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He said it better than I would have. So you know, I too suffer depression. It's not something that goes away completely. I thank him for explaining it in layman's terms.
Thoughts on depression from an artistic mind
Monday, August 18, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Diet: "Die with a T" dilemma or Food management
I recently read a post on Facebook from @Cake? Yes, please. I had to read it twice to understand where she was coming from.
Unless you are training to be a sumo wrestler, you're in good shape. Their diet contains a lot of protein and carbohydrates. They exercise on an empty stomach.
If you are one of those people with high metabolism like me, one thing you need to keep in mind is to savor your meal. Wolfing your meal down will not only lead you to an upset stomach, but it allows your body to urge you to eat again. No, I'm not a dietician. This was what my dietician recommended.
Always ask your medical professional what diet works for you. When I use the term diet, I mean the medical definition of diet, which is habitual nourishment or a manner of living on accounts of what food and drink are regularly provided or consumed. Let's be honest. Ask yourself, "How can I live a healthy and happy life?"
Rather than listen to the media hype about how you should go about it, listen to your body. What is it telling you? How often do you get headaches, muscle cramps or joint pain? Have you consulted your doctor? What foods have you consumed that may have caused the health issue in the first place?
Long before food became a commercialized industry, it was known that too much lard and pork could cause health issues; especially high intake of salt and refined sugar. Since these ingredients are now in all of our packaged food, we have been made self-conscious of our health. Farm-grown vegetables and dairy produce have been labeled "Organic" to satisfy the health conscious consumer.
Unfortunately, there aren't any differences between the packaged foods and "health" foods per the FDA label at any incorporated grocery stores (Wal-Mart, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, etc.). The same concept applies to the "low fat," "low carbs," and "sugar-free" products. The food industry has been using cheap imitation chemicals since 1492 (sugar), 1924 (salt) and 1997(cooking oil). Whether you like it or not, there are few local markets around the corner from where you live. The choices you have to make between the trip to the convenient grocery store and the 30 mile-drive to your local farmer's market can leave you depressed and/or devastated.
It's common knowledge that too much sweet is bad for you. How aware are you about the FDA approved High Fructose corn syrup? High fructose corn syrup is the leading cause of diabetes among the people, who are between the ages of 3 and 35. Once you have it, you are now medically and chronically ill. How aware are you about artificial sweeteners? Artificial sweeteners are 10x sweeter than granulated sugar where as honey is 18g less sweeter than refined sugar. I would rather have a good delectable ice cream to eat than a diet low fat skinny cow brand dessert, which has been infused with artificial sweeteners and food coloring.
Moderation is key. That goes with everything and anything in life. Too much of the same thing is really bad for you unless it's video games. Obsession of objects and subjects are an entirely different matter. That's another blog.
Can we actually blame the Chinese for MSG? If you dig a little deeper, the FDA has approved and labeled MSG safe for consumption at limited quantities. You're forgetting: the food industry does not have the obligation to tell you how much they have used. Mono sodium glutamate is a salt additive and can still be found in some canned foods.
If you really need your salt, feel free to substitute it with soya sauce, fish sauce or oyster sauce. Don't go crazy on it either. These naturally salty condiments are much saltier than the table salt you use at home or at any given restaurants. I rarely add salt to my cooking these days. When I eat out, I have always asked the waiters or fast food clerks to skip the salt seasoning. The vegetable oils they use already contains salt. Unless you're the first customer to arrive there after their morning preparation.
Another eye opening ingredient which lead to most high blood pressure health issues, is bleached and enriched flour. Weight gain at an abnormal rate can cause high blood pressure. Maintaining your healthy weight is key. Gradual weight loss and gain is normal. I learned to stop panicking every time I weigh myself. 5 pounds over or under in one day is a concern. You have to give your body a moment to adjust to the drastic change. If you exert too much, your heart will give out and that's the end of your life. Literally.
It is upsetting to find out that most of the healthy grain bread and crackers consist of the aforementioned ingredient. Wheat flour should just be that - nothing more. Since I do not own my very own bread maker, I have to make do by moderating my "healthy" wheat bread consumption. I also learned that black rice is healthier than refined white rice. I used to eat brown rice. After learning what the food industry have done to the brown rice to extend its shelf life, I just lessen my consumption of white rice instead.
When it comes to high cholesterol, you have to weigh in the pros and cons. You can't simply get rid of all the fat in your body. Your body needs it to some extent. It helps protect your hair and in some cases, give your antibodies energy to heal a bruise or fight germs. It also helps you stay warm when the weather gets cold. Unfortunately for me, I suffer from anemia. No vitamin B and iron supplements will ever rid my anemia for good. Voluptuous women out there, fatty muscles on your butt and breasts are a good thing.
When I was growing up, I used to put margarine on my toast. After I got older and was out on my own, I learned that butter has lesser trans fat than margarine. Artificial Trans fat is not actually healthy for you. Of course, the food industry does not have to tell you that.
Speaking of industrialized supplements, you have to consider the pros and the cons too. Most of them are not even FDA approved. You're better off just munching on a raw carrot and be done with it. You begin to realize, we are back in the cycle of convenience. If you live next door to a farmer, I applaud you. If you can grow your own garden, more power to you. For those people who are trying to get by, there are always ways to get what you need for the price you want to pay for. I salute the coupon queens. As for me, I am a proud and brand loyal customer. It's not everyday I get to use a coupon. I only use it when I need it or when it's available in the brand I use.
So, now that I have laid out what you need to look out for, go out there and be healthy. Listen to your body, ask your doctor, consult a dietician and be happy. When you're happy, your body will thank you for it.
First and foremost, every living human being are genetically different. Some have faster metabolism while others struggle to gain enough energy from their slow metabolism. As far back as the industrialized era, people have been looking for ways to lose fat, stay fit and live healthy. First of all, let us address the issue of obesity. Ever since lard became a commercialized product, people were gaining weight. After vegetable oils were commercialized, more people have gotten fatter and blamed it on sugar. After artificial sugar was commercialized, people were getting cancer, much fatter than before, and dying from strokes and/or heart attacks. We are now in the whole nine yards of health issues, it's no longer funny. It has gotten worse. Now the children are suffering the same fate as the adults are.
Here's my two cents for all it's worth. Eating healthy means to NOT skip your meals. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eat heartily, but do not stuff yourself. Stuffing yourself not only hurts you, but it also makes you store fat faster. Have a moderate lunch, have a snack when you get the munchies, then have a light dinner. A small supper before dinner won't hurt you. It should be common knowledge that humans eat to live and not the other way around.
Unless you are training to be a sumo wrestler, you're in good shape. Their diet contains a lot of protein and carbohydrates. They exercise on an empty stomach.
If you are one of those people with high metabolism like me, one thing you need to keep in mind is to savor your meal. Wolfing your meal down will not only lead you to an upset stomach, but it allows your body to urge you to eat again. No, I'm not a dietician. This was what my dietician recommended.
Always ask your medical professional what diet works for you. When I use the term diet, I mean the medical definition of diet, which is habitual nourishment or a manner of living on accounts of what food and drink are regularly provided or consumed. Let's be honest. Ask yourself, "How can I live a healthy and happy life?"
Rather than listen to the media hype about how you should go about it, listen to your body. What is it telling you? How often do you get headaches, muscle cramps or joint pain? Have you consulted your doctor? What foods have you consumed that may have caused the health issue in the first place?
Long before food became a commercialized industry, it was known that too much lard and pork could cause health issues; especially high intake of salt and refined sugar. Since these ingredients are now in all of our packaged food, we have been made self-conscious of our health. Farm-grown vegetables and dairy produce have been labeled "Organic" to satisfy the health conscious consumer.
Unfortunately, there aren't any differences between the packaged foods and "health" foods per the FDA label at any incorporated grocery stores (Wal-Mart, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, etc.). The same concept applies to the "low fat," "low carbs," and "sugar-free" products. The food industry has been using cheap imitation chemicals since 1492 (sugar), 1924 (salt) and 1997(cooking oil). Whether you like it or not, there are few local markets around the corner from where you live. The choices you have to make between the trip to the convenient grocery store and the 30 mile-drive to your local farmer's market can leave you depressed and/or devastated.
It's common knowledge that too much sweet is bad for you. How aware are you about the FDA approved High Fructose corn syrup? High fructose corn syrup is the leading cause of diabetes among the people, who are between the ages of 3 and 35. Once you have it, you are now medically and chronically ill. How aware are you about artificial sweeteners? Artificial sweeteners are 10x sweeter than granulated sugar where as honey is 18g less sweeter than refined sugar. I would rather have a good delectable ice cream to eat than a diet low fat skinny cow brand dessert, which has been infused with artificial sweeteners and food coloring.
Moderation is key. That goes with everything and anything in life. Too much of the same thing is really bad for you unless it's video games. Obsession of objects and subjects are an entirely different matter. That's another blog.
Can we actually blame the Chinese for MSG? If you dig a little deeper, the FDA has approved and labeled MSG safe for consumption at limited quantities. You're forgetting: the food industry does not have the obligation to tell you how much they have used. Mono sodium glutamate is a salt additive and can still be found in some canned foods.
If you really need your salt, feel free to substitute it with soya sauce, fish sauce or oyster sauce. Don't go crazy on it either. These naturally salty condiments are much saltier than the table salt you use at home or at any given restaurants. I rarely add salt to my cooking these days. When I eat out, I have always asked the waiters or fast food clerks to skip the salt seasoning. The vegetable oils they use already contains salt. Unless you're the first customer to arrive there after their morning preparation.
Another eye opening ingredient which lead to most high blood pressure health issues, is bleached and enriched flour. Weight gain at an abnormal rate can cause high blood pressure. Maintaining your healthy weight is key. Gradual weight loss and gain is normal. I learned to stop panicking every time I weigh myself. 5 pounds over or under in one day is a concern. You have to give your body a moment to adjust to the drastic change. If you exert too much, your heart will give out and that's the end of your life. Literally.
It is upsetting to find out that most of the healthy grain bread and crackers consist of the aforementioned ingredient. Wheat flour should just be that - nothing more. Since I do not own my very own bread maker, I have to make do by moderating my "healthy" wheat bread consumption. I also learned that black rice is healthier than refined white rice. I used to eat brown rice. After learning what the food industry have done to the brown rice to extend its shelf life, I just lessen my consumption of white rice instead.
When it comes to high cholesterol, you have to weigh in the pros and cons. You can't simply get rid of all the fat in your body. Your body needs it to some extent. It helps protect your hair and in some cases, give your antibodies energy to heal a bruise or fight germs. It also helps you stay warm when the weather gets cold. Unfortunately for me, I suffer from anemia. No vitamin B and iron supplements will ever rid my anemia for good. Voluptuous women out there, fatty muscles on your butt and breasts are a good thing.
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| excerpt from Lookbooks.com |
When I was growing up, I used to put margarine on my toast. After I got older and was out on my own, I learned that butter has lesser trans fat than margarine. Artificial Trans fat is not actually healthy for you. Of course, the food industry does not have to tell you that.
Speaking of industrialized supplements, you have to consider the pros and the cons too. Most of them are not even FDA approved. You're better off just munching on a raw carrot and be done with it. You begin to realize, we are back in the cycle of convenience. If you live next door to a farmer, I applaud you. If you can grow your own garden, more power to you. For those people who are trying to get by, there are always ways to get what you need for the price you want to pay for. I salute the coupon queens. As for me, I am a proud and brand loyal customer. It's not everyday I get to use a coupon. I only use it when I need it or when it's available in the brand I use.
So, now that I have laid out what you need to look out for, go out there and be healthy. Listen to your body, ask your doctor, consult a dietician and be happy. When you're happy, your body will thank you for it.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Eating to your heart's content
My health has always been a nagging issue between my mother and me. The rude awakening is that I've had been under my parents' diet plan since I was 12 years old. Both my parents were diagnosed with high blood pressure and high cholesterol in their early 30's. My father became a diabetic soon after. My mother followed suit a year later.
So, for her to interfere with my personal health issue is not only aggravatingly stressful, it's also irrelevant. In terms of my disagreement regarding my health concerns (whether it be about my weight or what I eat) with my mother, she has a chronic condition; I don't. I will not make the same mistake my father made. He would sometimes go without sleep or food. Most often than not, he ate snacks and soda instead of a good balanced meal.
My mother had always complained how skinny I was (from age 7 to 14) and that I was not eating enough. Honestly, my mother never portioned my meals according to my age when I was growing up. I would always cry when she had to force me to finish the food on my plate especially when she had already given me 3 servings. She would use pictures of starving African children to point out that I should be thankful for having food at all. I got the sentiment, but not the logic since over feeding your child is as worse as starving them. I was grateful that my body burnt and processed food really fast. I was a very active person too. Believe me, I used to eat 5 servings of various entrees at a buffet line including 3 servings of dessert.
Since 1999 I've learned how to portion my meals based on how hungry I was. For 12 years whenever I dined out, I would eat half the portion I'm given. I'm a very resourceful person especially when it concerns my health. When I was pregnant, I ate a full meal. Depending on how good the food was, I would get second servings. After I had grown in some curves from my first pregnancy, my mother began to complain how fat I have become. I am not fat. I never was to begin with. I'm not on denial either. Since my first high cholesterol scare, I stopped adding oil, salt, sugar and used less butter when I cook. That was 14 years ago.
Around October of 2012, I started following the Life Choice Program. It is not a diet program. It is more to reset your eating habits back to the basics (before TV and Internet existed). No calorie counting needed. All you need is a cup and the fist of your hand. Of course, self-control. Changing my eating habits definitely shaved off some weight. I went from a size 10 to a comfortable sexy size 8. This was all done in one year. I also have been moderately active, so the "preggie tummy" will be gone eventually.
Diet never came across my mind until my gallbladder surgery. After a year of health trials, I have come to realize that bland food is not my forte. I had to eat bland food for 6 whole months. Poultry, fish and sea food had to become my main source of proteins. Regular visits to the bathroom has become a ritual. I realize at this point my body was holding all that waste for no reason. (Yes, I get the joke. I was full of shit.) Eating beef has become a reward all on its own. It has now become my entree for special occasions only, including ice cream and pop corn. I don't eat as much when I dine out either. I have noticed that I could eat three quarters of the portion some of the time. Often times, I could only eat a quarter or half of the portion. There are some restaurants I am unable to dine at anymore; such as KFC and McDonald's.
About some time last September, I was able to eat burgers from Burger King and 5 Guys. However, the burger from Carl's Jr (Hardee's) did not sit too well with me. That was about the time I stopped taking the nausea and pain killers all together. I am still not able to handle spicy food. I have yet to return to eating sushi. That would be another venture when I am insured again. There are some food items at the store I can eat. As long as it does not contain any type of milk, cream, hydrogenated oil, trans fat, saturated fat, butter, mayonnaise, cheese, eggs, peanut butter (*sob*), enriched flour, bleached flour, pork, processed meat or MSG.
I also found out that there are certain milkshakes and ice cream I can eat without getting sick. The egg nog was delicious when I drank it last night, but that didn't sit too well with my digestive system. At least, I didn't have to take my nausea medicine. On another note, I had to take some during thanksgiving dinner after eating the duck I roasted.
Needless to say, dieting is not what it cracks up to be. Being healthy is basically just listening to your body, eating a well-balanced diet and having self-control. The reason why my gallbladder got sick in the first place was having those bad eating habits. Skipping breakfast was one of them.
For once, listening to my mother nagging, "You should eat breakfast since it is the important meal of the day," isn't as bad as it sounds. Other than that, I'm sticking to the program which has worked for me thus far. Since she took it upon herself to purchase a diet program that focus on low caloric meals. It is not advisable for someone who no longer has a gallbladder to do so. I know she's trying to be a mother with good intentions, but I cannot stress enough to her that I am doing fine on my own. I cannot allow myself to get famished or skimp on good food. It would make my liver over worked and stressed out since the doctor made me aware that I have a fatty liver. He did not make it sound like it was a critical health concern, but more of a health awareness knowledge base.
It has been 6 years now since my last high cholesterol scare. My doctor said that I may be out of shape, but I am healthy. So, I'm not going to tell you to throw your hands up and give up your diet. I would rather have you listen to your doctor and nutritionist than those fast solution diet scheme companies are selling you. It's obvious enough as it is that what they are aiming for is the money in your pocket, which you're trying so darn hard to save for a rainy day.
I have read other health blogs about the post cholecystectomy diets. People have different results after their surgery. So, I shall stick to what works for me. I hope you enjoy your lifestyle as much as I do mine. Thanks for reading. Bon appetite, mon amie!
Drafted on the 6th of January 2014