Fish diet

Almost two weeks to go before Christmas and here I am with a slightly elevated cholesterol level.  BMI is still within the normal range (thanks to my mother's good genes!) but I have been slowly switching to a fish diet.  I had fried tanigue (mackerel) for dinner...tanigue is a tasty fish but truth be told, I wanted to drown it in tartar sauce.  Fortunately, there was pako (fiddlehead fern) salad to appease my taste buds.

My brother cooked maya-maya (red snapper) for lunch the next day, and threw in camote tops, sigarilyas (winged bean), and red bell pepper for good measure.  I have started to like sigarilyas.:p

Looks like I'll be stocking on canned tuna and frozen cream dory in case I get too lazy to go the market.

 

 Linking to Food Friday

Food Trip Friday

Going Bananas

 

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but apples are imported and can be expensive.  How about bananas?  It's a domestic product, available in the market all-year-round and much cheaper than apples.   I grew up in a place surrounded by banana trees [it's not a tree, though, but an herb] and coconut trees, among others; and my grandmother had concocted more banana dishes than you can imagine!  All parts of a banana tree are edible and extremely useful---leaves, flowers, heart, fruit, trunk, bark.  Admittedly, I took bananas for granted until I was an adult, living in the city and have to buy bananas by the kilo.

The humble banana, I discovered, is a wonder fruit.  Bananas consist mainly of sugar and fiber, which make them an ideal source of energy. No wonder it's a staple in the diets of athletes.  And as a trying-hard jogger, I eat a banana before a run, or when I skipped a meal. My mother has high blood pressure and high cholesterol level, and aside from prescribed meds, the cardiologist recommends a diet with Saba banana daily for its rich potassium content that can reduce the incidence of a stroke. 

Here are the health benefits of bananas:

1. Anemia - bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body's hemoglobin function.  Regular consumption of bananas and oranges in children from ages 0 to 2 may reduce the risk of childhood leukemia (American Journal of Epidemiology, 2004).
2. Heartburn - bananas have a natural antacid effect on the body.  Studies show that bananas can protect our stomachs against aspirin-induced gastritis.  And if you've been out partying and drinking alcohol, the best way in preventing a hangover is lots of water and a banana or two before going to bed.
3. Morning sickness -  snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood-sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.  And if you didn't follow #2, have a banana shake when you woke up with a hangover.
4. Ulcers - this is the only fruit that can be eaten without distress. It also helps reduce acidity and reduces irritation. Bananas stimulate the cells on the internal stomach lining to produce a thicker mucus (which protects against acid). Additionally, bananas contain protease inhibitors that help eliminate bacteria in the stomach that have been pinpointed as a primary cause of ulcers.
5. Blood pressure - bananas are extremely high in potassium, and very low in sodium---a perfect combination in preventing high blood pressure.  The US FDA has even allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.
6. Healthy kidney - research published in the International Journal of Cancer has shown that daily consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, is highly protective to kidney health.  Bananas and many root vegetables contain high amounts of antioxidants phenolic compounds, necessary for effective detoxification of potential carcinogens.
7. Healthy bones - bananas are an exceptionally rich source of fructooligosaccharide, a compound that nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon.  This probiotic bacteria protects us from unhealthy bacterial infections and increases our body's ability to absorb calcium.  
8. Eyesight protection - research published in the Archives of Ophthalmology has proven that adults consuming at least 3 servings of bananas a day have a reduced risk (by 36%) of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.
9. Constipation and Diarrhea -  due to banana's fiber content, it helps restore a normal bowel function. In addition, diarrhea usually depletes your body of important electrolytes (of which the most important is potassium). Bananas also contain pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.
10.  Stress relief and Depression - banana's high potassium content helps normalize the hearthbeat and regulate the body’s water balance. During periods of high stress, our body’s potassium levels tend to be rapidly depleted---eating bananas is a healthy way to rebalance them without taking drugs.  Bananas also contain tryptophan, an aminoacid that converts into serotonin, leading to improved mood.  So when you're sad or stressed, feel better by eating a banana instead of going shopping, smoking or comfort-eating.
11. Nerves - bananas are high in Vitamin B that have been shown to improve nerve function.
12. Smoking - bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. They contain vitamins B6 and B12, as well as potassium and magnesium: these substances help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
13. Mosquito bites - many people report that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on a mosquito bite is very effective in reducing itching and swelling.

And when you're bored with ripe bananas, try banana chips.   I chipped a canine tooth a few weeks ago while munching on these banana chips [but it was serendipity---a visit to the dentist has been long overdue, anyway], so be careful.  I love munching on banana chips while watching TV---excellent jaw exercise.:p

How about some Banana Turon for an afternoon snack?  I added some brown sugar and slivers of ripe langka or jackfruit to slices of ripe saba before wrapping [and deep-frying].  Banana Turon ala mode (with vanilla ice cream) is perfect on this sizzling afternoon.

However you eat bananas, enjoy!

Guilt-free Lechon Kawali

An innovative way of serving Lechon Kawali---as a topping, underneath is Adobong Kangkong.  But don't indulge too much in this seemingly "balanced" serving...despite the veggie, it's still a heart-attack waiting to happen.:p

Join us at Food Trip Friday

Meatless Pancit Canton

October is a busy month in our family when it comes to birthdays.  On the first week of this month, my brother celebrated his birthday.  My grandmother threw a party on the second week for her 79th birthday---it also became a family reunion of some sort.  A cousin and an uncle also had their birthdays on the second week but both were out of the country.  By the third week, another cousin had her birthday; yesterday was my sister's birthday and this weekend, I'll be having mine.  To all celebrators this month, here's a cholesterol-free pancit canton for longer life...it has all the goodness of tofu and fresh veggies.  Don't wrinkle your nose, this tastes so good you wouldn't notice it's meatless.:p

Join us at Food Trip Friday

Classic Pancakes

@ mirandablue
Classic Country Medley - Classic Pancakes with country sausage from Pancake House

I didn't know physical therapy can make me hungry.  Or maybe I was rewarding myself after a backbreaking session with a physical therapist.  It's nothing serious, really...I slipped in the parking lot last week, landed on my butt, strained some back and arm muscles.  But that is beside the point---the point is, I had carbo overload which is not good for my back at all (I get backaches when I gain weight :().

Why do they have to put Pancake House at the hospital lobby?  Talk about temptation!

More treats at Food Trip Friday

Fried Crocodile meat

@ mirandablue

Yes, I took a bite on the wild side recently with this fried garlicky crocodile meat.  It was actually a dare from a friend while we were getting a little tipsy on SMB Light, sisig, calamari and baked oysters.  Why not try something different?  So there---fried crocodile with blue cheese dip for pulutan.  Crocodile meat is light-flavored so the garlic and blue cheese dip were probably a great idea to add flavor.

The bar manager told me they got their crocodile meat from Morong, Rizal---I didn't know there's a crocodile farm in Morong, do you?.  Let me assure you that this was before the recent crocodile attack in Palawan.:p 

Compared to other meats and if well-trimmed, crocodile is low in fat, low in calories and high in protein, and is considered as a good source of niacin and Vitamin B12. In Australia, crocodile carpaccio is pretty popular as well as crocodile rolls, known to the Japanese as Wani Rolls.

Join us at Food Trip Friday

Salamin [sa mata]/ Eyeglasses

@ mirandablue

Nakaka-inggit ang mga taong malinaw ang paningin.  Sa totoo lang, pinagwalang-halaga ko ng aking 20/20 vision hanggang isang araw sinabihan ako ng doktor na kailangan ko na mag salamin.  Meron daw akong hyperopia o farsightedness---malinaw kapag malayo, malabo kapag malapit. Karaniwang problema ito ng mga nagkaka-edad...kaso trentaydos lang ako noon, at mas malabo pa ang mata ko sa aking nanay.  Sa tulad kong mahilig magbasa, malaking ginhawa ang reading glasses.  At kapag wala akong salamin, kahit menu di ko mabasa kaya ipapabasa ko na lang sa waiter.  At kalimutan na natin ang texting, di kaya ng powers pag walang salamin.:p

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

Lucky are those who have good eyesight.  Truth be told, I took for granted my 20/20 vision until the day the doctor told me I need to be fitted with prescription glasses.  My vision defect is called hyperopia, also known as farsightedness---this causes difficulty  focusing on near objects, a clearer vision on distant objects.  It's a common problem that comes with aging but I was only 32, and my mom had better eyesight.  For somebody who loves to read, reading glasses really improved my life---it reduced my headaches and squinting.  And when I forget my glasses?  I couldn't even read the menu, I had to ask the waiter to read it for me.  And forget texting!  If I don't text back, it means my reading glasses are somewhere else!:p

@ mirandablue

For Thursday Two Questions - you are invited to answer and join:


1.  When was the last time you had your eyes checked?

• My last eye check-up was in November last year. I usually have my eyes checked a few weeks after my birthday.  The doctor suggested progressive lenses but I'm not ready for it, psychologically.:p  So he prescribed another pair of glasses for driving.

2.  Do you think eyeglasses affect your looks, your lifestyle?

• Yes and yes.  I think I look "older" with glasses...people started calling me "ma'am", it used to be "miss".:p  A girlfriend gets excited while we're in a restaurant and I couldn't even see clearly what or who she's excited about!  Imagine all those sexy, good-looking guys walking by and I missed them!  My sister just told me that I look like an old woman when texting without my glasses on.  Who would want to read at the beach wearing a pair of reading glasses? *LOL*

Thick [Malapot]

 @ mirandablue

A heart-stopping dish 'ika nga.  Sugpo na may aligue sauce---malapot, masarap at nakamamatay sa mga taong may problema sa cholesterol.  Ingat lang!

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

Prawns with crab fat sauce---a heart-stopping dish.  The thick sauce is delicious but this dish is potentially deadly to those with cholesterol problem.  Take care!

For Thursday Two Questions - you are invited to join and answer:


1.  What are the foods that you love but aren't good for you?
2.  What is the most disgusting food/dish you have ever tried?

Pork Hamonado

                        @ mirandablue                                 

My mother's pork hamonado for lunch two Sundays ago.  Yes, it's a cholesterol-laden, artery-clogging dish---I guess my mother wanted to live dangerously once in a while.  Pork hamonado is somewhat a heirloom recipe---my grandmother used to prepare this dish.   At home,  we usually use pork belly because it's boneless and the thick layer of fat keeps the meat moist as it simmers.   Salt, ground black pepper and diced garlic are rubbed on thick slices of pork belly then it's marinated with unsweetened pineapple juice overnight.   My mother's "modified" version is frying pork belly until it's golden before slow-cooking meat in marinade until tender.  


Pork hamonado is  basically a pork stew, cooked slowly in pineapple juice and spices allowing flavors to blend.  The result is super tender meat, pork fat that melts in your mouth, with the sweet and delightful flavors of pineapple, garlic, peppercorn and onions.  Garnish with slices of pineapple and sweet pickles.

Perfect with steamed rice.

Posted for Food Trip Friday and Food Friday

Vietnamese Fish

This was my healthy choice at Pho Hoa-Eastwood a few nights ago---steamed Vietnamese fish with yellow beans.  The steamed fish is cream dory, a type of catfish of the Pangasius family, a relative of our Kanduli.  Cream dory or Basa fish is a native of the Mekong River Delta and its estuaries in Vietnam, it is also known as Tra in Vietnamese.  In Southeast Asia, cream dory is a common freshwater fish, but the success of the Vietnamese Basa or Tra in the US  and UK markets somehow give this fish a new level of recognition.  

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) had launched culture and propagation of this fish for our freshwater aqua-culture industry a few years ago.  It was BFAR's initiative in response to the government's Hunger Mitigation Program.  But I don't know if the poor could afford this fish or if it's easily available in the market.  And I am not sure if the cream dory in hotels and restaurants here  are still imported from Vietnam or were farmed locally.

 Posted for Food Trip Friday and Food Friday

Chi, the spa [My World-Tuesday]

Ever since Chi opened at the Mactan Shangri-la, I've been dreaming to try one of their massages.  Going to the spa to enjoy sauna, jacuzzi and massage is one of the luxuries that is easily available in the Philippines.  My usual trip to the spa costs P1,000 (or about US$22)---that includes a 20-minute sauna, another 20-minute soak in a Jacuzzi and a 60-minute aromatherapy body massage.  When I travel for work or  pleasure, having a massage at the end of the day is my favorite thing.  In Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Boracay, even in  Sagada, therapists are available at a minimum of P300 an hour, at your hotel room or even by the beach.   

I have tried a couple of spas in Cebu but  my friends there have been raving about their luxurious experience at Chi, the spa at the Mactan Shangri-la Hotel.  The rates are not in any way cheap, but  we needed to be pampered after a long week, so we turned off our cel phones, closed our eyes and  breathed in the experience. 

The interior of Chi is welcoming and luxurious and I loved the scents around me.   After a brief consultation with the receptionist, I opted for the Healing Stone Massage (P6,600 for 2 hours) while the traditional Philippine Hilot (P5,900 for 90 minutes) was recommended to my friend. The garden villa was very private and serene, our therapists were courteous and friendly.  I was a bit apprehensive when warm basalt stones were placed at my back, along the spinal column and below the shoulder blades--a type of thermotherapy.  But as the gliding massage strokes with therapeutic oils started, I thought I died and went to heaven!  The combination of heat and massage eased my aching  joints and muscles, and  was very relaxing--I fell asleep (I hope I didn't snore.:p).

My friend has chronic back pain and the Philippine Hilot really worked for her.  Hilot is a massage technique that has been passed down through generations.  Traditional manghihilot or healers are part of the Filipino culture, and manghihilots of old have ritualized  their healing activity using native animistic beliefs.  At Chi, warmed coconut oil and banana leaves were placed over the body while the healing hands of the therapist identify areas of energy imbalance throughout the body.  My friend swore her back pain has not resurfaced since the hilot.

Chi is a luxurious spa at the Mactan Shangri-la Hotel in Cebu.  I definitely cannot afford frequent visits to this spa, once or twice a year is good enough for me.  For those who want to pamper themselves once in a while, make an appointment when you're in Cebu.  Mactan Shangri-la is at Punta Engano Road in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, telephone nos. (63-32) 2310288.  This is not a paid ad.

  Posted for My World-Tuesday

Tofu all the way

Tofu @ Pho Hoa

Call it tofu, or bean curd, it's made from soybeans which are considered a "complete" protein---it's a powerhouse of nutrition, an adaptable friend to cooks, the treasure of the health conscious and those who are perpetually on diet. These are the tofu dishes I've shared with my friend---she is on diet. I "think" I am on diet, therefore, I am.:p

I am not crazy about tofu but I know it is an excellent source of vegetarian protein, and really good for me, but sometimes the taste buds rule the mind. Need to remind myself when I'm face to face with tofu that it's cholesterol-free as all plant-based foods are, low in calories and a good source of B-vitamins and iron. Lacking pronounced flavors of its own, tofu picks up the flavors around it as evident from these three tofu dishes in different flavors--above is a tofu dish from Pho Hoa, a Vietnamese restaurant; below is tofu with vegetables from MyThai, and the last one is batter fried tofu with agedashi sauce from Red Kimono, a Japanese resto.

Tofu was invented centuries ago in China.

Tofu with vegetables @ MyThai

Batter fried tofu with agedashi sauce @ Red Kimono

Posted for Food Trip Friday and Food Friday

Addiction [Photo-Hunt]

Hello, my name is Luna, my blood type is coffee, I was bottle-fed with coffee when I was a baby, and I am a recovering coffee addict. It's been 1 hour, 14 minutes and 43 seconds since my last cup.

Enjoying a cup of coffee is one of my life's pleasures, but people who live with caffeine addiction are not able to appreciate this in the same fashion that a non-addict can. Instead of savoring the aroma, sight and taste of coffee, coffee addicts have coffee jitters, a nervous condition resulting from too much caffeine.

Coffee produces a caffeine high, usually combined with sugar for an even greater high. Like any high, the resulting lows are present and cause depressions and mood swings. Depressions associated with coffee addictions are often misdiagnosed and simply add medications to the addict's life.

Coffee has health risks and benefits. Research suggests that coffee consumption can reduce the chance of acquiring liver cirrhosis, a reduced risk of oral, esophageal and pharyngeal cancer. But it can also damage the lining of gastrointestinal organs, causing gastritis and ulcers. Some studies say that coffee reduces the incidence of dying from heart disease but caffeine as a mild addictive stimulant has modest cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and occasional irregular heartbeat. It reduces the risks of Alzheimer's Disease, dementia and Parkinson's Disease; it's also anti-diabetic.

According to Wiki, caffeine does not act as a diuretic when consumed in moderation, contrary to popular belief. Current evidence suggests that caffeinated beverages contribute to the body's daily fluid requirements no differently from pure water.

I am a coffee-lover, and for the past 3 years or so, I've been doing my best not to exceed 2 cups of coffee a day. A huge improvement from my usual 6-8 cups a day. My mantra these days is--moderation is the key.

Posted for Photo Hunt

Hearty Pinoy meal [LaPiS]

A hearty meal for most Pinoys is virtually anything as long as there is bottomless rice.

I started cutting down my rice intake 2 years ago in an effort to fit into my old jeans again. It was difficult at the beginning but I eventually got used to a half cup of rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With some exercise, I lost 12 lbs. in over a year and was able to maintain the 122 lbs. weight. But by late last year, I relapsed into eating more rice and meat again. Look at this sampler of Hickory smoked chicken, beef ribs and pork ribs with a plate of garlic rice---certainly not for someone who would want to lose weight! This sampler from Racks was served with baked beans, corn bread, atchara and coleslaw. Good thing I have some friends to share this meal with.

Posted for Lasang Pinoy-Sundays

Lick [Photo-Hunt]

I wanted to be creative with today's theme but couldn't resist posting Fritz wearing his e-collar and caught licking his nose. This was taken the morning after our hasty trip to the vet two weeks ago. According to the vet, licking is a part of a dog's normal survival-oriented behavior. Licking their own lips, limbs, and trunk removes traces of the last meal that would otherwise begin to decompose and smell. Quite apart from the hygienic aspects of this behavior, it also serves to keep dogs relatively odor-free and undetectable from predators.

With Fritz, there is no doubt that he licks my feet and slurps my nose as a loving gesture.

Posted for Photo Hunt

Eat well, be well!

With so many vegetables and fruits to choose from, how about something healthy for Christmas lunch? Check out this green salad with ripe mango, crab meat and shrimps---they add lots of color and taste to your plate, not to mention the vitamins. I love this crunchy and tasty green salad after the cholesterol-laden food we had at Noche Buena.

Eat well, and be well this Christmas and throughout the New Year!

Posted for Food Friday and Food Trip Friday

New look

Here's Fritz' new look as of Thursday night. How'd you like his Elizabethan collar? Fetching, isn't it? Kidding aside, Fritz gave me a fright the other night when I got home from work and found his left eye red and swollen. He yelped when the area near his swollen eye was touched even so gently. I brought him to the Animal House and after the vet checked his eyes, temperature, got some blood for testing, the vet's assistant attached this collar. He didn't protest at first but when he started to bump into chairs and walls, he tried to pry himself out of the collar. Poor baby!

This collar really helps---since he is not able to scratch his eye, the swelling and redness subsided by Friday morning. The vet prescribed an ointment for his eyes that I apply twice a day, an antibiotic (because of his elevated WBC) and pain reliever. Today, he is back to his normal self except for this collar. The neighbors, especially the kids, are all fascinated at his new look.:p