A Heart Hearty (and Gallbladder Friendly) Dinner

Steamed asparagus and baba ganoush for dinner last night.

Foods for gallbladder and aorta health - steamed asparagus and baba ganoush

And the yummy, healthy meal filled me up.

Asparagus provide just enough 'chewy' texture (but not to chewy) to satisfy my primordial urge of, yep you guessed it, 'chewing'.

On the opposite end of the texture spectrum baba ganoush though packs a flavor punch, one filled with umami and other exotic flavors.

Asparagus has been shown to promote gallbladder health and is recommended by many health sources as a gallbladder friendly food.

Asparagus also acts as a diuretic, relieving edema and providing much needed antioxidants supporting both the heart and digestive system.

So next time you need a heart hearty meal, try steamed asparagus and baba ganoush!

Aorta & Gallbladder Friendly Snacks - Baba Ganoush Yum

I stay hungry all the time.

Aorta and gallbladder friendly - healthy homemade baba ganoush!

Despite my touchy gallbladder I am finding homemade whole foods snacks like baked, gluten free corn chips and baba ganoush really satisfy my hunger urges without pain or inflammation that will damage y aorta or gallbladder.

Today I made fresh baba ganoush.

Dice a large onion, green pepper, large carrot, garlic (powder or fresh), nice size chunk of fresh ginger (the more the better for me) and yam and sauté in water until tender.

Bake two large market eggplant in the oven until completely tender.

Allow all ingredients to cool and then place in food processor or blender.  Add a couple large spoonfuls of tahini if you can tolerate tahini and two tablespoons of organic, cold pressed, unrefined coconut oil.

Aorta and gallbladder friendly - healthy homemade baba ganoush!

Salt and pepper to taste.

Blend away.

Homemade baba ganoush is full of phytochemical and nutrients, fiber and minerals.

So tasty too....

Gallbladder and Cardiovascular Diet - Vegan Feasts Can Be Hearty

My gallbladder and torn aorta pretty much demand that I eat a vegan diet.  Sometimes I do supplement the veggies with herring or sardines but for the most part I eat veggies.

Gallbladder diet & Aorta Diet.  Vegan dinners can be filling feasts!

Back when I first was presented with the fact that I'd no longer be able to consume cheese, butter meats, chips and processed foods I went through a 'grieving' phase.

I first thought going vegan meant going hungry.  I feared going vegan meant practical starvation but I was so wrong.

Today the vegan meals we fix are literal feasts.

The dinner featured here totally satisfied my immense appetite.  We had Basmati rice, fresh sauerkraut, cooks beets, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, cashews, walnuts, a cabbage & garden greens salad, chopped apples and chick pea veggie burgers.  Totally scrumptious, filling and amazing.

Best of all my gallbladder stayed happy and my torn aorta was content not to be hit with inflammatory processed foods ingredients.

Gallbladder life and aorta life don't have to be second place to the SAD diet.

In fact, whole and slow foods are not only healthy but will keep you coming back for more!

Having a Hard Time Giving Up Chocolate on a Gallbladder Diet?

I love Chocolate!

Gallblascular diet.  Cocoa nibs are low in fat, contain only cocoa and are anti-inflammatory which is good for the aorta and digestive system.

My gallbladder screams when I eat a chocolate bar though, reminding me that all the rich fats and oils in the processed candy are not what my body needs.

I have however found other ways to satisfy my cocoa cravings without causing that horrible, intense gallbladder pain or inflaming my already torn descending aorta walls.

The basic principle behind these two chocolate delights is one of 'non-processed'.  Actually both the unsweetened cocoa powder and nibs are processed but only minimally processed.  And there is just on ingredient - cocoa, not a whole hoard of probably taste good but not healthy sugar, preservatives, flavorings and oils.

Though this is just one particular example of the fundamental philosophy behind the Gallblascular Diet, the premise is consistent with all food items.

I find it is generally OK, even healthy, to eat 'whole' foods.

Foods with less than two or three ingredients on their packaging or preferable foods with no packaging at all are best for our aorta and digestive system - and our entire body.

Gallblascular Diet.  Satisfy your chocolate urge without gallbladder pain or inflammation from candy bars by using unsweetened cocoa.

I was so surprised and pleases about nine months into my Gallblascular Diet when I realized unsweetened cocoa powder and cocoa nibs were safe to eat.  No pain from the gallbladder, no inflammatory arterial damage to my cardiovascular system.

Gallblascular diet.  Unsweetened cocoa powder contains only cocoa and is actually low in fat and carbs.

In fact the flavanols in cocoa are reportedly quite healthy for us humans.

Try dissolving a spoonful or two in warm non-fat milk or if you are a vegan like me in almond or cashew milk.  If you can't tolerate the 'milks' then hot water works well too.

For a quick snack a small handful of cocoa nibs always quickly satisfies the chocolate urge.

Gallblascular diet.  Cocoa nibs are low in fat, contain only cocoa and are  anti-inflammatory which is good for the aorta and digestive system.

Remember, whole non-processed foods are what the Gallblascular Diet is all about.  Read the ingredients. If the package contains  lots of chemicals, preservatives, flavors, sugars, oils and other ingredients it probably is not good for you, your aorta or your gallbladder/pancreas.

Sugar Is NOT and NEITHER Aorta nor Gallbladder Friendly

Reducing body inflammation is crucial to aorta (cardiovascular) and gallbladder health.

Gallbladder and Aorta Diet - Eliminating Sugars can help reduce inflammation!

Sugar is one of the main drivers of increased inflammation in our bodies.

Reducing out sugar intake is so very important to our health.

Listed below are a few informative articles about the hidden dangers of sugar and inflammation.  I recommend reading them all and doing further research on your own about how you can eliminate sugar from your diet.

• "Curing Gallstones With Dietary Changes"
• "Preventing the Need for Surgery on an Enlarged Aorta"
• "Treat the Inflammation and not the Cholesterol"
• "Gallbladder: Function, Problems  & Healthy Diet"
• "The Gall Bladder" (Excellent Article by Body Ecology)

Want a healthy aorta and gallbladder?  If so then seriously consider ditching the sugar.

Healthy Living - I Want A Hot Dog But My Aorta and Gallbladder Say.....

Usually I am O.K. with my vegan diet.   Once in a while my whole body disdains all the whole foods and screams 'Hot Dog!'

Gallbladder diet.  Carrot dog with roasted eggplant. Healthy for aorta and digestive system.

Last night I fulfilled the hot dog desire.  In a healthy manner that is.

Though I'd never eat a 'real' hot dog, I do crave them occasionally. Vegan carrot dogs can be healthy for aorta & digestive system.

Some one had told me about carrot dogs a while back.  Nope, they aren't just like a real hot dog. They lack the terrible fats, hormones, chemicals, preservatives like sodium nitrite and other dangerous ingredients that 'real' hot dogs contain.

Actually they taste pretty darn good.  Maybe even better than a real hot dog. And are full of vitamins and minerals and fiber and good taste!

Here's how I made mine.

Wednesday is our farmers market day and I picked out about ten big fat juicy carrots.

Gallbladder and aorta diet. Carrots about to become 'dogs'. Healthy for aorta and digestive system.

After you wash and trim any bad spots away from the carrots, place them in a glass baking dish.

Bake your fat, plump carrots at 385F until brown. Healthy for aorta and digestive system.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake at 385 F until they are tender enough to press a fork all the way through.

Remove from the oven and perforate each carrot with a fork until well punctured.

Soak each carrot in tamari or your favorite marinade and place back in the oven.  I use gluten free tamari.

Allow carrots to continue browning or caramelizing, removing from oven every five minutes or so to rotate.

Gallbladder and aorta diet.  Carrots are ideal 'dog' alternatives, full of aorta and gallbladder supporting phytochemicals.

Once the carrots are brown and cooked remove from the oven and allow to cool.

I like soft corn tortillas with dijon mustard and kalamata olive spread.

Wrap your carrot dog in the corn tortilla, accentuate with mustard, onions, pickles and healthy spreads and enjoy!

Jonesing for a hot dog can be healthy if you think 'big fat carrot'!

Symptom Free Sixteen Months No Gallbladder Surgery!

Its been sixteen months since my last gallbladder attack that almost put me in the hospital.

Gallbladder diet. Cabbage Boats with Split Pea Soup and Capers. Good for digestive and cardiovascular health.

My diet has changed from meat and dairy to vegan and fish sometimes.

Last ultrasound showed greatly reduced stone amount and no sludge.

So I'm continuing on with what works diet-wise for my gallbladder and pancreas.  Like reduced to no sugar, no dairy or heavy fats, no junk food, etc...  Like read all ingredient labels and better yet buy real food that does not have any added ingredients.   Think fresh from the farmers market.

Here is today's heart and gallbladder recipes:

Split Pea Soup - OK I know split pea soup does not sound glamorous but in reality it is hearty, filling, tasty and for me gallbladder and aorta friendly.

Gall bladder diet. Split Pea Soup in Crockpot. Good for digestive and cardiovascular health.

I soak my split peas in water overnight then cook them in a crock pot with a large onion the next day. Usually by early afternoon I can have a marvelous bowl of yummy, good for me food.

I season my split pea soup with a large soup spoon full of nutritional yeast and also tamari.

Yep, it looks like, well brownish sludge but I'd bet this simple soup would satisfy anyone's hunger.  And it tastes damn good!

Gallbladder diet.  Nutritional yeast makes a good condiment, adds flavor and depth to any food.

One of the other dishes I make with split pea soup is my cabbage boat.  Cabbage boat is tasty served either hot or cold.

First step in preparing cabbage boats is to roast a cabbage sliced in half in the oven until well cooked.

Gallbladder diet. Cabbage Boats - start with roasted cabbage layers. Good for digestive and cardiovascular health.

I baste with unrefined coconut oil occasionally while the cabbage is cooking.  My preference  is to let the cabbage cook till almost slightly 'crispy' but still pliable.

Once cooked I separate the cabbage layers and place on a tray with the 'bowl' side up, like a boat.

Gallbladder diet.  Kind of like a stuffed potato but its a cabbage boat! Add cooked split peas, nutritional yeast and tamari.

Fill the cabbage boat half way up with split pea soup, add nutritional yeast and tamari, and (if you can tolerate nuts or seeds) chopped walnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds or walnut (especially good toasted).

Add pepper and garlic powder or smoky paprika.

Yum!

Gallbladder diets can be hearty, healthy and good for your cardiovascular system too!

P.S. I use only unrefined, expeller pressed coconut oils or avocado oil.

Gallbladder diet.  Use only unrefined, cold pressed coconut oil.

And rather than use soy sauce I prefer tamari.

Gallbladder diet.  I prefer tamari over soy sauce.