First State, Infertility Treatment: Consultation with Gynaecologist; A Debate of Pro Life or Pro Choice

This Thursday was another visit to the gyanecologist. Doctor Sakakibara. No inspection this time. Last month's visit was with a different gynae but I am sure after reading the written notes, Dr. Sakakibara knew what was going on. The previous gynae told me to mate during the very few but precious days of ovulation. Yet, we failed because my dear husband was just too tired.

By observing my husband's weekly schedule, he had the time to sleep earlier because he worked morning shifts. However, he did not make the effort to take care of his physical health properly by sleeping late. Therefore, with a tired soul how could one possible mate? It would be unjust to inform him last minute so I informed him a month ago. So you tell me, how could I not be disappointed with an uttering ignorant husband?

I had to share my discontentment with Dr.Sakakibara. He was not pleased after my explanation. He stressed that it won't mean anything if only one partner is trying while the other slacks off. I told him don't put the blame on me. With this said, he told me to bring my husband with me for the next appointment.

He also suggested rather than delaying the process, it is better to look into In Vitro Fertilization(IVF). Briefly, the cost is 3000usd. You will get 50% refund back.Without further elucidation, we decided that before making any decision, first we need to have a heart-to-heart chat between the three of us, including my husband.

Honestly, I do not know much of IVF. Simply said, IVF is mating through test-tube. After researching this topic, I found out that this topic has been a subject of moral controversy. Firstly, let me explain to myself and to you about what IVF is. In Vitro Fertilization is also called test-tube conception, a medical procedure in which mature egg cells are removed from a woman to fertilize with male sperm outside the body. Then reinserted back into the uterus of the same or another woman for normal gestation. By just reading at the explanation, I see that nothing is wrong and why should it be a controversial issue? Little did I know this is a hot-button issue.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages:

Helping Infertile Couples

IVF according to many infertility experts are recommended when there is no longer an option. IVF is also another step that would make infertile patient less depressing by giving them a few percent of ultimate hope.In short, IVF is the only way to allow infertile couples to have their own children.

Preventing Birth Defects

Another scientific argument is that by studying fertilization and early embryonic development outside the womb, scientists might learn more about how to prevent certain birth defects.

Creating Sick or Malformed Babies

For IVF adversaries, there are a number of reasons not to support IVF. The chief reason is no one knew if science would actually work perfectly. There is no warranty that IVF will guarantee a healthy baby. Yes, there are plentiful of successful cases and we praised science and technology! Nevertheless, there are also failed cases where deformed babies rife with terminal illnesses are born. Some couples plan for abortions or blame the doctors. Some decided to go on and give birth to the sick babies. According to many research, IVF babies are prone to holes in their hearts, development of only one kidney, brain abnormalities, risk of cancer and the list goes on. This when the adversaries question the morale values of IVF.

Destroying Social Structures

Accompanying the concern that IVF would not work were fears that it might work too well. Another group of critics warned that it would lead to the end of nuclear family, where sexual intercourse and couple bonding is replaced with laboratory breeding. Conservatives feared the creation of non-traditional families. Feminists worry that with new technology which is supposed to help women are actually pressurizing women.

Religious Views

Another opposition comes from the religious groups often referring to bibles and the words of Gods. Basically, religious groups and leaders, like Pope(s) are condemning the use of technology by scientists, arguing that "Working against nature and taking Lord's work into their own hands" just won't be fruitful and godly.


I have mixed feelings after reading all the articles about IVF. I have heard of the term "Frankenbabies" before but did not know that it relate to test-tube babies. This term is refer to the first few tes-tube babies, Louise Brown and Elizabeth Carr. There were fears of "Frakenbabies" at first but began to disappear. Subsequently, test-tube babies were not shunned, and far from destroying the traditional family. Then again, there are so many women who abort their babies after finding out that their babies will suffer from certain illness.(You could just google about IVF and abortion and depending on the country, the abortion rates are pretty high)

In the words of biologist Lee Silver, "Here's a technology (IVF) which is almost always used to allow a married man and woman to have a child, to form family...So IVD facilitates a very, very traditional outcome, which is mother and a father and children."

In another words of author Robin Marantz Henig,"How people get used to all sorts of new technology...at first it seems like it is abhorrent and it is something that we should not do. And then for a while it seems kind of miraculous...And then after a while, the technology just become part of the fabric of daily life."

I could not help but only nod my head and agree heartily with Brooke Shields words, "The difficulty of IVF or of any fertility issues is the hope and the shattered hope, the dream that it might happen this time and then it doesn't happen.

I will update more on this discussion when all three of us have a heart-to-heart talk. 

Sneak Peak of Japan: The Goodness of Fermented Food

When you mentioned about fermented food, what pops in your mind? Since I am in Japan, Asia I could give you a few examples: Miso, natto, fermented garlic, yoghurt, wine etc. To a Korean, fermented food will means kimchi, the national delicacy. Hot and spicy dish made from fermented Chinese cabbage. To a Chinese, what comes to mind is the famous century eggs. Known as 100 years old preserved egg. To a westerner, pickles, cheese and wine. You get the idea. Now, what does fermented actually means?

The word  "Fermentation" is derived from Latin meaning "to boil". In scientific explanation, fermentation is a chemical transformation of organic substances into simpler compounds by the action of enzymes. Bascially, it means that something, usually food goes through a chemical change that results from the production of alcohol, molds or yeasts. The enzymes plays a very vital role in breaking down comples organic molecules to smaller molecules(hydrolysis). This hydrolysis allows the breakdown food to assimilate into the body. One example is, fermenting carbohydrates. Enzyme works on the carbohydrates to reduce the starches and complex sugars to simple sugars. In short, fermentation makes the end product more digestible and absordable for our bodies.

'So what?!' you may ask after the mumbo jumbo explanation? Well, there are 8 reasons why fermented foods are good for you and I. Let me explain in bullet points:

(1) Fermented foods improve digestion

Since 70% of the body's immune system dwells in the digestive tract, maintaining digestive health is crucial to the body's overall well-being. However, not all people are blessed with strong immune systems. Some people cannot tolerate milk but they can eat yoghurt. This is because the lactose in milk is broken down when the milk is fermented into yoghurt.

(2) Fermented foods restore the proper balance of bacteria in the gut

Do you suffer from lactose intolerance? Gluten intolerance? Constipation? Irritable bowel syndrome? Yeast infections? Allergies? Asthma? All of these conditions have been linked to a lack of good bacteria in the gut. So, starting consuming fermented food to restore your health back.

(3) Raw, fermented foods are rich in enzymes

As we age, our body's supply of enzymes decrease. Many scientists have hypothesize that if you could guard against enzyme depletion, you could live a longer and healthier life. Now, I know why some says a glass of wine if good for you daily but drinking too much can be disastrous :)

(4) Fermenting food actually increases the vitamin content

Fermented dairy products consistenly reveal high folic acid level, vitamin Bs, pyroxidine, riboflavin and biotin which is critical in producing healthy babies. Japanese health programs also stress this alot.

(5) Eating fermented food helps us to absorb the nutrients we are consuming

The law of digestion explains that you can ingest huge amounts of nutriets, but unless you absorb them, they are unless to you. When you improve digestion, you improve absorption.(Back to 1 and 2)

(6) Fermenting food helps to preserve it for longer periods of time

Milk will go bad in the fridge but yoghurt last a lot longer. If you have a huge produce in your garden, that you don't know how to use up - go ferment it.

(7) Fermenting food is inexpensive

There are tons of fermented food recipes on the internet and cookbooks that benefit you and your purse. Eat healthy! Start making your own fermented cabbage dish.

(8) Fermenting foodi ncreases the flavour

There’s a reason humans enjoy drinking wine and eating stinky cheese. There’s a reason we like sauerkraut on our hot dogs and salsa on our tortilla chips. It tastes good!

Next, my question is whether everyone consumes the real fermented food I mentioned above? Speaking in terms from living in America perspective, the standard American Diet is definitely missing fermented food - unless you count those cheap beer and wine and not forgetting those deceptive pickles and imitated sauerkraut. According to my research online(maybe it might not be entirely truthful but still worth pondering about), these food are unfortunately produced quickly for mass consumption. Most sauerkraut you buy in the store is flaccid and mealy, rather than crunchy and tangy as it should be. In order words, the food industries have been deceiving the consumers by preserving those mass produced food in salt and vinegar instead of traditional lactobacterial fermentation process. Unless, the producer adds bacteria, store bought sauerkraut is usually pasteurized and the worse part, lacks of nutrients.

納豆(Nattou)

 

 In contrast to the standard Japanese and Korean diet, these people consume natto(fermented soy) and kimchi(fermented cabbage) almost daily. This summer, due to the heat wave, I hardly made miso (fermented barley or rice) soup. However, I substitute what I lack of with natto. I can say that natto is Japanese breakfast staple. Not all but some foreigners avoid eating natto due to its smell and gluey texture, even some Japanese dodge the malodorous natto. It is actually not that bad when you get used to it. I try to consume natto once a day as it is rich with vitamins and health-enhancing. Koreans I know consume kimchi in every meal.

I have no knowledge of fermentated food until I came to Japan. I first learned about the importance of consuming fermentation food through my Japanese family and food programs on TV. As I am not a science geek or a food sommelier I really do not know much about the goodness of food except for tasty junk food, seriously. Married life had made me a better and wiser food eater(as I stressed previously on my blog). Fermented food often have numerous advantages over raw food from which they are made of. The media is always talking about eating good, eating healthy but what does it really mean if you dig deeper into the meaning of eating healthy? This is the article for you!

Start dining fermented food!

*I actually bought my very first organic fermented garlic at the supermarket yesterday and inspired me to research and write about the benefits of fermented food to our body*

Where Were You?

Today marks the 12th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, then Pentagon and then one hijacked flight that crashed in Pennsylvania.  One of the questions frequently asked after the event happened and also the first couple anniversaries of the attacks was, "Where were you when the twin towers fell?"  Today's post will be my reflection on that day.

It seemed like a normal school day.  I was in 11th grade (one year before high school graduation).  It was mid-morning when someone from the school office came to our classroom (of about 20-25 students) and said, "You'd better turn on the television for the news."  The teacher immediately turned on the classroom's television, which was programmed to only have the news channel (to prevent inappropriate channels from being seen).  I think at that time one plan was in the 1st WTC building.  I can't remember if both planes had crashed.  We were all pretty quiet in the classroom as we watched the news coverage of the event, which at this point was still filled with confusion as to who was responsible and why it happened, but when the second plane flew into the buildings it was probably beginning to be apparent that this was an act of terrorism.  We had occasional outbursts like, "Why would someone do this?" and "How could we not know about this soon enough to prevent?"

Eventually, we saw the buildings collapse.  I remember watching in horror and murmuring, "We just witnessed hundreds of people dying."  It was a sickening feeling.  The saddest thing was hearing about people jumping from the burning buildings to their death several stories below.  And to think that from the time the plane was hijacked to the time the plan crashed those people were terrified the whole time.

That night, my parents made it a point to have a meal as a family around the dinner table.  Once my dad had taken a job out of town we often didn't eat all 5 of us together, it would be that my brother, sister and I would eat around 5 pm and then my dad and mom would eat together when he got home around 6 pm.  But that night we all ate together at 6 pm so that we could talk about what had happened.  My sister would have been in 8th grade and my brother in 6th.

Throughout the next few days the death tolls grew.  Not just for those who perished in the planes or the buildings that collapsed, but for the firefighters, medics, police, etc. who perished in trying to save people.

Fortunately, I did not lose anyone in the terrorist attacks.  But that doesn't mean that I was without grief.  I was scared, angry and confused as to why someone could hate so much that they would kill so many.  I remember being terrified for months afterward whenever I heard a plane flying overhead.  I told myself I would never fly on a plane (which I have several times since then and have enjoyed every flight).  I remember being disgusted when hearing about store owners in America not allowing people who are or look of Middle Eastern descent into their stores because they "must be" terrorists, since I believe that you can't base an entire culture based on a sub-groups choices for violence.

I saw on the 60 Minutes program a news segment about a museum they are building right on Ground Zero to commemorate those who lost their lives.  It looks like it will be so beautiful.  I wish I could go to see it but cannot afford to travel much.

So that is where I was at on 9/11.  And today I sit, 12 years older, and think about what that event has meant to me and meant to this country.  And I pray for those still grieving and for a more peaceful world.

Tokyo to host 2020 Olympics!

September 8th 2013 is a big day for everyone, including me. Today the IOC will make the announcement that only one country will receive the privilege to host the 2020 Olympics games. I only woke up to watch the announcement at 5am because I needed the sleep as I was going to attend my friend's wedding in the morning. Can't look sleepy for someone's wedding.

                                    

The television showed Madrid and Istanbul at tie. During this time, at about 5:05am, I thought Japan was already eliminated but thank goodness a few minutes later, I was informed that Madrid was eliminated in the first round. This preliminary process actually shocked the Tokyo team too because they, like me thought Tokyo had already been eliminated. Good thing, we were wrong. At about 5:20am, the IOC President Jacques Rogge announced that Japan will host the 2020 Olympics Games. 

Still cannot believe my ears and eyes that Japan beat rival candidate cities Istanbul and Madrid to host the Olympics for the second time. In 1940, there was plans for Tokyo to host the games but was never took place because of World War Two. The first Tokyo Olympics was held in 1964. The ongoing radiation leaks at Fukushima prefecture nuclear power station was the biggest reason why Tokyo will not win the bid. However, with lady luck at out side, the IOC decided that Tokyo is the best candidate city because of Tokyo's compact setting and safe atmosphere.

Tokyo will hold 85% of the venues with the Olympic Village. During the early presentations, the Tokyo committee, presented a survey made by 75,000 travelers informing the IOC members that Japan's capital is the world's safest city. Tokyo also boasted having clean roads(which is very true) and beautiful skylines. Another very important point is that Japan's taxi drivers are also friendly and honest(which is very true too) One should compare a Japanese and Malaysian taxi-driver. The contrast is like heaven and hell. Japanese drivers are well-bred and Malaysian ones are just money-minded(another long story on why Malaysian drivers become what they are today) Anyway, just encountering good and helpful taxi-drivers are enough to make your day delightful. With this said visitors are given an assurance that they won't meet any unhelpful taxi-drivers during their visit to Tokyo or anywhere else in Japan.

Tokyo committee member also mentioned that another attractive transformation is Tokyo will use this Olympic host privilege as the frontier to revamp the city to a new sports and entertainment district. Competition will be staged in historic venues dating from the 1964 Games, modernized and refurbished to extend their legacy for at least another 50 years. Those polished and new facilities are actually what the city needed too.

"This is a chance for Japan to show the rest of the world that has suffered from natural disasters...how to reconstrust not just devastated areas like Tohoku area but also society as a whole through sports,"stress the Tokyo committee. I cannot agree more with the member's words. Hope seems to fill the city energizing everyone. Now, the problem is the tickets!!! I am going to make sure I get the tickets to watch the opening ceremony. I need to start saving now.(LOL)

Again, congratulations to Tokyo. The Tokyo team surely put their best effort and win the bid fairly. Click to watch the presentation video here.

Waste

I've been hearing a statistic lately regarding how much edible food is wasted in America.  If you had asked me before hearing the number how much edible food is wasted, I would have thought 20%.  The actual number is 40%!  So almost half of edible food in this country is thrown out when it is still safe to eat.

Here is a link to a very informative article - it is an interview for NPR (National Public Radio) with two experts on the subject.  It is http://www.npr.org/2012/09/21/161551772/the-ugly-truth-about-food-waste-in-america.  In the article they also talk about how this wasted food also means wasted water.  That made me think more about the issue.  I try to conserve water by turning off the water while I wash my face, shave my legs, etc. so that clean water is not wasted while I am not directly using it.  I try to make sure I finish my morning glass of water before heading out the door so I don't waste it.  When there are so many places in the world struggling for clean and sanitary sources of water, I try to not take clean water for granted.  So when food is wasted, the water used to grow the crops or feed the animals that make our food is used in vain.  I never really thought of water being wasted when I throw out food, so this will make me think twice.

When I heard this, I looked critically at my own habits to see how I stacked up against this statistic.  How much food do I waste?  How could I improve?  Below are some things I am thinking about.

1.  Cooking for two (or one) is difficult.

There are only 2 people in my household.  Yet the packaging sizes for ingredients are often fore more than 2 servings.  So often times the meal ends up being a meal for 4 or 5 people because in the stores we shop there are not smaller sizes of things.  Some leftovers get eaten and no food is wasted; other times I do not want that item after it has been in the fridge so it will be wasted.  Or, sometimes I won't eat leftovers because I am trying to lose weight, and this means having controlled, small lunches at work.  Leftovers would be counterproductive to weight loss.  So what can I do to minimize waste?

I could first off try not to be so picky and eat leftovers.  Or try to see if we cook dinners that often have leftovers on a Friday or Saturday night so that I can eat the leftovers over the weekend, where I'm not as stringent on my diet.  I could also see if there are smaller package sizes for foods or ingredients.  I think the hardest thing of all will be to convince my husband (who is the better cook of the family whereas I'm the better baker of desserts and sweets) that food will taste just as good using less meat than more meat.  :)  Another option is to look for recipes that make smaller dinners - so dinners for two and not the whole family.

2.  Sometimes I buy things I don't eat.

Sometimes I buy canned fruit or veggies with every intention of introducing them into a healthy diet, only to find I've forgotten about them or ended up never making the recipe I bought them for.  So they sit on the shelf and expire.  I've gotten much better at not doing this at the insistence of my husband, but I still think it would be a good habit to go through cupboards once a month or so and find things soon to expire and use them up somehow so they're not thrown out.

3.  I'm afraid of "expiration" dates.

According to the article, foods can be safe to eat even after their expiry date.  There are only a few things I'll consume once it's past the due date, and those are milk (if it is not sour once opened) and soft drinks.  Tea and spices are other things because I'm not sure that anything can spoil in them.  Otherwise, I am leery to eat things past the date because I am afraid of harmful bacteria inside the unopened can or jar.  My fears may be a little out of proportion, so I will need to try to overcome the fear and learn about how to tell if expired foods could be harmful once I open them.  Some things I will not consume after expired dates are processed meat, as I have read that these meats can carry Listeria bacteria and I feel that going past the date increases the chances of contracting it.

So those are three areas I can be working on.  In the meantime, I will hope that locally there will be ways to recycle unused food, such as composting or recycling food for methane energy.  Unfortunately, one of the negative things about living in a rural area is there are fewer programs in the area to encourage new ways of recycling (but thankfully I can at least recycle aluminum, paper and plastic).