54. RECIPE TO HEAL ACID REFLUX

My 49-year-old friend, Bobby, recently married Candice. She is concerned about him because he has severe acid reflux. Bobby has been single for years and has not practiced good health habits. He is a workaholic rancher, who likes to work all day, then eat a heavy meal with a big portion of beef. After he eats, it is time to go to bed, but he sometimes can’t lie down because the food comes back up. He usually treats this condition with an antacid. Candice would love to help him overcome the problem. 

Bobby sounds like a typical bachelor, who has lived life on his own schedule with little regard for his body. Hopefully Candice can help him change to a more regular lifestyle and to a plant-food diet, which many doctors claim often brings fast relief to those suffering with acid reflux.  

Acid reflux is caused by a hiatal hernia—a condition where the stomach protrudes into the diaphragm.  Dr. Richard Hansen, in his book, Get Well at Home, places the blame for this condition on our widespread American habit of eating large quantities of food and drinking several cups of liquid close to bedtime. It can also be caused by overeating, obesity and the straining that comes with constipation.   

The most common foods to cause acid reflux are fatty, fiberless foods, which would eliminate the animal products and refined food products in Bobby’s diet. Also, caffeine is harmful.

Because Bobby is a rancher, he is probably of the opinion he must have meat in his diet, but we trust Candice can change his thinking with some tasty vegan cooking. He needs to realize eating late is detrimental to his health, then change to eat a big breakfast and lunch, and a light evening meal at least three hours before bedtime. Also, he must drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily an hour before and after meals.

Here is an incentive Candice can present to him: “Bobby, please give me a three-day trial to make you a healthy man. Breakfast will be at 7:00, lunch at 12:00 and a surprise (popcorn and fruit) supper at 6:00.”

Following are two recipes for breakfast and two for lunch. Candice can add to all her meals simply by searching for vegan recipes on the Internet—breakfasts, dinners, breads, desserts, etc.

AWAY WITH ACID REFLUX A NATURAL WAY! 

 APPLE-RAISIN BREAD PUDDING
4 c whole-wheat bread crumbs
2 c diced apple
1 c raisins
1/2 c chopped walnuts
1 t vanilla
2 1/2 c coconut or almond milk
Mix all ingredients together. Pour into a baking dish
and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Serve with:

CASHEW BANANA CREAM
1/4 c raw cashews thoroughly washed
1/2 c pineapple juice
1/2 c water
3 bananas
1 T dates
1/4 t maple flavoring
1/8 t vanilla
Blend all ingredients. Chill and serve.

BREAKFAST BEANS
4 15-oz cans navy beans strained and rinsed
(or cook 3 c dried beans)
1 med onion diced
1 t olive oil
2.5 oz jar pimentos
1/3 c raw cashew pieces
1/2 c water
2 t onion powder
1/2 t garlic powder
Sautee onions in oil until tender. Remove from heat
and mix in pimentos. Blend cashews, water and
seasonings on high until creamy. Add beans and
cashew cream to sautéed mixture. Bring to a boil
and reduce heat to medium for 5 minutes.

Now with breakfast over, Candice can plan a tasty lunch with yamburgers, a cooked vegetable, a fresh vegetable salad, and rice krispie cookies for dessert.

YAMBURGERS
2 medium sweet potatoes baked
1/3 c finely chopped celery
8 oz dry lentils rinsed
2 T maple syrup
1/2 c finely chopped carrot
2 slices ww bread broken
3/4 c finely chopped onion
1 T olive oil
Bake sweet potatoes at 350 for 45 minutes. Cool.
Bring 5 c water to boil and add lentils, carrot,
onion, and celery, and simmer 30-45 minutes.
Drain. Peel and mash sweet potatoes. Add syrup
and mix well. Add drained lentil mixture, bread
pieces and salt to taste. Mix well. Form into patties.
Heat oil in a large skillet. Cook patties until browned,
two minutes per side.

RICE KRISPIE COOKIES
1/2 c natural crunchy peanut butter
1/2 c honey
1/4 c rice milk powder
1 t vanilla
Mix together. Add 2 c puffed rice (no sugar or salt
added). Add raisins, coconut and nuts as desired.
Roll into balls on wax paper.