Akiko Itoh writes:
I think the basic problem to improve is that Mr Tanaka is very busy
with his computer business. And the big problem is his wrong idea and
wrong care about health. He is interested in his health and read many
magazines about health but he does not always understand and is
confused about this.
Since he is busy six and sometimes seven days a week, he doesn't have
time to eat breakfast most mornings, and he also finds he needs to
intake fast food like hamburgers, cheeseburgers or udon at lunch and
dinner. In diet he has other problem,he hates vegetables and likes
meats, which result in his taking a lot of fatty acid, and little
vitamins. So he relies on vitamin supplements which he takes with
four or five cups of coffee in the morning and colas in the afternoon.
Mr Tanaka has been feeling lots of pressure at work lately, and most
recently he finds it hard to relax even after work. Since Mr Tanaka
does not like to exercise and he is so busy, he exercises for only
about a half an hour once a week,and yet he feels this is enough to
keep him from becoming fat. Furthermore ,his LDL level is measured at
172 (very high).
In addition to these lifestyle problems, he has possibilities of big
diseases. His father and grandfather have diabetes and his mother has
heart disease.If he does not change his lifestyle, he will have same
diseases.
Mr Tanaka is "health-conscious" but he had many problems (like hate
vegetables, vitamin supplements with four or five cups of coffee and
"colas" , high LDL level, risk factors for heart disease and diabetes).
So I will give some advice to improve his health.
At first, I will tell him the difference between carbohydrates and
fats. Carbohydrates include all starches and sugars. They are the
body's main source of energy. Each gram of carbohydrate provides 4
calories. Starches are a more complex form of carbohydrate. And Foods
containing starches include beans, breads, cereals, pasta, and
potatoes. Fat is a valuable energy source and carries fat-soluble
vitamins needed for proper growth and development. It also contributes
important taste and textural qualities that are part of enjoying food.
Proteins are more important as the body's building materials. Muscle,
skin, bone, and hair are made up largely of proteins. In addition,
every cell contains proteins and the body uses proteins to make
antibodies, or disease-fighting chemicals, and certain hormones. Food
provides our body with these nutrients it needs for energy, growth,
repair, and reproduction. So we have to eat a variety of nutrient-rich
foods. We need more than 40 different nutrients for good health, and
no single food supplies them all.
Secondly, I recommend he take breakfast. That's because eating only
two meals often leads to overeating. In other words, cholesterol
rises in body. And he should have a balanced diet. Although he takes
fat, carbohydrates and protein, he doesn't take enough vitamins and
minerals. Vitamins help the body turn food into energy and tissues.
Minerals are needed for growth and maintenance of body structures.
Some vitamins are antioxidants chemicals that prevent damaging changes
in cells and may help protect against cancer, heart disease, and
aging. In order to get vitamins and minerals, he had better to have
diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Although he relies
on vitamin supplements which he takes with four or five cups of coffee
in the morning and colas in the afternoon, coffee, tea, cola drinks,
chocolate, some pain relievers, and many over-the-counter energy aids
all contain caffeine. Caffeine is a drug that stimulates the central
nervous system, making you feel more energetic. As a diuretic, it
increases the blood flow through your kidneys, which produce more
urine. The average cup of coffee offers about 100 milligrams of
caffeine. It is said that a good idea is to keep your average intake
below three cups of coffee a day.
Thirdly, his LDL level is measured at 172, (above 160 means high
risk). Saturated fat raises your blood cholesterol level more than
anything else you eat. Foods high in cholesterol or saturated fat
are: egg yolks, sausage, kidney, liver, and whole milk products such
as butter, cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Red meats are also higher in
cholesterol, but the leaner the meat, the lower the cholesterol. In
addition, vegetable oils, such as palm, palm kernel, and coconut oil,
contain no cholesterol but are high in saturated fat. A high blood
cholesterol level is a risk factor for heart disease. Cholesterol is
required for the formation of bile acids which are needed for fat
digestion. Especially Vitamin E prevents LDL from oxidizing. So he
should try to eat green and yellow vegetables like spinach and
carrots. LDLs, are often referred to as "bad cholesterol" because
these lipoproteins carry most of the cholesterol in the blood. 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 his cholesterol. It may also
help prevent heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer.
Dietary fiber is found in soybean , adzuki. Fat of fish eaten did not
increase a blood cholesterol but keep blood clean.
Finally, I recommend he exercise and get more time to relax. He has
been feeling lots of pressure at work lately, and most recently he
finds it hard to relax even after work. Stress lead high blood
pressure, coagulation and hyper glycemia. To find an interesting
sports hobby may help decrease pressure at work, lower his LDL level, and it
may help him achieve a healthier life.
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