Every Natural Kitchen needs one.  Or maybe even two.  Having these can prove indispensible.  Not only do you get fresh milk made from your choice or a combination of raw, organic nuts, seeds, or grains,  but you also are able to choose the other added ingredients as well.  Commercially made nut milks are boxed in aseptic packaging designed to last for a long time on the shelf.  Yes, these can have a place in your kitchen-for a quick fix or for traveling perhaps.  Tricalcium phosphate is added to these commercial milks to boost the calcium content, but we can calcium in a form much more assimilable from the nuts themselves, especially almonds.  Also from our dark, leafy greens we so love to include in our menus.  What about the added sugar?  It could be evaporated cane juice, but if not, we vegans like to stay away from conventional sugar which has all of it nutrients stripped from it as well as the fact that it is filtered by a bone char method using animal bones in order to bleach the sugar white.  So, if we can provide ourselves and our families with the freshest and best ingredients, then why not?  All it takes is a few minutes to make a batch that will last a few days in the fridge, that is, if it doesn’t get used up so quick!  Here’s a simple basic nut milk recipe to get you started.  This recipe is great for drinking straight, pouring over whole grain cereal, blending into smoothies, or wherever else you desire a sweet milk.  If you would like a plain milk, just omit or reduce the sweetener.   p.s. Hazelnut milk is our favorite, try it!  And don’t forget to save the pulp for use in other recipes!

 Growing up in Hawaii it is almost impossible to escape being seen at a luau.   It’s a part of life there.  One of the most important items of the luau is the food.  In old Hawaii, most of it was fresh or raw food, but when it came to cooked foods, it was generally prepared in an underground oven.  This underground oven was called an imu.  From here originates the traditional method of roasting meats and vegetables and oftentimes, cooking desserts as well.  The most amazing flavors come from this pit in the ground.  The fire in the imu was very important.  In those olden days there were no temperature gauges, so the person in charge of building the imu needed some experience and know how. Kiawe ( key-ah-vay) wood was the preferred choice of wood in this process because not only is it abundant in Hawaii, but it burns slowly and very hot.  A hot fire was used to heat stones placed in the bottom of the pit.  Then those stones were covered with brush and banana leaves where the food would be placed atop.  Finally, it was all covered with a cloth and then dirt to hold in the heat.  The food was left to cook there over a long period of time, perhaps a few days.   You can still find the local people using this method of roasting for special occasions. 

The kiawe has its relatives all over the world.  In Hawaii, these trees are notorious for their terribly unforgiving thorns and wood so hard that it can easily wear down chain saws and other tools. In Africa, where it is known as acacia, elephants love to eat the bark from these trees.  Here in North America, it is commonly known as mesquite, a very popular wood used for barbecues and smoking meats.  More traditionally here in the Americas, the Indians of the south western plains would use the pods as a source of food by grinding them down into a fine powder.  The mesquite produces green pods similar to a flat looking green bean.  The pods eventually turn yellow as it ripens and later fall to the ground making them easy to gather.  As young children working on our parents’ farm, we use to feed these to the pigs and cows by the buckets and had so much fun doing it.  Sometimes we would break open the pods and lick the sweet sap that encased the seeds.

Later, as I learned more about this legume, I found that in the Scriptures, John the Baptist may have lived off this food called “locust bean.”  There is still controversy concerning this as some folks believe he ate actual locusts.  The Bible does specify that locusts are a ‘clean’ food.  Others insist that John the Baptist was a total vegetarian, and the ‘locust’ could only refer to the ‘locust bean’ of the mesquite tree.  Regardless of what the truth may be, today our tastes dictate that consuming a locust would be quite disagreeable.  And, despite the many arguments that animal foods must be eaten in order to be truly healthy, current wisdom shows that flesh sources of foods can be highly contaminated and unhealthful.  For those of us who are anticipating Eden restored, it only makes sense that we begin now to enjoy the things that are truly healthful for us, the diet that God gave to man in the beginning.

Back to the ‘locust bean’… Currently, there has been a resurgence of many traditional foods.  If you would like to include this traditional staple in your diet, you don’t have to go pick and grind your own. Today there is a product on the market derived from the locust bean called mesquite flour. Mesquite flour has a sweet, nutty taste.  It has a texture similar to wheat flour, although its texture is a bit grainier. Nutritionally speaking, it is high in protein as well as calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and iron, and is a significant source of dietary fiber.  It is also rich in the amino acid lysine as well.  This flour is naturally gluten free making it suitable for those with gluten allergies or intolerance.  Because of its natural sweetness, we like to use it in combination with other flours to produce pancakes, waffles, cookies and more.  Its molasses-like richness has a hint of caramel flavor which allows us to be able to reduce the sweetener called for in the recipe.  It tends to be a little darker of the flours, but your results will create a very nice texture and surprisingly delicious flavor.  Mesquite flour can be found in some natural food stores and most definitely online.  Happy cooking!

Several years later, the next step began with my newfound religion and along with that, learning that the God of the Bible desires our happiness above all.  Part of that happiness is found in obedience to the Laws of Health.  When in obedience to those health laws, we assist our human body to function in its highest capacity.  Even though damage had been done due to a lifestyle that did harm, and possibly other unknown factors, happiness was also found in knowing that I have a God that not only teaches me how to be healthy, but is a powerful God that can heal as well, with my cooperation.  My lifestyle change brought me into a happier state in so many ways. And in trusting the One who brought this all about, with diet and lifestyle changes, I stopped taking the meds for hypothyroidism and never did take them again.

Flash-forward 10 years.  Something is going wrong again.  My skin is itching.  Neverending sores appear from scratching and there is no relief.  Later, I learn it is a skin condition known as dermatitis herpetiformis.  I had heard that this happens to some people who have wheat sensitivity so I decided to do a little experiment.  Refraining from eating wheat gave me some relief, but little was I to know that the protein that makes up wheat would be the root of much more serious problems.  I also did not realize that I had been suffering from other symptoms that one can easily pass off such as stomach and intestinal pain, frequent headaches, tiredness, weakness, and very mild symptoms of hypothyroidism.   What’s was going on?

A recent blood test revealed that the hypothyroidism I had been diagnosed with was actually called Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, an autoimmune disorder.  The doctor who did the original blood test had failed to see the antibodies my immune system was creating in its attack of the thyroid gland.  According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, more than 27 million Americans suffer from thyroid dysfunction, half of whom go undiagnosed.  Of the detected cases of hypothyroidsim, more than half are due to an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s disease(2).  I am thankful to God that I stopped taking the thyroid medication when I did, for in doing so, I would have caused my thyroid to permanently depend on medication and stop producing its own.  I was shocked to learn recently that in autoimmune hypothyroidism, there is nothing wrong with my thyroid, only that my immune system was going crazy due to an outside factor.

A great many people are genetically-disposed to reject the wheat, rye and barley gluten protein known as gliadin.  Gliadin sets off many reactions in individuals sometimes totally unrelated to the digestive system, which is why it oftentimes takes many years to get an accurate diagnosis, an average of 11 years according to statistics(1).  For me, having known that the hypothyroidism I suffered from was Hashimoto’s way back when might have given me an indication sooner and prevented some of the problems that I am now facing.   Now I rely on God’s health plan even more so and am stricter in maintaining His perfect program.  Eating a lot more live plant foods, making sure I’m getting enough protein in the form of beans, gluten-free grains, and other plant foods plus brown rice protein smoothies help to boost it up.  Eating a variety of plant foods to supply the nutrients I need. Right now, supplements such as calcium/magnesium, B12, D3, and echinacea with Vit. C help also help as my body had not been able to absorb the nutrients from all the healthful foods I was eating due to the damaged small intestine as well as causing my immune system to be compromised.  But the most important thing is avoiding all gluten-containing foods, even the minutest amount.  In a healthy diet, I also avoid anything refined and have even stepped it up to avoiding anything processed and packaged.

So I’m allowing my body to heal right now, it will take time.  I must always be diligent about not letting any bit of gluten protein into my diet or I will suffer damage and symptoms again.  Right now, it’s taking my all in allowing the healing process and dealing with the gluten-induced hypothyroidism and the infections, fungus, bacteria and parasites due to the lowered immune system as a result.  Among that, the problems of my nutrient deficiencies have caused other health issues and allergic reactions to other foods.

If you have any unexplained illnesses or disease, I would urge you to first start researching this issue and then get tested for gluten sensitivities (3).  The problems associated with this illness are far-reaching, and the sooner it is recognized, the better it will be to help avoid permanent problems associated with this disease. 

Please feel free to contact us if you have questions and God bless you as you continue to seek better health.

(1) The Gluten Effect How “Innocent” Wheat Is Ruining Your Health by Drs. Vikki & Richard Petersen.

(2) Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When Lab Tests Are Normal by Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS.

(3) www.enterolab.com

Chef Brian demonstrates one of our favorites -Oriental Shumai- Make this at home and experience a flavor explosion!

It’s obvious to most of us the uncertain state of things as of 2010.  Many are looking for ways to be self-sufficient in order to meet their needs and the needs of their families should an emergency occur.  They’re finding that they can save money too, as well as being a “conscious consumer” by choosing to take matters into their own hands.   ”Prepping” has become a common word in conversation nowadays.  How can we provide for the most basic needs of our families when disaster strikes?  Here, I would like to share with you my thoughts and some of my solutions, especially when it comes to one of life’s most basic necessity…food.  But you’ll find tidbits of other kinds of information as well, so stay tuned.

Take a look at a couple favorite websites:

www.backtoenoch.org

www.mountainmediaministries.org

As I read thorough the description of what is contained in this Kit, I realized that this is one that is very well put together in the selection of herbs for all sorts of emergencies.  Did you know that Cayenne can arrest a heart attack?  My favorite one is the Super Immune Garlic tincture.  Garlic is effective for all sorts of things, from an earache to infection, to fever and so much in between.  It is so good to have this First Aid Kit not only for emergencies, but for everyday use too.  The Sensei Balm is very good for sore muscles  and headaches too.  If I happen to use up a particular product, I’ll just go directly to Dr. Christopher’s website and order it individually.  They also have so much more useful products there.  (www.drchristophers.com)  However, if you want to start off with a great selection of products in just one Kit at a fantastic price (each of the items in the Kit purchased individually cost much more), then you’ll want to have Dr. Christopher’s Herbal First Aid Kit as part of your Preparedness Kit.