also uses cut aromatic vegetables in his broth, which can give extra depth of flavor and additional nutrients if you are a little short on bones. US Wellness Meats also ships nationwide.
Q: Do you have a good place to order chicken feet if you want to make your own bone broth?A: Check US Wellness Meats.
Q: Trying to find good breakfasts for children who can’t eat eggs or avocados is challenging. Do you have any suggestions? ideas. I understand that quinoa should not be combined with fruit. A: Yes, quinoa with fruit is not a great combination, but you could add Barlean’s Omega Swirl fish oil (or another great fruity flavor) to the quinoa for a similar tasting breakfast. Add grassfed butter or coconut oil to the hot quinoa. Amaranth porridge with coconut oil, cinnamon, and almond milk is a big hit with kids. Smoothies are also popular with kids and a good way to add a lot of nutritious ingredients. Refer back to the “Healthy Breakfast Ideas” in session 1 of your Healthy Life Handbook for other ideas.
Q: Do you have any substitute for brown rice tortillas? We use romaine lettuce as wraps, but what else is there?A: Try Food for Life organic sprouted corn tortillas to add variety to your lettuce wraps.
Q: You mentioned that chia seeds pull out excess estrogen. My two teenage daughters eat chia seeds daily sprinkled on almost every meal. Should I be concerned that this is too much for them?A: Fiber in general pulls out excess estrogen, but chia seeds work effectively especially when they are soaked. If your daughters are using one tablespoon a day of chia, they should be just fine. I would not, however, sprinkle them on every meal, as it would be too much of a good thing.
Q: Do you have any other suggestions for getting the suggested one tablespoon of coconut oil a day besides in tea and sautéing chicken? A: You can also cook your veggies or eggs in it or add it to bone broth and drink it like a tea. I like to use it as a spread on my rice bread toast. You can also add it to a smoothie or use it in the place of another oil in a muffin or bread recipe. Use your TWJ cookbook as we have a ton of recipes with coconut oil in them.
©2013 The Whole Journey, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, distribute, train from, or create derivative works from without permission.®
Q: Do you have some suggestions to make the cookbook easier to use? I don’t have a computer in my kitchen and usually print out recipes, but this has so many graphics and uses a LOT of ink. I prefer paper anyway, because it allows me to write notes on what we liked, what we didn’t, changes I make, etc. A: There is a print-friendly version of the cookbook. I’d suggest printing it in black and white to save ink on the recipe images. We are hoping to turn it into a printed cookbook sometime in 2014.
Q: I have checked out The Whole Journey Cookbook, but I cannot use very many of the recipes for our daughter with special needs due to one ingredient or another. Can you recommend any other cookbooks?A: Check out some of the Paleo cookbooks out there like Practical Paleo for your daughter.
Q: In regard to dairy, does the body react differently to pasteurized casein than to raw? A: Dr. Mark Hyman has a great article on this subject HERE. Personally, I find that when we eliminate all dairy/gluten for 90 days while healing the gut and then add back raw dairy only, that 70% of people can tolerate and thrive from it. If someone still cannot process it, and their labs still come back reactive after this, then it’s a true dairy sensitivity and all dairy should be avoided.
Q: Is it important to include something from the dairy category (raw milk, raw cheese, goat yogurt) in a daily diet? A: That’s a personal decision based upon how well one processes dairy. Be your own best doctor. Raw dairy has its benefits, so try it out and see, but be sure to find a quality source (e.g., Organic Pastures). Goat products digest in 20 minutes versus the eight hours it can sometimes take for cow’s milk to digest. Goat’s milk products are usually okay for people who are lactose intolerant. And, for people who can’t handle raw cow’s milk, raw goat’s milk is usually fine for them; blood tests for food sensitivities usually back that up. Sometimes blood type O people don’t handle dairy very well. Or, if you’re trying to lose weight, dairy is not the greatest food for a blood type O or a blood type A, either positive or negative. The other blood types, AB and B, can handle dairy better. See what works for you. If you don’t crave it or you don’t want it, you might be getting needed nutrients in other ways.
Q: Do you think Earth Balance Soy Free is a good non-dairy replacement?A: I would not recommend it due to the canola oil in it.
Q: What are your thoughts on Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin Bread?A: Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin Bread is fine in moderation as long as it doesn’t give you gas due to the fruit and grain combination.
Q: Is this too much fat for a daily regimen especially if one is trying to lose weight? (coconut milk for daily smoothie, 1 teaspoon ghee,1 teaspoon coconut oil, and 1 teaspoon grapeseed oil, and ¼ avocado) A: This does not sound like too much fat. If you are weight-loss resistant, you might want to get your insulin tested or get tested for insulin resistance. Perhaps the issue lies in your pancreas, and once the pancreas is improved and tissue is repaired, the thyroid can function better as well. Any doctor can test for that.
Q: Should one stay away from fermented foods or anything else if they know they have a yeast overgrowth? And what about fermented greens powder from Body Ecology and Bragg’s raw vinegar? A: If one has a yeast overgrowth, they should use probiotics like saccaromyces boulardii (a yeast-eating strain of probiotic) instead of fermented foods. The candida cleanse protocol would definitely help with this.
Q: Are fermented veggies ever good for you whether or not you have candida? What about natto (fermented soybeans)? A: Yes, fermented veggies are great for you when you do not have candida. Natto is acceptable because it’s fermented, but if you are going out of your way to eat fermented foods for health, kombucha, kimchi, and raw sauerkraut are better choices.
Q: With food combining, fruit and grains should not be combined, but what about dried fruit? Would it still be bad to have dried fruit in oatmeal or millet? A: Avoid combining dried fruit with grains as well. Cooked fruit is sometimes okay with grain because cooking breaks down the enzymes. The Ayurvedics suggest that.
Q: Food combining - If one should not eat fruit with carbs, does that mean no tomato sauce with pasta/rice?A: You can have tomatoes/tomato sauce with rice/rice pasta since tomatoes do not cause fermentation.
©2013 The Whole Journey, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, distribute, train from, or create derivative works from without permission.®
Q: In regard to food combining and the “separating carbs from fruit” rule, are root veggies and squash considered carbs?A: Yes, root veggies and squash are carbs, and I know we love to combine them with fruit, especially around the holidays. If you do that, either cook the fruit, which changes its structure, or take a digestive enzyme before eating them.
Q: In regard to food combining, is there a problem with making a salad with mixed greens or romaine, blueberries, apples, celery, chicken, and nuts?A: There is not a problem here because fruit and grains are not combined. As long as one is digesting it okay, it is fine. If a person isn’t digesting a salad like that – with fruit, nuts, meat, and vegetables – then I sauté at least one of the vegetables so that the enzyme construction is changed. Most people will digest a complicated meal (several different ingredients) better if there’s one item that has been cooked. People have more trouble when everything is raw.
Q: Which fruits are okay to combine with other foods (blueberries, apples)?A: I would say all fruits are okay to combine together, but the rule of thumb with melon is to “eat it alone or leave it alone.” Do not combine carbohydrates with fruit, so this means no grains, potatoes, beans, etc.
Q: What can one use if they are allergic to garlic?A: You can use an ayurvedic herb called HING that tastes and acts like garlic but is not garlic. It can be found online.
Q: If one has gut issues and wants to use ghee to heal the lining of the gut but is allergic to dairy, do you think it is okay to still have ghee? A: Since ghee is clarified butter with all of the milk solids removed, usually people allergic to dairy are fine with it. One should always listen to his/her body after trying foods. One can always use coconut oil instead of ghee to heal the gut, but I’m guessing ghee will still be fine.
Q: Should ginger root be organic? Does it have to be peeled? Exactly how do you measure a 5” section when the roots are all different shapes? Ginger root is expensive, and it seems a lot of the recipes use a lot of ginger.A: Ginger root doesn’t have to be organic. Since it’s a root and grows underground, it usually doesn’t require pescticides. Peel the entire ginger root and just make sure to use a 3” strip, which would be about an eighth of an inch thick and the length of your index finger from your knuckle up. Measurements don’t have to be exact.
Q: It seems that the Gluten Summit said brown rice can be a problem for gluten. If that is the case, what do we substitute in recipes? Also, is the same true for ancient grains (amaranth, quinoa, teff, millet, buckwheat, etc.)?A: The ancient grains are a great substitute for gluten. Try to keep processed, gluten-free foods minimized or out of your diet (i.e., gluten-free muffins). I have not seen a problem with brown rice or the other grains eaten in their whole form when they are soaked overnight and rinsed to remove phytates. Everyone is different, so follow your body’s reaction and intuition. Q: Since hearing the Gluten Summit and getting information about GMOs, is it safe to use non-GMO wheat, spelt, etc.? Are quinoa, amaranth, teff, and millet okay? A: Dr. Tom O’Bryan is a good friend, and he won a best-campaign award for launching the Gluten Summit. He’s a thought leader on gluten sensitivity. Google him and you can learn more than you ever wanted to know about gluten. Non-GMO wheat and spelt are NOT okay for somebody with high gluten sensitivity (or non-celiac gluten sensitivity) or for somebody with celiac disease. Even an eighth of a thumbnail size of gluten will scar the intestines of somebody with celiac.
Trusting the brand is important when considering non-GMO claims on packaging. I really only trust the “00” flour from Europe, which you can buy at Whole Foods. And several restaurants in San Diego use it; those are the only places I’ll eat pizza. Spelt is an ancient grain with lower gluten than wheat. But if a person has a gluten sensitivity, I would probably stay completely away from most grains and gluten as much as possible. Quinoa, amaranth, millet, and teff are all great. With regard to rice, it depends on the source. If one has trouble with grains, stick with the top four and not use rice at all.
Q: Are the grasses such as barley, etc. okay if we are attempting to be gluten free?A: Gluten is in the grains (or seeds) of the barley, so pure barley grass does not contain gluten and should be fine.
Q: What are your thoughts on gluten-free beer?A: GF beer is okay in moderation. It still has lots of yeast in it.
©2013 The Whole Journey, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, distribute, train from, or create derivative works from without permission.®
Q: Do you know of a gluten-free bread that’s actually good?A: Not really. The paleo bread is healthy but not very tasty. If one’s issue is not celiac, then Ezekiel bread would be okay. It’s not gluten-free, but it’s the ancient wheat, not the modern wheat, and it’s sprouted, so a person’s body will digest it differently. Udi’s bread is okay. I think it has tapioca in it, but that’s fine.
Q: What are your thoughts on the GMO rice that was being created to have healthier qualities and to help third world countries with their food sources. Are there any good GMOs?A: It all depends on HOW they genetically modify it, so I’d have to look into that product specifically. Some GMOs are actually not bad for you depending on their process and if they hybridize. The bad GMOs are the “frankenfoods.”
Q: The “Thyroid Uncovered” article did not mention spinach, swiss chard, or collard greens as being goitrogenic, and I thought they were. Can you provide a complete list of goitrogenic foods? A: Spinach, beet greens, and swiss chard contain oxalic acid which, when consumed raw, can leach calcium from the body. So, by cooking those foods, you stop that process.Q: What raw, non-goitrogenic leafy greens would be a good substitute for some of your green drink recipes?A: You can use collard greens, mixed field greens, dandelion greens (bitter!), or romaine lettuce in your green drinks.Q: The Garden of Life Perfect Food contains goitrogenic foods. Should one stir the mix into hot water to deactivate the goitrogens, or should they avoid this supplement altogether?A: Garden of Life Perfect Food is a good product, so I wouldn’t waste it. Take it (while not eating uncooked goitrogenic foods) and then switch to Premier Greens Caps by Premier Research Labs.Q: If someone does not have a thyroid anymore, can they safely eat the goitrogenic greens such as kale, spinach, etc. raw? Or, do they still need to cook these greens? Also, does eating these greens (high in goitrogens) CAUSE hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? Would one eating a lot of these greens cause future problems?A: Every cell in the body needs iodine, and the goitrogenic foods when eaten raw, block iodine function, so I would suggest mostly eating these foods cooked. The occasional kale or spinach salad is fine, but do not have these raw every single day. By consistently creating an iodine deficiency, they can lower thyroid function, but I would not say that eating these foods raw would ever cause Hashimoto’s. Inherently, they are healthy foods to keep in your diet. I’d say just err on the side of caution and eat them cooked most of the time.Q: What do you think about the AutoImmune Protocol/elimination diets in terms of goitrogens?A: The AutoImmune Protocol (no nightshades, nuts, seeds, dairy, eggs, etc) is a great addition to avoiding goitrogens and healing the thyroid, and I have seen great results with it in Hashimoto’s.
Q: Should one eat grains if they have gut problems? A: If you oak grains (gluten-free grains) overnight, cook them with kombu (see grocery store tour), and take it a step further to cook them in bone broth, then most people should be able to tolerate them and truly benefit from their nutrients and fiber. If the gut is still in poor shape, one will get bloated and gassy when eating them. If that is the case, avoid them until the healing is further along. Your body will tell you what is right.
Q: Should a person not consume gluten-free grains, even something like quinoa, if their gut is not healed? And what about even the easier-to-digest beans and lentils, should they be avoided as one is healing even though they should be added to help adrenals and blood sugar? And what about raw milk which helps to heal IBS? Can one assume if they are allergic to the whey part of the milk that all of these dairy suggestions (goat cheese, yogurt, raw milk) should be avoided?A: Stay off grains, legumes, and dairy until your gut is healed.
Q. If one is not eating grains and is trying to heal their thyroid but tried to introduce a brown rice tortilla into their diet and had severe, nasty, sulphur-like gas, what do you conclude from that?A. If a food doesn’t work for you, don’t eat it. You are your own best doctor. There is safflower oil (Omega-6) in brown rice tortillas, and that could not be great for the thyroid. If your digestion gets upset, or you feel anxiety, or feel tired after eating something, then that food doesn’t work for you. Don’t write off all grains because of this experience and consider trying other grains. Or, don’t worry about eating grains at all if you don’t want to soak them. I would just suggest having sweet potatoes, sprouted hummus, or butternut squash to get your complex carbs and to stabilize your blood sugar. When you are stabilized, the body will feel safe to turn off the stress response, and you can start to absorb the nutrients from your food. As we work on healing the gut, you will probably be able to add in grains later.
©2013 The Whole Journey, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, distribute, train from, or create derivative works from without permission.®
Q. Why is grapeseed oil featured in one of your videos? Aren’t polyunsaturated fatty acids bad for you?A. Grapeseed oil is a polyunsaturated fat that is high in omega-6 fatty acids which can leave you vulnerable to toxicity and inflammation if you are adrenally fatigued or metabolically challenged. However, it has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, and I feel that the benefits outweigh the risks when used on occasion. When people don’t want the flavor of coconut oil, butter, or ghee in their recipes, grapeseed oil is an acceptable option. Avocado oil is also good to use, but it does have some flavor. Use only a high quality, expeller-pressed grapeseed oil like La Tourangelle. Do not use grapeseed oil at all if you are in stage 2 or 3 of adrenal fatigue, or if your thyroid has been struggling for a long time. If you’re in that state, use saturated fat only. Saturated fat is a molecule that is basically all protected, but toxins can bind to polyunsaturated fats (an unprotected molecule), which would turn up/on the stress response.
Q: With the PH strip tests, one can really see how important green drinks are for maintaining a higher PH. Many green powders have kale, spinach, etc. For those who have Hashimoto’s, those vegetables need to be cooked. Should these powders be avoided? There is no sense taking the powder if it is harmful to the thyroid. Can you suggest an alternative other than making your own? A: Premier Research Labs makes Premier Greens, which doesn’t have kale or spinach. Another idea is to make a big batch of juiced collard greens, dandelion greens (bitter!), or romaine lettuce and put in an ice cube tray and freeze. You can add a few cubes and blend them into your drinks/smoothies.
Q: It is hard to make a green juice every day. Do you have any tips on saving time here? I’ve heard making ahead causes the enzymes to break down and that nutritional value decreases.A: Making green juice ahead will lose some of the value but still would be good for those busy days. Or, you could buy Evolution Sweet Greens for the days that you don’t have time to juice.
Q: Is it okay to juice the night before and leave it in the fridge for the morning? A: Yes, it should still be okay in the morning. One loses enzymes with juice the longer it sits out, but it is better in your body than not. I sometimes juice enough for three days. One should weigh the benefits versus how much time one has.
Q: Do you know of any substitutes for kale? It can’t be found in some countries.A: Any leafy greens are great! You can use collard greens, mixed field greens, dandelion greens (bitter!), or romaine lettuce in your smoothies.
Q: Can you clear up the confusion about cooked vs. raw kale, etc. for people with underactive thyroid and no Hashimoto’s? A: If you are underactive but no Hashimoto’s, cook your kale until you get to where you want your thyroid to be. The idea is that we don’t want to block your thyroid’s ability to uptake iodine because iodine combines with the amino acid l-tyrosine to make T3 (=energy). Start taking your temperatures and pulses and use the grams journal to find out your right proportion of proteins, carbs, and fats to boost your thyroid.
Q: Have you seen this article about the “dark side of kale”? They are saying that kale can cause hypothyroidism, and that very high intakes of cruciferous vegetables have been found to cause hypothyroidism (insufficient thyroid hormone) in animals. What are your thoughts?A: Kale is getting a bad rap! Just like there’s no panacea and no cure-all that will heal your health and take away all your problems, there’s not just one thing that’s going to destroy your thyroid (unless you’re under major, major radiation). I have not read this article, but I have to say that everything should be done in moderation. Cruciferous vegetables do have goitrogens, a component that inhibits the uptake of iodine. And if the thyroid is not getting enough iodine, there’s no way that it can make T3, which is the thyroid hormone you need for energy. So, get your iodine levels checked by your doctor. That’s the single best way for you to determine whether you might have a problem eating cruciferous vegetables. If you cook the cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, bok choy, cabbage, kale, etc.), then you cook out a lot of those goitrogens. If you’re not sure, just cook them. Also, testing your temperature after eating them is a great way to find out if they are working for your body.
Q: What are your thoughts on a ketogenic diet? A: I think ketosis for a short amount of time is okay. You can get your metabolism to shift, and it’s good that carbs are limited. However, I would never keep somebody in ketosis for a long time, as I think it promotes acidosis.
Q: Is kimchi and raw sauerkraut okay for those with thyroid disease?A: Yes kimchi or raw sauerkraut is actually very good for those with thyroid problems because of the good bacteria. Plus, the fermentation process removes the goitrogens.
©2013 The Whole Journey, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, distribute, train from, or create derivative works from without permission.®
Q: Kimchi and raw sauerkraut are good for hypothyroidism, but what if one has candida? Should these foods be avoided?A: When I have my clients cleanse from candida, I have them take probiotics and avoid all fermented food. Many other practitioners (and The Body Ecology Diet) believe differently. Yeast is fermentation in the GI tract, so I believe that one should avoid them until the candida overgrowth is gone or at least chased back to acceptable levels. We have a 6-8 week candida cleanse that is fairly intense. This online program sets one up for success with the candida cleanse if one should decide to go that route. To chase the candida down while doing this program, Candicid Forte by Orthomolecular is a good product that really helps with that. Saccharomyces Boulardii is a yeast-eating strain of probiotic that works great as well.
Q: Kombucha is a carbonated drink. Does it hurt the GI tract, too?A: Kombucha can be healing because it introduces good bacteria (and easy-to-use B vitamins) into the GI lining, but first you want to make sure that you don’t have candida. If you have an overgrowth of candida, kombucha can actually feed the yeast, and it will make you feel giddy or high after drinking it.
Q: The Food Babe has Larabars as GMO, and they are one of your “safe” bars. Do you still feel that Larabars are “safe”?A: Larabars are not GMO as of now, but they are owned by one of the bigger companies that produce GMO foods, and Food Babe is boycotting all the parent companies. I want you to eat clean food that is accessible, so I am still a fan of Larabars (politics aside). There are some Larabars with sugar, so please read the ingredients and avoid those.
Q: What does one do if they suspect the lemon water makes them urinate much more frequently and seems to cause bowel upset? A: Drink the water without lemon and see if that helps.
Q: Do you have a suggestion for a simple luncheon menu for a wedding to show others how delicious nutritious foods can be without a lot of time and expense? A: You could serve organic chicken thighs along with Brown Rice Couscous Stuffed Peppers and two different salad options, such as our Sweet Beet Salad with Basil and Garlic or our Tasty Raw Kale Salad. It would be very colorful, too.
Q: I read recently that people with Hashimoto’s need to be careful with maca powder. Can it still be used in smoothies for hormonal balance. Do you have any thoughts or concerns?A: This is true because maca works off the pituitary gland and can increase estrogen. You should not stay on it especially if you have Hashimoto’s. Having a small dose like ½-1 teaspoon in your smoothie 2-3 times/week, though, should not be a problem.
Q: Can you give an example of a meal plan for someone with thyroid symptoms?A: Refer to the grams journal in “Deeper Science-Thyroid” and shoot for 50% carbs, 25% protein, and 25% fat for a few weeks to give the thyroid some love. Besides being grain-free, there are weird combinations that will do magic. For example, eat 5-6 oysters cooked in coconut oil with sea salt and served with one cooked apple or pear or have 4 ounces of any clean animal protein and 1 cup of roots with 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of healthy fat.
Q: It is good to avoid microwaves, but do you have any suggestions for heating up foods for lunch at work? A: See if you can get your work establishment to provide a toaster oven.
Q: In regard to milk, what can one do if we cannot buy raw milk where we live? Is organic, pastured, non-homogenized milk acceptable?A: Organic Valley makes a grass-fed milk. Try to find the 100% grass-fed milk by them, and that will be an enormous upgrade.
Q: For a nursing mom, what foods are a must have?A: LIVER! I love having nursing moms eat liver. If you can’t do that, just make sure you’re taking liver pills. And, you want to keep your system nice and strong, so make sure you’re having lots of saturated animal fat. Grassfed beef, coconut oil, and grassfed butter are very helpful for balancing your hormones. You will want to take a little more vitamin C, eat a little more carbs than you normally would, and think about incorporating more superfoods into your diet. We have a book coming out in 2014 that will cover the topics of natal health.
Q: During the store tour, you talk about nutritional yeast. Is that safe to consume if one’s IgG food antibody test came back as a moderate allergy to yeast? And, should one avoid nutritional yeast while on a candida cleanse?A: Stay away from yeast if you reacted to it on your food sensitivity test, and yes, nutritional yeast should be avoided while on the candida cleanse.
©2013 The Whole Journey, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, distribute, train from, or create derivative works from without permission.®
Q: If a food is labeled organic, does that mean it is non-GMO?A: Yes, standards say now that if something says it’s organic, then it’s non-GMO. Hopefully that won’t change.
Q: What are your thoughts on oxalates? Is it true that people who drink a green drink every day are doing more harm than good. A: For oxalates, I only worry about them with beet greens, spinach, and Swiss chard and would recommend always eating those cooked. Make sure you have vitamin K2 in your multivitamin or in your vitamin D3 to help with calcium absorption and therefore pH levels.
Q: What do you think about Paleo?A: My issue with most of Paleo is that it’s great with avoiding the major food sensitivities and to take burden off the body. However, there is still cleanup work and underlying layers that need to be dealt with for true and total healing and to open up your food world a bit more. I see it as a healing diet but not one that has to be strictly adhered to forever. They are also a little over the top with all their bacon.
Q: Is organic popcorn okay to eat? It is great with coconut oil, raw agave, and Himalayan sea salt.A: For your organic popcorn, use xylitol instead of agave. Agave has to be processed through the liver much like high fructose corn syrup.
Q: What is a good number of protein grams to shoot for each day? Should one have animal protein at each meal? A: It really depends on one’s energy levels, hormone levels, and blood type. You actually have to figure out what’s right for you. I recommend about 60 grams of protein/day and a small amount of animal protein with meals. Blood Type A can synthesize protein better from vegetarian sources, so they could get away with half. In the Healthy Life Handbook under session 4, there’s a handout about protein that answers these questions: What is protein? Why is it important? What are signs you’re consuming too little or too much? Too much protein will make you contracted and constipated and will make you crave sugar. Too little protein will give you a pallor; you’ll also crave sugar and you might get shaky.
For pregnant women, I recommend 70 to 80 grams of animal protein a day, if that’s possible. For anyone over age 50, I recommend 60 grams of protein a day. And for anyone under age 50 and who’s relatively healthy, I recommend 50 to 70 grams of protein per day. It doesn’t have to be animal-based, although I’m a big fan of high-quality, pasture-raised animal protein, because I see so many people with adrenal fatigue, thyroid problems, and metabolic issues. It’s good for people with those issues to use animal protein because the body doesn’t have to do anything to convert it, and they get a desirable amino acid profile right away. But I respect vegans and vegetarians, as well.
My suggestion is to consume animal protein twice a day. (Or once a day if you’re getting enough total protein grams.) Meat should not be the centerpiece of the meal, as it has become in our culture. About 4 ounces is the right amount. It should take up one quarter of the plate and not half of the plate. You can use the old analogy that meat portions should be about the size and thickness of the palm of the hand or a deck of cards.
Q: Is raw cocoa okay to have? A: Raw cacao is acceptable but not cocoa. They are two totally different foods. Raw cacao is alkaline-forming, high in magnesium, boosts dopamine in the brain, and is super clean. Cocoa has been processed.
Q: If one has issues (pain, burning) after eating raw foods (bananas and greens, especially) and bread, pasta, and rice, is this the result of too much acid and digestion being out of balance? A: Yes, this is likely an acid problem. But it’s hard to say whether it’s too much bad acid or too little of the good stomach acid. Eat a combination of cooked foods with raw foods to see if they can be digested better. Add use ginger powder or take apple cider vinegar to neutralize the bad acid and stimulate your body to produce its own HCL.
Q: How long should one avoid raw foods when trying to heal the pancreas?A: You don’t have to avoid raw foods completely while healing the pancreas, but just incorporate an 80/20 or 70/30 ratio of cooked foods to raw. After about 3 months or when one feels stronger (less lightheadedness, ability to go longer periods without eating and not feeling bad, etc.), you should be fine to eat more raw food.
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Q: In regard to raw food cleanses that are commercially made, like Beaming. can one use those if one has Hashimoto’s? Are there any precautions one should take, or are there cleanses you might recommend that would be okay (one day, 3 day, etc.) for those of us that have to be careful of getting too much raw?A: Choose juices that aren’t so green and that are Hashimoto’s friendly. Beaming, for example, has plenty of options. And yes, if you are drinking green juice, just drink one per day max.
Q: How can one know if they can use raw milk, or if there are problems with that as well? A: Raw milk can be very healing, but make sure that there are no digestive problems after drinking it. If there are problems, do not use it. Of course, quality is always of the utmost importance when consuming raw milk. You must make sure the company only feeds their cows grass, and that they check the microbial count of the milk twice weekly. Discard the raw milk on the exact day of expiration if not one or two days before. Organic Pastures is a good brand.
Q: Does raw milk have the right enzymes for digesting the protein part of the milk? Usually it’s the sugar part that is the problem for people. So no whey powders either?A: A food sensitivity test would tell, but raw milk contains lactose to help you digest it. High quality whey should be fine, but if you can’t handle it, then see how your body likes egg white protein powder. Fit365 is the cleanest form of whey out there.
Q: Is raw milk okay to use medicinally? And what about for a pre-natal plan? A: One can stay on raw milk for as long as one likes as long as it works for them. My goal with this program is to get everyone to become his or her own best doctor. Once one gets halfway through this program, your biochemistry will have shifted, and you can trust your body more. Examine how you feel when you consume certain foods. If you feel good on raw milk, then you know you can continue it, but be sure that you know you have a good quality product. Use raw milk if you’re feeling rundown or tired. Or, if you have one chance at your smoothie and you know you might not eat for another 4 to 6 hours, then use raw milk instead of coconut milk or almond milk to give you more energy and bang for your buck. Consuming raw milk during pregnancy is a very controversial subject. That is very understandable, because if it’s a bad product, you’re in big trouble. That’s why I always recommend Organic Pastures, because they’ve never had any problems. The owner’s wife was a labor and delivery nurse and had four kids who were raised on their raw milk. But you have to make the choice that’s right for you. If you choose to use raw milk, it should definitely be grassfed and the microbial count should be ascertained twice a week. For all of my prenatal clients, and for the prenatal plan in my upcoming book, I recommend 8 ounces of raw milk every day throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, because it is such a great superfood. However, listen to your body and what it is asking for. If you get digestive problems with raw milk, you would stop.
Q: How long do you suggest using raw milk for children with asthma?A: If you’re using raw milk medicinally for children with asthma, have them use it for two to three months. By around three months, you should have repopulated their gut, and they should have gotten enough colostrum, which is what we get from breast milk when we’re born that really builds, boosts, and forms our immune system. Something else for asthma that’s safe for children or anyone is to put just a pinch of Himalayan pink salt directly on the tongue. Check out the salt video (session 2). When you put pink salt on your tongue, it opens up the respiratory system and thereby reduces the need for an inhaler. That is serious food as medicine.
Q: Is rice bran oil a good or bad oil? A: Rice bran oil is healthier than the alternatives they usually use in most restaurants, like canola or soy oil. It seems to have some antioxidant benefits, however, keep cooking with saturated fats at home.
Q: Some feel that the Himalayan pink salt lacks in flavor. Do you have any other suggestions? A: Try Celtic sea salt or Real Salt and see if that works better. Celtic is a bit stronger. Premier Research Labs also has a flavorful, high quality pink salt.
Q: When one does the Seven-Day Raw Food and Juice Cleanse, do you have any ideas how to lessen any withdrawal symptoms, like from headaches due to eliminating coffee?A: Don’t quit cold turkey but, instead, start to reduce caffeine gradually day by day. Be sure to increase your water as you do this. The reason we get headaches from eliminating caffeine is because the caffeine is a vasodilator, which means it allows more blood to pump through your blood vessels. When we suddenly quit, the same amount of blood needs to go through a smaller pathway. Spinach, beets, celery, watermelon, and cantaloupe all contain different components that have a vasodilating effect, so add more of these foods into your diet to help.
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Q: In the Seven-Day Raw Food and Juice Cleanse (at the end of the handbook) on Days 1 and 2, what is suggested for lunch and dinner? Should we have a combination of raw vegetables and raw fats? And if so, what ratio?A: For dinner, especially in the winter, a puréed mixed veggie broth warmed up would be good to have. (You can use bone broth and gelatin in there, too, if you are starving.) Then at night, take 3 tablespoons of olive oil mixed with 5 tablespoons of lemon juice and 4-5 trifala capsules to flush the liver further the next day. For lunch, eat salads with 2 tablespoons of one of the patés (Sunflower Paté or Raw Cashew Hummus or Raw Almond Hummus). Put some lemon juice on that, too. To be even more effective, use a Vitamix to blend an entire organic lemon, rind and all, and store in the fridge. Use a tablespoon of that a few times a day for live active enzymes and bioflavinoids.
Q: Is it okay to have raw rice crackers during the juice part of the Seven-Day Raw Food and Juice Cleanse?A: No rice crackers on the juice cleanse or any part of the cleanse, but bone broth with coconut oil should tide you over if you get too hungry.
Q: Should the Seven-Day Raw Food and Juice Cleanse be put on hold until one is done nursing?A: Definitely! No cleansing while nursing. Just eat clean. Q: It seems that Mary’s Gone Crackers products have soy in them (whole organic soybeans and soy lecithin). They are listed as one of the last ingredients, so I’m assuming these items are being used in small quantities. Are these okay for people with Hashimoto’s? Can you clarify if soy lecithin is okay, too? A: If one is basically a clean eater, do not worry about the soybean oil or soy lecithin in Mary’s crackers. Soy lecithin, an emulsifier, is in 99% of chocolate as well. It’s partially a phospholipid, which is actually helpful, and it is a phosphatidylcholine. Mary’s Gone Crackers has a great reputation, so I believe that they’re using as little soybean oil as possible, plus it’s organic so it’s not GMO. I’m never going to be a fan of soy lecithin, but if it’s in a couple of products and it’s organic, then it’s okay.
Q: Is spelt okay to use?A: Since spelt is an ancient wheat and not the scientifically- engineered wheat of today, it is okay to use if you have a low or no sensitivity to gluten. If you have a moderate sensitivity to gluten or higher, I would avoid it altogether.
Q: Is it okay to add a little stevia to lemon water? A: Absolutely.
Q: When talking about artificial sweeteners, you made a comment about how it preps our body to expect sugar, and that our body gears up to process it and in the end is left hanging. Wouldn’t stevia do the same thing?A: No, dark liquid stevia doesn’t do the same thing. It actually helps you lose your taste for sugar because there aren’t any chemicals in it.
Q: What is a good way to use the “super seed blend” you recommended on the grocery store tour?A: Use it in cereal, yogurt, and smoothies or on salads.
Q: Sweeteners: Should one use agave, stevia, coconut sugar, and maple syrup? What is dark liquid stevia?A: I love dark liquid stevia from Sweet Leaf. It is raw, unprocessed stevia in its natural state. Use it in tiny amounts whenever you want sweetness like in tea, coffee, breakfast porridges, and smoothies. I even put it in chili. Steer clearof agave nectar as it’s processed and the liver has to metabolize it the same way it has to metabolize high fructose corn syrup. Coconut sugar is fine in moderation, and B grade maple syrup is recommended.
Q: Can you reiterate again what the purpose of eating a sweet potato is going to accomplish? I know it is a superfood, but is it for getting more fiber into the diet? I have been staying pretty low carb and only eat them occasionally since I’m trying to keep sugar low. However, I am still having issues with constipation.A: Sweet potatoes balance blood sugar and heal the pancreas; they have fiber, magnesium, manganese, and B vitamins. Eat half of a sweet potato if you are trying to reduce carbs. And yes, this should help with constipation. Sweet potatoes (and yams) contain pancreatic enzymes which help mobilize digestion. Soaking 2 tablespoons of chia seeds in 12 ounces of water overnight and drinking that when you wake up will help, as well as taking triphala and probiotics (or eating raw sauerkraut) and getting enough ghee.
©2013 The Whole Journey, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, distribute, train from, or create derivative works from without permission.®
Q: What are some examples of a diet for 50% carbs, 25% fat, and 25% protein while training for a marathon?A: In the Deeper Science Thyroid section I talk about the 50-25-25 diet breakdown. If I was working with somebody who had severe adrenal fatigue and had broken metabolism or thyroid problems, I suggest the following. Upon waking, drink 4 to 6 ounces of organic orange juice mixed with 2 tablespoons of gelatin, a pinch of white sea salt, and 2 tablespoons of raw cream. About an hour later, have a proper breakfast. That’s pretty much 50-25-25. Have this again as a snack later in the day. Another example of 50-25-25 would be 4 ounces of white fish cooked in a teaspoon of coconut oil and then eaten with a half cup of beets. There are two handouts under Deeper Science: the Grams Journal and the Food Grams Chart. The Grams Chart shows you how many grams of carbs, proteins, and fats that specific non-thyroid offending foods have, and you can plug those into that Grams Journal to get percentages.
Q: Can you freeze turmeric?A: You can peel and freeze turmeric just like you would ginger. And I highly recommend that, because it’s only available about three times a year. There are about three months out of the year when it’s really hard to find.
Q: Is it okay to make a triple batch of turmeric ginger tonic and refrigerate it?A: Don’t heat it up in the microwave, as microwaving will destroy the medicinal properties. You can make a triple batch, but if you can’t drink that within one week’s time, then make it fresh. You don’t want to leave it in the fridge for more than 5-7 days.
Q: How long does it take for the turmeric ginger lemonade to affect the health of the liver and overall body inflammation? Is this something we could continue drinking indefinitely as a way to maintain health.A: Try to work it in regularly and drink it at least three times a week, indefinitely. But if you just want to drink it for a small period of time, it will take about six weeks for it to shift your biochemistry in a lasting way. So, drink it for six weeks if you don’t want to do it forever, but it would be great for you to keep drinking it. The Okinawans are drinking turmeric tea all the time and have great longevity.
Q: It is extremely difficult for some people to eat vegetables (and fruit) due to the texture, and it results in nausea. Do you have any suggestions?A: Vegetables and fruit are very important. You can try to get them in with juices (either homemade or commercially made) and/or with supplements (e.g., PRL Greens Caps or Vitamineral Green from Health Force).
Q: I am having trouble drinking so much water. Does the water intake include the morning lemon water, tea, decaffeinated coffee, and bone broth we might have during the day?A: Yes, your water intake includes all of the above, so hopefully that helps.
Q. What is so good about alkaline water and the Kangen system?A. I think alkaline water is fantastic, and I do recommend it. But there isn’t a ton of science around a lot of the machines. They say that they create chaos in the water molecules, which is not super scientific, but it does work. Out of all the systems, I like the Kangen system the best. I drank that water for four days straight during a detox program, and it did work. You can see the shift in your pH, and you start sleeping better. In terms of bottled water, I like a brand called Alchemy. They make good alkaline water if you can find that. Check the water that you drink because you can do a lot of harm or a lot of good based upon the type of water that you’re drinking.
Q: What is the best way to purify tap water to eliminate fluoride?A: For home water systems, reverse osmosis will get flouride out, but the minerals need to be added back in, either with a mineral cartridge that is changed frequently or with your trace minerals for drinking. The Alumina technology is also one to look for in water filters as they take out the flouride as well.
Q: To get someone to drink more water, would a Sodastream to carbonate it be a good option? You said that carbonated drinks thin the lining of the gut. A: It’s about progress, not perfection. I think it is okay to use the Sodastream if it helps one to drink more water, but then slowly wean off the carbonation. Add trace mineral drops in the water and maybe glutamine powder in a smoothie every so often. Add gut-healing foods into the diet such as ghee, coconut oil, or bone broth to try and counteract the thinning of the gut.
Q: If you use alkaline water to cook, does heating it change the alkalinity?A: I wash fruits/veggies/cook with it, too. Heating doesn’t change the chemical makeup of rock minerals.
©2013 The Whole Journey, Inc. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, distribute, train from, or create derivative works from without permission.®
Q: Do you suggest getting water from the Carlsbad Mineral Spa? And what about reverse osmosis systems with a carbon filter made by 3M? Do you have a favorite in-house installed filter system or bottom line, how do we get the best water possible?A: I get my water from the Carlsbad mineral spa and really like it because it’s naturally filled with minerals and is alkaline forming. However, you can just add the essential trace minerals to your reverse-osmosis water to alkalize/mineralize it and plan to change your filter every 8 weeks regardless. Q: Would Cell Food be good to put minerals in your water to help with pH?A: Absolutely! It oxygenates the cells and helps with low thryoid and adrenal fatigue. My favorite is Cell Power.
Q. What is a good water filter for the home?A. If you get a reverse osmosis water filter, be sure to get a system with an alkalizing stage to add back the minerals. Reverse osmosis systems will make the water a little bit acidic and strip out basically everything: bacteria, viruses, sediment, and fluoride. You have to get fluoride out; it’s a terrible substance. Only reverse osmosis and the Alumina technology (whole house water filters) take out fluoride, as far as I know.
Q: Is wheatgrass okay for someone with celiac?A: It’s risky. The grass itself is okay, because the gluten protein exists in the wheat berry, not the grass. But if one of the wheat berries gets into the grass, then you’re in trouble. It’s better to be safe than sorry. You can try a different greens complex that doesn’t have wheatgrass or a risk of gluten. Or you can ask your juice bar about the potential for cross-con-tamination.
Q: Whey was my most reactive food on a recent IgG test. Does that mean no dairy? Can you recommend a replacement protein powder for morning smoothies? Eggs were also moderately reactive, so egg white protein is out, too. A: Yes, that means no dairy. If you did not react to goat’s products, then Tera’s Whey is a good goat protein powder. Otherwise, a good plant-based protein powder is Warrior Food by Healthforce.
Q: Is whey protein gluten free?A: Yes, it is, but every company is different in terms of quality. Any whey protein that I recommend is going to be gluten free and of the highest quality.
Q: I drink white wine every night and this is probably why I am not losing weight. Is there a better alcoholic alternative? What about tequila with lime?A: A great substitute would be Bon Affair, a new wine spritzer made with California wine, purified sparkling water, electrolytes, zero added sugar, and 6.5% alcohol. It has half the calories of wine. Why don’t you try it, and then go every other night with white wine? Tequila with lime would be fine or organic vodka (so that it’s non-gmo) with soda and lime.
Q: Is pasteurized yogurt okay? I generally purchase Stonyfield Farms plain whole milk yogurt. I have tried to make my own, and it has always turned out runny. Goat milk yogurt is SO expensive, and the choices are slim.A: Stonyfield is okay, since at least it’s organic. I don’t know if it comes from grassfed cows, though. I will never be a fan of pasteurized dairy. If you don’t get bloated after eating it, then I would say it’s okay to use a few times a week. A food sensitivity test would be a true indicator.