Fresh vegetables and later stages of CLL

[MikeOr]

How do you prepare fresh salads (if any) for somebody with a later stage CLL ? I am washing everything I can with soap, but green leaves (spinach, kale, arugula) cannot be washed like that. For green leaves, I am using several washings under running water alternated with soaking in a bowl, but I am not sure if it is adequate.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

The risk associated with eating raw vegetables is principally related to if the person is neutropenic, not stage. As the absolute neutrophil count drops further below 1.5, I would be increasingly wary about eating salad vegetables, particularly green leaves.

Neil

[Zia2 in reply to AussieNeil]

If it isn't too much trouble can you add a link to the neutropenic diet again? I was on it 2 summers ago, and will need to use it again but I'm not very good at navigating this site and finding older information.

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer in reply to Zia2]

NEUTROPENIC DIET

I hope that this one works!

upmc.com/patients-visitors/...

[Zia2 in reply to MsLockYourPosts]

thank you!

[Art3mis1]

That must be so hard. I use Milton Tablets or liquid (UK) for sterilising; a method that uses cold water. I just quickly googled to check that it can be used to clean vegetables, and it can. This may help?

You need to mix up a solution and leave the veg in it for 20 minutes, and then rinse in fresh water.

Good luck.

[AnneHill in reply to Art3mis1]

We lived in Hongkong in 1965 and my family used Milton or similar to sterilise food. I wash under a running tap and havent had any problems.

[GMa27]

I have never washed my veggies.

I run water thru lettuce. But to be honest I sometimes forget. 🤷

[Big_Dee in reply to GMa27]

Hello GMa27

To be honest to. I don't forget, I just don't worry about it.

[Horatio2]

I think cleaning lettuce and other veggies in 3 parts water and 1 part white vinegar sterilizes. I usually let them sit in the vinegar water for about 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse well with clean water.

[lexie in reply to Horatio2]

This is exactly what I do, too.

[MikeOr in reply to lexie]

Lexie, are you using 5% vinegar sold in stores, and then dissolve in in water 3:1 ?

[Horatio2 in reply to MikeOr]

I just use vinegar sold in stores and then mix 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar.

[lexie in reply to MikeOr]

Same proportions as Horatio2 stated , 3 parts water to one part 5% white vinegar from grocery store. I buy it by the gallon.

[olyocl]

When washing lettuce I add salt to water and let it soak for a short time. If there is any little bugs the salt will kill them,

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

Vinegar and water is what I use, especially for strawberries. It keeps the mold away longer.

[Hidden]

I always prepare and eat leaves and salad normally at home but do not use salad bars at restaurants.

[Ellieoak]

I use a little vinegar and water to clean everything before I eat it.

[JigFettler Volunteer]

Interesting thread.

Main issue relates to Neutropenia, as AussieNeil says. During FCR my Neutrophils were around 0.3 struggling to 1.0 for each next cycle. 2 yrs on still only 1.6

I only ever washed veggies with water, well. Peeled all I could. NO salad bars!!!

Its worth remembering the ph (acidity) of stomach juices is 1.5 to 3.5 a very effective steriliser!

But if you are on acid reduction medication... H2 antagonist or a PPI then you have a different situation. More care needed, theoretically.

Jig

[Horatio2 in reply to JigFettler]

I definitely agree no salad bars! I absolutely love salads, and I was doing my vinegar/water rinse even before I was diagnosed with CLL due to the constant recalls on lettuce due to e. coli, etc... A stomach virus is bad enough, but the thought of e. coli or something even worse, CLL or not, was more than I wanted to chance. Heck, the thought of having to take care of my husband or 5 kids with e. coli was more than I wanted to do if I could avoid it! Of course, I know rinsing in vinegar/water solution isn't 100%, but I at least feel as if I've tried.

[JigFettler Volunteer in reply to Horatio2]

The food that makes me most nervous is raw chicken. I often cook, with the chicken I put on disposable gloves when handling it raw. Doesn't bother the butcher though, who handled the chicken, the packaging, the money interchangeably 🤢...

... now he's changed that and is reformed after modest couching!!!

Incidentally I stopped eating at BBQs, 100%. Especially where the tongs that load the raw meat, serves the cooked meat. It happens so often. That habit goes back 30yrs, way before CLL.

Jig

[LeoPa]

A mild chlorine solution where you soak them will do. I don't remember the exact ratio. Then they have to be properly rinsed and soaked in clean water again to get rid of residual chlorine.

[81ue in reply to LeoPa]

One tablespoon of bleach to one gallon water was the proportion I was told when I was neutropenic. Then rinse well after that.

[blowinginthewind]

There is a product which my Jewish friends use - they have food rules about bugs etc in food. I am vaguely aware that some of them who didnt normally wash salad veg etc used this when they were having chemo. A phone call to a Kosher for store would give you more details, although with today being shabbat, they won't be open today.

[janvog]

"Fresh salad" as sold bagged in supermarkets generates very often major medical news. I use organic frozen vegetable which presumably is washed and frozen soon after harvesting. I use broccoli , Brussel sprouts and spinach, bagged into individual steaming bags which go into the microwave for 6 minutes. I put all into a food processor together with canned salmon without salt, green beans and Garbanzo beans without salt, and some rye hard bread.