HEALINGWITH FOOD
“I had suffered from Postural
Tachycardia Syndrome, also
known as PoTS and therefore,
radically altered my diet to
alleviate some of the symptoms.
To be honest, I got this idea
from research I did on Google.
I had taken medication for one
year and hadn’t seen the results
I wanted and was really at a
loose end. So, I began looking
at other things I could do to help
myself; lots of people were using
different elements of lifestyle and
diet to manage different kinds of
conditions. I was quite interested
in that concept and thought I
should try it. It took about two
years to see real results in terms
of actually being able to come
off my medication and manage it
on a daily basis. But it took three
months to a point to what I was
doing and then six months to see
there really was something positive
in what I was doing.”
COMING
UPWITH RECIPES
“I always like to try new
things and having new
things. So, it’s often
just about looking in my
cupboard and saying ‘I’ve
got this and that.’ What can
I do with it? More or less,
it’s basically getting creative
with what I already have.”
MUST-HAVE INGREDIENTS
“I think having a certain stock of
things makes a big difference. Like
if you come home from work and
already have the fundamentals
to make a healthy meal and you
only need to buy one or two
fresh ingredients, I think you are
more likely to cook it than if you
have nothing to start with. The
first is having a very good spice
rack as it’s an instant way to
add flavor and obviously makes
food tastier to eat. I always have
paprika, cayenne, cumin, turmeric,
mustard seeds, ginger, cinnamon,
and chili flakes. Then I think
dried herbs are important; I keep
oregano, thyme, and parsley. Then
a must is very good olive oil which
makes such a difference and adds
such immense flavor. Soy sauce
is excellent to have because if
you are making something simple
like a vegetable quinoa bowl,
just a splash of this gives depth
and flavor and can make a big
difference. Then of course the
nut butters like peanut butter and
almond butter just because I love
them. A good shelf of dried goods
like oats, quinoa, brown rice, and
then canned goods like tomatoes,
chick peas, and coconut milk. So
you can get home, open a can
of chick peas, cook it with some
garlic and canned tomatoes and
stir in some paprika and add some
avocado or spinach and you have
the base for a deliciously healthy
meal ready in minutes.”
SIMPLE INGREDIENTS
“I believe being healthy is cooking
fresh meals with healthy foods
using what’s available in your area.
You don’t need 101 complicated
ingredients. I eat lots of mixed
vegetable curries and these don’t
need super foods like chia seeds
or spirulina. You can focus on your
everyday simple ingredients.”
FOOD FADS
“I don’t like a term or a word that
puts anything into a box. Personally
for me, I think it’s about doing what
you enjoy and find sustainable. Put
a word on it and then you can’t do
much more with it. I really respect
everyone, but it doesn’t have to be
one way or the other. I try my best
to eat more natural, home-cooked
foods and less processed foods,
more natural foods and more fruit
and vegetables. Also, focus on the
positives more; so more fruit and
vegetables, more natural foods,
rather than the negatives
like ‘never eat this or
that’ as this can create a
complicated cycle. If you
focus on taking stuff out
instead of in, it becomes
difficult. This is just a
more approachable way
of looking at it.”
THE LATEST BOOK
“I think people looked at
healthy eating as a bit
sad or lonely. It needs
to be enjoyable which
makes it a sustainable
approach. I think that
means delicious things
that you can share with
your friends and all have
together.”
H
Visit: www.deliciouslyella.
com
75
May/June 2017