Cranberries and yoghurt...

[Guest guest]

Dear Ones;

 

This is a friend, mid 40's not postpartum or anything, but her

experience illustrates several common issues in western dietary

habits. This woman has recently moved, changed jobs, taken a big leap

of faith in herself, doing much less physical activity, and been

through winter season here. She also smokes and has quit all other

habits in the last year and before around drinking and recreational

chemicals. Her body is in some detox mode from powerful energy work

she has recently begun, alongside powerful prayers for purification.

Urine is consistently darker orange this week. We aren't addressing

that, just her question of the day as below.

 

So, her vata is up and she is NOT used to this level of digestive

weakness in herself. Daily intense gas and bloating for over a week

has been disturbing especially having had a history of colitis that

had cleared for several years begin to show its possible recurrance.

She was just introduced to Ayurvedic principles Friday night and not

remembering them too well yet...took a private cooking class

yesterday, and to her surprise, the cooked meal which included mung

dhal, red bhutanese rice, and kale and other vegetables including

minced stems, with garlic and generous seasonings, gave no discomfort.

Discussion below:

 

Mon, Feb 25, 2008

Hi Ysha,

Well I had my yogurt, almonds and cranberries for breakfast and yup my

stomach started hurting not long after; have taken some ginger and

it's ebbing - thank goodness. Had not had any problems since our time

together, again thank goodness. What was it you said about the

cranberrries? I had a cranberry juice with soda yesterday at lunch

yesterday and no problems. Do you have any suggestions or insight you

may be able to share on this? Thanks for your consideration.

CT

 

Dear C;

• Dried fruits in general even those sweetened and moister ones suck

moisture to digest. Some vata challengd bodies like myself will get

gas from that.

• Add the drying/astringent/contracting energetics of cranberries

(often causes gas and bloating. if they do fine eaten alone, that is

also more natural experience)

• add the cold yoghurt (cold foods on vata system especially tend to

cause gas or risk cramping) and you have tendency for the fruit sugars

to ferment while the longer digesting proteins of yoghurt and nuts

call out that different enzyme/digestion process

• there may be another factor if the cranberries are kept nice and

plump and red with sulphur, which non-organic dried fruits are often

prepared with (like the pretty dried orange colored apricots - while

the good ones are amber brown).

 

So, read the labels before you buy, and minimize this kind of food

combining.

 

Digestion support ideas: Full options in case/when you can go here; I

realize you do'nt have a blender now and will have to choose the

simple options:

• I " d do half warm water, half yoghurt, pinches of cinnamon and ginger

or cardamom, pinch salt, sweeten to taste if needed and mix well.

• Munch, chewing well, your 6-12 only almonds which have been soaked

well overnight and peeled (peels have oxalic acid, can accumulate and

if liver needs some cleaning, especially not wise for regular habit).

Sip the yoghurt lassi.

• Or blend the soaked almonds with the yoghurt, adding 1-2 Tbs well

mixed/shaken highest lignan flax oil (Barleans or Flora brand; note

the lignans are sweet and heavy, they tend to accumulate at bottom of

the jar if you don't store it on its side and really stir it, not just

shake otherwise). The Flax oil offers super nutrition, EFA support,

creaminess, and good taste (sweeten with honey or maple or as

desired). Search www.mercola.com about flax oil for more info than

you want to read! REad Johanna Budwig's little book of lectures if

you want to understand why flax with yoghurt.

• When you can get to the store for some whole fennel seeds, soak a

teaspoon of those in separate little cup overnight and add to the

smoothie for alkalizing, pitta and gas reducing, delicious digestive

support. The craving for cold temp foods will reduce too.

• If you like dates, soak 2-3 overnight with the fennel and cardamom,

and add those with soaking liquid to that drink in blender for real

smoothie that will digest much better, I expect.

• And have your cranberries at least 1/2 hour separate, probably more

like an hour.

• If you ever eat oatmeal, here's a single person's quickie too: soak

some organic oat (or quinoa, rye, barley etc) flakes overnight in cool

water. Cooks in a flash in the am without removing much prana/enzyme

nutrients or taking time. Serve with some of your soaked nuts and

yoghurt if you like that way, sweeten AND SPICE to taste.

 

I think you can do some of those things? It was fun getting to cook

for you yesterday, and what a confirmation of some of the Ayurvedic

principles that your tummy took a holiday from all that gas and bloating!

 

Love and Blessings!

Ysha