To celebrate the two months that I have carried my little one, I would like to re-post about APAS and my current condition to hopefully shed some light to those who are suffering from the same disorder. I am lifting these articles from my other blog and decided to centralize all my journey here. There has been an alarmingly increasing number of people who are suffering from repro-immuno disorder. It is a grueling and challenging journey and I hope that you could send a little prayer along our way.
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You have a strong immune system.
Inside, I was proud. Yeah!
You need to boost your immune system. Make it healthy - healthier.
I gave a blank stare. What?
It is strong but it is not healthy. It is strong because it is fighting... a lot. We need to fix that.
I scoffed talks about healthy lifestyle. I always believed that you gotta live life, enjoy it while you can. Eat food that makes you happy, bond with friends, get wasted. So, the first time I knew I had an immune system problem, one quote immediately came to mind. Regrets do come last. There are no conclusive findings as to where this syndrome stems from but it seems mostly because of one's lifestyle.
And my lifestyle, well... it has been awesome but downright unhealthy.
After my first LIT, my doctor told me about this article by Zita West, a famous fertility expert, titled Natural Immunotherapy. The article said that while treatments take you far, one needs to have an overhaul of the our view on things, especially the things we eat.
My husband always said, "You are what you eat." I hated it because I felt it was so judgmental. I hated it because it went against what I believed in which was to just enjoy life while you can. However, deep inside, I hated it because he was right.
Okay, so going back to the article -- this is what it encapsulates --
Food that we need to limit or avoid:
Tough? Of course, it is! When I saw this list, I went bonkers. How can I cut down on soft drinks (I had Coke every meal, I had coffee every morning, noon and sometimes, at night, I love steaks and lamb, I love fried food. It is a good thing I don't like sweets and pastries too much.
- Red, smoked or preserved meats
- Vegetable oils
- Hard margarines
- Fried food
- Salt
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Sugar
- Refined grains (white flour or white rice)
- Biscuits, confectionery, cakes and pastries
So how am I faring with this challenge? Before I go to that, the article outlined some of the things that you can consume instead --
I have cut down, significantly. My coffee intake from twice a day has been cut down to, at most, thrice a week or even less. Same thing with my Coke intake. I have been eating more chicken. I haven't eaten liempo for quite a while and to think that liempo is my all-time favorite.
- Special mention to avocado
- Dairy (in moderation)
- Eggs
- Fresh onions, garlic and ginger
- Fruit juices
- Herbal teas
- Lean red meat
- White meat and poultry
- Fruit
- Olive oil and olives
- Beans and nuts
- Seafood and fish
- Soy products like tofu
- Whole grains and seeds
I am not self-righteous. I still grab that coffee whenever I need a little fix but from 12 cups a week to three has been a significant milestone. To replace Coke with orange juice is a big win.
Of course, there has been a trade-off. Prior to this, I could stay as late as 2AM, sleep for four hours and still feel great the next day. Now, I could not even keep myself from dozing off once the clock hits 10 in the evening. I get less time to do things like watch my favorite midnight shows or finish that book I want to read.
But yeah... you gotta do what you gotta do -- focus on right priorities. Find the right motivation and you are halfway there.
A complete, happy family -- a daddy, a mommy and a baby. That is the only motivation I need.
