It’s been a while since I’ve written about my health/healing experiments – so I’d thought I’d do a little update.  I’m pleased to say that it’s been over 6 weeks since coming of conventional anti depressants – and I actually feel like I am in a good place.  I’ve found during other past attempts at withdrawing from ADs, that I usually feel good up to this point, and then at around the 6 week mark, experience a huge mood crash (probably as the drugs would still be somewhat in my system up to this point).

Through healing with homoeopathy I have had a significantly different experience this time.  I have been through a few “aggravations” or healing crisis, which have brought up a lot of past symptoms/ailments – both physical AND emotional – but that has happened for a reason…. it’s all a part of the healing process you see.  I suppose the ADs have been masking a lot of symptoms, and it’s perfectly natural that they come up and are addressed head-on during this journey.  I actually feel as if I am moving forward this time – not teetering in a fragile place between falling back into AD-use or emotional turmoil.

Anyway, I truly feel that I could not have done this without the support of homoeopathy –  I am definitely a convert of this therapy. I KNOW I will continue to use it myself, and treat my family with remedies.

Another aspect of my healing process has been (obviously) diet – I haven’t written much about my recent diet-experiments since my little foray in an 80/10/10 style of eating.  I really loved the fruitarian way of eating for a short period of time – unlimited fruit during Summer came naturally as the abundance of delicious tropical fruits made the diet very easy.  For the first few weeks my energy was excellent, but this way of eating didn’t have staying power for much longer than that in my opinion.  After an initial energy boost, my endurance started to wane, and I began noticing other not-so-glamorous side effects of the fruit-heavy eats.  My digestion started to go a little “off” and I noticed dark circles under my eyes.  I began to see WRINKLES!  Oh the horror!  I put this down to the low amounts of fat I was eating, and rectified the situation immediately – as soon as I had increased the amounts of fat I was eating (primarily coconut oil) my digestion became more productive, and my skin texture improved immensely.

All in all I think that the 80/10/10 diet is a great way to eat for short periods of time.  If you are like me, and cannot comprehend the idea of a liquid detox (juices only) then I reckon that this is a perfect way to help “re-set” yourself after a period of indulgence.  The initial stage is brilliant – increased energy, good mood/skin/digestion – but it isn’t something that (in my opinion) should be sustained for more than say 2 weeks.  If you read my blog a lot, you will know that I have the attention span of a squirrel, so even though I love fruit a LOT, I did get a little bored eating in the 80/10/10 style.  I missed COOKING, and all the techniques and dishes that go with the territory – plus I love to eat out, and the restrictions that this diet involves really cuts out a lot of options in social situations.

Anyway, to help me feel motivated and creatively inspired (aka happy) I need more food-scope then just slicing an apple or peeling a banana (however convenient that may be).  I’ve naturally fallen back into a more varied style of eating – a balance of cooked and raw – lots of fruit & veggies, moderate beans/legumes, minimal grains and lots of fat.  Works for me (until I get bored once again and go off on another eating-tangent).

The most exciting news of late (diet related) however, doesn’t concern me at all.  After (finally) agreeing to watch “Forks over Knives,” with me, Viper has decided to adopt a plant-based diet.  He has cut out all animal products, including cheese and milk – to say I am over the moon is the understatement of the year.  I am going to keep you all updated with his transition into a vegan diet, as I think the male perspective is an interesting angle – at the moment his only complaint is that he is constantly hungry – good thing I love to cook, right?

The following recipe came about from me trying to use up scraps before we head off to New Zealand – fridge scrapings at it’s finest.  It’s a take on the traditional kofta ball – although not deep fried (soaked in oil), because I can’t stand deep fried things, plus I don’t have a deep fryer.  There you go.

Healthy Baked Kofta

(Vegan: gluten/wheat/soy/seed/refined sugar free)

• 1C chopped veggies (I used grated carrot and broccoli – but most vegetables should work just fine…. grate any root vegetables so they cook quickly)
• 1/4C + 2T chickpea flour
• 1/4C crushed cashew nuts (I just bashed them in a mortar & pestle until they reached a chunky bread crumb consistency)
• 1/2t ground cumin
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1/2t tabasco sauce
• 1t whole grain mustard
• 1/4t ground coriander seed
• 1/8t sea salt
• 1/4C water

1. Combine all ingredients, mixing well.  Let mix stand in the fridge for about 10 minutes to help it firm up.
2. Wet hands, and pat into balls (about golf size).
3. Bake in the oven at 160 degrees for 15 minutes, then turn balls over.
4. Return to the oven for a further 15 minutes.
5. Serve with some of my Spiced Apricot Relish, or a nice mango chutney.

Makes 6 Kofta – they are quite spicy, so omit cayenne and tabasco if you are not fan of heat.

These are really quick and easy – plus a great way of using up leftovers – which always makes me happy.

They would also be great served on top of a big salad, but Viper inhaled these far too quickly.

So on all fronts, things are looking good – my emotional health is on the up, and my family’s diet is improving 10-fold.  I’m so excited to be able to cook ONE meal for all of us now – plus exploring vegan food WITH Viper will be such a treat.