On this page:
1 - What to eat and what to avoid eating
2 - So what is real food
3 - A typical day at our table
4 - Some Recipes
5 - Liquid Hope, Heal-in-a-Meal or Kate Farms for those with feeding tube
If links to other sites don't work, you may have to copy and paste them into the address bar.
What to eat and what to avoid eating (Kay)
The Better Brain Book by Dr. David Perlmutter (see resources tab) covers what you should eat and what you should not eat for a better brain. It has recipes and menus and meal suggestions. Basically, get rid of the bad fats and get more good fats, limit the sugars, get lots of the good green veggies and some fruits. He discusses good meats and bad meats. He does suggest using soybean oil. However 90% of the soybeans grown in this country are genetically modified and soy boosts your estrogen. We avoid soy like a plague. Dr. Perlmutter is big on not eating genetically modified foods, so I don't quite understand that recommendation. I had an estrogen based cancer so avoid soy in all forms. Dr. Joseph Mercola has a whole chapter in his book, Take Control of Your Health, about the dangers of soy.
Eating real food is critical for your health. Such a big majority of what Americans eat is not really food, just stuff that food manufacturers put together to taste good so they can sell more processed food. Fast food restaurants should always be avoided. Most of the additives they put in food is put there to trick your taste buds and make you want more. Classic example: adding caffeine to soda pop does not add taste but makes you crave more. Another example: Adding aspartame or one its multi-named derivatives to make you think you are not getting sugars is another marketing trick. Studies show that aspartame makes you crave carbs even more. Aspartame is an excitotoxin and therefore damaging to your brain. With ALS, you want to fix your brain. Avoid all genetically modified foods. They contain Roundup. We don’t need Roundup for dinner! A study has now shown that the active ingredient in Roundup, glyphosate, actually has arsenic in it. No wonder we don't want GMO foods. Everything with corn and soy in the ingredients should be avoided because the majority of corn and soy in this country is genetically modified.
I should mention something about PH balance or the acid versus alkalinity of our diets. It is important to eat a balance of foods that will create a slightly alkaline environment in our body. Disease really loves an acidic environment, so our goal is to heal disease. The foods that create the alkaline environment are vegetables and fruits. Wow, that is a long list, right? Actually everything else we eat creates an acidic environment. Now there is the long list. Meats are more acidic than beans and grains. Dairy is almost neutral, but cheese is highly acidic, so keep cheese to a minimum and eat lots of veggies with it for balance. There is a book called The Gluten-Free Good Food Cookbook that really explains the PH balance thing extremely well. We found it at the library, but I was impressed enough that I ordered it.
We just recently (July of 2015) read a book by Hannah Yoseph, MD called Conquering Lou Gehrig's Disease, The ALS Diet, just published in 2013. She explains how our cells get energy. The most important thing we took from the book is that apples (and grapes) contain malic acid. Malic acid makes glia cells. Glia cells make myelin shealth and the myelin sheath is what is damaged in PALS. It would make a lot of sense to eat lots of apples to help heal that myelin shealth. They can even be blended into a thick drink, if you add other liquids or juicy fruits.
So what is real food?
Fresh fruits and vegetables, preferable organic, meaning not grown with pesticides and toxins. I have heard that asparagus is will make glutathione, and important component for the PALS. Here is a link on pears which may be an excellent fruit for PALS. https://www.springforestqigong.com/health-nutrition/464-energy-of-food-power-of-pears
Berries and melons are also excellent for PALS. Wild blueberries from Maine are the very best. You may be able to find them in the frozen fruit section labeled TOPPINGS at your grocery store.
Here is a list of the dirty dozen that should always be organic
Strawberries
Apples
Grapes
Celery
Peaches
Spinach (Kale)
Sweet Bell Peppers
Imported nectarines
Cucumbers
Cherry tomatoes
Imported Snap Peas
Potatoes
Clean 15 include:
Avocados
Sweet corn (but not GMO) and remember that all grains, corn included are highly inflammatory
Pineapples
Cabbage
Frozen sweet peas - or fresh from the garden
Onions
Asparagus
Mangoes
Papayas (but avoid GMO)
Kiwi
Eggplant
Grapefruit
Cantaloupe
Cauliflower
Sweet Potatoes
Fresh meats, preferably grass fed chicken, turkey or beef.
“Applegate Farms” raise animals organically and produce fresh meats that you can find at Whole Foods or other health food stores. They have turkey bacon, sliced lunch meats without nitrates or nitrites, frozen sausages, etc. Another brand I found is “Wellshire” turkey bacon. It is available at Whole Foods.
Seafood – grilled not deep fried. We eat some, but so much seafood is contaminated with mercury, that you have to limit seafood. A huge amount of fish is a store comes from oriental countries and their poor safety standards are not worth risking your life for.
Nuts – a good fat and protein but eat them raw as cooked or roasted destroys magnesium. Never eat peanuts.
Oils or fats – Bad fats are particularly bad for the brain. They turn the brain cells hard. Brains cells have to be soft to do their communication work according to Dr. Perlmutter.
Olive oil – pure extra virgin only. It is best for dressings and marinades. It is best not to cook with olive oil.
Coconut oil – extra virgin only - It should have a wonderful coconut smell. This is the best oil to cook with, but cook at low to medium temperatures to preserve food value. Those sensitive to coconut taste could get the kind with no smell or coconut flavoe and do better on that type.
Almond oil, and avocado oil.
These are the only oils you should use. Use olive oil to make your own dressings for salad. Use coconut oil or avocado oil to cook with but only at low heats. High heat destroys too many nutrients in your foods. You can rub coconut oil into your skin and absorb its benefits there. I have heard that rubbing coconut oil on the affected stiffened muscles of a PALS will help those muscles.
Avocados – another great fat. Mash it up with a little squeezed lemon, pepper and a good salt. (Himalayan salt is pure, not processed and actually good for you. It can be ordered from www.swansonvitamins.com) Don’t eat avocados with corn chips. Corn chips are too high in sugars and cooked in bad fats - a highly processed food. Slice apples is a great option as apples are of huge benefit to PALS. Organic only please. We also just learned of a new tortilla chip that may be a great substitute for corn chips called Siete. They are made from cassava flour and cooked in avocado oil.
1-19-2015: Dr. Mercola has just published a newsletter on the value of avocados for the brain. Here is his article:
Avocados – A Brain Food . Oops. This articles in no longer available, but avocados are something you can eat every day.
I used margarine for years and shortening and all the bad oils. Now my cupboard only has extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, avocado oil. (And my fridge has organic butter.) You have to be very careful with olive oil and many producers put other cheap oils with it that are not marked the bottle. Dr. Perlmutter says the brain is mostly fat and without cholesterol, the brain cannot function.
Eliminate canola oil (touted to be the new healthy oil). Read labels on everything you buy.
Dairy – Most dairy products in this country are a processed food. Pasteurized means they are heated until they have destroyed the valuable enzymes. When we have been traveling this winter, we have been able to find organic milk, but not raw milk. Now back in Idaho, we are able to get raw milk again. I (Kay) prefer goat’s milk. I digest it better. We have a little milk with our granola in the morning and a stick of string cheese with lunch. (However I just learned that cheese is one of the very, very high acidic foods so you have to balance it with lots of vegetables, preferably raw. Most other dairy is pretty close to being on the alkaline side of the Ph balance.) I have been able to find cottage cheese and sour cream in health food stores that are actually probiotic foods. We avoid cottage cheese due to food additives. I just learned that yellow cheese is colored with coal tar, a carcinogenic substance. Wow! No more yellow cheese. Recent studies on the issue of glutamate states that cheese is very high in glutamate which can excite the brain cells to death. (See our April 2017 update for more information.) Some people that are healing ALS refuse to use dairy at all.
Grains – We eat gluten free and eat very few grains. (See book reference book under resources tab, Wheat Belly.) Grains are a heavy carb food, which add weight and low grade inflammation to your body. Occasionally we eat rice, but we have recently learned that all rice contains arsenic, brown rice more so that white rice. There is a brand called Lundberg rice that has the least amount of arsenic. Also there is a mix by “Pamela” that is gluten free, that you can make pancakes, biscuits, muffins, cookies, brownies, etc., but those foods all create inflammation and for me (Kay) sugar overload issues, so we only have them occasionally. It is possible to find recipes for pancakes, cookies and muffins that use almond flour and coconut flour. Check the bottom of this entry for recipes.
Salt - The cheap salt we buy is processed. Too much salt will delete vital minerals from your body. Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt is actually not processed and would be good for you if used in moderation.
Eat at the very least, 35% of every meal as raw foods, more if you can.
Eggs - Some suggest that it is also important to eat no eggs. If you have Lyme disease or other viruses, eggs may not be good. Those viruses love eggs so you are feeding them and making them fat instead of trying to get rid of them. Some of the recipes below have eggs. That is something you will have to decide which way to go is best for you.
A typical day at our table:
Breakfast: 1/2 cup of granola (recipe below) with organic goat's milk, adding some bananas, dates and maybe some organic berries. 1 stick of organic celery with raw almond butter or cashew butter, 3 brazil nuts, 1 slice of organic turkey bacon (free of nitrates & nitrites) and 1/8 to 1/4 cup of raw sauerkraut (a good probiotic.) This is our breakfast most days. Sometimes we have eggs (cage free) or organic sausage (Applegate Farms brand) instead of the bacon. The granola I make is about 2/3 raw nuts and lasts us a couple of weeks. Recipe below. The goal here is to get some good protein and good fats along with some raw food stuff instead of the heavy, heavy grain breakfasts we were used to.
Also I warm coconut oil until it is liquid (76 degrees) and then drizzle 3-4 tablespoons over Kim's granola. If you add cold milk, the coconut oil will turn solid again, but it is a good way to get the super valuable coconut oil in your diet. If you don't like the taste of coconut, www.swansonvitamins.com carries one that has no flavor.
Lunch: a stick of cheese, some fruit, mashed and seasoned avocados eaten with sliced organic apples, raw pecans and/or Pecan Nut Thins crackers. They are gluten free and made by Blue Diamond. Blue Diamond makes several flavors, but some, like the ranch or cheddar flavor, have junk additives in them. We recently (2019) found some tortilla chips that are made of cassava flour and cooked in avocado oil. They are much more healthy that other chip options. We like the Lime flavor best. The brand is Siete and found in the health food section of the store.
Dinner: I prepare a good quality protein, added sweet potato (can even be peeled and sliced to eat raw) or red potato or white potato, a good green veggie and fresh fruit, sometimes the cabbage salad, sometimes the green drink. Asparagus is very valuable. We eat it often, raw or steamed. Raw it can go in the green drink.
In a nutshell, get rid of toxins, eat pure quality food, give the body the extra support it needs to heal, have a positive mental attitude.
Did you know that the FDA has approved over 80,000 chemicals as safe to add to our food supply. Our belief is that we need to eat the foods that God put on the earth and meant for us to eat.
Every person is biologically different. What we have done might not necessarily meet someone else's needs, but it should be close and is a good starting point. You will have to devise your own protocol, but these helps will get you started on your path to health. Study and pray and you will be guided what to eat and what to do.
Some Recipes:
Here is my green drink recipe:
1/4 of a cantaloupe cut in chunks in the blender (or some other juicy fruit) Also like orange, pineapple or watermelon
1-2 sticks of celery, cut in chunks. Asparagus if you have some. Sprouts are also valuable and can be added.
1/2 of a 5 oz box of organic baby spinach
several drops of liquid stevia to taste
1 tsp pure vanilla - optional
A little cinnamon also gives it a great flavor
Blend the melon and celery, then add 1/2 the spinach and other ingredients and blend to smooth and then add the rest of the spinach and blend to smooth. Two servings.
My cabbage salad recipe after listening to Dr. Wahl's video (see resources tab):
Chop up green and red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, colorful peppers, carrots, olives, grapes, pomegranates or what sounds good to you and mix in a bowl - whatever proportion you want, I use more green cabbage than the rest of the stuff, but red cabbage is very valuable.
Dressing 1/4 c extra virgin olive oil, 1/8 c Braggs organic dressing/marinade (Hawaiian is my favorite) and some liquid stevia. Can add a bit of good quality dijon mustard if you like that flavor. (You would probably need double or triple the dressing if you use a whole small head of cabbage. I usually don't make that much at a time.) Mix and serve. Note: I tried it once with coconut oil. On a warm day, the coconut oil is liquid. On a cool day it is solid. So adding something cold to coconut oil will turn it solid. We had a little salad left over and put it in the fridge for another day. The first day, it did not have a coconut flavor, but in eating the left overs, it had a wonderful coconut flavor.
Granola recipe
2 cups gluten free oats (can use part organic quinoa flakes if you can find them.)
1 Tbs cinnamon, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp cloves
(Set aside 2/3 of the nuts in a separate bowl, the other half put in with the oats)
1.5 cups cashews
1.5 cups slivered almonds
1.5 cups chopped walnuts and/or pecans
1.5 cup raw sunflower seeds
1.5 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup chia seeds
In a bowl mix: warming the oil and honey will help it mix better
1/4 coconut oil (preferred) or almond oil or walnut oil
1/4 cup honey or a tiny bit more
10-20 stevia drops
Pour oil-honey mix over the oats and nuts and mix well. Spread onto cookie sheet and bake slowly in oven 225-275 degrees. Every 15-20 minutes remove from oven and stir mixture up. When toasted, remove from oven and cool. Add the remaining nuts and store in container. (The internet recipe only recommended a couple of nuts. I added others to our taste. I don't add raisins because of my sugar issue. Be creative.)
More recipes
Homemade Mayonnaise
Since trying to avoid GMO soy and all soy in general, I had not been able to find a mayonnaise that did not have soy in it. Even the supposed organic brands that said they were olive oil had soy in them. So here is my mayonnaise recipe:
2 eggs, room temperature
1 t. dry mustard (a bit of garlic powder or onion powder could also be added if desired)
1 t. apple cider vinegar
1/2 t. Himalayan salt
Put in blender and very slowly add 1 cup of oil until emulsion is well blended.
It is best to use two or three different oils. I use avocado oil and walnut oil. If olive oil is used, be sure it is of high quality. Olive oil makers are now adding cheap oils to their product and not telling us. The recipe I took this from said to use it up in 2-3 days. We never use that much mayonnaise that quickly and it lasts us for a couple of weeks.
The challenge of finding a healthy "bread" has been resolved with Golden Cauliflower Flat Bread. It has no grains at all, but uses almond meal/flour. We can use these for hamburgers or hot dogs (both meats need to be safe and organic). If you have a nut allergy, this could be a problem.
There is a mayonaise by Primal Kitchen that is made with only avocado oil
Golden Cauliflower Flat Bread
To make riced cauliflower, put small amounts of cauliflower in a blender and blend until there are small pieces that look like rice. It takes about 4 batches to get 2 cups of riced cauliflower.
Ingredients
Benefits for ALS
Cauliflower is one of the Sulphur vegetables that is important for brain health. Tumeric is highly anti-inflammatory.
Easy Crustless Vegetarian Quiche
2 T. Coconut oil or Avocado oil
1 large onion, sliced (could also add some diced celery)
1 carrot, thinly sliced
mushrooms, sliced
5 oz pkg of fresh organic baby spinach
5-6 large eggs
2-3 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 teaspoon Himalayn salt
1/8 ground pepper
A little basil is also good.
Saute onions, carrot, mushrooms over low heat in oil until onion is soft. Add spinach and continue to saute until spinach starts to wilt. In a bowl, combine well-beaten eggs, cheese, salt and pepper (basil). Combine vegetable mixture with eggs and pour in an oiled 8-9" square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Can be served with salsa.
Coconut Flour Almond Meal Pancakes Recipe
1. In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients: the coconut flour, almond meal, baking powder and salt.
2. Slowly whisk in the wet ingredients: the eggs, coconut oil, milk and vanilla. Mix until the batter is smooth. (If it feels a little dry, add more milk until it reaches the consistency you’re after).
3. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the butter and allow it to melt, then add scoops of batter (about a 1/4 cup each) for silver dollar pancakes. Cook for about a minute on each side until golden brown. Slather with butter and drizzle with organic maple syrup as desired. I like to sprinkle a little of our granola over the pancakes for flavor and texture.
This recipe makes about 16 small pancakes. Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes
Gluten-Free Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
1/3 cup xylitol + 4 drops stevia
½ teaspoon baking soda, aluminum free
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter at room temperature or 2 T coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 cups almond flour
½ cup chocolate chips, Kay uses Enjoy Life chocolate chunks to avoid soy
½ nuts, your favorite. Nuts help keep sugar levels more even
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper
Combine sugar, baking soda, salt and butter and mix until smooth.
Mix in vanilla, egg together then add to above mixture with the almond flour, stirring well to combine. Stir in chocolate and nuts.
Scoop the dough one level tablespoon at a time on to the baking sheet. Gently flatten the dough to about 3/8” thick
Bake at 350 degrees for 9-12 minutes, until golden brown.
Remove from oven and cool on pan for 2 minutes then transfer to cooling rack.
Makes about 20-24 cookies.
Pancakes and cookies are more of a special occasion food not daily like they used to be.
7-11-2014
I am adding a link for those with ALS who have a feeding tube. I have been told that his supplement - Liquid Hope - is a very powerful nutritional supplement. The link below has a description by Dr. Craig Oster who was diagnosed with ALS in 1994 at the age of 30. He has made very significant improvement.
http://healingwithdrcraig.com/blog/liquid-hope-all-organic-whole-foods-meal-replacement-formula-compatible-with-enteral-feeding/
A couple other options are: Heal-in-a-Meal at www.healinameal.com
Kate Farms also provides a liquid meal. Their website is: https://www.katefarms.com/
10-16-2018
We have always been told that to build muscle you need lots of protein. I have recently read that restoring muscle means using the muscle and having carbs in the diet, but not the bad carbs like grain and sugar. Good carbs are organic potatoes and fruit, especially melons, berries and dates.
1 - What to eat and what to avoid eating
2 - So what is real food
3 - A typical day at our table
4 - Some Recipes
5 - Liquid Hope, Heal-in-a-Meal or Kate Farms for those with feeding tube
If links to other sites don't work, you may have to copy and paste them into the address bar.
What to eat and what to avoid eating (Kay)
The Better Brain Book by Dr. David Perlmutter (see resources tab) covers what you should eat and what you should not eat for a better brain. It has recipes and menus and meal suggestions. Basically, get rid of the bad fats and get more good fats, limit the sugars, get lots of the good green veggies and some fruits. He discusses good meats and bad meats. He does suggest using soybean oil. However 90% of the soybeans grown in this country are genetically modified and soy boosts your estrogen. We avoid soy like a plague. Dr. Perlmutter is big on not eating genetically modified foods, so I don't quite understand that recommendation. I had an estrogen based cancer so avoid soy in all forms. Dr. Joseph Mercola has a whole chapter in his book, Take Control of Your Health, about the dangers of soy.
Eating real food is critical for your health. Such a big majority of what Americans eat is not really food, just stuff that food manufacturers put together to taste good so they can sell more processed food. Fast food restaurants should always be avoided. Most of the additives they put in food is put there to trick your taste buds and make you want more. Classic example: adding caffeine to soda pop does not add taste but makes you crave more. Another example: Adding aspartame or one its multi-named derivatives to make you think you are not getting sugars is another marketing trick. Studies show that aspartame makes you crave carbs even more. Aspartame is an excitotoxin and therefore damaging to your brain. With ALS, you want to fix your brain. Avoid all genetically modified foods. They contain Roundup. We don’t need Roundup for dinner! A study has now shown that the active ingredient in Roundup, glyphosate, actually has arsenic in it. No wonder we don't want GMO foods. Everything with corn and soy in the ingredients should be avoided because the majority of corn and soy in this country is genetically modified.
I should mention something about PH balance or the acid versus alkalinity of our diets. It is important to eat a balance of foods that will create a slightly alkaline environment in our body. Disease really loves an acidic environment, so our goal is to heal disease. The foods that create the alkaline environment are vegetables and fruits. Wow, that is a long list, right? Actually everything else we eat creates an acidic environment. Now there is the long list. Meats are more acidic than beans and grains. Dairy is almost neutral, but cheese is highly acidic, so keep cheese to a minimum and eat lots of veggies with it for balance. There is a book called The Gluten-Free Good Food Cookbook that really explains the PH balance thing extremely well. We found it at the library, but I was impressed enough that I ordered it.
We just recently (July of 2015) read a book by Hannah Yoseph, MD called Conquering Lou Gehrig's Disease, The ALS Diet, just published in 2013. She explains how our cells get energy. The most important thing we took from the book is that apples (and grapes) contain malic acid. Malic acid makes glia cells. Glia cells make myelin shealth and the myelin sheath is what is damaged in PALS. It would make a lot of sense to eat lots of apples to help heal that myelin shealth. They can even be blended into a thick drink, if you add other liquids or juicy fruits.
So what is real food?
Fresh fruits and vegetables, preferable organic, meaning not grown with pesticides and toxins. I have heard that asparagus is will make glutathione, and important component for the PALS. Here is a link on pears which may be an excellent fruit for PALS. https://www.springforestqigong.com/health-nutrition/464-energy-of-food-power-of-pears
Berries and melons are also excellent for PALS. Wild blueberries from Maine are the very best. You may be able to find them in the frozen fruit section labeled TOPPINGS at your grocery store.
Here is a list of the dirty dozen that should always be organic
Strawberries
Apples
Grapes
Celery
Peaches
Spinach (Kale)
Sweet Bell Peppers
Imported nectarines
Cucumbers
Cherry tomatoes
Imported Snap Peas
Potatoes
Clean 15 include:
Avocados
Sweet corn (but not GMO) and remember that all grains, corn included are highly inflammatory
Pineapples
Cabbage
Frozen sweet peas - or fresh from the garden
Onions
Asparagus
Mangoes
Papayas (but avoid GMO)
Kiwi
Eggplant
Grapefruit
Cantaloupe
Cauliflower
Sweet Potatoes
Fresh meats, preferably grass fed chicken, turkey or beef.
“Applegate Farms” raise animals organically and produce fresh meats that you can find at Whole Foods or other health food stores. They have turkey bacon, sliced lunch meats without nitrates or nitrites, frozen sausages, etc. Another brand I found is “Wellshire” turkey bacon. It is available at Whole Foods.
Seafood – grilled not deep fried. We eat some, but so much seafood is contaminated with mercury, that you have to limit seafood. A huge amount of fish is a store comes from oriental countries and their poor safety standards are not worth risking your life for.
Nuts – a good fat and protein but eat them raw as cooked or roasted destroys magnesium. Never eat peanuts.
Oils or fats – Bad fats are particularly bad for the brain. They turn the brain cells hard. Brains cells have to be soft to do their communication work according to Dr. Perlmutter.
Olive oil – pure extra virgin only. It is best for dressings and marinades. It is best not to cook with olive oil.
Coconut oil – extra virgin only - It should have a wonderful coconut smell. This is the best oil to cook with, but cook at low to medium temperatures to preserve food value. Those sensitive to coconut taste could get the kind with no smell or coconut flavoe and do better on that type.
Almond oil, and avocado oil.
These are the only oils you should use. Use olive oil to make your own dressings for salad. Use coconut oil or avocado oil to cook with but only at low heats. High heat destroys too many nutrients in your foods. You can rub coconut oil into your skin and absorb its benefits there. I have heard that rubbing coconut oil on the affected stiffened muscles of a PALS will help those muscles.
Avocados – another great fat. Mash it up with a little squeezed lemon, pepper and a good salt. (Himalayan salt is pure, not processed and actually good for you. It can be ordered from www.swansonvitamins.com) Don’t eat avocados with corn chips. Corn chips are too high in sugars and cooked in bad fats - a highly processed food. Slice apples is a great option as apples are of huge benefit to PALS. Organic only please. We also just learned of a new tortilla chip that may be a great substitute for corn chips called Siete. They are made from cassava flour and cooked in avocado oil.
1-19-2015: Dr. Mercola has just published a newsletter on the value of avocados for the brain. Here is his article:
Avocados – A Brain Food . Oops. This articles in no longer available, but avocados are something you can eat every day.
I used margarine for years and shortening and all the bad oils. Now my cupboard only has extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, avocado oil. (And my fridge has organic butter.) You have to be very careful with olive oil and many producers put other cheap oils with it that are not marked the bottle. Dr. Perlmutter says the brain is mostly fat and without cholesterol, the brain cannot function.
Eliminate canola oil (touted to be the new healthy oil). Read labels on everything you buy.
Dairy – Most dairy products in this country are a processed food. Pasteurized means they are heated until they have destroyed the valuable enzymes. When we have been traveling this winter, we have been able to find organic milk, but not raw milk. Now back in Idaho, we are able to get raw milk again. I (Kay) prefer goat’s milk. I digest it better. We have a little milk with our granola in the morning and a stick of string cheese with lunch. (However I just learned that cheese is one of the very, very high acidic foods so you have to balance it with lots of vegetables, preferably raw. Most other dairy is pretty close to being on the alkaline side of the Ph balance.) I have been able to find cottage cheese and sour cream in health food stores that are actually probiotic foods. We avoid cottage cheese due to food additives. I just learned that yellow cheese is colored with coal tar, a carcinogenic substance. Wow! No more yellow cheese. Recent studies on the issue of glutamate states that cheese is very high in glutamate which can excite the brain cells to death. (See our April 2017 update for more information.) Some people that are healing ALS refuse to use dairy at all.
Grains – We eat gluten free and eat very few grains. (See book reference book under resources tab, Wheat Belly.) Grains are a heavy carb food, which add weight and low grade inflammation to your body. Occasionally we eat rice, but we have recently learned that all rice contains arsenic, brown rice more so that white rice. There is a brand called Lundberg rice that has the least amount of arsenic. Also there is a mix by “Pamela” that is gluten free, that you can make pancakes, biscuits, muffins, cookies, brownies, etc., but those foods all create inflammation and for me (Kay) sugar overload issues, so we only have them occasionally. It is possible to find recipes for pancakes, cookies and muffins that use almond flour and coconut flour. Check the bottom of this entry for recipes.
Salt - The cheap salt we buy is processed. Too much salt will delete vital minerals from your body. Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt is actually not processed and would be good for you if used in moderation.
Eat at the very least, 35% of every meal as raw foods, more if you can.
Eggs - Some suggest that it is also important to eat no eggs. If you have Lyme disease or other viruses, eggs may not be good. Those viruses love eggs so you are feeding them and making them fat instead of trying to get rid of them. Some of the recipes below have eggs. That is something you will have to decide which way to go is best for you.
A typical day at our table:
Breakfast: 1/2 cup of granola (recipe below) with organic goat's milk, adding some bananas, dates and maybe some organic berries. 1 stick of organic celery with raw almond butter or cashew butter, 3 brazil nuts, 1 slice of organic turkey bacon (free of nitrates & nitrites) and 1/8 to 1/4 cup of raw sauerkraut (a good probiotic.) This is our breakfast most days. Sometimes we have eggs (cage free) or organic sausage (Applegate Farms brand) instead of the bacon. The granola I make is about 2/3 raw nuts and lasts us a couple of weeks. Recipe below. The goal here is to get some good protein and good fats along with some raw food stuff instead of the heavy, heavy grain breakfasts we were used to.
Also I warm coconut oil until it is liquid (76 degrees) and then drizzle 3-4 tablespoons over Kim's granola. If you add cold milk, the coconut oil will turn solid again, but it is a good way to get the super valuable coconut oil in your diet. If you don't like the taste of coconut, www.swansonvitamins.com carries one that has no flavor.
Lunch: a stick of cheese, some fruit, mashed and seasoned avocados eaten with sliced organic apples, raw pecans and/or Pecan Nut Thins crackers. They are gluten free and made by Blue Diamond. Blue Diamond makes several flavors, but some, like the ranch or cheddar flavor, have junk additives in them. We recently (2019) found some tortilla chips that are made of cassava flour and cooked in avocado oil. They are much more healthy that other chip options. We like the Lime flavor best. The brand is Siete and found in the health food section of the store.
Dinner: I prepare a good quality protein, added sweet potato (can even be peeled and sliced to eat raw) or red potato or white potato, a good green veggie and fresh fruit, sometimes the cabbage salad, sometimes the green drink. Asparagus is very valuable. We eat it often, raw or steamed. Raw it can go in the green drink.
In a nutshell, get rid of toxins, eat pure quality food, give the body the extra support it needs to heal, have a positive mental attitude.
Did you know that the FDA has approved over 80,000 chemicals as safe to add to our food supply. Our belief is that we need to eat the foods that God put on the earth and meant for us to eat.
Every person is biologically different. What we have done might not necessarily meet someone else's needs, but it should be close and is a good starting point. You will have to devise your own protocol, but these helps will get you started on your path to health. Study and pray and you will be guided what to eat and what to do.
Some Recipes:
Here is my green drink recipe:
1/4 of a cantaloupe cut in chunks in the blender (or some other juicy fruit) Also like orange, pineapple or watermelon
1-2 sticks of celery, cut in chunks. Asparagus if you have some. Sprouts are also valuable and can be added.
1/2 of a 5 oz box of organic baby spinach
several drops of liquid stevia to taste
1 tsp pure vanilla - optional
A little cinnamon also gives it a great flavor
Blend the melon and celery, then add 1/2 the spinach and other ingredients and blend to smooth and then add the rest of the spinach and blend to smooth. Two servings.
My cabbage salad recipe after listening to Dr. Wahl's video (see resources tab):
Chop up green and red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, colorful peppers, carrots, olives, grapes, pomegranates or what sounds good to you and mix in a bowl - whatever proportion you want, I use more green cabbage than the rest of the stuff, but red cabbage is very valuable.
Dressing 1/4 c extra virgin olive oil, 1/8 c Braggs organic dressing/marinade (Hawaiian is my favorite) and some liquid stevia. Can add a bit of good quality dijon mustard if you like that flavor. (You would probably need double or triple the dressing if you use a whole small head of cabbage. I usually don't make that much at a time.) Mix and serve. Note: I tried it once with coconut oil. On a warm day, the coconut oil is liquid. On a cool day it is solid. So adding something cold to coconut oil will turn it solid. We had a little salad left over and put it in the fridge for another day. The first day, it did not have a coconut flavor, but in eating the left overs, it had a wonderful coconut flavor.
Granola recipe
2 cups gluten free oats (can use part organic quinoa flakes if you can find them.)
1 Tbs cinnamon, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp cloves
(Set aside 2/3 of the nuts in a separate bowl, the other half put in with the oats)
1.5 cups cashews
1.5 cups slivered almonds
1.5 cups chopped walnuts and/or pecans
1.5 cup raw sunflower seeds
1.5 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup chia seeds
In a bowl mix: warming the oil and honey will help it mix better
1/4 coconut oil (preferred) or almond oil or walnut oil
1/4 cup honey or a tiny bit more
10-20 stevia drops
Pour oil-honey mix over the oats and nuts and mix well. Spread onto cookie sheet and bake slowly in oven 225-275 degrees. Every 15-20 minutes remove from oven and stir mixture up. When toasted, remove from oven and cool. Add the remaining nuts and store in container. (The internet recipe only recommended a couple of nuts. I added others to our taste. I don't add raisins because of my sugar issue. Be creative.)
More recipes
Homemade Mayonnaise
Since trying to avoid GMO soy and all soy in general, I had not been able to find a mayonnaise that did not have soy in it. Even the supposed organic brands that said they were olive oil had soy in them. So here is my mayonnaise recipe:
2 eggs, room temperature
1 t. dry mustard (a bit of garlic powder or onion powder could also be added if desired)
1 t. apple cider vinegar
1/2 t. Himalayan salt
Put in blender and very slowly add 1 cup of oil until emulsion is well blended.
It is best to use two or three different oils. I use avocado oil and walnut oil. If olive oil is used, be sure it is of high quality. Olive oil makers are now adding cheap oils to their product and not telling us. The recipe I took this from said to use it up in 2-3 days. We never use that much mayonnaise that quickly and it lasts us for a couple of weeks.
The challenge of finding a healthy "bread" has been resolved with Golden Cauliflower Flat Bread. It has no grains at all, but uses almond meal/flour. We can use these for hamburgers or hot dogs (both meats need to be safe and organic). If you have a nut allergy, this could be a problem.
There is a mayonaise by Primal Kitchen that is made with only avocado oil
Golden Cauliflower Flat Bread
To make riced cauliflower, put small amounts of cauliflower in a blender and blend until there are small pieces that look like rice. It takes about 4 batches to get 2 cups of riced cauliflower.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of organic raw riced cauliflower
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup of almond meal
- 3 tsp. of turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp. of Himalayan sea salt
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Place all the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix them well with a spoon.
- Transfer the mixture to the lined baking tray and evenly press it into a rectangle. Make sure the layer is about 0.5 centimeters: (0.19 inches) thick.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until it is golden.
- Once baked, cool the flatbread completely, turn over on a rack and gently peel the parchment paper from it.
- Store the bread in a container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Benefits for ALS
Cauliflower is one of the Sulphur vegetables that is important for brain health. Tumeric is highly anti-inflammatory.
Easy Crustless Vegetarian Quiche
2 T. Coconut oil or Avocado oil
1 large onion, sliced (could also add some diced celery)
1 carrot, thinly sliced
mushrooms, sliced
5 oz pkg of fresh organic baby spinach
5-6 large eggs
2-3 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 teaspoon Himalayn salt
1/8 ground pepper
A little basil is also good.
Saute onions, carrot, mushrooms over low heat in oil until onion is soft. Add spinach and continue to saute until spinach starts to wilt. In a bowl, combine well-beaten eggs, cheese, salt and pepper (basil). Combine vegetable mixture with eggs and pour in an oiled 8-9" square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Can be served with salsa.
Coconut Flour Almond Meal Pancakes Recipe
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 1/3 cup almond meal
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 4 organic, pastured eggs
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
- 1/3 cup raw milk or coconut milk - You will need more liquid to make them thin enough to pour on a griddle.
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- A pinch of Himalayan salt
- 1 to 2 tablespoons organic, raw grass fed butter, plus more for serving
- Pure maple syrup to drizzle (optional)
1. In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients: the coconut flour, almond meal, baking powder and salt.
2. Slowly whisk in the wet ingredients: the eggs, coconut oil, milk and vanilla. Mix until the batter is smooth. (If it feels a little dry, add more milk until it reaches the consistency you’re after).
3. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the butter and allow it to melt, then add scoops of batter (about a 1/4 cup each) for silver dollar pancakes. Cook for about a minute on each side until golden brown. Slather with butter and drizzle with organic maple syrup as desired. I like to sprinkle a little of our granola over the pancakes for flavor and texture.
This recipe makes about 16 small pancakes. Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes
Gluten-Free Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
1/3 cup xylitol + 4 drops stevia
½ teaspoon baking soda, aluminum free
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter at room temperature or 2 T coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 cups almond flour
½ cup chocolate chips, Kay uses Enjoy Life chocolate chunks to avoid soy
½ nuts, your favorite. Nuts help keep sugar levels more even
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper
Combine sugar, baking soda, salt and butter and mix until smooth.
Mix in vanilla, egg together then add to above mixture with the almond flour, stirring well to combine. Stir in chocolate and nuts.
Scoop the dough one level tablespoon at a time on to the baking sheet. Gently flatten the dough to about 3/8” thick
Bake at 350 degrees for 9-12 minutes, until golden brown.
Remove from oven and cool on pan for 2 minutes then transfer to cooling rack.
Makes about 20-24 cookies.
Pancakes and cookies are more of a special occasion food not daily like they used to be.
7-11-2014
I am adding a link for those with ALS who have a feeding tube. I have been told that his supplement - Liquid Hope - is a very powerful nutritional supplement. The link below has a description by Dr. Craig Oster who was diagnosed with ALS in 1994 at the age of 30. He has made very significant improvement.
http://healingwithdrcraig.com/blog/liquid-hope-all-organic-whole-foods-meal-replacement-formula-compatible-with-enteral-feeding/
A couple other options are: Heal-in-a-Meal at www.healinameal.com
Kate Farms also provides a liquid meal. Their website is: https://www.katefarms.com/
10-16-2018
We have always been told that to build muscle you need lots of protein. I have recently read that restoring muscle means using the muscle and having carbs in the diet, but not the bad carbs like grain and sugar. Good carbs are organic potatoes and fruit, especially melons, berries and dates.