This Entry is Full of Cruciferous Vegetables

As expected, after my previous entry, I went on to eat a lot of junk - half a pack of Arnotts chocolate-covered Scotch Fingers, a quarter of a family-sized bar of Haigh’s dark chocolate and 7 pieces of luscious coffee cream filled chocolates from Darrell Lea. So. Much. Chocolates! (It is PMS at work?)

Today, I decided to give my body a break. I won’t think of unhealthy foods for a change and I’m dedicating this entry to vegetables. First a love letter to a cute floret:

Dear Broccoli,

I ♥ you.

I do admit my love for you is sadistic by nature. I love you sautéd, steamed and boiled; I love you roasted, grilled and puréed. In fact, I’d eat you raw any day.

I tend to misspell your name as “Brocolli”. Please accept my apologies, I am only human. But don’t let them tell you you’re just another vegetable. I’m aware of your superpowers and have actively lobby for your cause for many years now.

Looking forward to many more years together (mostly with you in my tummy).

Love,
M

I was eating a piece of steamed broccoli just now when it hit me — I really, really love the taste of broccoli. So sweet and flavourful, I rate it second only to its pale cousin, the cauliflower. I wonder if there’s anyone else who loves broccolis and cauliflowers as much as I do.

Speaking of cauliflowers, I recently discovered the existence of a purple variety:

Image from Wikipedia

WOW! What a beautiful work of art. And I thought purple cabbages were fancy. I’ll try some if I can find them in the supermarket.

And speaking of works of art, check out this fractal romanesco broccoli.

Photo by Jon Sullivan, pdphoto.org

Out of this world?! I imagine it tasting similar to broccoli but with a fuzzier texture. Has anyone tried this before? Do share your experience!

That’s it for today. I hope I’ve inspired some of you to eat your greens. Or purples. LOL!

Got Milk?

Ok, so the high-calcium soya(soy) milk diet I’ve been following religiously for a month didn’t work. I’ve been sitting in my chair for the past, oh, 10 hours, craughing hysterically while trying to maintain enough sanity to get some work done. Enough whining for now, I need to review what went wrong and plan what to do next.

“New research suggests that a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D may help prevent premenstrual syndrome, or PMS.”
CBS News

Could it be that I’m not getting enough vitamin D to absorb all the calcium I’m consuming(the soya milk is not fortified with vitamin D)? But a few minutes of sun a day should’ve been enough, no? In any case, I am thoroughly OVER with soya milk to go through this experiment another month with a vitamin D-fortified version so I’m thinking of trying something else, I dunno, fortified juice, cod liver oil or chocolate milk? Chocolate milk sounds good.

Related links
Calcium & Vitamin D for PMS - CBS
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D
Got Milk?
Got PMS?
Get the Glass! Game

Related posts
Testing Out Theories
There Must Be A Better Alternative To This
Still Wishing for a Happy Period
Wish: A Happy Period

There Must Be A Better Alternative To This

It’s been 14 days since I started drinking soya milk regularly and I officially am sick of the stuff. It started out so well. I had it with cereal, in my coffee, straight up, 2 cups a day on average. In the beginning I actually looked forward to drinking it. And then I got sicker and sicker of the taste. How do people drink this (or milk) everyday? I need to find another high-calcium, non-dairy alternative. Rice Dream perhaps? Recommendations appreciated. Thanks!

I’m Thankful for A Good Day

Feeling much better day today. :)

Testing Out Theories

Dear Body,

Why are you giving me such a hard time every month?
What is the meaning of this? Are these cramps a warning of sorts?
What are you trying to tell me?
love,
M

Yes, I’m still in pain. For the past 22 hours, I’ve not done anything other than to sit (slept in this sitting position too), type and occasionally craugh. I contemplated on turning on the TV to see what’s on, but the remote is two feet away from me, a big stretch in my current form, so I scrapped the idea. It’s not easy for me to remain positive on an condition that has been described as “unnaturally debilitating” by not one but three of the doctors I’ve visited before.

But I’ll try.

I’m going to embark on a project to find ways to eliminate or a least reduce the monthly cramping. Starting tomorrow, for 1 month, I’m going to do an experiment based on the findings in this article.

Update: I just drank 2 cups of high-calcium soy milk(about 800 mg calcium).

Still Wishing for a Happy Period

It’s that time of the month again…

Think fluffy clouds. Think happy thoughts.
(Thank God I don’t have to go anywhere today)

Related post
Wishing for a Happy Period

Wish: A Happy Period

First of all, I’m thankful to be have the monthly visits from Aunt Flow. It means that my body is normal and it means that I can, God willing, have kids, should I choose to one day.

What I can’t stand is the sheer pain. I’ve had dysmenorrhoea for the longest time. In my teens I’d be taking days off school. Doctors and every woman I spoke to said that things will get better as I get older. Lies!

Now I take a day off work every month. One day, every month. 12 days a year. Just to sit. Literally. For 18 hours straight. In the same chair. Craughing* from time to time. Moving only to visit the toilet or to get a drink (no appetite for the day).

On the good side, these recurrent episodes of torture has caused me to develop an incredible tolerance to pain. My mum says that her labour pains were nothing spectacular compared to her period pains. I hope this holds true for me too.

Still I look forward to months where I no longer have to reschedule my timetable or refuse an invitation because I’m Sorry, I have to sit On my chair for 18 hours STRAIGHT today.

*Craughing(part sobbing cry, part hysterical laugh) is my coping mechanism to deal with extreme pain or stressful situations.

How bad do I want this?
I’d give up coffee for this. (Come to think of it, I have tried giving up coffee for this…)