fj | (no subject)

Every morning for the last couple of days I have been waking up hoping to be healthy. Today yet again, I am disappointed. However, thanks to yesterday's foray, I can quantify how I am doing. 100 degrees Fahrenheit, 38.5 degrees Celsius. The pseudo-ephedrine keeps me able to breathe, but the tylenol is not controlling the fever as much as I'd like.

Still, I will go out today to get a bank account -- HSBC has a specific banking product for people without a permanent UK address -- so I can pay rent and have income deposited as soon as both those transactions become relevant. After a nap or something. Also, dinner with

spwebdesign to learn about his experiences. Since I cannot currently explore regions on my own -- going into confined public spaces like The Tube would be irresponsible right now -- I will have to get information 2nd hand so I can accelerate my search for housing next week. I worry no-one will rent to me since I do not have a job yet.

Fridge is also stocked for a few days. Being at supermarkets has been enlightening. My diet in the US consisted of lean protein sources, vegetables, and tons of fruit, fresh and frozen. Looking at what it would cost to continue that I am being strongly confronted with the fact that I now live on an island in winter. Christ. On the other hand, trans fats, hormones, and high-fructose corn syrup are totally easily avoided here. Still, I feel the UK public is being conned when it comes to fruit juices. Various manufacturers are selling mixes of juices touting specific super-nutritious fruits like cranberries or pomegranates. I am skeptical, of course, having always bought the pure juice versions of those that aren't blends: by themselves, blueberry, pomegranate, cranberry, acai, and many other super-fruit anti-oxidant juices are basically undrinkable, they have to be mixed. I know that if they are sold as part of blends or smoothies in a carton in the juice isle they have to be diluted with other fruits. Still, I get almost angry when reading the label: these blends with their red fruits on the box and big anti-oxidant push are almost always between 50 to 70% apple or grape juice. Those juices have close to no nutritional value over sugarwater, especially white grape juice. The healthy part of an apple comes from all the fiber action, which the juice does not have. Grape and apple juice are basically the cheapest juices in the food inventor's arsenal. And they're asking for tons of money for this shit of flavored fructose water with some blueberry and banana in it. No fucking way.

Read the labels people. Know what your are consuming, wherever you are, and get the least processed foods if possible. And if you want liquid anti-oxidants in Britain, just buy a box of green tea.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I've always found that Ibuprofen or Aspirin are better at fever control for me.

I thought I had heard that the British marketplace is being flooded with American food stuffs and especially HFCS (possibly under the label 'glucose-fructose syrup' in the UK). I'm glad to hear that is not the case.

Would your preferred diet be more affordable two-hundred miles away in Holland?

Oh, G-Fs is pan-European now, and I was appalled when I learned what it was, but still seriously easily avoided. It's not in ketchup, for example.

Yes, it would be cheaper in NL. They grow half the stuff there themselves, or can cart it in over land.

You know, if that fever persists for another day or so, you should probably try to see a doctor.

Yes. But since I also know I am 100% consistent with flu so far, this means I will be in an ED for four hours feeling miserable, get 15 minutes of cold stethoscope, and be told to get rest and plenty of fluids.

I won't do that until I hit 101.5 or it is Friday.

It’s interesting what you say about the cost of fresh fruit and veg – my b/f just came back from California and one of the things that shocked him most was how expensive green vegetables and salads were! And that was with the pound to dollar exchange rate!

‘Juices’ over here annoy me too. You can get decent quality products, but they tend to be really really expensive… Mind you, at least Sunny Delight has more or less disappeared off the shelves!