Akihiro Fukuda writes:
The main problems facing Mrs. Masuda are the following. She is approximately 15 kilos overweight. Furthermore, she eats a lot of beef and pork. And she doesn't like to eat vegetables and fruits. So, she may develop breast cancer before long. The first piece of advice to Mrs. Masuda is that she had better not eat beef and pork. Beef and pork contain "bad" cholesterol. Bad cholesterol is associated with low density lipoproteins (LDLs). LDLs carry cholesterol in the blood to body cells. High levels of LDLs are usually associated with an elevated blood cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease due to cholesterol and fat being deposited in the arteries. These fatty deposits decrease the interior size of the arteries so the blood supply is reduced, thus increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. And, in addition to heart problems, high levels of LDL also are correlated with certain kinds of cancer.
The second problem is that she should eat vegetables and fruits because she needs to increase her intake of fiber. Vegetables provide vitamins (especially A and C), and are excellent sources of fiber, as well as being naturally low in fat. For maximum nutrients, she should select dark leafy greens, deep-yellow or orange vegetables, and starchy vegetables like potatoes and yams. Fruits are rich sources of vitamins, most notably vitamin C. They are low in fat and calories. Fruits also contain fiber. Many other other kinds of foods contain dietary fiber@as well. (Fiber is the food that resists digestion by the body. Eating foods that are high in fiber can help relieve some problems with constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis and irritable bowel syndrome.) Dietary fiber may help lower Mrs. Masuda's cholesterol. It may also help prevent heart disease, diabetes and breast cancer. She might try eating vegetables, fruits and particularly soybeans to increase the fiber in her diet.
The third problem for Mrs. Masuda is that she should maintain a healthy weight. The weight that's right for her depends on many factors including her sex, height, age and heredity. Excess body fat increases her chances for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, breast cancer and other illnesses.
The fourth problem is that she should eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in overeating. When she is very hungry, it's also tempting to forget about good nutrition. Snacking between meals can help curb hunger, but she should not eat so much that her snack becomes an entire meal.
Finally she should change her mind.
Even if we have lots of good advice, it all depends on how she handles
this. So, she needs to have a strong heart and change her mind. One way
that might be helpful for her would be to try and lead a well-regulated
life and follow sound advice certainly.
| Click the BACK button to return to the student index.|