Something Fishy

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The first time I got pregnant, I read up on everything about Pregnancy, what to expect, the dos and don'ts, what to eat, what NOT to eat . . . . until Zola's Dad told me that if I follow everything I read, I 'll end up eating nothing! Haha!

But one of the things I took note of was to be careful with eating fish since some of them have a high mercurial content.  It is dangerous for a pregnant woman to be exposed to Mercury because this liquid metal can damage the developing baby's nervous system and can also cause brain damage (scaarrryyy right?)

So now that I'm pregnant (again), I googled (again!) and found a list from the American Pregnancy Association website.

Here's the list of fish (and shellfish) with the highest and lowest mercurial content:

Highest Mercury

• Marlin
• Orange roughy
• Tilefish
• Swordfish
• Shark
• Mackerel (King)
• Tuna (Big Eye, Ahi) - Shame. . . I love Tuna!

High Mercury (No more than three 6oz servings per month)

• Sea Bass (Chilean) - Sea Bass!!!! Noooooo. . . *sad face here*
• Blue Fish
• Grouper
• Mackerel (Spanish, Gulf)
• Tuna (Canned, White Albacore)
• Tuna (Yellowfin)

Lowest Mercury  (Two 6oz servings per week)

• Anchovies
• Butterfish
• Catfish
• Clam
• Crab (Domestic)
• Crayfish/Crawfish
• Croacker
• Flounder
• Haddock
• Hake
• Herring
• Mackerel (N Atlantic, Chub)
• Mullet
• Oysters
• Perch (Ocean)
• Plaice
• Salmon (Canned, Fresh)
• Sardines
• Scallops
• Shad (American)
• Shrimps
• Sole
• Squid
• Tilapia
• Trout
• Whitefish
• Whiting

Okay, I'm only familiar with half of what is in this list (Haha!) but it's okay. . .nice to know that I can eat tilapia, salmon, shrimps, squid, sole and SCALLOPS!!!  (If I can't have Sea Bass, Scallops would be perfectly fine!)  

I'm a happy camper!  =)

Going Healthy

Pregnancy has changed me. . . and my eating habits!  I went to the grocery to get some "healthy stuff" because I couldn't find anything healthy to nibble on when my hunger pangs set in.  The trip to the grocery (a happy place of mine!) was quicker than usual. . .because i skipped a lot of aisles (read the good and sinful stuff, Haha!)  

Goodbye to the colorful world (for now, heehee) of junk food, processed food and caffeinated drinks . . .and everything I should not be eating now that I'm pregnant. . . 

and say Hello to. . . .

The Healthy stuff

I was put in a low salt, low fat diet . . .thanks to my high-normal blood pressure *sigh*   

So I got some:

1) Fruits and cucumbers (vegetables sticks anyone?)

2) Wheat crackers (I prefer the Garden Brand over Hwa Tai---they don't taste like cardboard)

3) Chocolate soy milk (I don't drink milk but milk is important in my diet so I settled for soy milk.  The only brand I like and drink . . . Silk brand for its chocolatey goodness!)

4) Cereals (Nestle's Banana-Nut cluster remains a fave)

5)  Brown rice (I've had other brands before but thought of trying Harvester's . . . just because it is endorsed by Chef Laudico, hahaha!  I just find him nice, heehee =)

6)  Wheat pasta (I can't . .  and won't give up pasta. . .ever!) 

Looking at this list. . . all I can say is . . .I am a changed woman, hahaha! 

Have a nice week ahead! =)

What is big and green?

This has been sitting in my draft folder for a couple of weeks now.  I think it's a perfect time to post it after I blogged about my Little Big girl and her Big rabbit. . . here comes another biggie!

I've shared in a previous post about the different vegetables and fruits we have in our backyard. (Thanks to my Mom and Dad!).  Guess what we got this time. . . . BIIIIGGG avocados!

The tree has been around for a number of years but actually it bore fruit only this year . . . but it's okay.  It definitely made up for the lost time, haha!

I know. . . they're huuuggee!

To give you a clearer picture, I've put it beside a big bottle of peanut butter and the Little One's can of milk .

At home, Mom makes avocado shake or "ice cream".   Our version of homemade "ice cream"---mom scooping out the avocado meat, mashing it a little bit, mixing it with some evaporated milk and some ice!

While Zola's Dad simply dips it in powdered milk or condensed milk.

As for myself, since I'm not really fond of milk . . . I like my avocado. . .as a salad ingredient or in  guacamole. . . with my salsa and chips!  Haha! 

Though avocados have a high calorie content, they offer health benefits that would surely outweigh our obsession over calories, heehee.  I think avocado is one of the most essential and dynamic fruits we have. . . you might want to include them in your shopping list the next time you do your groceries =) 

Here are some of the health benefits of avocados which I got from www.healthdiaries.com:

Prostate Cancer Prevention

Avocadoes have been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer.

Oral Cancer Defense
Research has shown that certain compounds in avocados are able to seek out pre-cancerous and cancerous oral cancer cells and destroy them without harming healthy cells.

Breast Cancer Protection
Avocado, like olive oil, is high in oleic acid, which has been shown to prevent breast cancer in numerous studies.

Eye Health
Avocados have more of the carotenoid lutein than any other commonly consumed fruit. Lutein protects against macular degeneration and cataracts, two disabling age-related eye diseases.

Lower Cholesterol
Avocados are high in beta-sitosterol, a compound that has been shown to lower cholesterol levels. In one study, 45 volunteers experienced an average drop in cholesterol of 17% after eating avocados for only one week.

Heart Health
One cup of avocado has 23% of the recommended daily value of folate. Studies show that people who eat diets rich in folate have a much lower incidence of heart disease than those who don't. The vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and glutathione in avocado are also great for your heart.

Stroke Prevention
The high levels of folate in avocado are also protective against strokes. People who eat diets rich in folate have a much lower risk of stroke than those who don't.

Better Nutrient Absorption

Research has found that certain nutrients are absorbed better when eaten with avocado.  IN one study, when participants at a salad containing avocados, they absorbed five times the amount of carotenoids (a group of nutrients that includes lycopene and beta carotene) than those who didn't include avocados.

Glutathione Source

Avocados are an excellent source of glutathione, an important antioxidant that researches say is important in preventing aging, cancer and heart disease.

Vitamine E Powerhouse

Avocados are the best fruit source of vitamin E, an essential vitamin that protects against many diseases and helps maintains overall health.

Out of the Blue

Yes, just like that. . . I thought of joining a marathon!  Haha!  Something for my bucket list!

Not anytime soon but hopefully I get to do it within the year.  I know walking regularly (I don't even jog! Haha!) for almost three months doesn't really qualify me to do one (yet).  I have to work on my stamina and increase my mileage.  I want to do at least a 3K marathon!  (The most I did was 8 rounds in the track oval, which is equivalent to 0.4 km only!  Aaacckk!)  

Note to self --- please check your mental preparedness.  

I was telling Zola's Dad about it and he told me that I should at least jog!  And I told him that what matters most is I cross the finish line, however long it takes!  (The organizers will wait for everybody to finish right?!  Haha!)

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For a consolidated list of marathon schedules in Philippines, please click on this link .

Looking Fab!

Saw this today. . . .Amber Riley (aka Mercedes Jones in "Glee") is looking FAB!

Why I finally started Exercising?  I know I should have started a long time ago (but hey, as they say, "better late than never"!)

As Amber puts it . . .

"I've always been comfortable with my size.  I just decided it was time to get healthy." 

I couldn't have said it better myself!

Yes to loving yourself (whatever size you are) and Yes to getting healthy!

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