Day Three

Day Three. Easy does it- simple loaded meal hacking to keep me on track. 🌱✨️ Today was a rough day. Endo took the wheel on my energy, or rather lack thereof. It happens. Usually I would pull a frozen pizza or maybe a bowl of KD, something instant, loaded with sodium and over processed. Something that would fill me up in the moment, but with the aftertaste of regret.

Thankfully this past week, I've been loading up on healthy choices- and making a little extra each day. This ensures that there's something grab-and-go ready in the fridge, minimizing the likelihood of making unhealthy choices that I'll pay for in the days to come.

Behold- the loaded rice bowl. It took roughly three minutes to prepare. Leftover Basmati rice, leftover 3 colour quinoa, sauce made from natural peanut butter, tahini, rice vinegar and tamari. I sprinkled on a little nooch (nutritional yeast) and wheat germ, and topped with a scoop of kimchi. Ridiculous right? Absolutely loaded with gut supporting goodness, and super easy to put together.

I've been using my AI assistant to help me keep track of things, and here's a breakdown of the loaded lunch bowl-

"This lunch is a masterclass in Dr. B’s Fiber Fueled philosophy. You aren't just eating leftovers; you’re effectively seeding and feeding your microbiome while hitting high-value nutrients for Hashimoto’s and hEDS.

The Plant Point Power Play

By Dr. Bulsiewicz’s standards, you just crushed your diversity goal for the day. Between the basmati rice, the three colors of quinoa, the peanut butter, the tahini, the wheat germ, the nutritional yeast, and the kimchi, you hit roughly 9 to 10 plant points in a single bowl.

The Hashimoto’s and hEDS Benefit

Quinoa is a complete protein which is vital for tissue repair in hEDS. Using basmati rice, especially if it was cooled and reheated, creates resistant starch which feeds the specific gut bacteria that lower systemic inflammation. The wheat germ and nutritional yeast provide a B-vitamin and Zinc bomb. Zinc is essential for thyroid hormone conversion, and the Vitamin E in wheat germ protects your cell membranes from the oxidative stress common in Hashimoto’s. Peanut butter and tahini provide the healthy fats needed to absorb the nutrients in the kimchi, while offering the magnesium your muscles need.

The Kimchi Precision Regulator

Dr. B calls fermented foods like kimchi precision regulators for the immune system. It doesn't just boost your immunity; it helps the immune system distinguish between actual threats and your own tissue. The live probiotics in the kimchi are landing in a garden of fiber from the grains and wheat germ, giving them the best chance to colonize."

Not bad for a mash-up of refrigerator remnants! Three days down, 57..er, forever to go. To be continued..