So, I got all these gorgeous seeds online and decided to grow some sprouts. I did everything as directed and had beautiful budded beauties by day 5, as expected. I sprinkled a few teaspoons on a salad and quaffed down a very tasty lunch. Then, an hour later, it hit and it hit hard - fever, sweats, intense stomach pains, and liquid coming out of all orifices. Only lasted as long as my body needed to get rid of the sprouts. This was about 3 weeks ago, and the experience actually did not put me off sprouts. I figured I’d let in some bacteria somehow into the mix.

Last week, however, I was thrilled to find that my grocer sold sprouted chickpeas. Armed with a raw humus recipe with sprouted chickpeas, I whipped up a batch. It was not only terrible-tasting, but I got a terrible feeling in my tummy once more. These sprouts were fresh, and my roommate not only found the hummus palatable, but didn’t experience any discomfort whatsoever.

This is leading me to believe that the problem is perhaps not with the sprouts, but with me. When I think about the past, it makes sense: In 1999 I ate some mung bean sprouts that were indeed not good. I got sick, but not just the 24-hour food poisoning type of sick. I was actually unwell for a year. It was at the end of that year that a friend recommend I fast. I did so for 2 weeks and was completely healed (yeah, that’s why I am such a big believer in fasting!). What I think is that my body has a memory, and it remembers sprouts - in a violently negative way. Does this sound outrageous? Well, I do wish it weren’t true, as I do like sprouts for the most part, and they are healthy! I really have had few good experiences with them in recent years though. (Yeah, my tummy has not been pleased with me on earlier occasions as well….)

In any case, I think I will be holding on the sprouts, thank you, in the future.

I wanted to fast the whole month of January, but I ended up getting sick of not eating on the 28, and dug into the gorgeous pomello that was waiting in my fridge. It didn’t help that my roommate had broken his fast days earlier! Since then, overall, I’ve been doing really well, staying very organic, unprocessed, vegan, and although far from 100%, very fresh-foody indeed!

Two types of cooked food I have been enjoying without guilt are 1) my root veggie and bean/lentil stew, which, although indeed slightly difficult to digest, is very nourishing, and 2) Japanese style kimchi nabe, using all organic goodies which have been rather expensive, but well worth it. These two recipes been eaten every second day or so since I broke my fast. I am now back into the morning green smoothies, salads, and yes! Low and behold: a few dehydrator recipes: flax crackers and raw cookies! Yum! The down side is that all these nuts and seeds are indeed high in fat. MUST be careful. I am also into making raw chocolates, what with Valentine’s day coming and all. On the upside, I’ve been cycling every day, hoping to keep the calories at bay.

I think my calorie management efforts are working actually. I recently got a bit of software for my iphone called loseit, which I highly recommend. You input your food and exercise and it gives you a nutritional breakdown. It’s also easy to use!