My New Hobby

We've been faithfully following our new eating plan for a week and two days. (No, I'm not counting the hours...but I do sometimes miss my pasta and cheese:) It actually hasn't been too bad...once we got through those first two days. We've been following Doug Kaufmann's Anti-Fungal Diet. The idea is that many of our ailments are fungus-related, but we don't realize it. Heart problems, digestive issues, skin irritations, and even cancer can actually be caused by fungus. We get more corn in our diet than most people realize, with high fructose corn syrup being added to everything. Did you know that they put that stuff in saltine crackers? Are you kidding me? Anyway, corn can be a big problem, in terms of fungus. Remember, it's a grain...not a vegetable. Peanuts are also a big fungus hangout. If we clear our bodies of fungus buildup (gross, right?) we can cure a lot of issues.

This is how Doug Kaufmann explains the Phase 1 Diet at his site Know the Cause:

Fungi can parasitize man. A parasite is an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment. Some parasites form symbiotic relationships with other species wherein both species live comfortably with the other. In human-fungal symbiotic relationships, according to researchers, fungi are always the dominant partners. Soon, a person infected with fungus begins craving foods that satisfy the fungus more than the person. Fungus must have sugar in order to thrive. Grains supply not only sugar, but additionally since many grains we Americans eat are impregnated with fungus, grain becomes a double-edged sword. Just as some foods we eat perpetuate fungal growth and proliferation, other foods actually contain potent antifungal properties. Here is a list of foods that are OK to eat while experimenting with the Phase One Diet:

• Grass fed beef, chicken, fish
• Eggs
• Nuts, except pistachios and peanuts
• Vegetables, but no corn, potatoes or mushrooms
• Carrot juices w/other veggies, water, herbal teas
• Green apples, berries, grapefruit, lemon, lime, avocados
• Plain yogurt, real butter

Recently, we took the plunge and made a Vitamix purchase. LOVE IT. I've been making smoothies for breakfast every day since. The kiddos love them, too. Yesterday, I made a mixed berry smoothie and put it into popsicle molds for a dessert treat. The best part...are you ready for this?...they're packed with spinach. The smoothies are so smooth, you can't even tell the spinach is there. It may be the best kitchen appliance investment we've ever made.

 My favorite concoction, so far:

4 oz water

small handful of baby spinach

3 large spoonfuls of plain yogurt

1 small spoonful of honey

frozen strawberries

I'm actually sad when it's gone!