Monthly Archives: May 2014

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A Hectic and Sleepless Week

The past one week has been very hectic for me. I worked 7 full days with NO rest day this week, getting only 4-5h hours of sleep 🙁

Cass fell very ill on Friday. She complained of headache, a very painful throat, a very colicky tummy and constipation, chest pain, ear pain and had eye infection! When it rains, it pours cat and dog shit! Everything that could go wrong with her went wrong. Darn the Murphy’s Law! Since Friday, I have not been having uninterrupted sleep at night. I woke up several times in the night to sponge Cass and to feed her with water.

For her very colicky tummy and constipation which caused her so much pain to the extent that she could not walk, I settled that with a ‘bomb’ aka enema, which I bought from the pharmacy. With just one squirt, she passed out gas enough to inflate a balloon! And she emptied her bowels completely *sweats*

Yesterday (Saturday), I woke up at my usual time of 4:45am to get the usual chores done. Alycia had to attend a school trip and had to be in school by 7:30am.

Today again I woke up at 4:45am. Cass had to be in her sisters’ school by 7:30am to sit for an assessment test for entry into Primary 1. As her sisters’ school is a High Performance school, all pupils entering Primary 1 next year are to sit for this test to gauge their competency level in BM, English and Math.

While Cass sat for her tests, we parents had to attend a 4-hour long briefing at the auditorium!! Oh fark, 90% of the briefing was conducted in Mandarin and I could not understand 80% of what was being said! I dozed off towards the last one hour of the briefing!

Thank God Cass got well fast enough by today to sit for the assessment test today.

What made Cass well was Manuka Honey UMF 10+ mixed with extra strength Propolis. I fed her with this concoction 3x a day for 3 days. I also made her gargle her throat with salt water 3x a day. She ate mostly fruits, homemade bread and homemade cake and slept like a new born baby for 2 days. Today, she told me that her throat did not hurt anymore. Praise the Lord! I really thought that she would have to succumb to antibiotics when I saw how sick she was and how painful her throat was. Thank God I managed to nurse her back to good health naturally, phew!

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On A Roll

The Chinese believe that one’s fortune changes at intervals. One may go through a period of hardship and misfortunes but at a change of feng shui, you will be showered with good fortune and happiness for a period of time and vice versa. A friend of mine went through a very unhappy marriage which ended in a divorce. Now, at the ripe old age of 60, she is enjoying the prime of her life. She has a boyfriend who is super loaded with money. He pays for her everything, brings her entire family (which include her grown up children and their spouses) for vacations overseas and splurges on her. Today we attended her birthday party. It was an elaborate party at a posh restaurant with great door gifts. Kids were given Game Camera. Just yesterday, she struck the jackpot and won RM18,000!! No one would have guessed that a forlorn single mother twenty years ago could be on a roll now and enjoying her twilight years luxuriously!

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Something Cold To Soothe Painful Gums After Tooth Extraction

Three days after having my lower premolar tooth extracted, my gums and mouth were still very painful.  My tummy was growling in hunger but I did not feel like eating anything that required me to use my teeth to chew.  Every movement I made with my mouth and teeth hurt the affected site.   I craved for something cold and easy to eat. So I bought 2 boxes of ice-cream potong!

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And the cold ice-cream indeed brought much relief to my traumatized mouth when I sucked on it 😀

Today is the 5th day post-tooth extraction.  The pain is not as intense as the first 3 days but the nagging pain is still there.  I can chew better now but the affected site still feels sore.  I still need to cut up my food so that I do not have to overwork my mouth, jaw and cheeks.

 

 

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Continuing Education For Medical Specialists

Emergency room departments often need to take blood samples from individuals that have serious injuries. Sometimes, it is essential to analyze a person’s blood when no visible symptoms are visible. Doctors may quickly call an onsite phlebotomy technician that can draw several vials of blood samples that could be sent to onsite analysis as soon as possible.

Phlebotomy technicians are primarily given the task of drawing blood from people of all ages. Toddlers and young children need to be tested regularly for various types of possible infections. However, the elderly need to get their blood tested more frequently than any other individuals. First of all, senior citizens are vulnerable to infections and other conditions. A relatively weak immune system creates a high risk of getting sick from some relatively mild viruses, infections and other attacks on the human body. A white blood cell count can reveal the risk levels of contracting diseases for certain people.

Phlebotomy specialists are not always trained to study and analyze blood samples that are taken from patients. There are specialists who train to look at blood samples through microscopic slides and other modern optical equipment. A Phlebotomy certification online is available for phlebotomists who’d like to keep practicing at hospitals, clinics and other doctor’s offices.

Blood transfusions are commonly done by licensed phlebotomy technicians. These procedures involve the transfer of blood from sealed sterile bags into the veins and arteries of a person. Anemic people often need to receive blood transfusions on a regular basis.

 

 

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Health Freak Mommy’s Breakfast

Today is a Saturday but I got up at my usual time at 4:45am. Sherilyn has a school trip to Petrosains, KLCC and has to be in school by 7:30am. So it is a normal working day for the slave mom.

After hubs left the house with Sherilyn, I fixed myself a quick healthy breakkie.  But before my breakfast, the first thing that I consumed was a glass of apple cider vinegar with Ribena and psyllium husk.  Half an hour later, I ate an orange and half a mango.  And half an hour afterwards, I popped my multi-vitamins with milk.

My main breakfast today was a slice of Ryvita healthy crackers with sunflower seeds and oats with mil’s homemade marmalade jam and homemade nutty jam (almond + walnut + cashew).

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It feels good eating clean.  My body feels great eating non-greasy, non-fried and sugar-reduced food.   Some of you would probably loathe at the sight of my kind of breakfast. But your body and taste buds can be trained to accept only healthy stuff.   If you eat only wholesome food, your body will start to reject junks after some time.  Remember, practice makes perfect.

You are what you eat.  So if you have not been eating clean, it is not too late to start now!  Say nay to junk food and yay to wholesome, healthy food!

 

 

 

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Foods For Cleansing Your Colon Naturally

The colon, a part of the digestive system is responsible for extracting water and salt from the solid wastes prior to release. At times the colon does not function properly and causes a build-up of harmful toxins along the colon walls. This can cause headache, skin allergy, low energy level, vomiting, bloating and so on. If proper precaution is not taken on time then it can even lead to various diseases and illness such as heart diseases, gall bladder stones, asthma, skin allergies, and liver ailments. However, with the help of colon cleansing you can easily get rid of harmful toxins.

Here are some of the ways which you can cleanse your colon naturally, at home:

1) Apples, apple cider vinegar
Many advanced colon-cleansing protocols include either whole apples, apple sauce, apple juice, or apple cider vinegar (ACV) because this simple fruit is a powerful cleansing food. High in fiber, a nutrient that is already widely known to promote healthy digestion, apples are also rich in pectin, a carbohydrate compound that acts as a thickening agent inside the gut. When taken in therapeutic doses, pectin can help root out built-up toxins in the colon and strengthen the intestinal lining.

2) Avocados
For everyday colon cleansing, avocados are another great option for detoxification and digestion. Like apples, avocados are rich in fiber, and include both soluble and insoluble varieties at a ratio of about one to three, which is quite unique. And as it turns out, insoluble fiber is the type that promotes healthy bowel movements and cleanses the colon, effectively reducing one’s overall risk of developing colon cancer.

Also important is the avocado’s soluble fiber content, which is important for absorbing water and binding with other digested substances to help them easily move through the digestive tract. This mechanistic “gelling” effect also helps maintain bowel regularity in its own unique way, and prevents the toxic buildups that can lead to irregularity and constipation.

3) Flax and chia seeds
Unique in their nutritional profiles, both flax and chia seeds possess fats and fiber that help promote healthy digestion and a clean colon. Both are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, for instance, which have been shown to stabilize cell walls and reduce inflammation. Flax and chia also contain their own unique blends of soluble fiber, which bind with food to optimize the digestive process.

4) Chlorophyll-rich greens
Green fruits and vegetables that are rich in chlorophyll tend to promote healthy digestion and daily colon cleansing as well. Spinach, green olives, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, collard greens, sea vegetables, leeks, peas, and Swiss chard are all high in chlorophyll, which means they can help cleanse your digestive tract and detoxify your liver. Supplementing with liquid chlorophyll is another option for boosting intake of this important nutrient for maximum colon health.

5) Clean water with sea salt
A hydrated colon is a healthy colon. Perpetual dehydration can lead to constipation and toxic buildup, which is why it is important to drink plenty of clean, fluoride-free water every day. Some experts recommend drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water every single day for maximum hydration and cleansing. You can also add some sea salt to your water to help further promote detoxification.

6) Fermented foods
The human digestive system is composed of a vast network of beneficial microbiota that are responsible for digesting food, absorbing nutrients, thwarting harmful bacteria, and eliminating toxins. When these bacteria get thrown out of balance, however, digestive health can suffer — and the longer this bacterial balance is out of whack, the more severe the damage that can ensue.

In order to help offset the damage to your gut flora caused by environmental and food chemicals, antibiotic drugs, processed foods, and other factors, it is important to supplement with probiotic bacteria and eat plenty of fermented, probiotic-rich foods. These include cultured vegetables like kimchi, and fermented beverages like kombucha tea and kefir.

7) Flaxseed
Flaxseed is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and natural fibers and thus adding flaxseed to your diet is a great way to cleanse your colon. Flaxseed will absorb water and expand in the colon, and will assist in removing toxins and mucus as it passes through. You can add grinded flaxseeds to cereal, yogurt, fruit and other healthy foods. For faster result, add one tablespoon of ground flaxseed in a glass of water and have it half an hour before eating your breakfast and before going to bed. Flaxseed will cleanse the colon and will also help to prevent cancer, heart diseases and diabetes.

8) Sea Salt
Another effective ingredient for colon cleansing is sea salt. Add a tablespoon of sea salt in one glass of drinking water and boil it. Drink this solution warm or cold first thing in the morning, wait for a few minutes and then lie down and massage your stomach down to your colon area in a gentle manner. This will stimulate your bowel movement and help to remove all of the harmful toxins, accumulated fecal matter, regular feces, parasites, and bacteria from the digestive tract. As this solution can cause diarrhea, it is essential to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

9) Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is known for its detoxification abilities and acts as a laxative and hence it is regarded as an effective colon cleanser. Get some aloe vera leaves and remove the gel from it. Add the juice of one lemon to the aloe vera gel and put the mixture in a blender to get a fine juice. Keep this juice in the refrigerator for two to three hours. Now consume this juice several times a day. The medicinal properties present in aloe vera gel will not only improve the condition of your colon health, but it will also treat other health problems such as headache, skin infection, diarrhea, gastric pain and constipation.

10) Ginger
Ginger is one of the easily available ingredients that can help to reduce bloating and stimulate the functionality of the colon and keep it free from waste and harmful toxins. You can take ginger in any form such as mashed, juice, or cut pieces for colon cleansing. One good option is to mix honey and water to one teaspoon of ginger juice and then consume it two to three times a day. You can also add ginger to herbal tea. This remedy is not recommended for those who are pregnant.

11) Lemon Juice
Lemon has antioxidant properties and its high vitamin C content is good for the digestive system. Hence for colon cleansing you can try lemon juice. Take the juice of one lemon and add a pinch of sea-salt, little honey and one glass of lukewarm water to it. Mix all the ingredients properly and drink this solution on an empty stomach in the morning. This will help you to enjoy more energy, better bowel movement and better skin condition. During the day time you can add two tablespoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice to one glass of apple juice and drink it three to four times a day. This will thin out the mucous in the bowel.

12) Water
For colon cleansing, the best thing that you can do is to drink plenty of water. It is essential to drink at least ten to twelve glasses of water in a day. Regular consumption of water will give your body the liquid and lubrication required to flush out the harmful toxins and waste from the body in a very natural manner. Drinking plenty of water will also stimulate the natural peristaltic action and soon the colon will start functioning in a normal manner. Also water is essential to keep your body well hydrated. Along with water you can also drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices.

13) Fiber Foods
Foods rich in fiber should be consumed in high amount to cleanse the colon of the harmful toxins. Fiber will help to keep the stools soft and improve the bowel movement which ultimately encourages the body to expel waste products. At the same time fiber enriched foods will also help to get rid of any kind of intestinal problems. You can add a lot of fiber into your diet by eating fresh fruits like raspberries, pears and apples, as well as fresh vegetables like artichokes, peas and broccoli. Cereals, whole grains, nuts, beans and seeds also contain a good amount of fiber.

14) Yogurt
Eating fresh yogurt on a regular basis is a good way to keep the colon healthy. Yogurt will give your body pro-biotic and good bacteria and will get rid of bad bacteria. It also contains a good amount of calcium which discourages the growth of cells lining the colon. You can eat yogurt as it is or add some fresh fruits such as apples, limes, banana and so on to it. Yogurt is good for an infected colon and at the same time it also solves various stomach problems such as indigestion, flatulence, irregular bowel movements and lots more.

 

 

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