Youichi Hayashida writes:
Considering and analyzing the case of Hiroshi Tanaka, I found many
problems. And they can be classified into three groups, that
is, Diet problems, Lifestyle problems, and Genetic problems.
He is in
very dangerous condition but if he carefully take all of my advice, I
think his health and his life will improve. Let me show you my analysis.
First I want to start from his Diet problem. He is "health-conscious"
but his diet is unreasonable! He doesn't have breakfast,and he like to
eat fast food like hamburgers or udon at lunch and dinner! Dietary
fiber may help lower cholesterol. It may also help prevent heart
disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. But there is little
fiber in udon. He should eat brown rice instead of udon or eat cooked
beans each week. "What's the real difference between carbohydrates and
fats?" He asked me.
My answer is that carbohydrates include
all starches and sugars. They are the body's main source of energy.
Each gram of carbohydrate provides 4 calories. Most foods contain
carbohydrates. The main sugar in food is sucrose, which is everyday
white or brown sugar. Other sugars include lactose (found in milk) and
fructose (found in most fruits and many vegetables). Starches are a
more complex form of carbohydrate. They are more filling and contain
more nutrients than foods with lots of sugars, fats, or oils. Foods
containing starches include beans, breads, cereals, pasta, and
potatoes. On the other hand, fats park a lot of energy. Each gram of
fat provides 9 calories. There are three kinds of fat: saturated,
monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated. Animal and dairy fats, which
remain solid at room temperature, are saturated fats. Saturated fat is
often called "bad" fat. Unsaturated fats include vegetable fat and
oils; they remain liquid at room temperature.
He also admits that he
hates most vegetables. When does he take vitamins and minerals? I
asked him. He replied that he gets
good nutrition from the vitamin supplements! I think he is confused
and misunderstands information about nutrition. Vitamins cannot be
assimilated without ingesting food. That is we cannot take fine
vitamins from vitamin supplements. Vitamins are essential to the
normal functioning of our bodies. They are necessary for our growth,
vitality, and general well-being. For example, lack of vitamin A result
in night blindness, lack of vitamin B-1 result in the loss of appetite
or paralysis & nervous irritability. So it is very important to get
fine and balanced vitamins.
Minerals are also important for our
bodies. Minerals are needed for growth and maintenance of body
structures. They also help to maintain digestive juices and the fluids
found in and around cells. Unlike vitamins, carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins, minerals are not made by plants and animals. Plants get
minerals from water or soil, and animals get minerals by eating plants
or plant-eating animals. The minerals the body needs in large amounts
include calcium, chlorine, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium,
and sulfur. Other minerals, called trace elements, are needed in much
smaller amounts. Trace elements include iron, copper, fluorine,
iodine, selenium, zinc, chromium, cobalt, manganese, and molybdenum.
The best way to get the vitamins and minerals you need is by eating a
varied, balanced diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Your body stores only small amounts of them and they are excreted in
urine. Some vitamins are antioxidants‹chemicals that prevent damaging
changes in cells and may help protect against cancer, heart disease,
and aging.
He should eat vegetables at every meal. Low fat milk and
marine plants are also helpful. Also, he has many Lifestyle problems.
He is too nervous about information of nutrition. "Health-conscious"
is good, but his case, thinking about health results in his unhealthy way of living.
He also feels lots of pressure at work. So he should find the way to
get rid of stress as soon as possible. I suggest easy exercise as
walking and swimming because it is also easy to do and good for
health. And he almost works inside, I think he rarely has chance to
bask in the warm sun. We can make vitamin D from sunlight so he should
have outdoor-hobby and he had better go outside on holidays. Third he
especially may have Genetic problems. His grandparents have diabetes,
his mother is currently ill with a critical heart condition. He had
better prepare to get along with the risks. He should lower his LDL
level eating healthy food like fruits and vegetables. (The best total
cholesterol level is under 200.) And exercise may help raising his HDL
level. Last of all, I decided to be his health adviser. I believe I
can help him solve his problems and live a healthy life.
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