Happy Week!
The week started on a happy note with a reunion of sorts with our daughter, Katie, in Jacksonville, Florida. What fun to catch up in person after a number of months of only texts, emails and phone calls. Even though Jacksonville is only three hours south of here, it feels like a world away. I think it is because where we stayed is on the beach and here we are on the marsh.
Our lectures this week were focused on food allergies. Identifying “fixed” allergies and “variable” allergies. A fixed allergy is one that stays with you forever. An example would be an allergy to seafood that might cause a serious reaction. A variable allergy is one that tends to develop overtime and will go away with the elimination of the food from the diet.
Gluten-Free Diet
I am not sure that I really knew what gluten was until now. According to our guest lecturer, Rachel Begun, MS, RD, it is a group of proteins found in wheat, barley and rye and it is what makes bread doughy. It is also a thickening agent so it can be found in food items other than bread. What I found to be the most interesting was the description of Celiac Disease. It is interesting to me because I have a niece who was diagnosed a few years ago and who now lives a gluten free life. Celiac is one of those “fixed” allergies. You don’t out grow it. When gluten is ingested it causes an immune system reaction in the gut and damages it. Not good. We compared Celiac to Wheat Allergy and to Non-celiac gluten sensitivity. I cannot recap everything we learned but suffice it to say – if you think you have a sensitivity, get tested and eat more fruits, veggies and give up that processed food. There is more information to be found by going to Rachel Begun’s website by clicking here.
Blood Type Diet
There is such a thing as eating for your blood type but you have to know it to do that. Well guess what, I don’t know mine. Not sure why, just never have known. I ordered a little kit on-line and when it comes it will be interesting to find out the answer to that question. I know John’s blood type, he is 0+ which is one of the more common blood types. According to Peter D’Adamo’s Eat Right for Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight it is thought to be one of the oldest blood types. A is Agrarian, B is Balanced, AB is rare. Here is a link to his website where you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about The Blood Type diet. I’ll let you know what my blood type is if I ever find out.
News from around here
We are excited to present our first lemon. The girls gave John a lemon tree and a lime tree for his birthday. The picture on the left is of a baby lemon. We have a few on the tree but most have fallen off because the tree cannot sustain too many. It is too young. The lime tree has teenie babies too. We eat lemons and limes in the house the way many others eat candy so having our own source of organic citrus is going to be wonderful. We have a Kumquat tree and a Myer Lemon tree too. The Kumquat provided enough fruit for John to make a few jars of marmalade. It is all gone, either eaten by us or given as gifts. It was delicious.
Our granddaughter made us very, very proud this week. For many years she has been growing her hair with a goal to donate it to “Locks of Love”. Finally on Saturday she said it was time so 8″ was cut off and is now on its way to making a wig for a young girl who really needs it. Here she is before and after. Love that smiling face.
Our class continues to reach out to each other to practice Health Histories and this week was no exception. I met some wonderful people this week and continue to be amazed at how genuinely interested we are in each other. I talked this week about how much walking in particular is important to keeping me “lean and mean”. It really and truly is the basis for everything for me and if I miss a day I really know it mentally, physically and emotionally. The Fitbit continues to be a real incentive and John and I are now competing (gently) with each other. This morning’s walk was misty along the marsh. I am so grateful to live here and to have this opportunity each and every day. Have a wonderful week.
Lou-Lou