One month down...
Yesterday was exactly one month since my surgery and today something exciting happened: my cast was replaced with a half splint!! I went to see the doctor and he said if I was really "guai" (well behaved, usually said of pets and little children) he'd allow me to put a splint on my leg instead of a new cast, and also let me start physiotherapy sooner. This was good news to me, so I transferred to another hospital where their whole second floor is physio (another word added to my Chinese vocabulary: fu jian ke). Actually it looked really fun, with lots of little machines for people to do exercises to regain mobility in various joints. But I wasn't there to exercise today, but to get the splint. It was a really cool feeling, first he put this hot putty-like substance over my leg and foot, and shaped it, making sure my ankle was at 90 degrees. They warned me that it would feel really hot, but to tell you the truth, it's the first time my toes have felt warm in a month!! After that he took it away to harden and line the edges. It's fixed to my leg with just velcro over the top, so actually i do have to be more careful than with the cast, because it can move around more easily. But they said this way i can take it off and wash my foot, and exercise my ankle when it's ready. It's also a lot more comfortable. I'll put some pictures up as soon as i can. Actually I think the toe part looks a lot like a duck's foot. You can judge for yourself soon.
Food update: my doctor told me that I shouldn't eat bananas too, and added mangoes, seafood, and spicy foods to the list.... sigh at least I don't have to eat congee every day!
Food update: my doctor told me that I shouldn't eat bananas too, and added mangoes, seafood, and spicy foods to the list.... sigh at least I don't have to eat congee every day!
Hi Love, I miss you, and that's great news that you are healing quickly!! I just got a forward from a girl a work and it made me think of you...so here.. the benefits of bananas :)
ReplyDeleteBananas Contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial
boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
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>Depression:
>According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel better.
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>PMS:
>Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
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>Anemia:
>High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
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>Blood Pressure:
>This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
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>Brain Power:
>200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex England) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert
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>Constipation:
>High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
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>Hangovers:
>One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
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>Heartburn:
>Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
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>Morning Sickness:
>Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness
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>Mosquito bites:
>Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
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>Nerves:
>Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
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>Overweight and at work?
>Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
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>Ulcers:
>The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
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>Temperature control:
>Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
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>Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
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>Smoking:
>Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6 and B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
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>Stress:
>Potassium is a vital mineral which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
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>Strokes:
>According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death from strokes by as much as 40%!
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>So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
> Footnote:
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If your roses are covered with Aphids, drape banana skins over the branches, It's amazing, but in a day or less, they are GONE!