Broccoli Goodness

I haven't posted a recipe in quite  while, so I figure it's about time. And why not start with something that combines healthy and unhealthy foods in the most appealing way? This recipe includes lots of nuts and seeds (good fats) and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower (vitamins, fiber, and disease-fighting phytochemicals), but then throws in bacon and mayonnaise. But if you're someone like me (or have children like me) who like a little sweetness to bribe them into eating their veggies, then this recipe is for you.

And now what?

Tiramisu, one of life's sweet pleasures.
When I stop wanting it, you'll know it's time to pull the plug.

This is a continuation of yesterday's post wherein I describe my angina attack.


First, thank you for your many caring comments. I have to share a very funny one sent by e-mail from a friend who has experience with heart attacks: "BTW diagnosing yourself from the internet is not what I would describe as the most intelligent thing to do. When you decide to operate on yourself let me know. I will sell tickets."

The yet-to-be-confirmed-by-a-doctor angina attack was a dramatic announcement of my mortality. I pictured the Grim Reaper at the foot of the bed, gesturing a strangulation posture, like Darth Vader.

Throughout the day, I pondered. Maybe a little obsessively.

I don't want to die. I like my life and want to keep living and enjoying it. I want to see my children's weddings, I want to know my grandchildren. I want to relish the beauty of God's world and capture it in my photographs. I want to travel with Stephen. I want to eat tiramisu.

But . . .

• I don't want to live in pain or with disability. 
• I don't want to go blind or lose my toes. (I happen to have very cute feet, thank you.)
• I don't want to give up the things that give me pleasure (yes, I'm thinking about tiramisu). 
• I don't want heart surgery (or a stent or angioplasty or any of those invasive treatments). "Don't want" is really not a strong enough expression for how I feel about this. I am deeply, deeply averse to this.
• Frankly (and I know many of you will be aghast at this), I honestly don't want to exercise, at least not to the degree that would have a significant effect on my health. (A gentle stroll three times a week is not enough to benefit cardiac health, though it is good for my mental health. Most studies and recommendations are for 30-60 minutes of brisk activity every day.)

Steve and I had a difficult talk when I told him these last two points.

He would, of course, like me to be aggressive with my illness and make every effort humanly possible to live a long, happy, healthy life. But he can understand my not wanting to be cut open or pierced.

As for exercise, "You just need to find something you enjoy," he urged. I suppose this could still happen, and if it does, then "Yay!" but even when I've had months of sustained exercise in my daily routine it NEVER became something I enjoyed. I never got those endorphins, never looked forward to it or missed it when I couldn't walk/jog/use the elliptical. Perhaps all those neuroreceptors were occupied with sustaining my overactive appetite?

My point is: I know that I am making a choice and that it has negative effect on my very life. It is selfish, and I am sorry, but there it is. (My inner voice is yelling, "Exercise? You can't make me!" I am stomping my pretty, little foot.)

We agreed that I would, however:

• Follow up with my doctor.
• Take or adjust any medications prescribed.
• Continue to reduce the amount of carbohydrates in my diet with the goal of maintaining my blood sugar.
• Continue to eat smaller portions with the goal of losing weight.

And then we talked about my dad, who died of heart disease a year (almost to the day) of his compulsory retirement at age 65. More about that in my next post.

Moderation is so hard!

Sweet Deception

Oh, my word! I am about to explode!

Emily gave her Mother's Day present to me early: a box of "no sugar added" chocolates. She chose these, mindful of my diabetes and my conflicting love for fine chocolate.

Now, I've learned that "no sugar added" does NOT mean "unsweetened." In fact, the sugar alcohol they use to sweeten these products can yield extremely unpleasant results, comparable to Traveler's Dysentery.

So on Saturday, I cautiously ate two delectable chocolates in the morning and two in the evening. There were no gaseous side effects, so I convinced myself that perhaps these chocolates were different.

On Sunday, I ate, um, many more than two.

Two hours later, I was trumpeting from my south end and warning Steve not to come near the master bathroom.

Will I never learn?

On the bright side, the candy did NOT raise my blood sugar, so there is that to say in its favour. I simply need to exercise a little restraint. Not my strong suit, to be sure, but being trapped in the loo for an afternoon should be motivation enough. One would think.

Being Regular is Good for Heart Health

Or so it would seem. I saw this ad on Facebook today.

The first thing that popped into my mind, naturally, was "Why has Facebook stopped showing me male underwear models who are looking for 'mature women who know how to please a man'?"

I guess I'm just moving on from MILK (that's Mother I'd Like to Know) to Metamucil and Geritol. (Did you even know that they still make Geritol? They do!)

ANYWAY. Where was I? Damn Ritalin wears off too early in the evening.

Oh. Yes. Poop and Cholesterol.

I clicked the link because I was fascinated with the idea that Metamucil could treat high cholesterol because, as far as I knew, Metamucil is used to treat constipation or diarrhea and IBS. It is soluble fibre - it dissolves in water - and unlike insoluble fibre like bran or fruit skins, is gentle on your intestines. Insoluble fibre can certainly stimulate a ... erm ... movement, but it is harsh. If you have gut trouble, it can be kind of like eating sharp straw.

(I know a thing or two about this. In fact, the IBS Diet as described at Help for IBS made a huge difference in my life. They recommend acacia powder, which is another soluble fibre. 'Nuff said. If you have similar troubles, do check it out.)

Back to the poop-cholesterol equation. According to the Metamucil website, "Certain kinds of fiber [i.e., soluble] lower cholesterol by absorbing it in the digestive tract and preventing it from entering the bloodstream." It's that simple.

I'm sure there are also health benefits to underwear models in search of mature women. Or, at least, looking at pictures of underwear models who claim to be in search of mature women, but who really want Barbie dolls when it comes right down to it. (I am sometimes a big fan of false advertising.) But since Facebook is no longer offering them up, I may just have to settle for soluble fibre. Yippee.