Yutaka Hanaoka writes:
Because I interviewed Hiroshi Tanaka, I know he has lots of
problems about his health. But he can solve most of his problems if he
changes his lifestyle. So I will give him some advice for his taking
care of his health.
The first problem is his diet. His diet is too unbalanced to live a healthy
life, though he is health conscious. This problem may be composed of 3
points. First, he does not like vegetables. Shortage of vegetables
results in shortage of fibers, vitamins ( especially A, C, E ). Fibers
play the role of cleaner in the intestine, so fibers prevent from
being constipated or developing the cancer of the large intestine. And
he is misunderstanding that udon or rice have much fibers so, he
thinks he intakes so much fibers that he can send healthy life. But in
fact, flour or rice refined has little fibers. So he should eat the
food include much fibers. For example, potato, sweet potato, celery or
lettuce. Vitamin A (include carotene) is necessary to new cell growth,
so it makes easy for him to recover from his fatigue. Vitamin C is
need to fight infection, so it prevents from his catching a cold.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, so it regulates the danger of artery
sclerosis. Maybe he can take vitamins from vitamin supplements, but
vegetables may have unknown ingredients which is beneficial for
health, furthermore it is easier to absorb vitamin vegetables than
supplies. So he should eat more vegetables. If he cannot, he should
drink vegetable juice or fruit juice instead of coffee or cola at least.
Second, he usually skips breakfasts. Breakfast is the source of the
power that he spends the day energy. so skipping breakfast prevents
them from working at their best. So they should not skip breakfast.
Third, he eats only red meat like beef or pork but does not fish.
Certainly red meat contains lots of protein, but it also contains much
LDL cholesterol. So he should eat more fish which contains less LDL
cholesterol instead of meat. And, he wants to know how much vitamins
or minerals. But he is confused about recommended daily amount. So I
will give some advice about RDA. Like him, a 30 year old man, living
at an intense activity level.
Additionally,
Mr. Tanaka does not know the real difference carbohydrate and fats. So I
will explain the difference. Carbohydrates are the main and basic
source of energy. The definition of the carbohydrates is very large.
Carbohydrates can be classified sugar, alcohol, fats and so on.
Glucose, one of the sugar, is the only substance that out brain can
use. So sugar is the most important substance of the carbohydrates.
Fat is one of the carbohydrates. Fat is a valuable energy source
(produces 9kcal/g) and carries fat-soluble vitamins needed for
proper growth and development. Fats that are common in some diets
also have been linked to an increased risk of developing breast
cancer. And both sugar and fats are can change each other.
The next problem is that he is overworking. He is very busy six and
sometimes seven days a week. He is computer specialist, thus he has no
chance that he does exercise on the job. additionally he does nothing
but watch the computer display. That is very stressful. So he should
have hobbies for getting rid of stress. For example, playing sports,
cycling, walking. But anything which he choose, the most important
thing is that he enjoys the hobbies heartily.
The third problem is that LDL cholesterol level is 172. The level is
higher than recommended level 130, so he has to reduce his LDL level.
Why should he reduce LDL level? Certainly LDL cholesterol is necessary
for our body, but too much LDL cholesterol results in gallstone or
arteriosclerosis. especially a man who has family affected heart
disease like him should keep down lower than 130 mg / dl. Then how
does he do? one way he should reduce to eat foods which contain much
LDL cholesterol, for example, hamburger, cheeseburger or egg yolk and so
on. Another way, he should take more exercise, for example, when he
commutes, he can walk from the station next to the nearest station.
Additionally he should eat foods which contain HDL cholesterol, because
HDL cholesterol can control the bad effects of excessive LDL
cholesterol.
Finally, the fourth problem is impossible for him to solve, because the
problem is genetic. Both his father and grandfather are
suffering from diabetes. Diabetes tends to be inherited from parents.
Additionally his mother is suffering from a critical heart disease.
Heart disease also tends to be inherited. Is this the only disadvantageous
fact ? Is all he has to do is wait to get these diseases ? No,
this problem is more beneficial than disadvantageous, because he can
anticipate the diseases which are easy for him to have, and he can
prevent these diseases if he takes care of his health. For example, about
diabetes, he should reduce to take not only sweet foods but also fatty
foods, because the more he becomes fat, the less insulin will work effectively.
About heart
disease, he should reduce eating fatty foods as I said.
That is all I can advise him. I wish him a much healthier life.
| Click the BACK button to return to the student index.|