Diary 56: Talking to A US Friend With Cancer

Dr SK, a lecturer in a well-known US university, is in his mid-30s when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2009.

After a series of radiation and chemotherapy, he is able to resume his work now.

While he was here last week, I had a chance to interact with him on 20 March 2010.

After chemotherapy, he had difficulty to swallow food.

His hearing is affected after the treatment. I now understand why he has to speak loudly compared to the past.

He has gradually switched to more vegetable/fruit diet and has given up red meat. I feel good to hear this as he knows what to do.

I shared with him what he may like to do if he wishes to live longer.

He has to give up white meat and fish. This concerns his life and the lives of others. Since all lives are equal, one has to respect other lives if one wishes to reclaim health.

I told him that even though the medical professionals said that all cancer cells are now killed, it does not mean that they are not coming back.

He may consider talking to his cancer cells as they are part of his body.

I recommended him to read the books written by an American, namely “Diet for a new America” and “Food revolution”.

My book “Eating for Good health” was given to him as a gift.

I hope he will be more seriously in taking care of his health.

I wish him best health and we shall meet again.

Diary 55: Sad woman at the hospital

I visited my mother-in-law who underwent an eye operation for her glaucoma at Selayang Hospital for the last few days (15-18 March 2010).

There were three Malay women sharing the same ward with her.

While in the ward, I noticed the woman next to her bed did not seem to be cheerful.

The Malay woman felt sad because none of her eight children came to visit her for the first two days. She saw family members of other patients coming to visit. Only her younger sister and daughter-in-law came that evening. I observed that she also took little food during dinner time.

The hospital nurse told her that this is not surprising for many patients.

“Their children were too busy with their work and families.”

“When the children and grandchildren came for visit, they made the place into a social gathering where they enjoyed their food.”

What comes to your mind?

For me, just take care of our health so that we do not have to be hospitalized the rest of our lives.
If we are healthy, and learn to live a life of our own that serve the society at large, it does not matter much if our children and their children have no time to visit us.

May all have good health.

Diary 54: Protecting the tropical forests

‘A United Nations scheme rewards countries that protect their remaining forests” (The Star Two, 16 March 2010).

Companies and agencies in the developed nations are willing to provide incentives to the rest of the world to protect local forests. They know too well that forests are important in regulating climate change affecting not the poor nations but the rich as well.

We are all interrelated and interdependent. What happen to others will ultimately affects our livelihood and indeed common long term survival.

We Malaysians can protect our own forests. Let the rich nations help the peoples in other developing countries.

What can the ordinary people do?

Part the Brazilian forests has been gradually cleared for animal farming.

The meat you take weekly may come from the modern farms located in previous forested land.

You can do something to reduce deforestation in the Amazon.

Very simple, taking less meat or no meat.

Diary 53: Colleague with health problems

I spent half an hour discussion with F this morning. He is 54 years and has 4 years to go before retiring.

“My family doctor told me I have problems with diabetes, heart and kidney’. He wanted me to do at least 3 things, i.e. give up smoking, change diet and exercise.”

Did he follow the advice?

“I gave up smoking. It is hard to adjust my diet as I have to attend social functions from time to time. Laziness has kept me from exercising.”

I can only say that he has to make a brave decision in life. Otherwise, his health is heading for big trouble affecting his life.

“What if you cannot walk one day? Do you think your money, property and fame are still important to you?”

“Will you give up your house in return for the ability to walk?”

All of us have to think of this question.

The answer is obvious.

Diary 52: Jog and walk to maintain & attain health

Vincent, 52-year-old, has a young look. I thought he is about 45 years of age. You cannot judge a person’s age from his outlook. I asked if he dyes his hair. No.

How do you maintain and attain health?

“I brought your book 2 years ago and follow some of your practices. The most important thing I do is to walk up FRIM’s canopy walkway 4 times a week for the last 8 years. You have to sweat everyday to maintain good health.”

What he shares makes sense.

If I am in the office, I will make a special effort to jog and walk up FRIM’s canopy walkway. It is good to sweat daily. It is most effective in rejuvenating one’s energy when one walks bare foot.
I notice that those walking up FRIM’s canopy walkway are regulars. I met this 74-year old elder, also a Hainanese, last week. He told me that if there is no rain, he will walk twice a day, in the morning and late afternoon. He feels good and seldom falls sick.

Professor Dr. Jeffry Vincent, about 50 of age, from the US came to FRIM for research discussion. He said that walking for a distance is now part of his daily activities. That maintains his health. I am glad to learn that his family now consumes a lot of vegetables these days.

Well, healthy diet and walking help to maintain and attain good health.

When was the last time you walk to sweat?

Diary 51: Calcium Deficiency

As one ages, the normal trend is one is likely to experience what the medical professionals calls “calcium deficiency”. One is likely to have weak bone and may not be able to walk properly.

It is at this stage of time that one may experiences what is clinically known as “osteoporosis”, or bone mineral losses. It simply means that about 50 to 75% of the original bone material is lost.
What is the main cause of osteoporosis?

While it is caused by a number of things, the most important is excess dietary protein.

Would increased calcium intake solve the problem?

The answer is explained by Dr John McDougall, “I would like to emphasize that the calcium-losing effect of protein on the human body is not any area of controversy in scientific circles. The many studies performed during the past 55 years consistently show that the most important dietary change that we can make if we want to create a positive calcium balance that will keep our bones solid is to decrease the amount of proteins we eat each day. The important change is not to increase the amount of calcium we take in.” (cited in John Robbins, 1987. Diet for a new America.)

In short, high-protein diets in general, and meat-based diets in particular, bring about a gradual but inexorable decrease in bone density and develops osteoporosis.

To avoid osteoporosis later, reduce the consumption of high-protein food now!

Remember, “the important change is not to increase the amount of calcium we take in.”

Diary 50: Tackling obesity the American Way

“An initiative by The American Beverage Association – including The Coca-Cola Co, Dr Pepper Snappe Group and PepsiCo – the Clinton Foundation and The American Heart Association has helped cut shipments of full-sugar soft drinks to schools by 95% compared with 2004” (The Sun, 10 March 2010).

It was also reported that two-thirds of Americans, including one in two children, are overweight or obese.

One interesting note about the above report is that obesity is a serious problem for a developed nation such as USA.

Many developing countries are influenced by what happen in the US. Fast food has become part of local culture in these developing countries. Obesity also becomes a major health problem among their populations.

Obesity tackling is not the responsibility of the government alone. We see that in the US even the soft-drink companies and NGO can together play an important role.

The role of government is important in showing the way. In US, to tackle consumption of soft drinks, California and Philadelphia have introduced legislation to tax soda.

I wish what happens in US would have a positive impact for other governments of the world to establish the relevant legislation.