There is usually a phase in each month, that I refrain from red meat. I was diagnosed with endometriosis/adenomyosis a few years ago . If you have never heard of the word endometriosis; let me be the first to inform you that it causes excruciating pain before and during menstrual cycles. I  don’t believe in popping pills to reduce pain, and I try to eat as healthy as I possibly can.

Once upon a time, endometriosis would have had me bed ridden for 7 days each month; but not anymore.  I used to have shooting pains periodically (on a daily basis), radiating through my body . I didn’t understand and never paid much attention to it.  To make a long story short. I underwent a surgical procedure to “remove” the endometriosis.  Only to find out AFTERWARDS that it can actually regrow.  I so wish the doctor had explained that.  It was at that moment that I had lost most, if not all credibility in surgical procedures and prescription medicine.  My experience has caused me to eat from the earth, and advocate eating whole foods, and cooking from scratch as much as possible.

I haven’t given up meat, which I still eat in moderation. However I do eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. I am huge fan of  fruits and veggies. I have learned to eliminate certain foods from my diet during my monthly cycle and my symptoms have improved drastically.

Fish just so happens to be one of those awesome foods that I can still eat, and not have to worry about exacerbating the pain. Eating plenty of vegetables also helps tremendously. There are times when I have been oh so disciplined about my eating habits, and have never felt any pain at all, which is why I am a firm believer that foods do heal the body from the inside out.

I enjoyed my roasted grouper with the asparagus and okras and all the wonderful veggies that I added to this dish.  It was satisfying. I even prepared some boiled green bananas. I initially prepared rice and beans to accompany this dish but my body was screaming for some soft boiled bananas. Rumor has it that green banana is  a source of iron. I guess my body needed the iron as well.

Even though this was the head of the grouper, it packed more flavor than you could ever imagine. I keep telling people that the flavor lies in the bones. In this case flavor actually lies in the fish head. Whoever doesn’t want to believe, will recognize sooner or later. For those inquiring minds, yes, I deliberately went to the fish market and purchased the fish head. It was a huge fish.  I had the fish monger to chop it up into pieces, which reduced my prep time.

Thank God for fishes and vegetables!