A few years ago, when I started experiencing the on-and off discomforts from the un-dignosed hypoglycemia, a dear friend suggested that I started a food diary.
The reason to record what I had for dinner is to help me relate the foods I ate yesterday to how I feel today. This will help me, a not very fussy eater, single out the foods that make me feel woozy or experience other low blood sugar level related sympton such as blurred vision, fatigue, poor circulation, and insomnia.
Although I do appreciate the wisdom behind a personal food diary, I failed to take advantage of this simple and informative way to track my diet on paper until about a few weeks ago.
After I started recording what I had for meals and snacks each day, the intelligence I gathered from my food ledger led me to realize that I had too many sweet treats in my daily food intakes. My food diary also gave me some ideas as to the amount of the foods I was eating each day. I found I felt better if I had not stuffed myself the night before.
Now, thanks to my dear diary, I had finally figured out that in my case as far as my personal health is concerned, rich and sweet desserts are my worst enemies. - Ayee
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Food for Thought - Low Blood Sugar
About four years ago on a sunny morning in December, I fell on a sidewalk in front of a store parking lot, and broke my wrist. I did have a woozy feeling before the fall. But I thought a slightly elevated cement slab on the walkway was to blame for the painful mishap.
Now after four long years, I, not diabetic, finally, through the hard ways, learned of the real culprit of this preventable accident.
I remember the day before I fell on my face, I gave myself a rare treat - a large milk shake. This popular drink made with ice cream, milk and strawberry syrup is loaded with sugars.
And we all know too much sweets in our diet can cause low blood sugar or hypoglycemia in us. Among many discomforts and other aliments associated with not having enough glucose in our blood stream, dizziness and light-headed feeling had led many of us to fall suddenly and hurt ourselves. In some cases, low blood sugar can render us unconsciousness. - Ayee
Now after four long years, I, not diabetic, finally, through the hard ways, learned of the real culprit of this preventable accident.
I remember the day before I fell on my face, I gave myself a rare treat - a large milk shake. This popular drink made with ice cream, milk and strawberry syrup is loaded with sugars.
And we all know too much sweets in our diet can cause low blood sugar or hypoglycemia in us. Among many discomforts and other aliments associated with not having enough glucose in our blood stream, dizziness and light-headed feeling had led many of us to fall suddenly and hurt ourselves. In some cases, low blood sugar can render us unconsciousness. - Ayee
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Make it small!
In addition to the frigid sub-zero weatehr, this New Year did not start well for America.
First,the country was told that a group of first responders in the 911 attacks had claimed disbility benefits that they do not deserve. Then, there was this news coverage for the world to see what top-aide of the incumbent governor in Jersey had done to embarrass their political opponents.
This year also marked the 50th anniversary of a federal government's initiative, "War on Poverty." Undoubtedly, programs such as food stamps, low-income housing, financial aids to students, and Medicaid had helped many people in need. But there are also a plenty of evidences that suggested "War on Poverty" had not made our society a happier and safer place to live. According to the critics of this well-intended government policy, "War on Poverty" had made the America a welfare state. Now fifty years later, lineups at local food banks are getting longer, public housing projects have become unlivable, college students have burdened themselves with mounting debts, nd homeless population on city streets is also climbing.
Needless to say, both acts of dishonesty and bullying are so un-American and appalling. I hate to think that big governments may have given us a helping hand to become wards of the governments. When the governments get bigger, they also become less transparent and vulnerable to many undue abuses. - Ayee
First,the country was told that a group of first responders in the 911 attacks had claimed disbility benefits that they do not deserve. Then, there was this news coverage for the world to see what top-aide of the incumbent governor in Jersey had done to embarrass their political opponents.
This year also marked the 50th anniversary of a federal government's initiative, "War on Poverty." Undoubtedly, programs such as food stamps, low-income housing, financial aids to students, and Medicaid had helped many people in need. But there are also a plenty of evidences that suggested "War on Poverty" had not made our society a happier and safer place to live. According to the critics of this well-intended government policy, "War on Poverty" had made the America a welfare state. Now fifty years later, lineups at local food banks are getting longer, public housing projects have become unlivable, college students have burdened themselves with mounting debts, nd homeless population on city streets is also climbing.
Needless to say, both acts of dishonesty and bullying are so un-American and appalling. I hate to think that big governments may have given us a helping hand to become wards of the governments. When the governments get bigger, they also become less transparent and vulnerable to many undue abuses. - Ayee
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Good News for Book Worms
Today, I went to a neighborhood mall shopping for a Christmas present. And I was surprised to see the bookstore there was full of shoppers. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the many other stores in the same mall.
At the bookstore, even though there are still seven shopping days before Christmas, this was the first time over the past four years I saw a line-up in this friendly place. Behind its non-descriptive cashier's counter, the manager was on the phone talking to a would-be buyer. Two cashiers, in addition to directing shoppers to the right section for the book they were looking for, were also busy ringing up sales. The shoppers there were buying, among many other things, mostly books of all subjects in both hard covers and paperbacks. Although my purchase of a crossword puzzle dictionary did not bring down the house, business at this store was booming.
On my way out after I got the book, what I saw going on in many other stores in the same mall were not very encouraging. I thought an overstocked electronics shop will be a busy place during this gift-giving season. There was not a single customer there. It was the same at a sparkling jewelry store. Business at a few other shops in that part of the mall did not look brisk either.
What I observed at the mall this afternoon did make me wonder on how the many small shops in the mall were faring. Operaitng a business in a shopping mall is a very expensive proposition in terms of rent, maintenance fees and property taxes. Being a happy shopper of this mall for many years, I do wish them all doing well all year around. So all of them can continue to provide the public with a pleasant place to shop.
My visit to the bookstore this afternoon also afforded me some very welcoming insight on the uncertain future of book stores. At that store it appears there was no shortage of book buyers. To me book stores are like libraries. They will continue to be important part of our existence for years to come!
And a merry Christmas wish to all!
- Ayee
At the bookstore, even though there are still seven shopping days before Christmas, this was the first time over the past four years I saw a line-up in this friendly place. Behind its non-descriptive cashier's counter, the manager was on the phone talking to a would-be buyer. Two cashiers, in addition to directing shoppers to the right section for the book they were looking for, were also busy ringing up sales. The shoppers there were buying, among many other things, mostly books of all subjects in both hard covers and paperbacks. Although my purchase of a crossword puzzle dictionary did not bring down the house, business at this store was booming.
On my way out after I got the book, what I saw going on in many other stores in the same mall were not very encouraging. I thought an overstocked electronics shop will be a busy place during this gift-giving season. There was not a single customer there. It was the same at a sparkling jewelry store. Business at a few other shops in that part of the mall did not look brisk either.
What I observed at the mall this afternoon did make me wonder on how the many small shops in the mall were faring. Operaitng a business in a shopping mall is a very expensive proposition in terms of rent, maintenance fees and property taxes. Being a happy shopper of this mall for many years, I do wish them all doing well all year around. So all of them can continue to provide the public with a pleasant place to shop.
My visit to the bookstore this afternoon also afforded me some very welcoming insight on the uncertain future of book stores. At that store it appears there was no shortage of book buyers. To me book stores are like libraries. They will continue to be important part of our existence for years to come!
And a merry Christmas wish to all!
- Ayee
Sunday, December 8, 2013
The drone is coming to town.
After I heard from "60 Minutes" last Saturday that Amazon.Com was working on deploying the costly drone technique to deliver its goodies, I conjured up a picture of Santa Claus making his Christmas deliveries with a fleet of spider-look alike black robots, instead of its usual team of sweating nose-twitching reindeers.
And I do not think the hard-working reindeers are the only ones who dislike what they did not see in this picture. Regardless whoever the service-providers are, the change over to deliver by robots would definitely take a dismal toll on people who currently making a living in the delivering business.
In addition, most consumers, myself included, are fairly pleased with the delivery services that the on-line companies are providing. This is one of the reasons why numbers of people buying on-line are rising. So why should anyone fix something that is not broken. - Ayee
And I do not think the hard-working reindeers are the only ones who dislike what they did not see in this picture. Regardless whoever the service-providers are, the change over to deliver by robots would definitely take a dismal toll on people who currently making a living in the delivering business.
In addition, most consumers, myself included, are fairly pleased with the delivery services that the on-line companies are providing. This is one of the reasons why numbers of people buying on-line are rising. So why should anyone fix something that is not broken. - Ayee
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Food for Thought - Sardines, Niacin and Gout
As I noted before that more does not always mean better. And this was what, I think, exactly the excruciating pain from my finger joints tried to tell me.
First, I must count my blessings. Somehow, over the years, gout was never a health issue for me. The knuckle of one of my middle fingers did flare up occasionally in the past. But the prickly pain never lasted. The puffed-up joint also returned to its former self without any medical intervention. Since gout is considered a "rich man's disease"*(1), I thank many juicy pears *(2) and a simple no-red meat diet that I followed. It had helped me keep this disabling monster away for years.
But lately, the simple regime of fruits and low-animal protein foods are no longer working for me to ward off the pain from the swollen digits. Suddenly, not one but two of my finger joints swelled up with sharp and lasting pains. So I decided to look for clues to see if I have been eating something that I should not have over the past few months.
Indeed, I had. I was overindulgent over the foods that are supposed to be good for me. It appears that canned sardines and Vitamin B's were the culprits. Over the last a while, I had a quite few lunches with plenty of sardines and anchovies*(3). I had also supplemented my daily multivitamin intakes with extra Vitamin B's that included a lot of niacin. According to my references, both sardines and anchovies are purine-rich foods. In addition, while I did not have the exact reason connecting gout to niacin, the researchers had suggested that the gout suffers should be cautious when taking niacin. - Ayee
Notes:
*(1) "Lifetime Encyclopedia of Natural Remedies," by Myra Cameron, 1993 Edition
(2) "The Prescription of Nutritional Healing," by J.F. Balch, MD & P. A. Balch, CNC, 2nd Edition
(3) Both of these foods are purine-rich foods. Gout suffers should be watchful when taking too much of these purine-laden foods.
First, I must count my blessings. Somehow, over the years, gout was never a health issue for me. The knuckle of one of my middle fingers did flare up occasionally in the past. But the prickly pain never lasted. The puffed-up joint also returned to its former self without any medical intervention. Since gout is considered a "rich man's disease"*(1), I thank many juicy pears *(2) and a simple no-red meat diet that I followed. It had helped me keep this disabling monster away for years.
But lately, the simple regime of fruits and low-animal protein foods are no longer working for me to ward off the pain from the swollen digits. Suddenly, not one but two of my finger joints swelled up with sharp and lasting pains. So I decided to look for clues to see if I have been eating something that I should not have over the past few months.
Indeed, I had. I was overindulgent over the foods that are supposed to be good for me. It appears that canned sardines and Vitamin B's were the culprits. Over the last a while, I had a quite few lunches with plenty of sardines and anchovies*(3). I had also supplemented my daily multivitamin intakes with extra Vitamin B's that included a lot of niacin. According to my references, both sardines and anchovies are purine-rich foods. In addition, while I did not have the exact reason connecting gout to niacin, the researchers had suggested that the gout suffers should be cautious when taking niacin. - Ayee
Notes:
*(1) "Lifetime Encyclopedia of Natural Remedies," by Myra Cameron, 1993 Edition
(2) "The Prescription of Nutritional Healing," by J.F. Balch, MD & P. A. Balch, CNC, 2nd Edition
(3) Both of these foods are purine-rich foods. Gout suffers should be watchful when taking too much of these purine-laden foods.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Having A Pet
Personally, I find living with pet animals both amusing and therapeutic. This is why the recent news of a dear relative adopting two pussy cats delighted me.
Yes, pet ownership can also mean responsibility as well as additional expenses and allergies. But the endless antics these endearing creatures brought to us are simply priceless. Furthermore, in this chaotic world, a pet can be the nonjudgemental therapists many of us need now and then. I found many people appeared to be happier around their pets. In many real-life cases pet animals, whether it is a dog, a cat, a bunny, a bird or a fish, can change our lives.
For all these reasons and more, I was so happy to hear that a dear family member now has two rumbustious rascals to keep the entire household amused. - Ayee
PS When getting your next pet, please consider adopting one from your local animal shelters.
Yes, pet ownership can also mean responsibility as well as additional expenses and allergies. But the endless antics these endearing creatures brought to us are simply priceless. Furthermore, in this chaotic world, a pet can be the nonjudgemental therapists many of us need now and then. I found many people appeared to be happier around their pets. In many real-life cases pet animals, whether it is a dog, a cat, a bunny, a bird or a fish, can change our lives.
For all these reasons and more, I was so happy to hear that a dear family member now has two rumbustious rascals to keep the entire household amused. - Ayee
PS When getting your next pet, please consider adopting one from your local animal shelters.
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