My copy of Body Ecology finally came in the mail, and I have begun reading it and practicing some of Donna’s ideas. The diet aims to flush the digestive system of toxins and buildup, better equipping it to absorb essential vitamins and minerals. The theory is that problems autism, cancer, AIDS, MS, and candidiasis might partly be the result of the intestines not being able to digest all the proper minerals and nutrients, thus leading to the deficiencies that cause these problems. Thankfully, I’m not afflicted with any these issues; I’m just doing it to detox. The four basic ideas of BED are:

• Food combining: always eat fruits alone and on an empty stomach, always eat protein/grains/starchy vegetables with non-starchy and/or ocean vegetables
• The 80/20 rule: 80% of your plate should be land and sea vegetables, 20% should be either animal proteins, grains, or starchy veggies. Also, eat until you are 80% full and leave the other 20% for digestion
• Expansion and contraction: salty foods make your body contract, sweet make your body expand, aim for a balance of the two through…
• ..a balance of acid and alkaline: the typical American diet is highly acidic. We can cure this by eating alkaline-forming foods, like land and ocean veggies, millet, quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat, sea salt, herbs, seeds, lemons, limes and unsweetened cranberries, raw apple cider vinegar, cultured veggies like sauerkraut, kefir, and soaked almonds

hi friends

Once I get the book in the mail, I am going to be starting this diet called Body Ecology. The diet helps restore and maintain your “inner eco-system” by introducing your intestines to “good bacteria”. These bacteria can be obtained from foods such as yogurt, kefir, miso, kombucha, aged cheese, sauerkraut, and other fermented vegetables. Eating these in conjunction with other foods–called prebiotics, which “feed” these good bacteria,–leads to better gastrointestinal function, which supposedly cures everything from “immune function, inflammation, chronic bowel diseases, allergies and asthma, and yeast infections.” (from the book The Probiotics Revolution by Gary B. Huffnagle) Fortunately, I am lucky enough to not be afflicted with any of these problems, but I wanted to do this diet anyways. For one thing, I am currently on antibiotics for an ear infection I’ve had for a few months. As you might know, antibiotics work by wiping out ALL the bacteria in your body, good and bad. So by the time I finish this 10-day supply of Cipro, I imagine that my intestines will look like the charred and smoldering remains of an old-growth forest. Thumbs down! Also, a friend of mine has been doing it for nearly a year with good results. Last semester I would always sit at the big kitchen table, eating baked ziti I had cooked at home and watching her put together these bizarre yet intriguing lunches; Coconut oiland salmon? Dulse chips? RAW MILK????? Yeah, it was weird…and interesting…and not for me. But still!! Interesting…