Trying to stay healthy in Egypt

I have spent most of my morning searching the web for health food stores in Egypt. Now there's a conundrum. Health in Egypt. I will get to that later in this post. Anyway, since moving here a year ago I have suffered endless sinus infections and would like to build my immune system with some supplements. There are the Sekem stores and I do use their products but I am searching for items I can readily purchase back in the US but can not seem to locate here. On my last trip back to the US I stocked up on my joint stuff to keep me moving and my mother has stocked me up on natural vitamins. But I miss perusing the aisles of stores like Sprouts and Whole Foods for the latest and greatest supplements. I will do my best with what I have in the mean time.
I found Sekem products shortly after my move here in most of the "hyper" markets (supermarkets). Organic oils, cereals, teas, fruits and veggies, supplements, etc. And I love their website and philosophy to doing business here in Egypt. I would recommend reading it: http://www.sekem.com/
After reading their website I became alarmed at purchasing any food other than their organic food. I do not have confidence in the enforcement of regulations (if there are any) of the use of pesticides on agricultural products. And the transportation of said products is dismal. Flatbed trucks with fruits and veggies are seen flying down the highways with the products in woven crates. No refrigeration necessary I guess. I know now why the produce looks a bit wilted at the store (especially in summer). And has it been washed?? I doubt it. I was told by my friends to soak my produce with bleach or soap before consuming it. Having not taken this advice I have suffered the consequences on several occasions. Perhaps it was not the produce but the water I washed it in that caused my intestinal distress?
Perhaps my pessimism at regulation enforcement is a result of experiencing the "black cloud" over Cairo each fall as the farmers burn the residual of their crops, instead of turning it over into the dirt, creating a more intense pollution cloud over Cairo than usual. According to articles I have read (published by respected magazines and newspapers here in Cairo) there is a law against burning the crops........... My dismay about this situation stems directly from the health problem I now suffer which is a sinus infection that won't go away and a bronchial cough that scares people around me. I have also read that a large number of the local population are suffering from respiratory disease. When will the locals say enough is enough and take some action??
Enough bitching about regulations. Now let's get to general nutrition here in Egypt. I would not ever claim to be the end all of good nutrition but at least I try to consume organic products cooked or prepared in a more healthy process than what I have observed here in Egypt. When walking through Carrefour, the largest supermarket, one wonders at the oil consumption of the locals when one entire aisle (a very long and tall one at that) is devoted to just oil. Mostly corn oil but some sunflower oil and one small area that is just olive oil. And then the next aisle is just pasta and then the next aisle with just rice. mmmm, lots of carbs consumed here.
Canned tomatoes are rare so I stock up when I find them. The local population prefers to cook with tomato paste. Seriously, isn't tomato paste just used to thicken a sauce?? They will use it with pasta, meat sauce or veggies simmered with garlic and tomato paste. I feel like such a rebel when I cook with my whole Italian pomo tomatoes.
Then there are the meat products. I could almost become vegetarian because I am not enamored of the meat products here. Granted I am a spoiled American carnivore that loves to feast on fatty ribeyes, bbq pork, turkey bacon and breakfast sausages. I search the meat aisle for a marbled ribeye or beef entrecoute (I think this is sirloin). Something that can be grilled or sauted and not boiled to death for hours to make it edible. The cuts of meat here a limited and it is difficult to decipher which cut is which. I may have to spend more and purchase the Australian imported beef if I can find it. Many restaurants purchase Brazilian meat. I would have a difficult time trusting it was safe to eat as I am not sure about South American regulation of food products.
Hamburger (minced meat here) includes pieces of bone and gristle, boneless chicken breasts and thighs also include bone and gristle. Even I can trim a chicken better than what I buy from the stores. The only meat I truly enjoy is the lamb. I get the lamb cubes and simmer them in curry or make lamb stew with peas and potatoes. I have yet to make a tender roast (I use the pressure cooker for roast cuts). I miss a good roasted chuck roast with potatoes, carrots and celery.
Produce is very seasonal here. Lettuce (romaine and iceberg) is good only during the coldest months of winter - it is awful in the summer (leafy and wilted with brown spots inside). We have strawberries in the spring with peaches and apricots in late spring to mid summer (no blueberries or other berries ever). The only produce available year round are tomatoes, cucumbers, all colors of bell peppers, potatoes and zuccini. The local Egyptian meal will usually include either a salad made of cucumbers and tomato or a plate of either or both sprinkled with cumin and salt.
I can find most of the fresh herbs at Carrefour year round. I make a good salsa for chips. The tomatoes are not as juicy here as the states so cutting them up is nice. I made guacamole earlier this summer at a cost of $2.50 per avocado. Needless to say we savored every expensive bite of it.
I buy imported items such as liquid Vanilla ($10), Mac 'n Cheese ($3.00), Graham crackers or peanut oil at the stores in Maadi. Maadi is where most of the ex pats and diplomats live so the stores cater to their tastes. These imported items cost a leg and an arm but it is worth it to have once in awhile. A Banquet frozen pot pie will set you back $5.00 - I can skip this one. The newest item I am getting is El Paso flour tortillas. At almost $4.00 for a package of 8 flour tortillas it is expensive but tasty. The local tortillas are ok at $0.40 for a package of 5 but they just don't taste the same as the ones from back home.
Now I am hungry so I will post again later. Veggie lasagna for dinner :)