What Your Refrigerator Says about Your Health

This article originally appeared in the May 2008 issue of Kansas City Wellness Magazine.

If I could, I would look inside every patient’s refrigerator and pantry.  It would speak volumes about their present and future health.  The more packages, bottles and jars and the more brightly colored and busy their labels, the more ominous the prediction.  I whole heartedly agree with Michael Pollan, author of the best-selling books, the Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, “clear your home of any food your great-grandmother would not recognize.” 

But there are a few packages in my fridge and pantry.  I’d like to share with you a few healthful and delicious foods that your great-grandmother would have enjoyed.

This kitchen do-it-yourselfer just can’t bring herself to juice wheat grass--yet.  Last year I discovered Evergreen Wheatgrass Juice.  It is 100% organic, outdoor grown, expeller pressed then immediately frozen.  It comes in an ice cube tray-like plastic package.  The plastic tray is easily separated into individual cubes with scissors.  Simple remove the plastic seal and pop out a cube.  The cubes can be soaked in warm water to melt while still in their packages.  I love these in smoothies and in my morning glass of fresh veggie juice.  Wheat grass is good for every disease type, but especially for the slow metabolism types.

I discovered Lydia’s Organics last fall at D’Lish, a fantastic vegan/raw restaurant in Sedona, AZ.  Three of their grainless, gluten, sugar and oil-free products grace my pantry.

Grainless Apple Cereal is a delicious mix of organic dehydrated apples, sprouted sunflower seeds, sprouted almonds, raisins, soaked walnuts, figs, sprouted flax and cinnamon.  ½ cup with warm rice milk keeps me humming all morning without the energy drain I often feel from wheat.

I recommend people eat their nuts and seeds raw instead of roasted to avoid denaturing the omega-3 fatty acids and the resulting advanced glycation end products.  Known as AGE’s, these fierce oxidizing agents indeed age you.  The biggest complaint I get from patients about raw nuts is that they miss the crunch.  Well you can have health and the crunch, too with Lydia’s Organic Savory Trail Mix.  She dehydrates sprouted sunflower seeds, sprouted pumpkin seeds, sprouted almonds, and seasons it with wheat-free tamari, dulse, cayenne and Himalayan crystal salt.  A palm-full of Savory Trail Mix is a regular afternoon snack for me.

You would never find crackers in my pantry until now.  Lydia’s Organics makes these amazing crackers from dehydrated vegetables, sprouted seeds, soaked nuts and seasonings.  Two is all I need with a bowl of soup or topped with pumpkin seed butter for a quick snack.

Because Lydia’s products are dehydrated they are not the best for disease of lightness and dryness.  They are a more healthful alternative to plain nuts and seeds for disease of oiliness.  I’ll continue my series on the disease types next month.

Whole Foods Market in Overland Park sells Evergreen Wheatgrass Juice.  I buy Lydia’s Organics products at www.naturalzing.com.  This website features a full line of dehydrated nuts and seeds for you crunch-seekers! 

Lose weight, rid yourself of health problems and end your dietary confusion by living according to your disease type.  Bethany Klug, D.O. is now offering disease type consultations in person or by phone.  Make an appointment by calling 913-642-1900.  Learn more about disease type and restoring health with holistic medicine at www.bethanyklug.com and simple healthy cooking at www.thedoctorcooks.com.