Miyuki Shimizu writes:
Mr. Tanaka has many problems of two basic kinds. One problem is clinical.
He has many risk factors. He
should know about his clinical risk factors immediately. Another
problem is about his lifestyle. Even if he changes his lifestyle, his
health will not be improved at once, but it is necessary for him to
know the right information regarding improving his lifestyle.
One problem
which he has is related to clinical matters. Firstly, in his family there is a
history of diabetes and a critical heart condition. Secondly, his LDL
level is at 172. LDL delivers cholesterol to the body, and prevents
the blood flowing. It is better that LDL level is under 130. So, his
172 level is extremely high. If his LDL level is not be reduced, he
may have anterioclerosis. To reduce his LDL level, he needs to do exercise more
and lose weight. His problems about his
family and high LDL level are very serious and put him in danger of
illness or death. He should have the right information and improve his
condition.
First of all, it is good for him to eat good foods and
exercise to reduce LDL level. He thinks he needs to intake fast food
like hamburgers, cheeseburgers etc, but that is not right. He should
reduce the amount of foods that high saturated fats and cholesterol.
He should get the vitamins and minerals more. Therefore he had better
eat a varied, balanced diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains. He doesn't like exercise, but he does sports about a half an
hour once a week, because of the only reason that he wants to keep his
weight down. We can not help he doesn't like doing sports, but I want
him to enjoy sports if possible. Exercise is helpful to reduce his
LDL level, so it will keep him from having anterioclerosis. That is
the most important point for him. He has been feeling lots of
pressure at work lately, and most recently he finds it hard to relax
even after work. If he enjoys doing routine physical exercise, his
feeling will be better and it may be easy to relax for him. Thus,
exercise will have an appropriate effect on both mentally and
physically. If he insists on hating exercise, I recommend stretch or
yoga.
Another problems he has are about his lifestyle. Firstly, he
doesn't have time to eat breakfast most mornings. Secondly, he relies
on vitamin supplements because he hates vegetables. Thirdly, he
doesn't understand importance of foods. He gets his nutrition from
meat, beef, and pork mostly and gets his fiber from eating udon and
rice. To be sure, vitamin is needed for human body, because it helps
the body turn food into energy and tissues, so it is important for him
to get vitamin supplements. But supplements are supporting things.
Basically, he had better get vitamin by eating a varied, balanced
diet. Vitamins are contained in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
He should eat these foods especially in the morning. Fiber is
contained in oatmeal, bran cereal or whole-grain bread, and plenty of
fruits, vegetables and dried beans. He should eat these foods, too,
except udon or rice. Next, I want him to know about vitamins and
minerals, and the difference between carbohydrates and fats. Vitamins
help the body turn food into energy and tissues. There are 13
vitamins in all. On the other hand, minerals are needed for growth
and maintenance of body structures. They also help to maintain
digestive juices and the fluids found in and around all. Minerals
include calcium, chlorine, magnesium, phosphorus, etc. We usually get
minerals by eating plants or plant-eating animals. Carbohydrates
include all starches and sugars. They are the body's main source of
energy. Each gram of carbohydrate provides 4 calories. On the other
hand, fats pack a lot of energy. Each gram of fat provide 9 calories.
There are three kinds of fat: saturated, monounsaturated, and
polyunsaturated. Fats have high calorie and may cause becoming fat.
And fats contains saturated lipid which is the source of bad
cholesterol or LDL.
I advise him to enjoy eating and doing exercise.
I think it is important for him to enjoy his lifestyle. What is
most important is not vitamin supplements and magazines about health,
but living with eating a varied, balanced diet and doing comfortable
exercise.
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