Cycle 4 - Salty Foods

My 4th cycle of chemo went very well. Aside from the normal nausea, and lack of appetite, I didn't have any major side effects at all. Forcing myself to drink lots of ginger water and getting up often to walk played a important role, but what really kept me going was knowing that my sister's birthday was coming up, and that and my boyfriend would be flying in from Houston. As much physical demand there is from undergoing chemo, there's a psychological aspect as well. Your mind is a extremely powerful tool, and it tells your body that you can keep going when you don't think you can.

One of the things that I've enjoyed lately is salt. I especially like Lawry's Seasoned Salt since it has no MSG and includes other herbs and spices (garlic, onion, paprika, turmeric). I use it in pretty much everything, and found that it enhances the flavor profile of foods. This is because salty is one of the five basic tastes that the tongue can distinguish. The other four are: sweet, sour, bitter, and umami (meatiness or savory taste). Normally, you don't want to have too much salt in your diet since it can raise your blood pressure. However, since I usually have low blood pressure, I don't have much to worry about.

Delicious!

Brussel Sprouts with Bacon (Courtesy of Rachel Ray)

• 3 slices bacon
• 1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
• 1 cup broth 
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Trim Brussel sprouts, leaving small sprouts left whole, and halving larger sprouts. 
2. Chop bacon slices in small pieces. Brown bacon in a medium skillet over medium high heat. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate. 
3. In same pan with bacon fat, add Brussels spouts. Cook sprouts 2 to 3 minutes to begin to soften, then add broth. 
4. Cover skillet and reduce heat to medium low. Cook 10 minutes, or until sprouts are tender. 
5. Transfer sprouts to a serving dish with a slotted spoon and top with cooked bacon bits. 
6. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately. 

Chef's Note: For a vegetarian option, substitute bacon fat with extra-virgin olive oil, and use vegetable broth. 

Trimmed Brussel sprouts (left). Chopped up bacon slices (right). Brussel sprouts with bacon (below). 

Cycle 3 - Candied Ginger

It's been almost 2 weeks since I finished my 3rd cycle of chemo. Overall, I'd say it went pretty well. The side effect that I experienced most this time around was extreme fatigue. Doing simple tasks such as brushing my teeth was very difficult to do. I'd spend a good few minutes contemplating whether it was actually necessary, and then convincing myself that I could do it. By the end of it, my brain was exhausted from all the thinking!

The nausea was much more controllable this time around. Aside from the daily prescribed medication, I found that ginger tea really helped. I would drink about 1-2 L of ginger tea per day. It does seem excessive, but it was the only way for me to stay hydrated since water alone tasted so awful. The fact that I enjoy ginger tea so much is surprising considering I used to have unfriendly feelings towards it. I found that it had such an overpowering spicy taste. I could never get used to the strong flavor profile, and thought that it wasn't complementary to other spices because of its potency.

I love ginger now. Steeping is the best part, while eating still takes some getting use to. It seems that ginger is not all the same, and that there's a difference where you purchase it. Some grocery stores sell the young ginger which are fleshy with a very mild taste. Others sell the mature ginger roots which are fibrous and nearly dry. The older ones have the spicier flavor.

My favorite place to buy ginger has been Trader Joe's. The only downside is that it's very expensive in comparison to most grocery stores. With me going through as much ginger as I do, it's not very economical to buy it from there all the time.

PS. They also sell candied ginger as well!

Ginger Tea 

• 2 ounces fresh ginger root 
• 3 cups boiled water
• Honey (Optional)
• Lemon (Optional)

Directions

1. Peel the ginger and slice thinly into small pieces. 
2. Bring the water to a boil. Add ginger. Cover and reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes.
3. Let stand for 3-5 minutes. 
4. Strain the ginger slices. 
5. Add honey & lemon if desired. 

Chef's Note: For an easier approach, you may also steep it for 10-15 minutes. 

 

Trader Joe's delicious ginger.