Yesterday's Hoot-Hoot, todays Toot Toot

Yesterday was hoot-hoot. But today, it's toot-toot. For those of you who don't think I have a sense of humor, guess again.

Okay, what I mean is that it was announced that we begin the next phase of our fast. That is in addition to giving up meat, we now will give up all dairy, including eggs. Sooooo, what will we eat? (nothing that bleeds, or comes from animals). Beans. Beans, beans and more beans. Vegetable bean this and vegetable bean that. I don't care if its soup, or soy. Soy is bean curd. There is the three-bean salad that I love. Beans are a good source of fiber. Mixed or mashed they provide the protein that is essential while abstaining from other sources of protein, (meat, fish and dairy). Legumes are the proper name for what is the ideal food, unless you are like people who have gastric disorders. Before ingesting legumes in this case, it is advised that you take Beno. The exception is if you have allergies to mold, which my husband has. Beans can be harmful if you have certain gastric disorders because they are both acidic and protein at the same time. Therefore, are difficult for the body to digest, taking up to a full eight hours. People with conditions must avoid legumes and stick with foods that are either protein or acidic in nature which digest in four hours. Otherwise, because we eat normally three times a day, if the legume is not digested properly, they will suffer from bloating, flatulence and reflux. That is hard to take when some symptoms mimic a heart attack and the anxiety which accompanies this, because of the release of the hormone adrenalin. Once you are inflamed, it takes the body awhile to get back to what is considered your normal state. If your agitating your stomach with food that cause its reoccurring, you will be constantly ill. At this point you will also need to avoid caffeine in any source, soda, as well as peppers, and citric fruits. Hot spices, including pepper, and keep the diet bland. Decaffeinated tea with honey will help relax and soothe the irritated system. Oatmeal is recommended as well, without milk. Avoid fats initially and rely on applesauce. And, especially bananas. Introduce foods back slowly, do not overeat, recline and sleep in a sitting position. Walk after a meal, and relax. Meditate to soft music, no alcohol or mint. Chew gum. You'll know when you've done something wrong. Avoid it next time. Start from the beginning. Eventually you may be on a regular diet, abstaining from certain learned food items that you are sensitive to. You can live with it once you understand how to deal with the problem. Eat rice, its easy on the stomach. Also, blueberry, strawberries, uncooked vegetables, and apples. Chicken, baked. Avoid fried foods. No tomato yet, no vinegar or rich salad dressings. And especially no smoking.

This leaves my husband without protein. Except for veggies, rice, certain breads, fruit and pasta. (Pasta, although it is digestible and it will sustain you, it is not a good dietary source of food for him. Weight gain is not advisable. Further, Pasta is a carbohydrate that digests into sugar. Pasta is something I can't have so we don't eat the same foods. At one time we would find ourselves eating peanut butter everything, but now my grandson is highly allergic to the substance. He cannot even be close to someone who has ingested it hours earlier without breaking out in hives. We do not have it in our house, thank you very much.

Of course fasting and abstaining during the prescribed periods is to be taken seriously. So is your health. Our priest does not know what aging does to the body, yet. (Yet) is one of my grandsons favorite words. He does allow people with certain situations to receive a dispensation, as I have. Even so, I will try to obey the rules established by the church, insofar as not to harm anyone, including myself.

Observing the abstaining rules is difficult in my house because there are only two of us and one income, each with our own particular diets due to different health issues. If I make a soup, (one we can both eat, we will eat it most of the week). There is always fruit and salad. John will lose a huge amount of weight, yet I do not. We are all different and diet changes are not good for everyone, especially for children and the aged. Other things that are given up at this time are, wine, oil and sex.

Today was forgiveness Sunday. So along with dietary concerns, we forgive each other for multiple offenses. It is a good thing that we admit our shortcomings and humble ourselves in this regard. So forgive me, if I've unintentionally said anything to offend anyone in anyway.

The weeks ahead will be interesting as we give a hoot to how much we toot! Going to eat my beans now, alone.