Food and Nutrition

Food

Although I'm a vegetarian, I don't like the way the word has been misused. It has been redefined to mean anything anyone wants it to mean. So-called "vegetarians" now happily devour eggs, dairy products, fish and even McDonald's hamburgers. Now I have to resort to the term "vegan", which makes people squint at you when you use it in conversation. I'll leave it to the folks at the Vegetarian Pages to explain this issue in detail.

I like to eat simply (some people say I simply like to eat), and I have developed some recipes that accommodate my tastes.

I have a passion for exotic fruits. When I first began seeking them out, I was amazed at how many varieties there were that I had never heard of. Most people assume that the only fruits in existence are the ones you find in the supermarket. Now I wonder how anyone can consider their life complete on just supermarket fare. There's so much more out there! Unfortunately, in this country, exotics are hard to find. But if you happen across a cherimoya, a guava, a jujube, a mangosteen, or even a durian, give it a try. The good news is that some fruits are becoming more popular, including mangoes, papayas, plantains, pomegranates, figs, kiwis, kumquats, and persimmons.

I recently started a group on Yahoo called Greg's Grains. This group is for everyone who received kefir grains from me. It is also open to anyone who received kefir grains from them, and so on. Even if you just feel that you would like to learn about kefir, or you have something to contribute, welcome! Kefir is an old and venerable cultured milk drink with legendary health-giving properties. If you would like to request kefir grains, please use the Live Kefir Grains database. For more information about real kefir, visit Dom's Kefir In-Site.

I have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions from the Greg's Grains group into a kefir FAQ.

Nutrition

Nutrition is a function of both intake and absorbtion. Nutritional problems are more likely due to the latter. In particular, digestive difficulties usually indicate improperly functioning digestive organs. Heartburn, bloating, and gas result from a system that is unable to assimilate food properly. The body's primary organs of elimination are the colon and bladder. Improper absorption leads to constipation, which blocks these channels. The body is forced to eliminate waste through other organs, such as the mouth and skin. This causes the above symptoms, as well as burping, itchy skin, nausea, headache and fatigue. Gas should go down, not up.

The following therapies are helpful in remedying constipation and digestive problems.

Enema - the first and most obvious choice: clean out the bowels
Water - dilutes the waste stream for easier transit
Green juice drinks - provide the alkalizing mineral content the body needs to power eliminative organs
Exercise - stimulates and tones the body, allowing better overall function

A good set of bowels is worth more to a man than any quantity of brains.
--George Bernard Shaw