I suspect we are on the same wavelength in our thinking about processed ham and pork. I now think if it is brand (or type) dependent. My first strikingly bad experience was with a ham steak (one of those thick slices of ready-to-eat ham, often found by the bacon). Ate it two days in a row, with cabbage yet (bad choice), and was in a gray gloom on the second day. Last year, food poisoning from sliced deli ham. Contamination + allergenic food + weakened immune system from previous flu = very bad reaction. Then recently, a drop in energy and mood with a little deli ham two or three days in a row. So highly processed American style ham in all those cases. I also seem to remember a bad experience with pork chops. I don’t generally see organic pork in the supermarket, so I’m sure what I ate was ordinary pork.
I can’t say I have ever noticed a problem with ordinary American bacon. (I usually buy something labeled all-natural, humanely raised–which is perhaps a step better than the cheapest brands.) I haven’t noticed a problem with imported Italian pork products, like prosciutto. I plan to avoid these things too for a while.
I limit chicken to about once a month now, and it really needs to be organic. I like it for the change of pace.
One time I had beef soup in late evening and had a really good night’s sleep. I have never been able to reproduce that, though. I’ve also tried a teaspoon of gelatin dissolved in hot chocolate but never noticed a significant improvement.
I suspect a bowl of ice cream would be magic, but I cannot go down that road. I would be in a gray gloom about being fat!
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