Expert: Susan Lee Ottevanger, Wellness Coach - 10/18/2009

Question
Hi,

I have read your book.  I keep it in my duffel bag when I go to work and read some from different chapters.  I didn't get to make any of your meals yet, but I think I might.  Today I read the Why Me chapter, and I had no idea what you've been through.  It's almost mind bending.  I just didn't know what to think. On a brighter note at least now you're a human lie detector, that's a great skill to utilize in today's over-commercialized market trying to coax you to go their way by feeding you nonsense with no backup.  I think we all have that ability to some degree, but yours seems to be on another level......I actually don't know how that works but I'm curious.  
I'm not really sure I have a question for you,  I want to definitely thank you for putting this book out there. Being a 26 year old guy now, I always had problems with acne as a boy, and there's still a lot left over especially on my back, and some on my face.  Ever since I completely cut out refined sugar the acne literally disappeared, I mean it's gone, and I know sugar is causing it because two days ago I got careless and ate an entire quart of fat-free ice cream. It had tons of sugar in it.  The next day I had acne on my back and face.  Now, will it make a difference if I use honey or brown sugar?  Anyway, I'm also a weight lifting enthusiast and try to combine plant protein just like the vegetarians.  Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you very much
Your website definitely caught my eye before I decided to get your book.

Rob

Answer
Hi Rob,

Thank you for writing.

We all get some bag of rocks we learn to drag around with us.

Honey is the only food that "never" goes bad. I think they found a jar or two in the Eqyptian pyramids, still good.

Brown sugar is refined sugar. For sweets, stevia has no known bad effects. If that is too fine a grain, it is concentrated, try chopped up dried, unsulphured fruit.

Protein - you make your own from amino acids, just get the full range. One kind are in brown rice, others in legumes like pinto beans. Pure vegetarians seem to need vitamin B supplements.

Latest news is that a study found knitting to be more effective in anti depression than prozac, etc. Something about a chemical or connection in the brain when the mind and body do some coordinated physical act.

Fighting health costs with forks and knitting needles,
SusanO
blog www.seewater.posterous.com