The Budwig Diet

Based on the information from here:

The Budwig Diet is also known as the Cottage Cheese & Flaxseed Oil Diet created by Dr Budwig  — purported to be an alternative treatment for cancer and other chronic disease. A mix of these two ingredients is one component of a protocol involving additional types of alternative therapy, and generally avoiding conventional treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation.

Budwig said that the blood of cancer patients was deficient in some essential components, including phosphatides and lipoproteins. This affects the proper balance between the electrically negative cell membranes and the electrically positive nutrients, causing stagnated healthy cell growth. A balance could be restored through diet over three months, resulting in better health.

Eating a specific mix of cottage cheese and flaxseed oil is said to help resolve stagnated healthy cell growth and cause tumors to dissolve. This is due to the essential electron-rich unsaturated fats in flaxseed oil and the sulfur protein of cottage cheese. The chemical reaction between these two makes the oil soluble in water, so it can permeate cell membranes and produce healing effects.

To make the cottage cheese and flaxseed oil combination, I use the immersion blender to blend 2 or 4 tbsp. of cottage cheese to 1 or 2 tbsp. of oil. To make it more palatable, I will add fruits, chia seeds etc as seen in the photo above. That one has strawberries, chia seeds and lime zest (extras from my key lime tart).  

I have been having this 'diet' multiple times a week — not sure if it works because I'm under chemotherapy as well; whereas those under this strict diet are usually patients who are seeking alternative therapy. In any case, I hope eating this will be a supplement!

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In other news, yesterday I was getting out of the car at Eastpoint Mall... when my heart palpitations came back again :'( CRAI. Spent almost 30 mins sitting at Tori Q in the basement instead of exploring the newly renovated mall. Tried my best coughing hard to get my heart back on track but to no avail. When I got home, my heart rate was around 146. Lay on my bed and didn't move an inch cuz I was afraid my heart rate will go up (dinner in bed!). My mom managed to contact Dr Eric, and he asked me to take an extra dose of my heart medication. Past 10pm, my heart rate finally slowed to 100+, I think it's due to the combination of both the medication and the effect of blowing the syringe (the cardiologists taught me this method to reverse my fast heart rate). 

Well, at least it went down and saved us a trip to the ER where I would have been kept for at least a night. So thankful. 

Chemotherapy Round 4

Happy December everyone! I just got admitted for my 4th cycle of chemotherapy on the 1st, and just started the first round of drugs today. It usually takes a day for them to prepare the drugs. I've been trying to rush them... but I learnt that alot of people are involved in the process — the doctor will first calculate the concentration of the drugs from my height, weight, and BODY SURFACE AREA (which is 1.6 m2 btw lol), and then fax it over to the pharmacy lab to prepare the drugs, and which they will finally send it over to the ward when they are done. So I guess I can understand why they take so long every time!

For the next chemotherapy cycle, I am really hoping that it won't clash with christmas or new year's. Dr Lim says he'll try his best to push it forward so that it will end just before christmas but this will only happen IF my blood counts rise up in time after this 4th round... or there's a back up plan of coming in on boxing day, and going home on new year's eve. Don't wanna be in hospital on neither occasions, that'll be a major mood dampener but I know health comes first, so fingers crossed!

Anyway, here's some mid-week organic pasta cheer! Salmon (marinated with terriyaki sauce) with aglio olio, handmade chia meatballs (really proud of this one — second time making this, and the chia seeds make the meatballs so moist!) with tomato pesto fusilli, and a ~fusion~ miso salmon with miso pasta haha #domesticated

"What do you do in your free time?"

I hardly leave the house nowadays because it's important that I stay away from crowded places as my immune system is down and I don't wanna get sick. Anyway I'm the kind that normally loves staying home all day long so it doesn't really matter... I know some people feel 'trapped' in their own home but not me!! I love my home! To get fresh air, I'll stand at the balcony for some sunlight (vitamin D!) and enjoy the pool view. Lol when I typed that out it sounds quite sad... But it really isn't!

I used to take walks downstairs by the pool but I'm trying to avoid any activity that will make my heart pump faster. I don't want it to start racing again because I don't wanna head back to the hospital anytime soon! My 3rd cycle of chemo starts this coming Monday, and I'll be in hospital till the next weekend so it's best that I don't check myself in any earlier. (Sidetrack: my heart rate decided to go up to 160 one day after I returned home from hospital on Tuesday. Thank god it went down after I took the medication!)

Anyway... I've been getting this a lot — "What do you do in your free time?"

Well, it's true — I have LOADS of free time on my hands now. Most of the time I'm sleeping, and eating... definitely my kind of recuperation. 

Before I started chemotherapy I was talking to Joel about it, there are so many exciting things that I could do to keep myself busy these few months that I'm off work (and also to keep those brain cells working) — continue learning French, do online courses that will up my PR game, equipping myself with new skills (e.g. art, photoshop, Microsoft excel) etc.

But when I really got home after my first round of chemotherapy... I was feeling so lethargic and simply nua. I decided that these few months I only needed to do one thing — rest well!! But during the past few weeks I realized that "hey, baking is actually quite fun and therapeutic ah". So... that's my new skill. #domesticated

So far my first attempts have been successful - except for flourless peanut butter choc chip cookies. Not sure why the cookie refused to stick together?! Like the peanut butter continued to crumble :( perhaps I was abit too excited and scooped too much peanut butter. 

But yes, for someone who NEVER steps into the kitchen (except to grab food to eat)... I must say I have leveled up!! The recipes I've used are generally fuss-free and do not need a lot of equipment/utensils (post-baking, i.e. cleaning, ughh). I'd be more than glad to share, just let me know :)

Strawberry muffins

Matcha Chia Pudding, topped with cranberries

Cinnamon Sugar Popovers

Matcha White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Molten  chocolate lava cake! 
Used the airfryer to make this and it surprisingly turned out great.

Lifestyle changes

My typical kind of breakfast nowadays

I believe that chemotherapy alone will not be able to treat cancer. There's also a need for a change in mindset, and with that, a change in lifestyle — especially in terms of diet. I think it is essential to feed your body the right way so that it remains strong and well-equipped enough to fight these nasty cells. Plus, it doesn't help that chemotherapy kills BOTH good and bad cells. So the more it is important for the body to get as much nutrients and anti-oxidants as possible to cope with the battle!

My parents and I have been reading quite a fair bit online. Cancer cells feed on certain sugars... so I've been staying away from artificially sweet food. It's a big change for me because I have a mega sweet tooth and I love my desserts! Thank god for natural sweeteners like honey and fruits which keep these sugar pangs at bay haha but of course, everything in moderation.

I've also learnt about the importance of organic food! Especially since my immune system is lower than normal, and with chemotherapy, I feel that I should limit the unnecessary chemicals going into my body as much as possible. I used to personally think that there was little need for organic food because we have been eating normal food our whole lives and our bodies should have adapted right? Plus it's so expensive here in Singapore! 

But after everything now... imagining the amount of chemicals and pesticides that go into our everyday food — it just isn't natural for our bodies to take in so much nasty stuff!

Realistically I don't think there is a need to have a 100% organic lifestyle. For me, I just believe that if you're eating something raw/juicing, it'll be good that the fruits and vegetables are organic so that you know that your body is absorbing all the wonderful nutrients without any compromise. 

And it doesn't stop at organic food! I've also switched to organic skincare — using Kora Organics by Miranda Kerr now. Pricey, but I think super worth it! My skin remains less shiny throughout the day and I haven't had pimples in the last 2 months! I read on the Kora Organics blog that an average woman puts at least 200 chemicals on her face everyday?! I think this is pretty accurate because I was looking at my other products and true enough... I did not recognize any ingredient (all chemical names) except for "aqua/water". 

Ok I sound like an organic maniac haha but for my case now I really don't want any more unwanted and unnecessary chemicals to be in my body. Also, chemotherapy has caused my skin to be extra sensitive and dry. Decided to try Kora Organics because y'know... look good to feel good! Hehe

Anyway I've been really blessed to have my dad and his friends flying to organic paradises like USA and Australia to buy organic produce for me. Because it's locally produced it's so much cheaper and easily available! LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL CARROTS AND BEETROOT FROM AUSTRALIA!!!! The carrots look exactly like the kind that Bugs Bunny eats. Like WHUT?! Honestly I haven't seen carrots and beetroots being sold like this with their leaves in Singapore... ever. Felt like a citygal noob when my dad showed them to me. 

There are a couple of organic stores in Singapore that my parents have gone to as well. As an alternative to dairy milk, I've been drinking unsweetened almond milk (prefer it to soy milk). One carton costs $8?! Madness. But my mom bought 4 for me to try anyway. So glad to have found it on iHerb.com at half the price!! I have another 4 cartons on the way to Singapore now. Just bought another bunch of stuff as well — organic pasta, organic granola... It's a great site to buy healthier products. 

They seriously stock everything organic/gluten-free/vegan, and products range from groceries to household items! And the best part — shipping is only SGD4 for max 6kg worth of stuff! Plus there's $10 off for your first order, and an extra 10% if your order's >$40! You may use my referral code BJS904. Good things must share! (Thanks Clare for recommending this site to me!!)

Wow that was a lengthy post — but just thought I'd share on how things have changed for me. There are soooo many articles on how people have changed their lives drastically (e.g. no meat diet, juice-only diet) to cure cancer. So much information and perspectives it was quite overwhelming. But I strongly believe that every individual copes differently. It's good to have all these information on hand, and from there, adjust accordingly to make it work for yourself.