Beauty and the Bowel (Barley in Tomato Sauce)

I had the good fortune to hear Udo Erasmus speak at Whole Foods many years ago. He wrote Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill which explains how to consume what kind of fats to gain health benefits and which fats are dangerous.

I’ve borrowed his Nutrition Pyramids on my websites for years because they’re easy to follow and logical..also beautiful.

https://yourbetter.health/stoh/

And, what struck me most about Udo’s appearance was the quality of his skin, it was beautiful, and as smooth as a baby’s..

Udo told me that I should consume a quarter cup of flaxseed oil every day. I was horrified (then) at the thought. He said I was “fatphobic” – well,yeah, try growing up in the sixties when the feminine ideal of beauty was to look like a young boy (thank you, fashion designers & Twiggy!).

So, I conducted my own personal self-assessment and determined that, even though I find it a little distasteful, I had to address the first line of defense for optimal health – the condition of the bowel. And, yes, for me, flaxseed oil may provide benefits for colon health, besides my quest for Udo-quality skin.

BEAUTY & THE BOWEL

If your bowel isn’t functioning properly, you may want to get educated on the subject, talk to your doctor, make some lifestyle changes, if necessary..

The colon affects so many of the body’s functions – toxins may release back into the bloodstream; there are many symptoms, inside and outside the gastrointestinal system, and could lead to loss of functionality and degenerative diseases.

Here’s what I do to show love to this important component of optimal health – and improve and retain functionality: (and again, please consult your medical professional regarding matters of health necessity; any information you receive here is just my opinion based on my own experiences and is not a directive or recommendation to you.)

1. I drink plenty of water and I drink it between meals – drinking a lot of water with meals dilutes my digestive juices and makes for less effective digestion.

2. I take a probiotic every morning to promote friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract and colon.

3. I try to make choices that provide benefits: lots of fresh, in-season vegetables and fruits, foods with plenty of soluble and insoluble fiber. Examples of foods with high amounts of insoluble fiber are brown rice, flaxseed, whole wheat and lentils. Some examples of foods with high amounts of soluble fiber are apples, bananas, citrus fruits, carrots, prunes, oats and barley. Some foods with nearly equal amounts of both fiber types are corn, winter squash, green peas and kidney, navy and green beans.

4. Exercise – I try to do something physically active every day. A happy week for me is strength training 2x/week, cardio 2x/week, yoga 2x/week.

5. I take green supplements to help clear toxins. I alternate chlorella, wild blue-green algae and spirulina.

6. I take digestive enzymes with most meals, especially if I’ve combined starchy carbs and proteins in the same meal.
7. I avoid dairy products, artificial sweeteners, MSG, hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated fats, nitrates,processed, pre-prepared and fast foods.

8. I avoid fried, barbecued and microwaved food.

9. I seek local, fresh, organic produce, grassfed beef, wild seafood, home cooked food.

10. If I eat eggs, I try to find organic; I poach them to prevent consuming the yolk as a “hard” fat. I learned how to perfect poach an egg by dropping it in boiling water in 2 minutes from a YouTube video.

11. I try to get 8 hours of sleep.

12. I meditate, and try to increase mindfulness – staying in the moment.

So, to promote Beauty and the Bowel, my goals, starting now, are:

  • to eat less red meat and eggs (less sat fat)to eliminate fried foods
  • to increase soluble and insoluble fiber intake
  • to eat more raw, poached and steamed foods
  • to drink more water
  • to take more healthy EFAs, especially flaxseed oil or ground flax meal

Recipe (from UdoErasmus.com):

BARLEY IN TOMATO-ROSEMARY SAUCE

by Oscar Umahro Cadogen . . . (Serves 3 persons)

“Everybody is eating pasta with tomato sauce these days. Try this succulent mixture of barley and slightly spicy tomato sauce. The tomatoes, garlic, turmeric, and rosemary all contribute with phytochemicals, the barley with fibre and phytoestrogens, the oil blend with EFAs, making this not only tasty and filling but also very, very healthy.

The dish can also be made a day in advance and served cold the day after. Have it with a broiled of poached piece of fish, and you’ll also cover your protein requirements.”

  • 1 1/2 cups whole barley berries (can be substituted with whole wheat, rye, oats or buckwheat)
  • 3 cups (approximately) water, preferably filtered or spring
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar or freshly pressed lemon juice
  • 2 cloves of garlic, sliced thinly
  • 2 tbs Flora coldpressed sesame oil or extra virgin olive oil
  • sea or rock salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • the leaves from 1 twig of fresh rosemary
  • 1 tbs fish sauce
  • 2 tins of tomatoes
  • 3-4 tbs Udo’s Choice® Oil Blend

1 Place barley, water, and apple cider vinegar in a small pot and leave overnight to marinate. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat, and leave to simmer under a lid for about 30 minutes until the barley berries have absorbed all the water. Take the pot off the heat and leave with the lid on.

2 Heat garlic and butter in a saucepan along with a bit of salt, pepper, turmeric, and rosemary until the garlic softens and the spices start releasing their aroma. Then add fishsauce, wait for 1 minute, and add tomatoes. Leave to simmer at low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in boiled barley and leave to simmer for another 15 minutes – still stirring occasionally – before taking the pot off the heat. Stir in Udo’s.

So, good luck, pay attention to your body and stay tuned for “Love Your Liver.”

“If you don’t take care of your body, then where are you gong to live?”
Anonymous quote seen in Dr. Bruce Dooley’s office, Ft. Lauderdale

More info about Udo Erasmus and healthy and unhealthy fats: udoerasmus.com

Reference: “The Toxic Bowel” from Optimal Wellness by Ralph Golan, M.D.: http://ralphgolanmd.com