Re: Foods keep in fridge??

[Guest guest]

I sent this yesterday but I'm not sure if it went through. I know what the "experts" say, but how long do people really keep cooked chicken and beef in the fridge before freezing it? I probably keep mine too long (which might be the source of all my tummy issues!! - Ha!).

Marla

IBS-D 20 yrs

SCD 11/09

Questran (for post gall bladder surgery)

[Guest guest]

My dad had leukemia and I remember all the "sterile" stuff he had to do during treatment. He ended up w/a fungal infection so I understand your concern!

Marla

From: Engel

Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 12:44 PM

To: BTVC-SCD

Subject: Re: Foods keep in fridge??

,

I'm like you, I probably keep it too long On occasion I've kept cooked chicken and beef (and nut muffins too) in the frig for 7-9 days, but I have a "cast iron" stomach and I rarely have digestive problems of any kind. Still, it has to pass a very careful smell, taste, and sight test before I'll eat it. I hate waste so there's lots of stuff that I eat that i would never share with my family. If it's discolored or the taste or smell is the least little bit "off" it goes straight to the dogs <which certainly makes them happy ..LOL>.

On the other hand, i won't feed it to my son if it's over 3 or 4 days old (and he questions everything I offer him if he thinks it's old). For the past three years I wouldn't feed him anything that was over an hour old!!! Drastic?? Yes, but then, I have a totally different perspective on leftovers because of my son's battle with cancer.

The first day the oncologist discussed the diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis he mentioned that most of the leukemia patients that die during treatment actually die from bacteria or fungal infections. The bacteria often comes from leftovers. St. Jude insisted on a "low bacteria diet" and drilled it into us that our little chemo patients could only have food that had been opened, peeled, or cooked within the last hour!! Even water bottles had to be thrown away if they'd been open for an hour. Chemo causes a low immune system and the cancer kid's body just couldn't fight off the bacteria that most of us deal with every day. The least little bit of mold or bacteria on the food combined with little or no immune system could cause you to lose your child within a few hours!!!! ...... Talk about a life-changing wake-up call to make a mom super paranoid about leftovers! My son and I both cried at times because of the fear it put around food and the stress of constantly questioning whether something was dangerous or not (simple things like lettuce, tea, pepper, or leftovers could be deadly for him). It turned me into a food nazi for a long time <g>

's finished chemo now, so it's ok for him to have leftovers, but we're both still a little leary simply because we know all too well that any bacteria or mold on leftovers will make his body have to work a little harder to fight it off (we've seen other cancer kids lose the battle with bacteria). His body has enough to deal with to clear all the toxins from 28 months of constant chemo and antibiotics so we want to minimize the challenges we add to it.

This is probably way more information than you wanted, but I thought it was important to stress that fresh is always better. If you aren't going to eat it right away, put the extra in the freezer. Even if you take it out and thaw it the next day it will have less bacteria. The way I see it, every little bit helps and it never hurts to err on the side of caution.

Sorry so long-winded. I know this is a unique perspective, but I hope it helps a little.

mom to , 18, cancer survivor, SCD since 12/26

From: Marla <mskrak1 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: BTVC-SCD Sent: Wed, March 17, 2010 10:55:44 AMSubject: Re: Foods keep in fridge??

I sent this yesterday but I'm not sure if it went through. I know what the "experts" say, but how long do people really keep cooked chicken and beef in the fridge before freezing it? I probably keep mine too long (which might be the source of all my tummy issues!! - Ha!).

Marla

IBS-D 20 yrs

SCD 11/09

Questran (for post gall bladder surgery)

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dawn, it's just another version of the many "momma bears" on SCD that will do whatever it takes to help and protect their babies. My biggest regret is that I didn't do SCD while my son was in chemotherapy. Heck, until 3 months after treatment I'd never, ever heard that gluten could be bad for you. I totally bought into the mainstream media message to go high fiber, lots of grain, low fat and high carb - SAD. I shudder now to think back to all the processed, starchy foods we were eating (most came from a box - so that tells you something). The intestinal bacteria were certainly having a field day and now he's paying the price for it!

I know SCD has been around a long time, but I wish more people were informed and accepting of it in the mainstream world. I've tried to share SCD with some cancer moms and they all think I'm nuts. My heart is heavy with the desire to get the message out there but it's even heavier that the message is consistently rejected as crazy and "un-doable". I'm still an optimist though. I remember reading a marketing experiment back in the early days of infomercials (late 80's). It said that on average a consumer had to see an infomercial 8 times before they would order. Maybe we all need to share our SCD experience over and over so that eventually folks will be exposed X times from multiple sources so they can begin to "buy-in" to the benefits and the science behind it.

To: BTVC-SCD Sent: Wed, March 17, 2010 12:14:23 PMSubject: Re: Foods keep in fridge??

Geez , what you have been through! The guilt and stress you have had to endure! I thought I was having a hard time with little progress with my Sophie after 6 months. Thanks for putting it into perspective!

[Guest guest]

I definitely hear you, . I was high-carb, low-fat and look where it got

me!

I just got off a one hour phone call with my sister in NY - crisis intervention.

The girl needs SCD in a big way but is so " overwhelmed " with her many problems -

half of which could be solved with SCD. I am trying to convince her to reclaim

her health and her life but she is not open to it yet. Maybe if I keep nagging!

>

> Thanks Dawn, it's just another version of the many " momma bears " on SCD that

will do whatever it takes to help and protect their babies.  My biggest regret

is that I didn't do SCD while my son was in chemotherapy.  Heck, until 3 months

after treatment I'd never, ever heard that gluten could be bad for you.  I

totally bought into the mainstream media message to go high fiber, lots of

grain, low fat and high carb - SAD.  I shudder now to think back to all the

processed, starchy foods we were eating (most came from a box - so that tells

you something).  The intestinal bacteria were certainly having a field day and

now he's paying the price for it! 

>

> I know SCD has been around a long time, but I wish more people were informed

and accepting of it in the mainstream world.  I've tried to share SCD with some

cancer moms and they all think I'm nuts.  My heart is heavy with the desire to

get the message out there but it's even heavier that the message is consistently

rejected as crazy and " un-doable " .  I'm still an optimist though.  I remember

reading a marketing experiment back in the early days of infomercials (late

80's).  It said that on average a consumer had to see an infomercial 8 times

before they would order.  Maybe we all need to share our SCD experience over and

over so that eventually folks will be exposed X times from multiple sources so

they can begin to " buy-in " to the benefits and the science behind it.

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: BTVC-SCD

> Sent: Wed, March 17, 2010 12:14:23 PM

> Subject: Re: Foods keep in fridge??

>

>  

> Geez , what you have been through! The guilt and stress you have had to

endure! I thought I was having a hard time with little progress with my Sophie

after 6 months. Thanks for putting it into perspective!

>

[Guest guest]

, that was a 'wow' moment.  I never thought about food that way.  This must seem easy compared  to cooking every time you or your son eats.  I'm glad he's better and you are on-list. 

 

How long do you keep yogurt in the refrigerator?  Do you freeze things if you don't eat them pretty fast like 24-48 hours?

 

One more question, was this time limit after it was cooked or after it thawed, was brought home from the store?  I let things thaw in the refrigerator but I'm waiting one more night to cook chicken breasts tomorrow and now I wish I had cooked it.  Lots of food for thought (seriously) and things sit out after I've cooked them for wanderers coming through (other family members).  Not so much in the summer but in the cooler months I do..

 

Thanks for posting that information!

Debbie 49 cd

[Guest guest]

I am convinced a good diet can make all the difference. My mastectomy was

31 years ago now, and by that time I'd been busy cleaning up my act and

diet (hypoglycemia) for a couple of years before. Really pretty good,

even close to SCD, except of course for the whole grains. But I

haven't eaten sugar now in probably 35 years, very little honey, even,

and lots and lots of fresh veggies and fruits. Ten years after my

surgery one of my doctors told me that as a pre-menopausal lady who had a

very aggressive cancer I really was supposed to still be around. I can't

help but think a good diet had a lot to do with it. And I just had

surgery, too.

I appreciate that -- because interestingly, that's what was stressed in my research. My oncologist also mentioned fresh food as better. I didn't have to do chemo, but I think part of the reason the cancer hadn't spread was because I was already on SCD!

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie,

It does give you a different perspective doesn't it?

Yes.. my freezer is always full and my refrigerator looks pretty bare in comparison

Personally, I'd keep yogurt for a couple of weeks. But ours is usually gobbled up before the first week is out. The one time I can remember having older yogurt I could definitely tell a difference (runnier and the taste was a lil diff.)

The one hour time limit was after the food was cooked, opened or peeled. When I bought a loaf of bread could only enjoy it for the first hour after I opened the package. Fresh raw veggies were ok but only if they could be peeled to remove bacteria on the surface. If you have chicken sitting in your frig, any bacterial growth will be killed off when you cook it, so that's the key. A cancer kid could eat it for the first hour after cooking but he couldn't eat the leftovers later..... Sorry, I didn't explain that part very well earlier

Once again.. this was an extreme case of little or no immune system at all. Most folks don't get food poisoning from eating their own leftovers, but if your digestive system is already challenged, why throw extra challenges into the mix if you don't have to? Since chemo is over my son can have leftovers now, but we're still cautious about it.

To: BTVC-SCD Sent: Wed, March 17, 2010 6:06:34 PMSubject: Re: Re: Foods keep in fridge??

, that was a 'wow' moment. I never thought about food that way. This must seem easy compared to cooking every time you or your son eats. I'm glad he's better and you are on-list.

How long do you keep yogurt in the refrigerator? Do you freeze things if you don't eat them pretty fast like 24-48 hours?

One more question, was this time limit after it was cooked or after it thawed, was brought home from the store? I let things thaw in the refrigerator but I'm waiting one more night to cook chicken breasts tomorrow and now I wish I had cooked it. Lots of food for thought (seriously) and things sit out after I've cooked them for wanderers coming through (other family members). Not so much in the summer but in the cooler months I do..

Thanks for posting that information!

Debbie 49 cd