My Friend's Illness

Last year a friend of mine was diagnosed with leukemia. When she broke that news to few friends my initial reaction was in silent mode and thoughts came flowing like those in sad movies where people are dying of some illnesses and the people that surround these dying persons are busy making their last few days happy.   In disbelief about my friend's illness I could do nothing but accept.  Working away from home means I see her less and what I did was to monitor her every week just to get connected to her, asking about her latest white blood count (WBC), is it increasing or decreasing, is she good today, all sorts of hi and hello and how are you.

Being a graduate of a medical course, but didn't practice  due to managing a family business together with her husband, my friend is very careful on her diet and of course the medications, careful in her lifestyle, her life has to be no stress factors, walking and jogging and zumba at the oval.

My friend's white blood count is now back to normal for the last few months.  And I couldn't thank God enough.

What Not to Eat

I worked away from home.  I visit home once a month and see some close friends around and have nice dinner with them sometimes. Two months ago one of my friends told me that she has leukemia. I was glued to my seat and recaptured my heartbeat over fine dining we were on. Did I hear it right? Yes, she has it. Thoughts flow as fast as tomorrow. Would I see her again the next time I come home? I couldn't show her how saddened I was.  Instead I asked, why? How come?What's the cause? Or is it hereditary? She simply said, nope, none of the above. She bravely asked her doctor same questions and the doctor simply told her, "its like raffle draw, your name was being drawn." I couldn't tell her anything to comfort her except to keep my cool and be a normal reactor meaning not to dramatize my reaction. 

As of last lab test her WBC (white blood count) was 12,000 (normal range is 1 to 10,000).

Over the conversation I asked one thing: "Then what about your diet? What not to eat?" She was told not to eat meat, if possible no sugar nor salt. That simple.

Few days ago she told me her WBC is within normal range. Wow, thank you, Lord.

I am still healthy!

Ripe mango for supper

I have been eating ripe sweet mangos for supper. One piece can always do. I made this as an alternate for red pomelo. I eat fruits on empty stomach and its the best time. I bloat if I eat them right after meal.  I usually eat supper around 6 PM and sleep after three to four hours. If I stay very late I just nibble on biscuits before going to bed.

I was traveling the usual route and I was bringing with me one ripe mango I bought the night before and took the remaining Ensure powder because I would arrive late in my destination. Because my imagination was to eat the mango with some Ensure powder on it. When I arrived at the hotel room I requested for a spoon and plate, no need for a knife all you have to do is to use the spoon to slice the meat of the mango.

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Blood tests are normal

When you are above forties you are required to have series of blood tests to check if you have no UTI, kidney infection at the same time checking out if cholesterol levels are borderline and or above range. I just had these tests yesterday: cholesterol; triglycerides; blood uric acid; blood urea nitrogen; creatinine; HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. All were within normal. I am sure my physician would be pleased to know. I may not know the exact implication to this but all I can grasp is all the results are within the range.

As I look at the results I was thinking of the food that I took for the past weeks. I eat small rice, few meat and poultry, coffee and biscuits in the morning, took some Anlene, Ensure and Green Barley, I also drink some hot chocolates with mild. I ate plenty of red, seedless sweet pomelo, grapes, apples, mango and banana. I only eat rice, vegetables or fish during lunchtime. I walked for 20 to 30 minutes during the last four mornings prior to the tests.

Let me share some comparison:

                                        Sept. 1, 2011                                                May 7, 2012

                                     Results       Reference Range                    Results          Reference Range
Total Cholesterol           231.20           150 - 200                           145.10             0.000 - 220.4
Triglycerides                  137.30           10  - 150                             84.99             0.000- 151.9
HDL Cholesterol             53.00           45  -   77                              44.58             0.000 - 65.02

LDL Cholesterol            150.60          108 - 130                              83.8               0.000 - 150.9

These things I did made me feel good and light. I may be losing weight but not as much as the ideal one. But nevertheless these things I did made me feel better, not grasping for breath to the third floor by the stairway (as if there is another choice like elevator or escalator).

I am healthier today.

Liquid Food

I am still overweight by 3 kg as per BMI standard. I tried to lose weight by taking liquid food in exchange for solid food. One liquid food that i tried is Ensure. This is not a dairy product, contrary to most people's belief. This is simply a complete nutrition food. Ensure is also in powder form.

Another liquid food that I tried is the new product on the block: Green Barley. It is in powder form and all you have to do is add water on it, shake and put in on a fridge. It is tastier when chilled.

Wow Coffee

I have been drinking coffee for the last 5 years and discovered other products such as 3 in one to 12 n 1. I usually have coffee and biscuit in the morning but i have no particular coffee in mind. I just buy what is good for me like slimming coffee or sometimes I go for a coffee that has relaxation agents. I am fascinated with this giant coffee company's playing with lots of coffee varieties just to enhance coffee industry to keep at par with rising of the tea industry. But this big company have not produced yet 12 n 1.

Look at this newly discovered 12 n 1 coffee. Just mix half of the sachet in a cup of hot water, you can survive hours without solid food.