Well, maybe not EXACTLY the question, but I certainly am scared to death after watching "Forks Over Knives" about eating dairy and meat that I am looking for recipes that may guide me in my seemingly never ending question of "What exactly DO Vegans eat?" Lettuce comes to mind. That's a gimmie..Yes, apples, and I suppose all fruits. Ok, so fruits and vegetables...Got it. Now, we're getting into the fuzzy territory. I've always grown up with the idea that "a meat and two vegetables" was the standard operating procedure and basic way that most healthy people lived. If you were feeling particularly hungry, you would throw in an apple cobbler for dessert. (Can you tell I've eaten at Cracker Barrel one too many times?) However, now, with the revelation that what I've been eating will kill me - or at the very least give me cancer or heart disease or both, I am really wanting to flip those genetic markers and make sure they don't get turned on. Lots of my ancestors died of either one or both of the two biggies.
But how? How with three children and a husband who believes that the high protein/low carb diet is what works best for weight loss, can I do this? I've been thinking about it for a few months now - ever since I saw the eye opening horror film "Forks Over Knives." You should watch it too. I'm a skeptic when it comes to diet programs and anything vegetarian in general, but that has me convinced - dairy and meat will kill me....maybe even painfully in about 25 years if not sooner.
SO, the question begs to be answered.. Barring any accidental death, do I really want to live beyond 25 years? And, maybe, would I like being 69 if I didn't have one of the big diseases? I've seen enough patients to say that I don't think I wanna live past 80 if I have a debilitating disease...or any disease for that matter. Like everyone else, I would like to just be cognitively super savvy, physically fit and independent well into my 90's....or beyond...However, I draw the line (like I'm the one really in charge of the "timeline" of my life) at outliving my children or grandchildren. I'm not a vampire wanna be thank you. I think maybe not. I think sometimes that the bottom line and even bigger questions are "Is there food out there that I can enjoy that won't kill me? AND, Would my instant gratification for what tastes good really be satisfied by granola and tofu?" See, even the thought of that makes me throw up a little in my mouth. That's my big (we'll call it health insurance) search which I might blog about from time to time because it helps me sort out what I think I need and want.
So, now I'll go drink a bottle of water and take a walk. I'm sure water and walking are safe. Maybe I'll have some oatmeal when I get back. Can't have cereal cause I can't have milk if I'm a vegan. Oh, and by the way, I consider anyone who attaches any kind of religious belief to their food is an idiot. Yes, I did just have to throw that in. Peace to you...even if you do have a weird religion. And, yes anything other than Christianity is weird and wrong. I know, we'll sort it all out when we die, but do you really want to be wrong if I'm right about this and you wind up in hell? If you don't know that by now, I feel sorry for you. I'm not gonna erase that last paragraph either because it is Easter weekend and "If we deny Him, He will deny us." So, sorry if you're offended, but I'm feeling like I don't do enough witnessing lately anyway and I really believe that Jesus will be coming back soon...which makes me ask yet another question..."If He comes back before I get old and might start seeing some of these diseases, shouldn't I go ahead and indulge in that steak if I want to? Oh, so many questions on such an empty stomach.
Dementia isn't just getting senile. It's a legitimate, deadly and awful disease. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy especially not my Dad. But here we are. It's been a long road, and now...Hospice.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
You learn something new every day.
I like being a nurse. I don't like the paperwork involved, but I like the people. Oh, and I'm also not really a big fan of looking at strangers rashes or getting asked medical advice when they find out I'm a nurse. I'm not a doctor. A lot of people get those two things confused...including nurses. I like the people because they provide the best stories to tell. Some of them I can even write about without getting thrown in the pokey because I've infringed on someone's privacy rights. I always change the names, the circumstances and the place. But, even with doing that, the stories are true and are just too odd to have been made up.
Take, for instance, the story of Mr. Clean. I'll just call him that because of what the poor guy did - at the advice of a nurse no less- (but not me thank you). He had a foot fungus that would itch the chigger right off of a boy scout. A nurse friend of his suggested that he soak his foot in bleach every night. She told him to mix a half a CAP (with an "a") of bleach with a gallon of water. He did this for five years which obviously didn't cure the itchy foot. However, one fateful night, his wife (who normally mixed up the solution) was out of town and Mr. Clean decided he could do it himself. Unfortunately, he put a whole CUP (with a "u") of bleach in one gallon of water and then dried his foot, put his sock on and then later that night when he was going to bed and took off his socks, he took the skin from the top part of his foot with it. Off he goes to the ER, (which by the way I'm sure would be a great place to get even more "You did what?" stories, but I don't work in the ER. I work in home health. I'm a whole different kinda nurse. Currently, we're taking care of the foot and it's starting to look better. Now comes the infection prevention measures. Fortunately, he's diabetic and has diabetic neuropathy and can't feel his feet too well. It's the small blessings in life that make it doable I guess.
So what have we learned from this post students? Don't soak your feet in bleach. In our next episode, we'll tackle the concept of "If you're an Octogenarian, don't think you can start walking down an extremely steep driveway without avalanching to the bottom and breaking something." Benefit from the stupidity of others people. That's the real survival of the fittest.
Take, for instance, the story of Mr. Clean. I'll just call him that because of what the poor guy did - at the advice of a nurse no less- (but not me thank you). He had a foot fungus that would itch the chigger right off of a boy scout. A nurse friend of his suggested that he soak his foot in bleach every night. She told him to mix a half a CAP (with an "a") of bleach with a gallon of water. He did this for five years which obviously didn't cure the itchy foot. However, one fateful night, his wife (who normally mixed up the solution) was out of town and Mr. Clean decided he could do it himself. Unfortunately, he put a whole CUP (with a "u") of bleach in one gallon of water and then dried his foot, put his sock on and then later that night when he was going to bed and took off his socks, he took the skin from the top part of his foot with it. Off he goes to the ER, (which by the way I'm sure would be a great place to get even more "You did what?" stories, but I don't work in the ER. I work in home health. I'm a whole different kinda nurse. Currently, we're taking care of the foot and it's starting to look better. Now comes the infection prevention measures. Fortunately, he's diabetic and has diabetic neuropathy and can't feel his feet too well. It's the small blessings in life that make it doable I guess.
So what have we learned from this post students? Don't soak your feet in bleach. In our next episode, we'll tackle the concept of "If you're an Octogenarian, don't think you can start walking down an extremely steep driveway without avalanching to the bottom and breaking something." Benefit from the stupidity of others people. That's the real survival of the fittest.
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