寻找健康

寻找健康
免费阅读本书的内容, 请看 2011年3月26日部落的整本书. 此书非商业方式出版,不在商业书店售卖。想得到此书的朋友,请联络作者林廷辉博士 drlimhf@gmail.com 012-3615905

Makanan Sihat Sebagai Ubat (2011)

Makanan Sihat Sebagai Ubat (2011)
Ini adalah buku kesihatan saya. Kandungannya telah dimuatkan dalam blog ini pada 10 Sept 2010 sempena Hari Raya Puasa. Buku ini bukan diterbitkan untuk tujuan komersial dan tidak dipasarkan melalui kedai-kedai buku terkenal. Jika anda ingin memperolehi satu naskah, sila hubungi pengarang di drlimhf@gmail.com atau 012-3615905

Eating for Good Health (2010)

Eating for Good Health (2010)
3nd Edition 2010. The contents of this book are in this blog (subheadings in Blog Archive from October 2009 till January 2010) for free reading. This is a non-commercial book and is not available in major commercial book stores. If you wish to own a hard copy, kindly contact the author at: drlimhf@gmail.com or 012-3615905

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Diary 43: Cautious of What You Eat

This is the experience of Nicole Tan who suffered food poisoning (The Star M14, 27 Feb 2010).

Accordingly, she spent the last two months being sick, eating almost nothing oily, dairy, or heavy for days.

The interesting thing to note is she experienced food poisoning twice this year (2010). I hope she will not experience any more food poisoning in the future.

What did she eat? Roti Suzuki! This is the first time I heard of this new type food served. Well, it is roti canai with sardine and mashed banana.

Nicole advised all to avoid taking roti Suzuki at all costs.

This is only part of the story.

Is the restaurant serving expired canned food? You should ask.

Is the food properly prepared?

Sometimes I just wonder why modern men and women still consume canned fish while fresh fish is available.

The next time you take canned food, just be cautious. Do not end up with food poisoning.

To be healthy, we should avoid canned food where preservatives are used.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Diary 42: What is the best medicine?

On 24 February 2010, led by our Director-General, we made a half-day trip to visit the senior citizens at Kompleks Penyayang BAKTI, Bandar Sri Damansara.

During interaction, I came to know that of the 14 senior citizens attended the gathering, two have heart problems and one is a diabetic.

A 70-year old Malay woman asked me if there is any medicine for her knee pain. I told her the best medicine is the health food.

She spends 4 to 5 hours a day cultivating vegetables using chemical fertilizers. I suggested to her that her medicine is the vegetables. What she needs to do is to make her own fertilizer and stop using chemical fertilizer.

I share my views on the senior citizens with her.

First, do not think that senior citizens are just waiting for death.

Second, they can contribute positively to the society. For example, she can start cultivating vegetables without using chemical fertilizer and herbicides. The vegetables cultivate would help to improve her health and other senior citizens. This would also enrich her life.

She said that she will try to change the way of cultivating vegetables.

I wished her all the best.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Diary 41: 36-Year Old Died of Heart Attack

Petaling Jaya: Ampang Puteri Umno chief Haslinda Mohd Zerain, aged 36, died of heart attack at 11.45am yesterday (The Star 25 February 2010).

Why did she have to die so young?

She could have avoided death at such a young age if she practices good eating habits. Heart attack is related to the consumption of high protein, high cholesterol and fat foods.

For those who are active in political activities, the need to choose health food is obvious. Political leaders and members have to attend endless functions which unfortunately serve foods that are mainly acidic in nature.

Choosing fruits at such functions is the most effective way of maintaining good health.

A few years ago, I attended a Chinese New Year celebration organized by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. Of course, all the nice and tasty foods were served as usual. When the Minister, Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting, arrived, he just took some fresh fruits. He told the guests that he just came back from another function which also served good food.

What a wise politician!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Diary 40: Save Your Money By Barefoot Walking

Reflexology (zone therapy) is an alternative medicine method involving the practice of massaging or applying pressure to parts of the feet.

There are many shops in the big towns and cities in Malaysia offering reflexology these days. The fee charged is about RM35 an hour.

Yesterday, I practiced a different form of reflexology –barefoot walking. What I did was to walk bare foot up FRIM’s canopy walkway from the foot hill.

How was the feeling? Great!

You may also want to give it a try – bare foot walking or running. When the feet touch mother earth, the feeling is indeed very special. I feel closer to nature.

Perhaps this is an alternative to reflexology. It is free. Just do it yourself.

What are the benefits of barefoot walking? Here are some of them obtained from the internet.
It helps the leg muscles pump blood back to the heart. This makes it beneficial for those who are suffering from the problem of varicose veins.

Walking barefoot helps relax tired feet. It has also proven beneficial for people suffering from flat feet, in many cases helping them overcome the problem altogether.

Walking barefoot in the summer season has been found to have a cooling effect on the body of a person, especially if he/she walks on morning grass, leaves or a piece of log in the garden.

In traditional exercises, like yoga, tai-chi and martial arts, it is believed that being barefoot helps a person absorb Chi, the life-force energy. As you walk with your feet bare, you increase your vitality. At the same time, it helps you think clearly and increases your capacity to work.

Walking barefoot in your garden or the local park will help you feel closer to the nature. This will not only take your mind off everyday tensions and relax your body, but also rejuvenate your mind and boost your energy levels.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Diary 39: A Simple test On Your Health Condition

This is a simple test all of us can perform to see our health is in good condition. The information is obtained from a health book.

Basically, urine offers clues to how your body responded to the food we ate.

All we need to do is buy some pH paper from the pharmacies.

After you wake up in the morning, catch some urine in a small clean container and test it with a strip of the pH paper.

The color of the pH paper provides indication on how healthy you are.

If the pH paper turns very dark:
You are not healthy even if you feed good, and
You must not engage in strenuous exercise.

If the pH paper does not change color at all:
You are headed for serious disease if you do not adjust your diet;
You can still exercise

If the color of the pH paper does change, but not to a deep dark color, your health is regarded reasonably good.

May good health be with you!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Diary 38: Which Hospital?

A medical doctor elaborated “which hospital” in a write-up published in The Star dated 21 February 2010.

I use the same title in today’s diary because it may be the concern to your family with members in the 50s and above?

Those below 40 years old are generally healthy and do not have to talk about hospital. But their parents do.

People over 50 years old are likely to associate with hospital as their health generally deteriorates over the years. They need information on the latest medicines, the best doctors and the most advanced medical technologies that could help improve their health.

By the time modern men and women are over 70 years old, many would have walk in and out of hospitals from time to time. Visiting hospitals has become a way of life.

It is a burden and it is costly to visit hospitals, both to the patients as well as those bringing them to the hospitals. Many families suffer in silence because of poor health and high medical expenses.

Can we avoid this situation?

Yes, to some extent, if you begin to understand how modern processed food can cause common diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems besides damaging your body organs such as eyes, ears, liver and kidneys.

The earlier you learn more about food and how health food actually helps reclaim your health, the better it is for your family members.

The information provided in this blog helps you to attain and reclaim good health naturally.

Explore.

Best health to all.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Diary 37: Modern Diseases Among the Aborigines

In January and February 2010, two aboriginal village heads, aged 70+ and 40+, in my research areas in Pahang and Perak, died of colon cancer.

I have been conducting socio-economic research among the Orang Asli, the aborigines in Peninsular Malaysia, for the last 21 years. The Orang Asli were known to be relatively healthy as they obtain much of their food sources from the natural forests.

In the 1990s, I hardly met any case of aborigine complaining about their health problems.
By the turn of the century, things begin to change. It was observed that obesity is an emerging phenomenon among the aborigines. The villagers are beginning to face modern diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and severe headache.

Since I was greeted as “Dr Lim”, some aborigines, thinking that I was a medical doctor, even requested modern medicine.

Why are modern diseases coming to the aboriginal villages?

First, natural food resources are depleting when the surrounding areas of the aboriginal villages are either logged or developed into commercial plantations. The rivers also do not produce much fish. It is now difficult to have wild meat and fish compared to 10 years ago.

Second, many aborigines have to purchase meat, fish, vegetables from retailers coming to the villages. In short, many aborigines are now adopting the modern eating habits which are often not healthy.

Like the majority of the people in our modern society, little does the aboriginal community realize that modern farmed and processed foods are jeopardizing villagers’ health.
The government is likely to spend more money taking care of the health of the aborigines in the years to come.

Health awareness and prevention activities need to be intensified among Malaysians, including the aboriginal communities.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Diary 36: Health Talk at ISIS

With the assistance of Dr Larry Wong and Y.M. Tengku Shella Tengku Annuar Zainal, I delivered a health talk entitled "Living Healthily Without Medicine" at Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) in the afternoon of 19 February 2010. The date was decided by Y.Bhg Dato’ Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin,Director General & CEO of ISIS, who made a special effort to attend the talk.

I wish to thank three of them for organizing the talk for the benefit of ISIS staff members. This is an encouraging sign as more heads of agencies are concerned about their staffs’ health. For your information, Mr Cheah K.H., the CEO of Malaysian Timber Council, will be organizing a health talk for the members sometime this year.

The turn-out at the talk in ISIS yesterday was encouraging even though some of the staffs were still on vacation. Among those present was Y. Bhg Tan Sri Ahmad Al Farra, a senior fellow at ISIS. He is the first Tan Sri to attend my health talk.

I understand that some of the staffs are facing health problems and such health talk was timely to provide them information on healthy eating habits.

The talk was initially prepared to be delivered in Malay but it turned out to be in bilingual, Malay and English. The power-point presentation was mainly in Malay while the oral presentation was deliberated in both Malay & English. I am quite used to speak in these two languages and also in Chinese.

A number of interesting questions were raised. Is it too late to make a “U” turn in health path to reclaim our health the natural way? How long is the detoxification process? What type of water should we consume? What do you think of RO water? Is “S” brand of food supplement good for the body? What type of oil should we use in cooking? Is the Miso mentioned in the talk the same one served in Japanese hotels and restaurants? Where can we buy natural sea salt?

Dr Larry and another colleague were kind enough to share their health information and experience. I have the feeling that if the talk can assist people to attain better health in the near future, Dr Larry will be one of them. He read my health book thoroughly and understands the message conveyed.

Once again, thanks all for attending the talk. Hopefully, this is a turning point in their life path.

In case your organization is interested to organize a health talk, just email me at samarata2007@gmail.com.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Diary 35: Managing Physical Stress

Many people are searching for stress relief these days.

We may categorize stress into 3 types: physical, emotional and mental.

The best way of managing stress is listening to the body signals.

In terms of physical stress, the body signals are ache, pain and discomfort (such as stomach upset, headache and anxiety). This is the first stage of disease formation.

At this stage, you should be aware of the causes of your physical stress.

Actions to be considered: take health food, exercise, have enough rest and sleep.

Paying attention to our personal physical health will prevent the cry of pain when it is too late.

Here is an example. My colleague has serious diabetes. The problem is he has difficulty in resisting sugar-rich food, especially during social functions. I use to remind him to restrain from taking such food, knowing too well that it will bring more problems to his health in the future.

As a saying goes, “If you do not take care of your health, you will be taking care of the physicians’ pocket”.

Let’s take care of our health.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Diary 34: Obese Children

It is common to find obese children around these days. During this Chinese New Year, obese children were in my home village. At the Kanching Forest Reserve recreational park, obese children were seen here and there.

Why are there so many obese children around?

The common answer given and held by many is genetic. The argument is that since the parents are obese, it is only naturally that they are also obese.

Very rarely do people think whether obesity is related to the processed food taken daily. Were their parents obese when they were young? Very unlikely. It is more likely that both parents and children are taking the same food that causes obesity.

What are these processed foods? The main ones are white rice, noodles, modern farmed and processed chicken. In particularly, many children like to take fried chickens at the fast food stores.

How does modern farmed and processed chickens relate to obesity? It is because growth hormone is used in chicken farming. The hormone remains in the chicken served. When you consume a lot of chicken, what will happen? Your body accumulates the extra body weight.

How can one get rid of the extra body weight? I have seen parents seeking medical treatment and children are prescribed medicine to be taken daily.

What if you or your children like to reduce body weight naturally and effectively?

First, reduce taking the obesity causing foods.

Second, practice fasting once or twice a week.

No children like to be obese. My nine-year old nephew told a villager not to call him “Fei Chai” or obese child.

So, help out our children to maintain a reasonable body weight. Let’ change our old habit of unhealthy eating that causes obesity.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Diary 33: Chinese New Year in A Hainan Village

16 February 2010. Hi, everyone. I am now back to metropolitan Kuala Lumpur, after taking a 4-day break in my home village, a Hainan village called Air Jernih in the district of Kemaman, Terengganu.

Celebrating Chinese New Year in a village environment is a big occasion when friends and relatives meet annually. Of course, the main concern is eating “good dishes”. What were these dishes at my home this year?

First, there were the home farmed chickens. My 76-year old father has been rearing these chickens for the last six months. The Chinese New Year was the time he shared his big chickens with his family members.

Second, there was wild boar meat. At the village level, wild boar meat is getting popular because it is relatively cheap at about RM7 per kg compared to the modern farmed pork of RM20 per kg.

Third, there were prawns harvested by the Malay fishermen at Kemasik, the nearest coastal fishing small settlement to the village.

Fourth, vegetables cultivated by my father using minimal chemical fertilizer were also served.
Faced with all these nice food at the same table, what was my choice? Just like any social dinners where a variety of food items are served, I just take whatever is appropriate. For my own nuclear family members, it was none other than rice and vegetables for the Chinese New Year.

There is “flexible zone” for my family members during festivals. In the morning, we had roti canai at a Malay store in Kemasik. My wife, my 15-year old daughter and 8-year-old son enjoyed their soft drinks. My preference was taking young coconut drink and fruit at a stall in a nearby Malay village.

We also had good time at the Kemasik beach. We two children love the sea water very much.Twice a day (morning and afternoon), we went to this popular beach and soaked our bodies in the water. This kept us fit.

Our practice brings good result. When we came back to Kuala Lumpur after a long drive, we manage to maintain a good health condition. None has sore throat or cough.

Happy and Healthy New Year to all of you.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Diary 32: Learn From the Penans in Malaysia

Who are the Penans? They are the natives from inland Sarawak. In 2009, it was estimated that there were 10,000 Penan people, with over 400 of them leading a nomadic lifestyle (The Star 11 September 2009).

The Penans cultivate rice and vegetables. Their diet mainly consists of sago, jungle fruits and wild fruits and wild animals.

They practice “molong”, which means never taking more than what is needed.

The Penans are humble. When we met some Penans in rural Sarawak in 2008, they said they are not good in the Malay language. I told them in simple Malay that we cannot speak Penan language. They then decided to speak in Malay with us.

The main point is the Penans are taking natural food in maintaining good health.

The other key point is modern man is taking more than what is needed. We in Malaysia are served with too much food, especially during festive season. The coming Chinese New Year will see plenty of food served at functions and homes.

Let’s learn from the Penans. Do not take more than what is needed. The same is true in terms of taking food.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Diary 31: My Daughter Gave Up Fried Chicken

In this modern age, taking fried chicken is a way of life for majority of the world population. This is the impact of fast food culture spreading every corner of the world.

When my daughter was young, the grandparents bought her drum stick chicken. After she attended nursery and primary school, taking fried chicken became an eating habit for her from time to time. Simply, all her classmates were eating fried chicken. She did not want to be the exception.

We reached an accord. I brought her to the fast food store once every three months to enjoy the fried chicken. That last until she was 10 years old.

When she was 10 and at standard 3, we visited a chicken farm in the village while going back for Chinese New Year. She saw the bottle containing antibiotics and growth hormones. I took the chance to explain the process of chicken farming and the sufferings chickens going through. She was told how the use of growth hormone and antibiotics affects our health.

Since the visit, she decided to give up the habit of eating chicken.

Children learn fast and can make wise decision if proper information is given at appropriate time and place.

My daughter’s wise decision has brought positive impacts. She is in good health condition and has not visited the clinic since 2004.

If you or your family is not in good health and obese, reduce consumption of fried chicken. This may just open a new window of health in life.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Diary 30: “Simplicity is Happiness” from Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan

“Simplicity is happiness”, this is the special content of the Chinese New Year card sent by Dato’ Seri Ong ka Chuan and family.

Dato’ Seri Ka Chuan is a trustworthy friend. I got acquainted with him in mid-1980s through the late Mr Soong Kwang Chuan, my father-in-law. He rose and fell in his political cycle. Hopefully he will rise again in the near future. We need more sincere and trustworthy people to help manage the country and the world.

His message on “simplicity” can also apply to the food you take.

In brief, take simple food.

Take the unpolished rice and not the further processed white fragrant rice.

Take the naturally ripen fruits and not the canned fruits.

Take the naturally grown vegetables and avoid those applying chemical fertilizer, growth hormone and herbicide.

Take natural sweeteners and reduce white sugar sonsumption.

Take natural sea salt and not the chemically processed salt.

Take natural or green tea and not the special soft drinks.

Take simple cooked meat (if you are a meat-eater) and reduce consumption of heavily processed meat.

Be simple in the way you eat, you will live a happy and healthy life.

Yes, “simplicity is happiness”, especially when one is in good health.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Diary 29: You Healthy Body Is Your Money Making Machine

Dr Larry Wong met a wise man who shared his wisdom on what is the money making machine.

In this modern age, many people work s very hard to earn money to buy branded cars. If there is any slightest noise made by their cars, they are sent to the workshops for repair. The cars in the eyes of the owners are money making machines. If they maintain the cars in top condition, the cars can help them to make more money.

Many people do not realize that the human body is also a money making machine. But, people do not take care of the human body like the ways they take care of their cars.

The human body gives signals on its physical conditions from time to time.

Some people just purchase the over-the-counter medicines and hope to recover as quickly as possible.

Others visit the doctors and hope the medicines prescribed would solve their physical problems. Many become drug-dependent later.

Much of the diseases are food related. The answer lies in adjusting one’s diet in the long run, not the medicines taken.

Taking medicines is at best a temporary measure. The patient has to make a special effort to eat healthily to reclaim his or her health.

Invest in ensuring your body is in good health condition is like maintaining your money making machine. Let the body be your asset and not liability as you are growing and getting old. Take health food for good health. You do not have to depend on medicines the rest of your life.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Diary 28: Take Care of Our Health This Chinese New Year

The Year of the Tiger is around the corner. Its commencement falls on 14th February 2010.

You can feel the air of celebration, especially at the markets and shopping areas. Chinese all over the world are busy preparing for the coming Chinese New Year.

My family is going back to a small village, Air Jernih, in the district of Kemaman, Terengganu , to celebrate the coming Chinese New Year with parents and brothers and sisters.

As other celebrations, eating is a major concern during the festivals. Chinese are well-known for taking lots of food and drink during the Chinese New Year. Much of these food and drink can cause diseases.

It is during the Chinese New Year celebration that we need to be careful in taking the food offered and served.

It is wise to reduce food consumption in the first place.

It is better if you choose more fruits and vegetables.

If you do not go to the clinic this 15-day Chinese New Year celebration, you pass the test of maintaining good health.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Diary 27: No Time and No Need to Take Care of Their Health

This is answer given when I met an elder friend, aged 70+, on 2 February 2010 while attending a public forum.

Why? I asked.

“I am so busy with my work with an NGO that I hardly have any time to look at my health. As the person in-charge of the NGO’s monthly business magazine, my responsibility is to make sure that it is published on time.”

He is lucky in the sense that at 70+, he is able to work. I hope he is in good health too!

7 February 2010. I met this Indian lady about 70 years old in a shop and recommended her to read my health book. “I am old already. There is no need to take care of my health.” I was surprised in a way by her response.

The issue is many people do not take care of their health. They leave their health conditions to the pharmacists and medical doctors. They feel that these professionals can provide solutions to their health problems. Many are also taking food supplements to maintain good health.

More and more people now realize that the medical professionals cannot provide the complete solutions to our health in the long run.

Good health or not is decided by ourselves. Let us, not others, decide our own health.

Whether young or old, there are reasons to take care of our health.

If you love yourself, you need to take care of your health.

If your love your spouse, parents, brothers and sisters, children, friends & relatives, you need to take care of your health.

If you love your country and the world, please take care of your health.

Let’ take care of our health.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Diary 26: Promoting Health Books

I have been promoting my 3 health books in a very unconventional way.

First, I only leave some books at selected a few organic shop and FRIM’s book store. Why don’t you place your books at the established book stores? Those working with book stores and distribution agents know that the traders want a margin up to 60%. It simply means that the book price has to be raised to a level that those in the trade are making the necessary profit.

Making money from promoting book is however not my major concern. I write health books to helps others.

I just want to disseminate the health information at a reasonable price, affordable to the majority of the population. For these reasons, the price of my 3 health books range RM19 to RM25 per copy, postage inclusive for Malaysian address. As long as I can cover the printing cost, it is good enough.

For these reasons, it is better for me to promote the books myself. What I do is to explain to those potential readers the reasons for writing the health books and why they should read my books. From experience, most of them who are willing to listen would obtain a copy at a discounted price of between RM10 and RM20 per copy.

What is the promotion result? I would say, the promotion is fine and I manage to cover the printing cost. This enables me to print more updated versions of the health books.

As you are aware, I am also promoting the health books in this blog. The contents of health book entitled Eating for Good Health (2nd edition 2009) are found in this blog for FREE READING.
If you wish to own a hard copy of any of my health books (in English, Malay and Chinese), just let me know at samarata2007@gmail.com

May all of us enjoy a healthy Chinese New Year!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Diary 25: Encounter of A Special Kind

3 February 2010. I was about to go jogging and met three friends on the way. Below was the conversation between MO and Lim (myself) while the other two friends just listened and smiled.

MO: You look older.

Lim: How much older? I have just passed the age of 55. The good thing is I am in good health.

MO: I am also in good health.

Lim: When was the last time you visited the clinic for treatment?

MO: Once in 2009. As far as I can remember, I hardly took any medical leave in the last 22 years of working.

Lim: There must be something good we can learn from you. Are there any special methods of taking care of your health?

MO: No, I just practice the normal eating habit. I take meat but I do not fall ill.

Lim: You must have a good control over your meat consumption.

The conversation was switched to another topic as I did not want to let the issue of eating habit (a personal choice) jeopardizes our good relationship. I encourage others to reduce meat consumption to attain good health but they do not have to follow my eating habit if they do not wish to.

After all, health is a matter of choice.

Best health to all.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Diary 24: Interesting Encounter in Bahau

2 February 2010. FRIM’s Traditional Knowledge (TK) research team was heading for RPS Iskandar, Tasek Bera, Pahang from the nearby town, Bahau. We stopped at public food stalls for breakfast.

As I was going into a stall, an elderly Malay man, probably aged more than 70, came out. When he saw me, he took the chance to inform that both his knees suffer pain. The next thing he asked was what could he do to reduce the pain. This is not the first time where elders, whom I never meet before, approached me for suggestions on various illnesses.

In any case, I asked this elder if he likes to take chickens. His answer was affirmative and he takes it every day. However, he also quickly added that he has given up beef consumption some time ago.

I explained to him the needs to reduce and ultimately give up chickens to reduce his knee pain. If he wishes to take chicken, choose those farmed in a traditional way, which take months to mature instead of 40 days.

He nodded and walked away slowly.

I hope he would think about my suggestion seriously.

May be you too, if you face the same problem.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Diary 23: Advising Cancer Patient

Here is another email received on 3 February 2010.

“By the way, my colleague's breast cancer is at Stage 2. She refused to go for mastectomy, chemo & radiation, She wants to concentrate solely on alternate therapy. As at now, according to her, she has changed her diet & doing some qi gong exercises. I am pretty worried though because when I spoke to my boss about it, he was of the opinion that I should not confuse her and that she should think it through before she decides on alternate therapy especially when she is at stage 2.

I am confused myself, may I ask, what are the chances of recovery for such conditions with the alternate therapy? How about the chances of recurrence? I am very sorry to take up your time, but it is just pretty hurting to see this happening to people. My ex-colleague (a man) also passed away of nasal cancer back in 2001. I saw the sufferings he went through & it was 2nd recurrence for him but I salute as he was a great fighter until the very last moment.

Hope to hear from you soon & thank you very much again.”

Perhaps we need to see health and illness in totality. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, it is no more confined to her or his physical health. Health in totality involves body, mental and spiritual aspects. To face cancer is a positive way, we have to find the solutions in totality.

Secondly, before we advise others what to do, make sure that we have the knowledge and relevant experience. Hence, if the patient wishes to discuss with you the problems, provide options to think about, not advice on what to do.

Thirdly, every patient knows her or his conditions best: financial situation, family support… He or she should know best what to do. Respect their decisions.

Fourthly, perhaps it is important for patients to know that it is essential to do things that they have confidence. Do not do things based on hearsay, rumours and baseless claims. For example, if you are taking an apple, make sure that it is an apple. If you are not sure of what you are taking, think again whether you should take it. Your health is in your hands.

Finally, let’s learn something from friends and relatives diagnosed with cancer. Let’s take care of our health and not to become the next victims.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Diary 22: Dr Larry Wong Chee-Yong

I met Dr Larry Wong a few years back when we attended meetings on the development of new villages at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. He was highly regarded by the then Minister, Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting.

In January 2010, we met again during a public forum on post-Copenhagen where panelists spoke on climate change issues. I passed him my health book, Eating for Good Health, with the hope that the book could help him. He purchased a copy.

The following e-mail dated 29 January 2010 was received from Dr Larry Wong which I wish to share with you.

“Greetings! I would like to purchase more copies (around 20 copies) of your book, which you so kindly introduced to me at the COP15 Forum recently, to give to my relatives and friends. I would also like to invite you to give a talk at ISIS. Can you please contact me so that we can move things forward?”

The email touched my heart. He supports not only my special kind of effort but more importantly his caring for his friends and relatives. I have met people purchasing one or two extra copies of my health books for friends or relatives. To purchase 20 copies for the same purpose and express willingness to organize a health talk, Dr Larry Wong has spread his love and compassion.

I sent the books to his office in the afternoon of 1 February 2010, which was a public holiday for Kuala Lumpur. A little surprise for me, he and another relatively junior staff member were there doing some work. This is a man committed to his work.

Deep in my heart, I was a little curious why this senior fellow at the Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) is keen to help organize a health talk for his colleagues, mainly Malays. The answer lies in the Chinese writing displayed on the wall of his office: way to achieve enlightenment.

I must say that we share one thing in common. Help others in this life, right now.

In the morning of 2 February 2010, time and date were proposed for the talk to be delivered in Bahasa Malaysia and English. By the afternoon of the day, he called to confirm that the talk will be held at ISIS in the afternoon of 19 February 2010, the week of the Chinese New Year.

Hopefully, the talk will touch the hearts and minds of his colleagues.

Best health to Dr Larry Wong and those he loves and cares.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Diary 21: What Food Supplement Are You Taking?

This is the one of the frequently asked questions during my health talks. Most people feel that if one is generally free from diseases and illnesses, one is likely taking some form of effective food supplement.

Our body does not need food supplement if we take care of our daily food intake.

Food supplement is merely food, nothing else. Please do not think that food supplement has special medicinal function. The labels on the food supplement do not state that they can be used to treat specific diseases and illnesses.

Modern men and women, including children, have the tendency to take one or more types of food supplement believing that they are good to the body. There is a possibility that high quality food supplement may assist in strengthening the body’s immune system.

What then is high quality food supplement? I do not have the answer.

Do not take anything one is doubtful or unsure of its source or processing. I hold to this guideline.

If you are taking food supplement to obtain vitamins and minerals, there are alternatives. Vitamins and minerals are required in very small proportion by the body each day.

Simply, you just take some fresh vegetables and fruits each day.

I do not take any food supplement. It is my personal choice.