Making Love in the Kitchen

A “Low Residue Diet”. That’s what the docs like to call it. I like to call it a recipe for having your colon removed, your blood sugar shoot through the roof, nutritional deficiency to ensue, and likely followed shortly by further impaired immune function and increased risk of disease and/or complications from current health challenges. A “Low Residue Diet” is just a shorter name for the same thing.

A low residue diet is often ‘prescribed’ to people suffering from digestive disorders with the theory that diets low in milk and fibre will help slow transit time and reduce icky things like diarrhea and cramping and other associated digestive discomforts. Now I am all for the elimination of dairy, especially in the case of bowel issues- but removing all natural nutrient and fibre rich foods? The mere concept is astounding and the wisdom that went into such a thing, right well astounds me. Now, if someone is in full flare-up mode, granted a bowl of bran is not the best thing, but gentle soluble fibres- those can go a long way in actually feeding and healing the cells of the intestinal tract.

The following are the recommended foods on a “Low Residue” diet:

• White bread, refined pasta and cereals, and white rice
• Limited servings of canned or well-cooked vegetables that do not include skins
• Moderate fresh fruits without peels or seeds, certain canned or well-cooked fruits
• Tender, ground, and well cooked meat, fish, eggs, and poultry
• Milk and yogurt (usually limited to 2 cups per day), mild cheese, ricotta, cottage cheese
• Butter, mayonnaise, vegetable oils, margarine, plain gravies and dressings
• Broth and strained soups from allowed foods
• Pulp free, strained, or clear juices

Basically, the recommended low residue diet is delightfully and conveniently often the very same diet that made the person sick in the first place. You know that all of these foods (aside from properly prepared fish and eggs, and high quality yogurts) are not only crazy high on the glycemic index, but also totally nutrient deficient. If you have been reading me for more than a mere moment, you know what kind of foods I am all over. The ones that are super nutritional power houses that actually aim to heal and repair the deficiencies that brought us ill health in the first place.

The foods to avoid on a low residue diet are, most likely, the very ones that help get us well. They include:

• Whole grain breads and pastas, corn bread or muffins, products made with whole grain products, or bran
• Yogurt containing fruit skins or seeds
• Raw vegetables, except lettuce and other leaves
• Millet, buckwheat, flax, oatmeal
• Dried beans, peas, and legumes
• Dried fruits, berries, other fruits with skin or seeds
• Chocolate with Cocoa Powder
• Food containing whole coconut
• Juices with pulp
• Highly spiced food and dressings, pepper, hot sauces
• Nuts and Seeds

Now, stay with me here. What we can do is just flip these lists around. Eat what is on the avoid list, avoid what is on the eat list and you’ve pretty much got yourself a whole foods, healing, low glycemic way of eating. Easy peezy pulp-full lemon squeezy.

I like this list better.

10 Foods To Help Lower Blood Sugar Levels [inspired by this list]

• Avocado: Contains the healthy fats that raise insulin sensitivity and fiber to help slow blood sugar increases when added to a meal.
• Sweet Potatoes:  Contain carotenoids, which are powerful antioxidants and are thought to have a positive affect on insulin, and chlorogenic acid, which combats insulin resistance.
• Cinnamon: Contains compounds that mimic the effect of insulin and is high in fibre and a rich source of magnesium, which helps in controlling blood sugar.
• Onions: The high sulfur and flavonoid content of onions  causes a significant reduction in blood sugar.
• Garlic: Can raise insulin production and increase insulin sensitivity.
• Flaxseed: Rich in lignans and magnesium, which helps lower blood sugar. It is also a potent source of omega-three fatty acids, which also help in controlling blood sugar.
• Barley: Helps to significantly reduce the glycemic index of a meal it is added to.
• Cherries: Contain red-pigmented antioxidants, which can help raise your body’s insulin output and are also high in soluble fibre.
• Lemons: Their acidity can lower the glycemic index of a meal considerably.

The focus of eating 5 Days Low Glyemic is not simply about avoiding those refined and processed foods, but to focus on integrating all the great goodies into our lives in a healthful, properly prepared and easy way. It might be fair to say, in most cases, the lower the glycemic load of our meal, the higher the nutrient value and therefore the more healing it will be. A grand generalization I know but seriously… something to think about! How can our body heal and repair itself if we aren’t providing it with the tools to do so. That’s like building a house without hammers or nails… or even wood or bricks. All you get is a mess.

The challenge begins on Sunday, March 21st so you’ve got oodles of time to get planning.

As an extra incentive, between now and March 21st, buy any two (or more)  tutorials or media downloads of your choice and you’ll receive 15% off the total purchase by entering “MoodStable2010” as your discount code at checkout (might I suggest that 5 Days Low GI tutorial and The Adrenaline Lunch mp3 make a mighty fine pair!)

How the group challenge works:

• Enter a comment here to signal your participation, and you will be entered to win a sweet little low-GI friendly gift (to be revealed next week)
• Get yourself a copy of the 5 Days Low Glycemic Eatin tutorial for just $12 CAD
• Follow me on Twitter for live Twitter coaching through out the duration of the challenge

Still not sure? Click here for more info.

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Tags: low glycemic index, low residue diet