Having recently dug into my second attempt at retirement I thought it might be time to get serious about my health. No longer do I have the excuse, “I’m just too swamped at work.” I had kept that one in my pocket at all times, and I really miss it. But seriously, one of my priorities is heading off the less than graceful exit that some of my relatives have experienced (some well deserved and some not). With that I’ve picked up a couple of books written by experts in the field of health and longevity. Unfortunately there are no references to a pill I can take that will undo the 60 plus years of chilidogs I’ve inhaled. Reading these books is like being back in high school biology. I’m learning about the genome, epigenome, and sirtuins. Lots of meaty topics that have made me a social pariah within my family. But the good thing I have learned is that according to the experts, only 20% of your health fate is decided by your genes, your environment controls 80%. Environment meaning: your diet, how you live (do you smoke and do you exercise), and your sleep.
So as opposed to taking about $50,000 worth of state of the art tests, I picked up a book called, The Pegan Diet, by Mark Hyman, MD. In short, it’s a book about fixing your gut challenges by eating: Organic and clean meats. No processed foods, no sugars or artificial sweeteners (a killer for folks like me with a sweet tooth the size of a medicine ball). Other No Nos: Preservatives, caffeine, dairy, starches, gluten and really, any kind of bread and what seems like common sense...don't put any ingredient in your mouth that you can't pronounce. You wind up cooking all the time, which works swimmingly with my no patience persona. Still, I’m all in and head to Dean’s Natural Food Market. Once I get there I resemble a Roomba vacuum cleaner bouncing off the food shelves as I aimlessly search for organic vegetables and other food stuff that I can tolerate.
To start things off I began a ten day detox regimen. For ten days every morning and every evening I consume a chalky shake of sorts and four pills that smell and taste like bad cheese. Lunch was either clean chicken or a grass fed burger with: Sautéed/burned sliced carrots, celery, red onion, garlic and sea salt. I ate this way every day, and just so I’m clear, EVERY DAY. I call it prison food. But here’s the upsetting truth: I’ve been on this diet or food intake regimen for another ten days – the second time without the shake and pills and in both cases, when I’m on it, all of my digestive challenges go away…completely. When I cheat and go off it, issues come back. Sadly, it would appear that I will not be solving my chili dog sins in a month.
But for tonight, I’ll be having Ben & Jerry’s for dinner!
Poor me, right? Completely up to everyone, but if you’re looking to make a food impact to help the displaced folks from the Ukraine, the World Central Kitchen is making an immediate positive impact. Donations can be made at: donate.wck.org
