Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

After a highly traumatic event in my life I developed allergies to nearly everything I ate; except for a few bland foods I would react with anything from massive intestinal pain, cramps, sweating, and hot flashes to anaphylactic shock. I lived through two years of pain and fear before I found a nutritionist who discovered that there was no beneficial bacteria left in my system. Although impossible to prove, the theory goes that my "fight" response to the trauma had kicked my immune system into overdrive and it killed everything in sight, bad and good. The nutritionist prescribed probiotics and after a month my system had improved noticeably, and after a year my issues were gone. I transitioned to a daily regime of yogurt with live cultures and swear by it. Yogurt -- along with a healthy diet and exercise -- can assist with resolution of "female" symptoms, intestinal cramping, irregular BMs, and even heartburn.

That said, I don't eat activia. It's got sucralose in it and I think that tastes yucky, plus I'm a little suspicious of it. I eat plain Mountain High yogurt or whatever organic/live active culture variation I can find that's just as simple. A little fresh fruit and drizzle of honey sometimes for flavor.

I notice that if I stop eating yogurt for four or five days in a row, things start to get a little whacked out again -- intestinal cramping and associated maladies. I stick to the yogurt!

Nearly 10 years ago I lived in Anchorage for a year. Hands-down, the best restaurant in town for a fine meal with local flair was the Glacier Brewhouse. It's an upscale brewhouse, with high ceilings, a big fireplace and lodge-style elegance. Although they had filet mignon, tenderloin and, of course, many varieties of the freshest seafood, my favorite meal was actually a lunch item, a Thai chicken pizza with sweet Thai chili sauce, roasted peanuts, cucumbers, bean sprouts, Bermuda onions, and fresh cilantro. Oh, and to drink, the most wonderful hefeweizen I have *ever* tasted, with hints of banana and cloves. I miss Anchorage!
http://glacierbrewhouse.com

I just found this website not so long ago.
I find all of you so very refreshing and funny.
Doesn't appear to be a food snob amongst this group.
To Shnauzer_mom -- I'm with you with the vodka and pomegranate.

My humble opinion...we are works in progress and sometimes we digress.
The 11 are a good jumping off point.
Bon Sante!

For years I have suffered from IBS symptoms...cramping, painful diarrhea and constipation. I have been eating Activa everyday for a month now, and it has made all the difference. For the first time in my whole life, I am very regular. I doubt Activa is special, you can probably have the same results with any yogurt. All I know is, I have become a daily yogurt devotee!

I tried Activia and it made me sick--an upset stomach. I object to its health claims and would not touch it again.

I just got back from a trip up (out) there. Heard lots of raves for a relatively new spot called Ginger, which unfortunately I did not get to try, but which I understand is apparently the new hot spot in Anchorage. Agree with the recommendations for the Brewhouse. For lunch, I'd suggest Sack's Cafe. And for dinner, you might also take a look at Orso; which was great when I tried it a couple of years ago, though I've admittedly not been since.