Oh dear. Things have been going really well in our family health wise lately, until today. As regular readers will know, Mark has suffered twice in the past from a rare virus called Guillaine-Barre syndrome. It is an autoimmune virus that affects your peripheral nerves, in worst cases temporarily paralysing you. Both times he has had it he had been one of those worst cases and been hospialised fo a fair while! His illness was what led us down this track of healthy lifestyles, after discovering an anti-inflammatory diet could help. We discovered very quickly that gluten really did affect his walking ability. We thought we had things pretty much under control, until he woke up this morning having difficulty moving around. We have racked our brains to think what he may have eaten to have caused a set back, but can’t think of anything.
So back to the drawing board.
We are really hoping we are not in for another big hospital stay, but will have a better idea within the next day or so.
In the meantime, it is back to a really big focus on super clean, gluten free, anti-inflammatory foods.
So tonight for dinner was one of the most simple, quick and delicious meals out.
Chickpea, Lentil and Brown rice salad
Quite simply all I used was:
2 cups brown rice (cooked)
1/2 can red lentils
1/2 can chickpeas
1/2 can chopped beetroot
Chopped raw spinach
3 tablespoons of Indian Tikka paste.
Now quite clearly it is not the flashest of meals to be posting, and I guess there are those that may argue that the canned stuff is not ideal, but when you are in a hurry, you cant beat this!
Plus – you get all of these health benefits!
Red lentils
Not only do lentils help lower cholesterol, they are of special benefit in managing blood-sugar disorders since their high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after a meal. Lentils also provide good amounts of six important minerals, two B-vitamins, and protein, all with virtually no fat.
Chickpeas
The high protein content in chickpeas is perfect for those wishing to replace red meat in their diet. Chickpeas are also high in fiber and help to lower cholesterol.
Beetroot
The beta cyanin in beetroot can help detox your liver, having a knock-on effect for your bloodstream, by helping the body to eliminate toxins and potentially preventing the build-up of fatty deposits.
Beetroot is also full of both vitamin C and iron.
Spinach
This little beauty is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, manganese, iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B2, potassium, and vitamin B6. It’s a very good source of protein, phosphorus, vitamin E, zinc, dietary fiber and copper. Plus, it’s a good source of selenium, niacin, and omega three fatty acids.
All of this goodness in one power packed wee dinner. And best of all – I have leftovers for lunch. To spice it up I am adding sundried tomatoes and some olives, because I can.
So here’s hoping a blitz on clean eating helps the health.
If anyone has any suggestions on good anti-inflammatory foods, or knows others who are trying to manage an autoimmune disease through diet, do let me know.
cheers
Ali
