Cabbage & Butternut Squash Roast, Whole Foods Pantry for Gallbladder & Aorta Health

Wednesday's are the weekday we head to our Farmer's Market.

Aorta & Gallbladder supportive dinner - coconut oil roasted cabbage & butternut squash

Selecting and buying whole, real fruits and vegetables is the first of many steps we take in our aorta and gallbladder health dietary journey.

For too long we have continued to fill our bodies with highly processed foods containing inflammatory or carcinogenic substances, such as; sugars, omega 6's, sodium, nitrites and other toxic compounds.

Packaged and processed foods may be convenient but they are disguised foods; foods that can wreck havoc on your cardiovascular system, gallbladder, pancreas and liver.

As shown here in the pantry vegetables, fruits & nuts make up the bulk of our purchased foods. #Aorta health #gallbladder health #WholeFoods

So many studies have pointed to results of enhanced aortic and digestive health arising from a simple whole foods diet.

And whole foods do not have to be boring.

They can be heartier and tastier than most all those other 'packaged' meals.

Tonight's whole food dish from the Farmer's Market was cabbage and butternut squash roasted with coconut oil, salt, pepper, poblano sauce and garlic.

Quick and easy to make, the textured coconut oil caramelized cabbage combines nicely with the tender sweet butternut squash.

Simply slice washed cabbage and butternut squash, lightly brush with coconut oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake at 380F for approximately 45 minutes or until done!

Full of fiber, phytochemical, vitamins, minerals, protein and other health supporting nutritious substances, whole foods are the main staple in our kitchen pantry and refrigerator.

As shown here in the refrigerator vegetables, fruits & nuts make up the bulk of our purchased foods. #Aorta health #gallbladder health #WholeFoods

Dump the processed foods.  If a box or package contains more than one or two ingredients then it may be leading you down the path to painful gallbladder spasms or rigid, plaque filled and dissection prone arteries.

Consider a non-processed, whole foods diet for your health and longevity.  Start today.

Gallbladder diet. Watch Out for Super Tricky Gallbladder Friendly Foods With This!

Watch out for gallbladder friendly foods with sugar in them!

Gallbladder diet.  Make sure Matcha contains no sugar.

I've been so guilty and over the weekend realized just how wrong I've been about sweet treats!

So today is day three of the "I Quit Sugar" lifestyle change for gallbladder health.

My very last post highlighted a Starbucks drink I was guzzling that actually was loaded with sugar!  According to the Starbucks nutrition webpage a green tea latte can have up to 30g sugar!

Gallbladder diet.  Organic green tea is the only ingredient in Teavana matcha.  My gallbladder is much happier.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) women should limit their sugar intake to less than 24 grams per day while men should limit their sugar intake to less than 36 grams per day.

That means one Starbucks green tea latte can have more sugar in the drink than the AHA recommends women ingest in an entire day!

Oh oh.  I've been headed in the wrong direction.  But you know, I think it was ok for a while because the many recipes I posted here with sugar as an ingredient really helped me cope with making the dietary transition to gallbladder friendly foods.

My restored confidence that I can eat heartily without incurring a gallbladder attack is important.

But now its time to move on.  So "I Quit Sugar".

There is a really good book on the topic with the same name available in most public libraries, in Barnes and Noble bookstores and on the web through Amazon in both Kindle edition and paperback.

Gallbladder diet.  Sarah Wilson's 'I Quit Sugar' is a great book that ultimately will help with gallbladder issues.

Sarah Wilson's book really inspired me.  Her blog is an excellent resource for information on sugar and the human body and for sugar free recipes.

However the real reason I am quitting sugar is that through gallbladder friendly recipe research I have come across more and more medical evidence that sugar is truly NOT gallbladder friendly.

One study in particular ranked refined sugars right up there along with fats as a primary culprit responsible for gallstone formation.

While sugar may not trigger an immediate gallbladder contraction of pain, sugar can encourage gallstone formation and even cause existing stones to grow larger in size.

Ugh.

So I am quitting sugar.  Today is Day 3 of my new lifestyle and from here on out most posted recipes will be low sugar content to no sugar content.  Good for our hearts too.  Some may include Stevia as I still like my sweets.

So what about my Starbucks Iced Matcha Water?

One maxim I've learned in life that truly helps me is "its OK to disappoint as long as one is not disappointing ones self" or clearly put, "who can I disappoint today?"

Starbucks probably is not disappointed with my decision to ditch their matcha drinks after so glowingly talking them up last week.  However I've found a new, healthier love.

Matcha powder without sugar from Teavana!

I've heard Starbucks uses the same in their matcha drinks only theirs is mixed with sugar.

And I love Matcha powder from Teavana in hot water over ice with cold water.

Consider keeping your green tea latte habit going for gallbladder support but switch to unsweetened matcha (or add Stevia).  I like mine in water but one could also use non-fat milk and Teavana matcha too.

Gallbladder diet.  If Iced Matcha Water is too 'watery' for you, consider using fat-free milk and Teavana matcha.

Long term we may form fewer stones and reduce the number of big stones growing in our finicky little grief causing organ.

So bye-bye sugar, bye-bye belly and bye-bye future gallbladder problems.

Cheers!  Kevin   #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet. Lime Juice & Key Lime Pastry Tarts May Dissolve Gallstones!

Lime juice can help break up and dissolve gallstones according to the Integrative Health resource site.

Gallbladder diet.  Lime juice in Key Lime Pastry Tarts may dissolve gallstones.

Integrative Health offers not only an excellent blog on gallbladder health but gives important insight on how to treat and successfully heal gallbladder issues through diet, lifestyle, exercise and other integrative behavioral factors.

One of my favorite lime juice recipes are Gallbladder Friendly Key Lime Pastry Tarts!

The Key Lime Pastry Tart recipe is so simple and quick, yet rich and full in flavor while not creating gallbladder inflammation.  And easy to eat too!

So here is the awesome recipe.

Gallbladder Friendly Key Lime Pastry Tarts

The secret to this marvelous desert is three fold. First, the phyllo (filo) dough must be fat free or the most contain right at or less than 1 gram total fat per serving.  Second, use key lime juice if you can obtain from your local grocer.  Third, the serving size is 'just right' - not so much where the leftovers (if any) would go freezer burnish in the ice chest.

Gallbladder diet.  Organic lime juice will do if key lime juice is not available.

Phyllo dough is usually available in no to low fat varieties all the way up to heavily larded with thick vegetable oils and lots of bad fats.  Flee from the big total fat varieties or you will pay dearly with an angry gallbladder!

Gallbladder diet.  Use low fat brands for gallbladder friendly recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup key lime juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon dried and ground stevia (optional depending on just how TaRt you like your tarts!)
• two small containers of fat free whipped topping
• 1 small package of phyllo dough (low fat to no fat)
• 4 small baking bowls

Defrost one roll of phyllo dough.

Gallbladder diet.  Phyllo dough comes in low-no fat types as well as high fat.  Avoid high fat brands.

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a mixing bowl combine the whipped topping and lime juice.  Stir rapidly with a fork until smooth and creamy.

Gallbladder diet.  Mix lime juice and whipped topping.

Add in ground cloves and stevia, stirring.

Next mix in the ground cinnamon.

Place four or five layers of phyllo dough in the ungreased (duh) baking dishes, forming 'mini-pie crusts' with the dough by gently pressing into the form of the bowl with your fingers.  Don't worry if the phyllo dough breaks - just add another layer over the dough crack.  The more layers you add the more 'flaky' the cooked crust will be.

Gallbladder diet.  Layer in four or five sheets of phyllo dough, forming into the bowl with fingers.

Add a dusting of cinnamon powder to the inside of the phyllo dough crust.

Gallbladder diet.  Dust inside of crusts with cinnamon.

Place the phyllo dough filled baking bowls in the oven and bake until golden brown.  Remove from oven and allow to cool.  This should take approximately 15-20 minutes.

Gallbladder diet.  Key Lime Pastry Tart crusts baking.

Once the 'pastry tart crusts' are cool to touch, fill each bowl with the blended whipped topping-lime juice-spices mixture.

Gallbladder diet.  Bake Key Lime Pastry Tarts until golden brown, or about fifteen minutes.

Place on a rack in the freezer until the filling is firm (these are really good once they sit overnight!).

Gallbladder diet.  Once crusts are cooled, crusts should be filled with whipped filling mixture!  Then cool in freezer!

Serve for a very refreshing dessert with powerful gallbladder healing potential!

Cheers!  Kevin  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet. Yummy, Hearty No-Fat Cholesterol Removing Black Bean Burgers

Of course I've given up and said goodbye to beefy hamburgers on my gallbladder diet.

Gallbladder diet.  Yummy, gallbladder friendly but tasty, juicy and hearty black bean burger

But I still remember just how delicious those Five Guys double bacon burgers taste!

My pescetarian diet keeps me full and satisfied, but even so - I still would like to chow down on a fat, juicy and tasty burger occasionally.

Enter the no-fat, cholesterol removing black bean burger friendly for any gall bladder diet.

It is no secret that beans help with gallstone issues and support a healthy gallbladder.

There are plenty of studies and websites showing how the fiber in beans actually binds cholesterol in the digestive tract and swiftly swishes the waxy compound down the dark annals of digestive corridors.

Here is my recipe for the juiciest, tastiest gallbladder friendly black bean burger packed full of protein and complex carbs.

No-Fat Black Bean Burger

• 1 can organic cooked black beans of the equivalent (1 cup) cooked at home black beans
• 1 large red onion, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 roasted red pepper, diced ( chipotles work nicely too)
• dash garlic powder
• dash cumin
• dash turmeric
• salt to taste
• pepper to taste
• sprig fresh parsley
• sprig fresh mint
• sprig fresh sage
• 1/3 cup egg whites
• 1/2 cup Panco bread crumbs (no fat)

Drain half the liquid from the black bean can.

Gallbladder diet.  Drain half liquid off can of black beans (or cook your own)

Peel and dice one large red onion.

Gallbladder diet.  Dice one large red onion

Chop garden fresh parsley, sage and mint.

Gallbladder diet.  Chop garden fresh parsley, sage and mint

Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Transfer to a food processor or blender and chop for a few seconds until the mixture forms a thick consistency.  

Gallbladder diet.  Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Add bread crumbs to thicken or a spoonful of water to thin.

Gallbladder diet.  I keep no-fat Panco Bread Crumbs in the pantry for gallbladder diet cooking

Remove blended mixture and form the black bean burger patties, placing them on a cooking sheet (Parchment paper works great but I was out tonight).

Bake at 350F for twenty minutes, remove the tray and flip the burgers and bake for another twenty minutes or until golden brown and firm.

Serve hot with your favorite no-fat sauces or atop a fresh spinach salad.

Your gallbladder will be happy and your tummy full!

Cheers!  Kevin  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet, 07/28/16, Scallops & Papaya

Gallbladder disease doesn't have to mean bland food forever.

In fact, after stabilizing any inflammation there are many awesome gallbladder friendly dishes one can prepare.

Gallbladder diet.  Scallops pack a nutritional punch and are gallbladder easy.

On top of all important gall bladder friendly traits most if not all of these recipes will help you move in the direction of optimum health and fitness.

I've lost over one hundred pounds since my aortic dissection and gallbladder issues began in 2011.

Through a dedicated low-impact exercise plan that included walking, swimming and yoga, combined with the gallbladder diet my waist dropped from a men's size 44 to my present (and old high school waist size) men's 30.

Collaterally, I feel much better about myself and am not near as embarrassed to take my shirt off around the swimming pool.

Today's gallbladder/heart/body healthy foods are scallops and papaya.

Scallops

Scallops are one of the world's most healthiest foods.  They are full of protein and omega 3 fatty acids along with many other important nutrients while being low in simple carbs and calories.

Gallbladder diet.  Scallops are an excellent source of protein and very gallbladder friendly to many.

A 3 oz. serving of steamed or broiled scallops contain almost a third of our daily B-12 requirements while also offering much needed magnesium and potassium.

Preparing scallops couldn't be quicker and easier.


Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, spread the frozen or fresh seafood and sprinkle with a dash of salt, black pepper, ginger, turmeric, lime juice and garlic powder.

Gallbladder diet.  I sprinkle my scallops with pepper, garlic powder, turmeric and ginger!

Place in a pre-heated over for fifteen minutes or until sizzling, then broil till the tops turn a light golden color.

Allow to cool and serve with homemade horseradish based cocktail sauce or honey mustard.

Garnish with fresh cut parsley from your patio garden.

OMG.  My mouth is watering.  Total preparation time is about twenty minutes.

Papaya

Gallbladder diet.  Papaya has a long history of soothing digestive systems. #gallbladderfriendly

Papaya is one of those foods that no matter how queasy your stomach may feel this fruit makes it all feel better and best of all is full of gallbladder friendly nutrition!

Gallbladder diet.  Papaya is an excellent fruit when the digestive system is acting 'iffy'.

Papaya should be stored on the shelf until the green outer coating begins to turn the papaya yellow-orange hue.  I usually place mine in the refrigerator for a day or so then until fully ripe and firmly soft to the touch.

Rinse the fruit and peel.  Remove seeds by scraping out with a spoon (they will sprout and grow into papaya trees if you plant them) and serve cold.

I've always found papaya to be gallbladder friendly and completely satisfying for a breakfast or anytime snack.

Put the two together, scallops and papaya, and you have the perfect, exotic summertime dinner!

Cheers!  Kevin   #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder Diet, 07/27/16, Cookbook that Inspired my Gallbladder Diet

Sometimes there is a spark of inspiration leading you to achieve great things.

Gallbladder diet.  Although written for healthy hearts, this cookbook forms a great basis for gallbladder health also.

For me this cookbook started a food revolution in my life, one that has saved me from further #gallbladder pain and so far surgery.

This cookbook is comprehensive and lays all the nutritional facts out on each page for each recipe making it so easy to quickly decide whether or not the food may be gallbladder friendly.  For me a quick glance at the total fat content is all revealing.

Gallbladder diet.  I've changed some ingredients and practices to make recipes more gallbladder friendly.

Although the cookbook's recipes were compiled for good heart health they also perfectly serve to form the basis for a gallbladder friendly diet.

Gallbladder diet.  There are so many recipes one would have a hard time going hungry!

The American Heart Association's Cookbook offers an amazing array of scrumptious recipes most of which are low fat, and high in protein or complex carbohydrates.

Gallbladder diet.  Healthy cooking supports not only gallbladders but other body organs too!

I absolutely love the nutrition chart associated with each recipe.  Right away I can spot total fat content and decide whether or not the particular recipe may be gallbladder friendly.

Gallbladder diet.  How many times have I missed good coleslaw!  Here's a gallbladder friendly recipe!

Let me be clear - the book serves as an inspiration for a good gallbladder diet.  There are however some ingredients and cooking practices I've modified in my gallbladder diet, such as replacing cooking spray with poaching or water sautéing.

Seriously consider ordering the 8th edition of the American Heart Association's Cookbook here.

Gallbladder friendly diets don't have to be boring.

I am loving my kitchen, the food I prepare and eat even more now than ever before.  Note to Gallbladder; I'm not thanking you here for causing me to seek out a more healthy diet.  But I am glad I've discovered how to eat healthy all the while avoiding those horrible inflamed gallbladder sessions.

Cheers!  Kevin.  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder Diet, 07/26/16, Crock Pots, Organic White Sweet Potatoes and a Healthy, Gallbladder Friendly Breakfast

Gallbladder diet is much more than preparing and eating low fat gallbladder friendly foods.

Gallbladder diet.  Creating a multidimensional culinary experience is an important component of a gallbladder friendly diet.  Crackpots are a vital appliance component!

A well rounded gallbladder diet will also include portion control support, an inviting and clean kitchen as well as fantastic cooking aromas coming from the stove, oven or crockpot.

Too often our gallbladder friendly diet fails us because we tend only too food choices.

Failing to neglect enticing kitchen aromas and a easy to work in, convenient kitchen setup negates two thirds of the pleasure we find in our ultimate mealtime experience.

Crockpots

Crockpots are a gallbladder friendly easy way to add both convenience and the aroma of anticipation to our homes and kitchens.

Day before yesterday I soaked a half bag of black beans overnight.  Yesterday the beans were tripled rinsed and covered with water.  Two super large Vidalia onions were quartered and placed in the beans along with a heaping spoonful of vegetable bullion.  Crockpot covered and turned on high, the rest involved waiting with the promise of hearty, flavorful food.

That was easy.

All day long the cooking beans and onions filled the house with a savory scent.

If you let the beans cook overnight I would almost guarantee you that your family will be wanting them for breakfast.

Sometimes beans alone are hard to try and convince the kids to eat.  However, create an air of anticipation with the convenience and aroma of the almighty crockpot and the others will be drooingly ready for a well seasoned savory bowl.

Beans are not the only gallbladder friendly food one can cook in the crockpot.  Your imagination is the limit to tasty, low fat, complex carbohydrate based vegetable centered meals.

Its time we enlist our crockpots to stand with us in our fight against gallbladder inflammation.

Organic White Sweet Potatoes

Back in the early days of learning gallbladder friendly diet habits I relied heavily on regular potatoes.

Next I added the (for me) slightly more tasty sweet potatoes.

Don't get me wrong as any potato, though basically bland in taste would fill me up and chase away the nagging sense of unfulfilled hunger.

Potatoes add fiber and bulk too.  And there are many different gallbladder friendly ways to eat a potato; potatoes with ketchup, potatoes with soy sauce, potatoes with no fat yogurt, potatoes with salt and pepper and potatoes without butter or sour cream.

Yet a potato is a potato so I thought.

Until I discovered Organic White Sweet Potatoes from Public.  O.M.G!

Gallbladder diet.  Organic white sweet potatoes are a cross between white and sweet potatoes.

 Organic White Sweet Potatoes are the one type of potato I will always keep in my kitchen from now on.

Whether for a scrumptious snack or a stand alone hearty meal, these root vegetables combine the creamy texture of white potatoes with the savory flavor of sweet potatoes!

Gallbladder diet.  Baked (or for convenience sakes in microwave 12 minutes for two) these make a great meal.

I like mine with a dash of soy or teriyaki sauce.  Yum.

How can a food that tastes so good be so gallbladder friendly?  You've got to try them.

Gallbladder diet.  I add a touch of teriyaki or soy sauce to mine after cooking.

Remember, creating a well rounded culinary experience involving a clean, inviting kitchen, filled with alluring aromas can super-charge the taste and desirability of foods.

A successful gallbladder, friendly diet will take advantage of multidimensional food experiences to help keep us satisfied and on track to a long life free from inflamed digestive organs.

Crank up the crockpot!

Cheers.  Kevin #gallbladder life

Gallbladder Diet, 07/21/16, Gallbladder Friendly Creamy Ranch Dressing & Arugula Beet Chayote Portobello Roasted Red Pepper Salad w Baked Salmon

I am a big man. 6'3"+ and it takes a lot of hearty food to satisfy me.

After the last gallbladder attack in 2015 I was extremely concerned I'd not ever again enjoy a hearty meal.

Oh, this salad and creamy ranch dressing is so filling.  But not too filling.  I'm still satisfied an hour after eating tonight, yet not over-stuffed.

And the creamy ranch was so tasty.

Lately the meals have been one half vegan and the other half vegetarian or pescatarian.

Gallbladder diet.  Arugula, Chayote, Beet, Portobello, Roasted Red Pepper Salad

Tonight salad was vegan except for the small amount of baked salmon topping and the cup of non-fat yogurt used in the creamy ranch dressing recipe.

Gallbladder diet.  Wild non-farmed salmon with portobellos ready for the oven

First I baked the portobellos and wild caught salmon in the over at 350F for twenty minutes after marinating the shrooms in soy sauce for ten minutes. Feel free to add garlic powder, pepper, ginger or turmeric if you desire (I did).

Gallbladder diet.  Boil Chayote with their skins unit tender

While the salmon and portobellos are baking, place two whole chayote in a sauce pan and cover with water.  Add a dash of sea salt and bring to a boil.  Cover, turn to low-medium heat and allow the chayote to gently boil for fifteen minutes or so.  The chayote will be cooked when a fork or knife can easily be inserted all the way into the vegetable/fruit.

Gallbladder diet.  Slice chayote into wedge sections, cover and allow to cool in the refrigerator

 My first chayote squash came from a vine in Grandpa's Miami backyard.  As a young boy I loved to watch the chayote vines climb up the sprawling live oaks in Grandpa Morrow's landscape.

Chayote possesses a unique, earthy flavor and soft pear like texture when cooked.  Many like to eat chayote with butter.  Not me.  My gallbladder would erupt.  Chayote with salt and pepper is scrumptious tasting to me.

You should be able to find chayote in any large grocery store's vegetable section.  I purchased these two this week from Costco.

No need to peel chayote but I do remove the seed before slicing into wedges.  Chayote makes a great snack cooked and served hot or cooked, chilled and served with a gallbladder friendly dip (teriyaki or soy sauce works well).

Gallbladder diet.  Slice cooked beets into wedges and chill

While the chayote are cooking, wedge cut three of four cooked organic beets.  Again, I purchase mine from the produce section at Costco.  Beets are also available from most Farmer's Markets or grocery stores.  Place the beet wedges in a bowl and chill along with the chayote.

Gallbladder diet.  These roasted red peppers contain no fat except for the natural oils in the peppers

The delicious roasted red peppers came from Publix in a glass jar.  These particular peppers possessed a slight hint of fire from the roasting process, were sweet but not too sweet and were bottled with water.  Zero grams of total fat usually translates into a happy gallbladder for me.

Gallbladder diet.  Slicing the roasted red peppers for the salad

Slicing then placing the red peppers in the bowl of beet wedges, the salad toppings were chilled in the refrigerator.

Gallbladder diet.  Beet wedges and roasted red peppers

Beet wedges and roasted red pepper slices, chilled make a great happy gallbladder snack on their own.  Sometimes its hard to keep hungry fingers out of the bowl while the beets and peppers chill in the refrigerator.

Gallbladder diet.  Roasted portobellos ready for quartering

Quarter the roasted portobellos and set aside for use as a topping on the salad.

Gallbladder diet.  Salad is starting to come together

Wash then place the organic baby arugula leaves on the serving plate.  Arrange the wedges of chilled chayote, beets, sliced peppers and portobellos as desired over the arugula.

I added about one half cup of the baked salmon on top of all the garnishments for a super hearty and delicious evening meal.  The plate shown should be enough for two hungry adults to share.

Both the adults gallbladders should be very happy with this super low fat meal.

Creamy Yummy Ranch No-Fat Dressing

Gallbladder diet.  Ingredients for the super yummy creamy no-fat, gallbladder pleasing 'ranch' dressing

Back in time before my gallbladder revolted I loved creamy dressings, especially the kind that was full of artery-clogging oils, inflammatory high fructose corn sweetness and mysterious MSG.

For the first six months on my gallbladder diet I avoided creamy dressings.  In fact the only dressings I used were straight up balsamic vinegar or glaze, soy sauce or lemon/lime juice.

Eventually I tried fat free dressings made from corn or potato starch.  These starch dressings did not hurt my gallbladder but they tasted like blah barf times two.

Finally I figured out no-fat yogurt did not hurt my gallbladder either, though it did come in a plastic container.

After experimenting with several recipes I stumbled upon this fab creamy, tasty dressing mix and wow, it is so easy to make!

Gallbladder diet. Creamy ranch dressing is easy to make.  Herbs, spices, yogurt, lime juice and vegetable bullion.

Mix together one cup non-fat yogurt (I use Fage from Costco but any organic, non-fat yogurt would work fine), two tablespoons of lime juice (preferably key lime juice if available), fresh chopped herbs from your garden (basil and sage are shown here) and two heaping tablespoons of vegetable bullion.

Stir until consistency is creamy smooth.

Note: My vegetable bullion has a minuscule, almost negligible amount of oil but this has never bothered my gallbladder.

Gallbladder diet.  Fresh herbs from the garden, basil & sage

Gallbladder diet.  Finished no-fat, creamy, tasty 'ranch' gallbladder friendly dressing.

Chill dressing mixture and serve either on the side or over the salad.

Cheers!  Kevin #Gallbladder life is never boring.