Archive for the ‘She Says’ Category

Ginger a day can BOOST your LIFE!

Posted: February 17, 2011 by ayamark in Food, Health, She Says
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Ginger is a reedlike plant, Zingiber officinale,  native to the East Indies but now cultivated in most tropical countries, having a pungent, spicy rhizome used in cookery and medicine.

And this is how it looks :

I have been putting raw ginger grinds in to my magic bullet drink for the last 2 month, 5 days a week.  [Sidenote: I LOVE my magic bullet! Every morning, I make myself a healthy fresh fruit/frozen fruit with soy milk and ginger! mMM :) ]  Every since then, I have not been sick at all! I’m prone to get some kind of sickness during the winter month. Or at least a nasty cough of some sort, but NOTHING this year! I’m proud to say that I  have been healthy and energetic since Nov 2010!

Let me tell you a bit of my health history. Just so you understand why 4 month of no sickness is quite an accomplishment for me! In early 2010, when I was travelling in Asia for one month, I came down with some horrible stomach pain. I’m use to stomach pain as I grew up with tummy problems my whole life. But a bit of ‘bowel movement’ and pepto bismol usually did the trick for a quick recovery. Sorry, TMI? Anyways, this one was very different. I was in Singapore and it was a day after we had some funky curry dinner in some shady area of Singapore. The next day, we we were all sick except for Mark’s dad. But everyone recovered and went on with the day. However, my stomach ache never went away. That night, I couldn’t even sleep it off. I was in THAT much pain. I stayed up most of the night moaning and groaning in agony. Next day, the pain never subsided, and I stayed in bed crying. That went on for 3 days straight, taking every anti-acid, diarrhea, stomach pain pills I can take. By the 4th day,  I was able to get out of bed, and finally get some fresh air. I was unable to eat solids for couple days, but I was finally alive!

So, the rest of the trip was fine, but when I can home, I came down with the same stomach pain! I was bed bound 48 hours. I just thought, I probably ate something bad, and consequently in agony. However, it hit me again the next month for 48 hours AGAIN! So, the next time it happened, I promised myself to go see a doctor. So the next month when it happened, it went on for close to a week, and I went to see my family physician. He prescribed me some Esomeprazole pill to help ease the pain. And he diagnosed my symptoms with Gastroesphaegael reflux disease (GERD).  The pills didn’t help at all. But he couldn’t do nothing more. To him, I just had GERD…nothing more :(

So, this was probably end of summer, when I got ‘attacked’ again. To the point, where I couldn’t stand up straight. I wanted to roll up into a fetus position and die. It was that bad. I drove myself painfully to a walk in clinic, and the doctor told me to go to ER immediately. Now, that wasn’t a fun experience! Waited close to 3 hours in the waiting room, and waited close to 2 hours in a cold isolated room with a thin robe. When the doctor finally came in, he didn’t even look at me, but had one of his nurse make me take this numbing solution and anti-acid stuff, and took bunch of blood from me for multiple tests. And I was sent home. I was super upset, but had no energy to fight.

Sorry, this is getting long. Long story short, all the blood test came back negative. I was sent to do a allergy test, and came back positive for practically everything. I’m allergic to all gluts, corn, rice, orange, kiwi, strawberry, all pollen, tree, grass. Pretty much everything. I need to put myself in a bubble so I don’t get contaminated! But seriously, RICE? I’m asian! How am I allergic to RICE? Anyways, after further testing, my doctor told me to stay away from all of my ‘allergy’ food, and that may help prevent me from getting stomach aches… Thanks doc, Let me go see what I can eat or do without hurting myself!

Anyways, back to Ginger talk. I really believe an intake of ginger every day has really helped me calm my digestive /gastroesphaegael system. I’ve always heard that ginger is good for your body in general and should be taken as a supplement once a day.

I did a bit of research and here are some benefits of eating Ginger:

  • Ginger has been found to be helpful in blocking the harmful effects of prostaglandin, a substance that can lead to inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain and even cause migraines.
  • Ginger has been associated with alleviation of the feeling of nausea, even in case of pregnant women.
  • The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger make it effective in alleviation of the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Ginger helps to promote warmth in the upper respiratory tract and thus, is quite effective in treating cold and flu.
  • Those suffering from cramps, caused by stomach gas, have found ginger to be quite effective.
  • Ginger makes the platelets less sticky and is thus, pretty helpful in case of circulatory disorders.
  • The cineole content in ginger has been found to be a mood enhancer and can help in relieving stress.
  • Even ginger tea is said to be a great stress buster and has been found to have refreshing properties.
  • Ginger is a natural and effective mouth freshener and also aids digestion.
  • Ginger reduces inflammation and also helps lower cholesterol.
  • Ginger is good for those suffering from gas and bloating.
  • Ginger is believed to have anti-cancer properties.
  • Ginger has been associated with easing of menstrual cramps and mitigation of headache.
  • Ginger is quite effective in treating diarrhea.

Hey, it’s like killing 2 birds with one stone. Heck, screw just 2! More like a flock of birds! LOL!  In this case, killing millions of disease with ginger!

Ginger tastes bitter, but cooked and served properly, it brings freshness and a bit of ZING to the dish.

If you are feeling sick, or your throat is bugging you, I strongly believe in drinking Ginger Honey Lemon Tea. Grate or slice a good tablespoon of ginger, spoonful of Honey, freshly squeezed lemon in a good steeped tea. ( you can drink it without tea as well). OH my, DELICIOUS! Next time your feeling like you’re coming down with something, give it a try, and see how you feel after!! You’ll be surprised by the power of GINGER!

GINGER POWER :)

How much is too much make up?

Posted: February 16, 2011 by ayamark in Fashion, She Says
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So, on the way to work  I was listening to the Kid Carson show on The Beat, and I was really interested in one of their hot topics: Girls wearing TONS of makeup. Kid Carson himself said that he hates girls with loads of makeup. And I totally agree with him.

I don’t want to be a hypocrite or anything because I put make up on every morning, so I look appropriate for work.  However, my make up is quite minimal; a bit of eyeshadow, mascara and bronzer. Just enough to show that I’m not a slob, but still look au natural.

So, why is it that women feel the urge to cover up with literally a ton of makeup?! I do not agree with girls/women putting on LOADS of make up on as if they are off to a photoshoot. Is it really necessary? And worst culprit of all: women who smear foundation on their faces and visibly see the lines on their jaw line. Seriously ladies… if I can see the lining of your foundation, it’s time you get professional help or not put foundation on at all!!  Trust me, I’d rather see your skin than feel embarrassed for you for not applying your make up properly.

Do you ladies put on make up because you are insecure of your looks? Well, you better get use to your own skin because without a black AMEX card to book your full facial construction, your face is not going to change.

Ladies, learn to love yourself. What’s their to lose. If someone hates you for looking ‘ugly’ without make up on, well then that person is probably a shallow person with no self-esteem at all.

Get the courage to leave the house with no make-up. I do it ALL the time. Screw getting up early to ‘do-up’ your face. Forget it! Sleep in to get your beauty sleep. Put a little chap stick, and maybe a bit of mascara, and go enjoy your day. You’ll soon realize that NO one cares how you look. They’ll accept you for who you are, not how you look.

At the end of the day, you are who you are. Don’t let other people’s opinion lower your self-confidence. It’s not worth it. It’s your life, and you know you are beautiful.

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”
— Audrey Hepburn
“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. 

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.”
— Audrey Hepburn

Sleep Paralysis

Posted: February 13, 2011 by ayamark in She Says
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Sleep Paralysis is paralysis associated with sleep that may occur in normal subjects or be associated with narcolepsy, cataplexy, and hypnagogic hallucinations.

I have not been diagnosed with this disorder; however, I know I have experienced this ‘paralysis’ for the first time almost 7 years ago. Here’s the story:

I was waking up on another sunny day in downtown Vancouver. I remember not being groggy or feeling tired waking up, but I felt like my mind was in a blur. I knew that I was coming out of my dream state, and waking up. Then I noticed that I couldn’t move. I’m pretty sure I was awake and breathing, but I couldn’t move. The only thing I was able to move were my eyes. And I still remember vividly seeing a weird evil aura from the corner of my eyes. And I truly thought that that evil source was the one putting the weight on me. During this whole ordeal, I was in a panic! I was trying so hard to move; trying so hard to move my head! But I couldn’t, and I was starting to freak out! And that evil aura was still there freaking me out even more! Not sure how long this episode went on for, but it sure felt like a long time. This is the weird part. I don’t remember how I got out of it, but I did. And I continued my day on like nothing happened. Didn’t panic, or stopped to think what just happened. I just got up, and continued on with my day. Actually, I don’t even remember getting up…

However, I do remember telling my soon to be mother-in law my experience, and she was quite concerned. She probably thought, “What kind of lunatic is my son dating!” LOL. Anyways, she told me that the next time I experience it just say this in your mind over and over again: “In the name of Jesus, I rebuke you.” So, this became my ritual, and it helped me calm down every time I experience it.

So I’ve had couple more of these episodes when I lived downtown. And then it stopped for quite some time. Then it started up again. It was probably 2 years ago when I experienced it again. That’s when I ‘googled’, and found out that it may be sleep paralysis. I also found many people believing it may be linked to ghosts and spirits… This kind of frightened me because when I read their experience, it was pretty identical to what I have experienced. The feeling of waking up or rather feeling that I’m conscious and out of my dream world, but not able to move or speak…and feeling like someone is watching me, and seeing some weird aura… But I did a bit more research and read that the experience I have experienced is the result of sleep paralysis. Don’t want to go all technical with terms or anything, but basically my mind was playing trick with me and believing that I was seeing something. And the reason why I wasn’t able to move is because even thought my mind was awake, my nerves weren’t awake. Clearly the neurons in my body weren’t sending messages to my brain that I’d like to move now…

So I decided to blog about this because I just experience it again (it’s been a while since I experienced it), but I was sleeping on my couch this afternoon. I just woke up from a 2 hour nap, and at that point, I was drifting in and out while watching Mark and his brother play PS3. And BAM, I wasn’t falling asleep, but I was losing consciousness…but not fully because I knew what was going on. It was like going in to coma, but knowing you were going in to coma. I know, it sounds so odd! Trust me, if you told me all this, I would send you straight to the psyche ward!!  And I wasn’t able to move for the whole time. But with all my might, I would either move my hand or something, and I’d come back alive! This probably happened 10-15 times in a row for 1.5 hours straight. It’s not like I was letting it happen. But once the losing consciousness state happens, there’s no turning back!

Anyways, when I googled sleep paralysis couple years ago, Wikipedia did not exist. And I learned today that not only may I have sleep paralysis, I may have narcolepsy. You can Wikipedia that, but now it’s starting to make sense why I get SOOO tired driving home… my 15 minute commute! Or why my limbs and nerves shut down in the middle of the day.

I think it’s time to have my brain checked out! I’m not crazy after all!!!

New RitchWorld Contributors

Posted: January 24, 2011 by mkritch in She Says, Wanita's Words, Words From My Mouth
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In good fashion and style…living life in a RitchWorld is also about sharing…thus I am going to start sharing my awesome RitchWorld blog with my Fiance Aya and also with my mother Joan who is an editor of a newspaper in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

The new categories which I will be adding are:

  • She Says - Aya will be sharing whats on her mind…Please don’t be surprised if they are warped, strange or completely throw you off guard.
  • Wanita’s Words – These will be my moms editorials on a weekly basis, there may be additional blogs from her as well. – I think my mom is a great writer and a good quirky thinker.

I am really thrilled to have my fiance and my mother join me in sharing their words with the world – I hope you enjoy them both as much as I do!

Please keep me posted on how you like them!
Mk