n u t r i t o d a y

Want to learn Yoga with me?

2008-11-26T09:44:00.000+08:00

I'm going to my 3rd Yoga class today and I never felt 'cooler' in attending one! :-)

Today's class at 6.35pm at Fitness First, IOI Mall, Puchong. Anyone would like to follow me? I have guest passes with me! *wink wink

Upper body work out

2008-11-04T20:39:00.000+08:00

My ~~cute boyish looking~~ trainer put me on upper-body-workout today. I hateeeeeeeeee upper body workout [includes arms, shoulder, back & abs]. My trainer always come up with workout using different combination of instruments. What I did today...
1. First, it was a warm-up session - 15mins of cycling at the speed of 60-70 and then, little bit of workout on hamstring & buttocks using 40kg of weight.

2. Next, you got to put down weight of 25kg (1 set) & 30kg (1 set).

3. Immediately followed by another machine where you put the weight vertically - 15kg (1 set), 12.5kg (2 sets).

4. No rest in between.. so quickly got to run to the cable cross. Apparently it is the most versatile exercise equipment. This time, you got to sit on the gym ball and pull the weight (20kg) alternately using your left and right hands (2 sets) and pull using both arms (1set).

Image from design2bfit

5. Quickly run to another equipment where you pull the weight (15kg) up against the gravity by standing up and squatting (1 set).

6. Redo #4 and #5.

7. By now, I am half-dead. But this is not the end, another 10mins on the treadmill. Briskwalk at the speed of 5.5 and at the same time, hold 6lb weight (dumbbell) for 3 mins, the next 1.5min, lift up and down the right dumbbell and 1.5min for the left one. 3mins run (speed = 6.0) with the dumb bell. My problem was not the pain but the fact that I have to balance the dumb bell. The last one min, run at 6.5.

8. I'm officially burned out at this stage. But we have the last stage now - the abs. Normal abs workout - 20 times, with legs lifted up (almost 90 degrees) - 20 times, swinging knees left and right - 20 times. End it with plank (holding your body on your arms) for 20 sec.

9. I'm dead.

What do I do in gym?

2008-10-14T10:31:00.001+08:00

I used to go jogging/brisk walking. My body weight started to reduce but it reached the plateau soon after. So, I forced myself to enroll in a gym without a personal trainer (PT). They cost a lot, mind you. But for my health sake, I decided to go on with it.

In total I have had 18 sessions with my PT. It is too early to see changes in the weight (apparently weight loss will only start after the 4th month) but I can feel the improvement in my muscle strength. I can lift more weight with ease and do more repetition without feeling very sore the next day. I'm feeling very much comfortable working out on my own without any help and it really feels good to exercise.

What exactly did I do in gym?

Well, for the first few sessions, it is like orientation. The PT will teach you various types of exercise equipments that they have and you will start learning how to use them. The next sessions (at least 2-3 months) will focus on your muscle strength. Its all about weight training - lift, push and pull weight. This is to make sure you are strong enough for the cardio work outs which will involve your stamina and at the end, weight loss.

Besides working out, one also have to take care of the diet. Slowly bring down the percentage of refined carbohydrate and increase consumption of whole-grains. More protien-based food eg. lean meat, boiled chicken without skin and soy, and fruits-vegetables. Lots of water to replace the water lost during workouts (especially after you have started the cardio regime) and lesser sugar/salt/oil intake.

I'll be following up with daily diary of diet & exercise in nutritioday whenever possible. Bookmark it! :)

Workout updates to come..

2008-10-06T22:49:00.000+08:00

Today my trainer asked me if I am posting anything about my fitness/workout in the blog. That got me thinking - no! Wonder why I didn't update even a single post on it. Wasted! Anyway, they say it's better late than never right?

Watch this space for my workout/diet updates.. Will update as much as possible ;-)

Green Tea

2008-10-06T19:45:00.000+08:00

Do you really believe that a daily consumption of green tea will help in loosing weight?

The answer is Yes. There are considerable amounts of research being done to prove its effect on weight reduction and prevention of other degenerative disorders like Diabetes and Cardiovascular disorders. Green tea is a type of tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis, that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. It is rich in antioxidants which is claimed to have beneficial effect in prevention of Cancer and prevention of the progress and cure of Cancer.

Other than the traditional green tea, you can try having mint tea with lemon which has rich flavor and has same antioxidant properties. Just add little honey and you'll never forget the taste and the joy it gives. Hence two cups of greentea is absolutely recommended for healthier life.

Further Reading: Green Tea

Lycopene

2008-10-06T19:31:00.002+08:00

Lycopene is a nutrient which is present in rich amounts in Tomatoes. It is rich in antioxidants. All antioxidants help in Cancer prevention. Antioxidants are those which combine with the harmful free radicals present in our body which are otherwise said to cause cancer. Lycopene is rich in red tomatoes and is said to get absorbed easily when they undergo hot processing before intake.

Further Reading: Lycopene

So you wanna do PhD?

2008-09-11T12:04:00.000+08:00

I was searching for some 'motivational' articles for me to .. hmm.. well, motivate myself to start up my PhD work and that's when I came across this article.

Try to pick an answer to the question - why you wanna do a PhD from the following answer (be as honest as possible):

I have a diagnosable mental illness
I can’t get a job
I can’t face the real world
I think it would be cool to have ‘Dr’ before my name on my credit cards
I seek to further my knowledge and contribute to the advancement of science in this, my chosen field
I'm too ugly to be a model or an actor or a prostitute
I am impressed by the example set by my television role model, and wish to follow in his/her/its footsteps
Smart chicks are hot
It is a condition of late Uncle Fergus' will that his estate will only go to someone who can withstand severe psychological torture. My cousin is going to join Mossad for their training program
PhD? I was just looking to put my application for the lab tech job, so that I can have a salary and job security and can still wear the funky white coat

And the appropriate answer will be....
...

#10!!!

Hehehehe..

Research

2008-09-09T11:32:00.001+08:00

'If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research,
would it?' (A. Einstein)

Slides: How to reshape your diet?

2008-07-17T10:26:00.003+08:00

This is the second set of slides I did during my master. It emphasize on reshaping one's diet for a better health.

If the slides are not showing, you may view the slides here.

Calculate your diabetes risk

2008-07-11T11:26:00.000+08:00

I found this interesting chart while surfing for articles.
(Click for larger view)

It shows a calculated risk for a person depending on several risk factors. Although it is developed with Westerners in mind, it generally can be applied to us as well.

My risk of developing diabetes is 0.2%. Interesting figure. How about you?

Reference:
Diabetes Risk Calculator: A simple tool for detecting undiagnosed diabetes and pre-diabetes
Kenneth E Heikes, David M Eddy, Bhakti Arondekar, Leonard Schlessinger. Diabetes Care. Alexandria: May 2008. Vol. 31, Iss. 5; p. 1040.

Video: Hypertension

2008-07-06T22:03:00.002+08:00

My PhD research will focus on hypertensive patients. Found this video while 'you-tubing'. Spend some time watching it, wonderfully animated educational video.

Can I substitute fruits & vegetables with juices?

2008-06-23T09:33:00.000+08:00

Six oz of fruit or vegetable juice is considered one serving - but only if it is 100% juice. While juice can supply many of the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals found in whole fruits and vegetables, it:

Does not supply the fiber or complete nutrient load found in solid fruit.
Has the calories that can add up quickly and won't pacify hunger.
Needs to be limited to 1 servings a day.

Its important to be sure to choose carefully: a "juice cocktail" or "juice beverage" label means it is not 100% juice.

June - Survivor Month!

2008-06-16T12:48:00.000+08:00

The pretty Syura tagged me in tulipspeaks to post about this Breast Cancer Site. I thought it is more appropriate to be featured here instead.

When you click this button below, you will be directly to site which has the button "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" you are helping to fund free mammograms for women in need — low-income, inner-city and minority women whose awareness of breast cancer and opportunity for help is often limited. Yea, seriously. if they receive 8000 clicks this month, their premier sponsor will donate 10K for the free mammograms.

What are you waiting now? Start clicking!

Very high calorie Malaysian foods

2008-06-09T09:47:00.000+08:00

Wonder why you are still not losing that weight (or even worse, putting more weight) lately? Consumption of very high calorie food maybe the reason and these are some of the culprit:

1. Fried rice (>600kcal)

2. Fried chicken 'dinner plate' (>600kcal)

3. Fried chicken 'snack plate' (>600kcal)

4. Mysore Pak (Indian) (>300kcal)

5. Laddu (Indian) (>300kcal)

6. Papadam (>300kcal)

*Photos are for illustration purpose only.

Slides: Cancer

2008-06-01T19:08:00.003+08:00

Sharing with you all a slide presentation of mine. It was meant to be used in educational talks to those with high risk for cancer and/or colorectal cancer. This is just a part of a lecture series. You may be seeing the rest of the slides as time goes by.

Nutrition education in primary schools

2008-05-30T00:34:00.000+08:00

I was surfing when I landed FAO's page on teaching good eating habits to reduce malnutrition and diet-related diseases. The article published in Oct 2007 in Rome stated that FAO is publishing (published)a planning guide for nutrition education in primary schools.

Educating school children in healthy nutrition is one of the most effective strategies for overcoming malnutrition and chronic diet-related diseases but has been neglected far too long, FAO said today.

The UN agency announced the publication of a new comprehensive guide for curriculum development addressing nutrition education in primary school.
...

Good nutrition education can make children aware of how to achieve a nourishing diet with limited means; how to prepare and handle food safely and how to avoid food-related risks.

As future parents, they will know about the benefits of breastfeeding and complementary feeding, and be able to educate their children to follow a diet that is well balanced and of good quality.

The guidelines can be downloaded in parts HERE. Hopefully this will be beneficial to nutrition grads and postgrads who are undertaking research focusing on primary school children.

Malaysian Dietary Guidelines

2008-05-28T00:55:00.003+08:00

Yes, there is such thing after all and according to the guidelines:

* you should enjoy a variety of foods.
Different foods provide different combinations of energy (calories) and nutrients (like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and fibre). Eating a variety of foods is the best way to meet your energy and nutrient requirements in order to grow, develop, move, work, play, think and learn.

* you have to maintain a healthy body weight by balancing food intake with regular physical activity.
Maintaining healthy body weight helps you prevent health problems and gives you a better body image. On the other hand, being too thin or too fat increases the risk of health problems

* you are advised to eat more rice and other cereal products, legumes, fruit and vegetables.
These foods are emphasised because they provide complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fibre and other components that are important for good health.

* you should minimise fat in food preparation and choose foods that are low in fat and cholesterol.
Dietary fat is important to your health because it supplies energy, a variety of fatty acids (particularly those known as essential fatty acids or EFA), as well as fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Dietary fat also makes food more palatable.

* you can only use a small amount of salt and choose foods low in salt.
Sodium is vital for your body to function properly. However, only a very small amount of sodium is needed. Excessive sodium intake is associated with the incidence of high blood pressure.

* you have to reduce sugar intake and choose foods low in sugar.
Sugar is a useful and popular food item. However, other than simple carbohydrate (which provides energy), sugar is devoid of other nutrients. The World Health Organisation recommends that not more than 10% of energy should come from sugar.

* you have to drink plenty of water daily.
Water is essential for your body’s functions including digestion, nutrient absorption and transportation, excretion of waste products, regulation of body temperature and lubrication of
moving parts.

* you (read women) are advised to practise and promote breast-feeding.
Breastmilk provides all the nutrients that your baby needs for growth and development, including brain development. It also protects your baby from infection. Breastfed babies have less diarrhoea and infections, compared with bottle-fed babies. Breastfeeding is also beneficial to mother and promotes bonding with baby.

You may download the English version HERE.

Alcohol and drug rehabilitation

2008-05-24T17:50:00.003+08:00

Residential Drug Rehabilitation and Alcohol Rehab centres are not well accepted in this part of the world. I wonder why. In fact, I can't seem to recall if we have a decent drug rehab which specialised in Drug Treatment in Malaysia. Yes, we have Pusat Serenti but that is not what I am talking about. Is it the social stigma surrounding people fighting drug and alcohol addiction? I wonder again.

News of famous Hollywood actors and actresses joining high-class rehabilitation centres flashes our newspapers and online news portals. Paparazzi tag them along like parasites looking for an opportunity to snap a picture or two, proving that they are having issues indeed. If an open and liberal society like the Western treats rehabs with caution, what more conservative country like ours. I think it would take a long time before we could hear some aunties talking about how successful a drug rehab was in treating her son, or how easy it was for her husband to shrug off his obsession with alcohol after checking in into one high class alcohol rehab. We have a long way to go before we can see that happening in our country.

For now, the burden of treating drug abuse and alcoholism in this country fell on the shoulder of health professionals, especially the medical doctors.

nutriWEB

2008-05-22T11:50:00.001+08:00

A proud website by the Nutrition Society of Malaysia, an organization I am currently a member.

While many tend to shy away from nutriWEB and only visit it during the registration for the annual scientific conference, I still feel this is a good initiative by the society to disseminate some nutritional information to the public. You get to browse the soft copies of research papers published in Malaysian Journal of Nutrition, download health recipes taken from their Resepi Sihat Pilihan Bijak cooking books, calculate your BMI in their nutrition tool and get some health facts as well. The latest news updated in the website is the newspaper articles published in the main stream media.

I do have my grouses about the site as well. I hope they will update it as frequent as possible. The last update prior to the Nutrition Month news was way back in 2006! For example, they can always have new articles on nutrition and health written exclusively for the website. The council is made up with all the experts anyway!

And I do hope they will change the layout/look of the site. It has been like that every since I started visiting! *sigh..

Do you need multivit?

2008-05-20T13:53:00.000+08:00

No, you don't.

Unless you belong to the 'high-risk' group as listed below:

elderly people
vegans/vegetarians
alcohol-dependent individuals
patients with malabsorption of certain micronutrients.

If you do not belong to any of the group above, I would say you are wasting your money on the over advertised multivitamins. Consumption of individual micronutrients also should be treated with caution as you may find mega doses of a specific micronutrients which is not only unnecessary for your body, but may also cause other health problems. For example,excessive doses of vitamin A during early pregnancy and fat-soluble vitamins taken anytime may result in adverse outcomes.

It is proven that certain inadequacy of certain micronutrients may increase the risk for some medical conditions - suboptimal folic acid levels, along with suboptimal levels of vitamins B6 and B12, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon and breast cancer; low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures; and low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, E, and C) may increase risk for several chronic diseases. However this should not be an excuse for us to indulge in one particular micronutrient unless advised by a nutritionist/dietician.

Food remains the best source of micronutrients. Remember, they are called MICRONUTRIENTS for a reason!

The Recommended Nutrient Intake for Malaysians gives you an idea on the limitation of intakes of various macro and micronutrients.

Further read:
Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults

Star fruit and kidney

2008-05-18T15:11:00.003+08:00

I had tough time explaining to others how a man could slip into coma after consuming ordinary star fruit.

Tang Gon Seang, who has been suffering a kidney ailment was in Shenzhen visiting his son when he passed out on March 29 after eating star fruits and was rushed to the Shenzhen General Hospital where he fell into a coma.

While star fruit sellers will never going to agree with the nephrologist who advised against consumption of star fruit (only if you are a patient with kidney failure), it is a proven fact that star fruit contains neurotoxin that could harm your central nervous system. In normal people, the neurotoxin will be 'processed' by the kidneys and passed into the urine but in those kidney patients will not be able to do this.

Published in 2003, Neto et al. demonstrated the intoxification caused by star fruit in uraemic patients (patients with a toxic condition resulting from kidney disease in which there is retention in the bloodstream of waste products normally excreted in the urine).

The most common symptoms were persistent and intractable hiccups in 30 patients (93.75%), vomiting in 22 (68.7%), variable degrees of disturbed consciousness (mental confusion, psychomotor agitation) in 21 (65.6%), decreased muscle power, limb numbness, paresis, insomnia and paresthesias in 13 (40.6%) and seizures in seven (21.8%). Patients who were promptly treated with haemodialysis, including those with severe intoxication, recovered without sequelae. Patients with severe intoxication who were not treated or treated with peritoneal dialysis did not survive.

You may read the full research paper HERE.

I walk

2008-05-15T19:06:00.003+08:00

to lose weight.

No joke.

I am not really fit enough to jog every day - I have tried and ended up with aching legs for 2 days. Then I came across a nice website dedicate to WALKING. Well, its actually a part of a website but has enough materials to be passed off as a website by itself! They touched on various aspects of walking and health. If you are trying to lose weight, then I suggest you to read up the section on Burning Calories - How to Walk for Weight Control. Good reading materials which I am currently hooked to.

Whether I will succeed losing the remaining 11kg (to achieve 15kg weight loss) or no, I am happy that I have actually picked up an healthy routine. I know eventually I will get more benefit from it. God bless!

Food shortage?

2008-05-12T21:38:00.003+08:00

Just read an article on how to save money by eating at home. The interview was given by Assoc Prof Dr Mirnalini from UPM, my former supervisor (for Master Degree). Sharing some excerpts of the interview:

Universiti Putra Malaysia associate professor Dr Mirnalini Kandiah said eating at home has added benefits, even if it was a simple meal.

"Instead of eating nasi lemak and nasi minyak which has added fats, Malaysians should opt for simpler meals prepared at home.....

....energy-dense foods like nasi lemak and roti canai were generally unhealthy as they lack the neccesary nutrients. She also stressed the fact that food at eateries can be high in fat.

"We should cut down on rice meals because prices (of rice) will increase given all this talk about shortage. And this will have serious implications for the nutritional status of the poor and undeserved population, whose main source of energy comes from rice..

....while rice consumption was not linked to being overweight, reducing one's rice intake would help a person lose weight.

"You are reducing the main source of energy in your diet, so there is less to store.

Read the full article in NST.

Biological clock

2008-05-07T21:23:00.002+08:00

Was surfing for something when I landed on a page on Chronobiology. Interesting stuff.

(Please click on it for larger view)

Biological clock affects the daily rhythm of many physiological processes. This diagram depicts the circadian patterns typical of someone who rises early in morning, eats lunch around noon, and sleeps at night (10 p.m.). Although circadian rhythms tend to be synchronized with cycles of light and dark, other factors - such as ambient temperature, meal times, stress and exercise - can influence the timing as well.

I'm an overweight nutritionist

2008-05-05T08:17:00.001+08:00

Sad truth. I know.

Its not easy to educate others when we ourselves are not perfect. Well, no one is perfect but that is another story for another day. I will never listen and trust a doctor who smokes. I may be prejudiced but hey, a doctor who preach about good health should do what he preaches. Same goes to me.

Looks cute.. but overweight *sigh, just like me :P

I am a picky eater, careful about my diet and fairly active. No, my weight gain was not due to these two factors but due to some 'interesting' factors which I can't discuss. But that should not be a reason for me to continue to be in this condition isn't it?

I am putting in a lot of effort to lose those extra pounds. Yes, a lot of effort. I have put up a weight loss ticker in tulipspeaks. Hmm.. may be I should put up one here too. Good for self-motivation purpose. Yes, self-monitoring is the key factor to lose the inches by yourself.

As time goes by, I will share more of the tips that I follow, especially if it works! :P

Re-blogging in nutritoday

2008-05-01T12:26:00.003+08:00

Felt like it has been forever since I wrote something in this space. Maintaining tulipspeaks, my personal blog and moderating mindsblog, a common blog has been my priority. I took quite a while to select an appropriate template for the "new-nutritoday" and even longer to update it.
My apologies for that.

I hope to have the discipline and blog here at least twice a week. As I am a pro in rambling about myself, guess it won't be that hard, isn't it? :P

Changing the concept

2008-04-03T17:24:00.000+08:00

I will be changing the concept of NUTRITODAY from a boring fact-filled blog to an exciting experience-filled one! It will contain my experience as a nutritionist, issues on nutrition, my PhD studies and the challenges faced by nutritionist like me.

Please allow me few days to sort things out and do come back later!

Are You Nutrtionally Awake!!!

2008-04-03T15:42:00.001+08:00

Take this quiz and you know how nutritionally aware you are??
It is a very simple quiz only...

http://www.livescience.com/health/top_10_about_you-1.html

6-month weight loss plan

2007-12-25T22:34:00.000+08:00

It's time to make new year's resolutions, and at the top of most people's list will be to lose weight and start an exercise program.

For the new year, try setting monthly goals to improve your health. Make a resolution to check in at the beginning of each month to assess progress. Here's a plan for the first six months to make you feel great in 2008.

January: Begin the new year by assessing your weight and understanding what your weight means for your health. Calculate your body mass index using your height and weight. See the Web site www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi.

BMI tells you if your weight puts you at risk for future health problems, so aim for a BMI of less than 25. If your BMI is more than 30 and losing a lot of weight seems like a daunting task, don't worry. Aim to lose 10 to 12 pounds over the course of a year. Even a small weight loss can improve blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids.

In addition to height and weight, measure your waist circumference with a cloth tape measure. If it's over 40 inches for men and 35 inches in women, set a goal to reduce your apple shape. Your last assessment is to keep a three-day food record and analyze it at www.mypyramidtracker.gov. Set up a profile and use the tracking tool every month to assess your goals.

February. Keep a food diary the first three days of every month and use MyPyramid tracker to assess your intake. This month we turn to affairs of the heart, so focus on saturated fat and cholesterol when you analyze your diet. Easy changes include switching from whole milk to skim milk to save 4 grams of saturated fat and using ground sirloin in place of ground round to save 4.5 grams of saturated fat. For more tips to reduce saturated fat and cholesterol, check out www.americanheart.org.

March. This is National Nutrition Month, so go to www.eatright.org and use the Find a Nutrition Professional tool to locate a registered dietitian in your area to help you fine-tune your goals. Continue with a three-day record and compare it with the food record you kept in January. As the warmer weather approaches, set your exercise goals. Walking is the easiest exercise, so dust off the walking shoes and hit the pavement. Use a pedometer to measure your steps and aim for 10,000 steps each day. If walking outdoors isn't an option, buy a DVD. I like Leslie Sansone's "Walk Away the Pounds." It sounds dorky to walk in place, but trust me, her four-mile super challenge is a great workout in the comfort of your living room.

April. In addition to analyzing your diet, use the MyPyramid activity tracker to monitor your exercise goals. If you've lost weight and have reached a plateau, don't let that deter you. Your smaller body needs fewer calories, so you may have to tweak your diet to burn a few more calories each day. Save 100 calories by dipping chips in salsa instead of cheese dip; switch to light butter; use soft tacos instead of fried crispy tacos; don't ask for extra butter on popcorn at the movies; use chicken broth in mashed potatoes instead of whole milk and butter.

May. Focus on nutrients for bone health, especially calcium and vitamin D. Review your diet analysis for these two important nutrients and visit the Web site of the National Osteoporosis Foundation at www.nof.org to learn more about bone health. Exercise also strengthens bones, so keep up your activity.

June. Check in with your food and activity intake at MyPyramid tracker and use the information to reassess your goals for the next six months. Did you lose weight and improve your body mass index? Did you reduce your waist circumference? Did you stick to your exercise goals? If you've slipped, don't give up. Rededicate yourself for the last half the year to meet the goals you established in January.

Source: http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/stories/2007/12/21/fit_1227fd.html

Why You're Not Losing Weight

2007-11-12T19:40:00.000+08:00

1. You're Following Bad Advice

Sometimes the government goofs. In late 1970s, the United States began advocating a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. In the early 1970s, the average daily energy intake was 2,450 calories. By the year 2000, that number had risen to 2,618. Almost all of those extra calories came from carbohydrates, according to the Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).

Do this: Eat fewer carbs. People are overeating carbohydrates, not protein and fat. So if you want to lose fat, start by cutting back on carbs. Ask nutritionists what the main purpose of carbohydrates is and they'll say, "Energy." Trouble is, most people are consuming more energy than they can burn.

2. You Eat Fat-Free Foods

Warning: Low-fat foods may make you fat. Cornell University researchers reported that when overweight men and women were told they were eating low-fat M&Ms, they consumed 47 percent more calories than those who were given regular M&Ms (the M&Ms were actually all the same). On average, low-fat foods contain 59 percent less fat, but only 15 percent fewer calories than full-fat products.

Do this: Go ahead and eat full-fat foods — for instance, cheese, sour cream, and a nice, marbled steak. They have slightly more calories than their lower-fat counterparts, but they'll help you feel full longer after you eat. And that'll reduce the number of calories you eat at your meal. In our lab at the University of Connecticut, we've found that people who eat 60 percent of their calories from fat lose weight faster than those who eat just 20 percent of their calories from fat.

Moreover, many of your concerns about saturated fat may be overstated.

3. You (Still) Don't Eat Breakfast

Sure, you've heard this one before. But it's important: Researchers at the University of Massachusetts found that people who don't eat breakfast are nearly five times more likely to be obese than those who make it an everyday habit. That's because if you sleep for 6 to 8 hours, and then skip breakfast, your body is running on fumes by the time you get to work. And that sends you desperately seeking sugar, which happens to be easy to find.

Do this: Eat your first meal within 90 minutes of waking. The UMass scientists determined that people who waited longer increased the likelihood that they'd become heavyweights by 147 percent; those that didn't eat breakfast within 3 hours of waking elevated their risk by 173 percent.

4. You're Eating Too Much Sugar

You've stopped drinking regular soda? Great, but your diet is probably still filled with the sweet stuff. Check the label of your breakfast cereal. Some products marketed as healthy are packed with sugar. Case in point: Kellogg's Smart Start Health Heart cereal contains more sugar per serving — 17 grams — than a serving of Froot Loops. The problem: Sugar raises your blood levels of insulin, a hormone that signals your body to stop burning — and start storing fat.

Do this: Carefully read labels — especially when it comes to cereal. Or even better, trade your morning bowl for an omelet. Saint Louis University scientists found that people who have eggs as part of their breakfast eat fewer calories the rest of the day than those who ate bagels instead. Even though both breakfasts contained the same number of calories, the egg eaters consumed 264 fewer calories for the entire day.

5. You Don't Lift Weights

In a study at the University of Connecticut, we put overweight men on a 1,500-calorie-a-day diet, and divided them into three groups — one that didn't exercise, another that performed aerobic exercise 3 days a week, and a third that did both aerobic exercise and weight training. Each group lost almost the same amount of weight — about 21 pounds. But the lifters shed 5 more pounds of fat than those who didn't pump iron. Why? Their weight loss was almost pure fat, while the other two groups lost just 15 pounds of lard, along with several pounds of muscle.

Do this: Make three total-body weight training sessions a week a non-negotiable part of your weight loss plan. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that lost muscle is replaced by fat over time. This not only makes you look flabby, but it also increases your pants size — even if you somehow manage to keep your scale-weight the same. The reason: Each pound of fat takes up 18 percent more space on your body than each pound of muscle.

Source: MSN Health

Nutrition & Insomnia

2007-11-12T11:21:00.000+08:00

The food we eat has a very important impact on all the body structures, influencing nervous and physical activities alike; therefore, don't be surprised to discover that insomnia and nutrition are interrelated. Food digestion requires a certain amount of effort from the muscles around the stomach, and this very area is rich in nervous ramifications; hence, heavy meals in the evening are not recommended since they can easily trigger sleep disorders. The last meal of the day should be taken at least two hours before going to bed, to allow enough time to the stomach to process food. Insomnia and nutrition affect people of all ages alike, not to mention that there is also a psychological dimension of the problem as well.

Food difficult to process lies behind insomnia and nutrition problems; this is why nutritionists recommend only light meals after six o'clock in the evening. Fruit and salads, dairy products, cereals, soup or broth are easier to digest in the evening, whereas meat, sweets and fat dishes are the require the most intense of efforts on the part of the digestive system. Therapists advise people who suffer from both insomnia and nutrition problems to try to drink a glass of warm milk sweetened with honey before going to bed; it is said to have a soothing effect and to induce natural sleep without the slightest of efforts on your part.

Insomnia and nutrition problems are common among overweight people who experience the syndrome of “emotional hunger”. Due to depression, or emotional instability, one could get up in the middle of the night with food cravings, and she or he may not be able to sleep until the craving is satisfied. Such disorders involve both sleep and eating habits, being deeply rooted in psychological issues that demand a quick solution. The measure to be taken seems simple: therapy and professional help should be undergone by anyone with insomnia and nutrition problems.

Some food items are more likely to cause insomnia and nutrition problems than others. A good example here is chocolate; due to the large amount of cocoa it contains – particularly in dark varieties – chocolate can cause agitation and sleeplessness in children and sensitive adults alike. The explanation behind such insomnia and nutrition imbalances triggered by chocolate consists in the amount of lecithin that it contains. Lecithin is a brain stimulator, activating the nervous impulses at the level of the central nervous system; this is why it is advisable not to allow children to eat chocolate in excess.

Source: American Chronicle

Athlete & energy

2007-11-12T10:39:00.000+08:00

An athlete’s daily energy intake provides for immediate energy needs necessary for body functions, physical activity and growth.

It also helps in influencing body energy stores. Energy stores play a number of important roles related to sports and exercise performance. They include:

1. Improved Size and physique (somatotype)

2. Improved muscle mass

3. Provision of fuel for sports and exercise.

More here.

Campaign Aimed at Improving Nutrition Among HIV-Positive People

2007-10-18T11:04:00.000+08:00

The World Health Organization soon will launch a campaign in South and Southeast Asia aimed at making nutrition programs a central part of HIV/AIDS treatment in the region, Randa Saadeh, a scientist in WHO's Nutrition for Health and Development Department, said recently, Inter Press Service reports. Saadeh was speaking at the end of a weeklong meeting in Bangkok aimed at increasing support for the campaign and ensuring that governments in the region have measures to implement program in place by 2009.

According to Saadeh, this is the first time the region has been targeted to improve nutrition as part of its effort to fight HIV/AIDS. "We want governments to adopt strong positions on this link" between HIV/AIDS and nutrition "as a solution," she said. The campaign follows a similar WHO initiative in sub-Saharan Africa that was launched after the approval of a resolution that formally recognized the link between nutrition and HIV/AIDS at the 2006 World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, Inter Press Service reports. The resolution called on governments to "make nutrition an integral part of their response to HIV/AIDS."

Rest of the news here.

Carb quiz

2007-10-08T10:19:00.000+08:00

Carbs tend to go in and out of favor from a nutrition standpoint. What's the latest? Here's a quiz based on information from the Harvard School of Public Health to find out how savvy you are about carbohydrates in your.

Check out the quiz here.

Supplement and children

2007-10-08T10:17:00.000+08:00

In examining the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Survey of more than 10,000 children, researchers found that dietary supplements, usually multi-vitamins or multi-minerals, are a regular part of many children's diets.

The study found that nearly 50 percent of children 4-to-8 years old take dietary supplements, but only about 25 percent of children 14 to 18 years old take supplements. The researchers also found that children in higher-income families; children who spent less time watching television, playing video games, or on the computer; and children in smoke-free households were more likely to use supplements.

Ideal Body Weight

2007-10-05T15:25:00.000+08:00

Here is a simple way to find your ideal body weight. This is an approximate method which means it will not be accurate but it will give a rough idea of how much you should be weighing.

Suppose your height (in cms) is 162cms,
You can calculate your ideal body weight by using the formula below,

[App] Ideal Body Weight(in kgs) = Height (in cms) - 100

By using this formula, your ideal body weight = 162 - 100 = 62 kgs (app)

This will work only for adults. After getting a rough idea, you can start working out towards your ideal body weight.

Quiz: TG

2007-10-04T11:04:00.000+08:00

A blood test that shows a high level of triglycerides is not good, according to the American Heart Association. How much do you know about this fatty acid radical? Here's a quiz to find out.

Fasting and nutrition well-being

2007-10-04T10:46:00.000+08:00

In practice, fasting means decreasing one's caloric intake by 30 to 40 percent. In some countries, fasting is used as a way of rebuilding the immune system to help fight off degenerative diseases.
Good fasting has both spiritual and health benefits. When breaking the fast in the evening, it is important not to overindulge in food, which not only goes against the whole point of fasting but also makes it harder to resume fasting.

A beneficial article on fasting and nutrition, especially right now during fasting season.

Dietary Tips For the Expectant Mothers

2007-10-04T00:45:00.000+08:00

Below are some important dietary tips for expectant mothers in really simple terms.

1. The meals should be frequent small meals rather than 3 big meals.
2. Include 5-6 servings of fruits and vegetables - it will help to avoid constipation.
3. Avoid more of sweets - in case of increased blood sugar which has arised because of pregnancy.
4. More dietary fibre should be included.
5. Calcium rich diet is recommended - can have calcium supplements also.
6. Fatty rich foods, fried foods, excessive seasoning etc can be avoided in case of gastric distress and nausea.
7. Take 3 cups of milk or its equivalent daily.
8. Have green leafy vegetables liberally which are rich in iron along with citrus fruits.
9. Have at least two fruits a day.. e.g., pomegranate and orange; apple and guava etc..
10. Egg, fish, meat or pulses - 2 servings per day.
11. Dry fruits can be added in minimum amounts
12. Chikkis like groundnut chikki can also be included.
13. In case of oedema and hypertension restrict sodium (salt).
14. Have plenty of water; not along with meals but after and in between meals.
15. For fruit juices do not add sugar.
16. You can have fluids like coconut water also.

[These are generalized dietary guidelines. Please consult your physician and/or dietitian for more specific guidelines.]

Quiz on fiber

2007-10-02T09:26:00.000+08:00

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, fiber is an important nutrient in our diets, and we need to pay attention to the benefits. Here's a quiz to find out what you know about fiber's benefits.

Calorie needs

2007-10-01T11:49:00.000+08:00

Many of today’s nutrition recommendations – whether for weight control or for how much fat, vegetables or other foods fit in a healthy diet – are based on calorie needs. Calorie needs depend on weight, age, gender and activity level, as well as individual metabolic rate.

So, you may want to stop eating the same 'diet food' your colleague is consuming, and stop feeding the same amount of calorie to your growing child!

Read more on calorie needs HERE.

Dietitian-Nutritionist

2007-10-01T11:45:00.000+08:00

One thing I found many are confused about - who are nutritionist and who ARE dietitians. I find that even medical doctors are unable to distinguish both professions! *sigghhh...

May be one can start by reading some info on dietitians, and few days later I will post something on nutritionist.

Read more on the differences HERE

Good fats?

2007-10-01T09:54:00.000+08:00

“Compared to the Western diet, the Indian diet is often blamed for not being consistent in nutrition and calories. Unhealthy snack culture is on the rise with saturated and trans-fat contents going unchecked in ‘vanaspati’-cooked food products. Excessive body fats increase chances of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other illness”

More here.

Of course there is such thing called good fat. I don't get it why most people still awed at this fact. Probably due to the bad 'publicity' on fats. Need we start a new campaign "Save the good fats"?? :P

Intensive care for healthier babies

2007-09-30T19:36:00.000+08:00

Give a low-income pregnant woman intensive care and support and make sure she gets proper nutrition - and her baby will be healthier at birth with a lower probability of developmental problems. That's the aim of Healthy Start, a federally funded program with 100 projects across the country, including one in Baltimore.

Read more about the interesting program HERE

Heart disease in women

2007-09-30T19:28:00.000+08:00

Contrary to popular belief, heart disease occurs equally among men and women, albeit at an older age in women.

In 2005, statistics from the Health Ministry indicated that 22.5% of women died of cardiovascular disease, and this is an increase of 135% compared with 1990.

An average of more than 16 women per minute die of cardiovascular disease worldwide

“Most men and women still think that it is a man’s disease,” states Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin, Malaysian Medical Association president and Yayasan Jantung Malaysia director.

Read the rest

Food chemical 'may boost memory'

2007-07-11T22:16:00.000+08:00

A chemical found in chocolate, tea, grapes and blueberries can improve the memory of mice, research suggests.

The Salk Institute study could lead to further tests to see if epicatechin also works on humans.

The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, suggests it improves blood flow in the brain - especially in combination with extra exercise.

However, nutritionists warn chocolate is high in fat and sugar, which may undo any potential benefits.

This is not the first study to find a link between 'flavanol' chemicals in certain foods and health benefits - other studies claim that cardiovascular health can be improved by including them in the diet.

Read further here...

Treat For Diet Concious People!

2007-07-04T16:03:00.001+08:00

Yea, it is treat like news for diet conscious people around the world.
Now you can have concentrated and tasty / yummy foods like ice creams without affecting your sleek waistline.

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

New light desserts allow you to indulge while watching your waistline

Yes, you can have your ice cream and eat it, too. Gelato, water ice, sour frozen yogurt and "fro-yo" are among the popular health-conscious frozen desserts.

Glad Milk News

2007-07-04T15:53:00.001+08:00

Hello fellas,

Here is a great news from the science point of view. A new invention or can be said as a great discovery rather.

clipped from www.independent.ie

Skimmed milk direct from the 'magic' cow Marge

IT may soon be possible to produce skimmed milk straight from the cow - a development that could revolutionise the dairy industry.

Scientists in New Zealand have discovered some cows have genes which give them a natural ability to deliver skimmed milk.

The company identified a cow, Marge, with the required genes. As an added bonus, the milk contains omega-three oils.

"The eureka moment was when we found her daughters produced milk just like their mother," said a company spokesman. The development of a commercial herd is now likely, reports the magazine 'Chemistry & Industry'.

Sweet disaster

2007-05-23T13:00:00.000+08:00

Been a while since I updated NT. Looks pretty dull here. Let me share an interesting article I just read in an online newspaper:

HEART disease and diabetes are indeed a deadly duo, and people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) than those without diabetes.

This is because those with diabetes usually have associated CVD risk factors: High blood glucose, high blood pressure, abnormal blood fat levels and central obesity.

High blood glucose and high blood pressure levels can damage the inner lining of your blood vessels (arteries), making it easier for cholesterol and other fat substances to accumulate inside the artery walls.

This causes plaques (fatty deposits) to form. These plaques narrow your arteries, restrict blood supply and may also rupture, leading to the formation of blood clots.
If the blood clots travel to other parts of your body and partially or totally block blood flow to an organ, say for example, your heart, you may end up with a heart attack. If a plaque ruptures in the brain, you will suffer a stroke.

You may want to read it further here.

Chocolate & blood pressure

2007-04-11T10:07:00.000+08:00

Especially dedicated to all chocolate lovers:

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Some may see a cup of tea as soothing but chocolate is more likely to lower one's blood pressure, German researchers reported on Monday.

Foods rich in cocoa appear to reduce blood pressure but drinking green and black tea may not, according to an analysis of previously published research in the Archives of Internal Medicine, published by the American Medical Association.

The drop in blood pressure among participants who consumed cocoa products for at least two weeks was in the same range as achieved by someone taking drugs commonly prescribed to control high blood pressure.

The fall in blood pressure credited to cocoa could be expected to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks by 10-20 percent, the report said.

Both cocoa and tea contain polyphenols, a class of chemicals known to help prevent cardiovascular disease that are present in most fruits and vegetables. But cocoa has a different type than tea -- procyanids -- that appear to be more active.

Curvy hips!

2007-04-03T01:48:00.000+08:00

Indian models flaunted their flesh at the country’s top fashion event, ditching the skinny look for healthy curves and joining the global backlash against “size zero”. With deeper cleavages and ampler derrieres, Indian models are generally better endowed than their Western counterparts, but that has not stopped them winning top global beauty pageants. India followed Madrid last year by banning underweight models from the catwalk, saying it wanted to project an image of beauty and health, not starvation.

The diktat has forced organisers of India’s Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai to watch out for excessively skinny models.

“We don’t want to project a wrong image and promote unhealthy habits,” said Ravi Krishnan, the event’s consultant. At the five-day show, skirts accentuated curvy hips and sensuous tops revealed plump bust lines, as the focus of designers and local fashionistas seemed to shift to fitness and health rather than the stick-thin look.

The show’s organisers said they ran a check on models to find out if any of them suffered from eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia. The health code applied to male models as well.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1088229

Its a dream or what??? Finally the real women with curves are being acknowledged! Hopefully more countries will follow the suit (although France might not).

Food Pyramid

2007-03-26T22:50:00.000+08:00

Many of you must have heard about 'THE FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID'.
Food pyramid is something which helps in understanding how much
to have and in what amounts. They say it as a 'FIVE FOOD GROUP PLAN'.

1. Cereals and Cereal Products - eat liberally.
2. Pulses and Legumes - eat moderately.
3. Milk and Meat Products - eat moderately.
4. Fruits and Vegetables - eat generously.
5. Fats, Oils and Sugars - eat sparingly.

Though the food guide pyramid is generalized, it may vary from
one individual to another according to their body requirements.
To get your personalized food guide pyramid check this website:
MY PYRAMID

myDiet Plan

2007-03-14T23:30:00.000+08:00

Looks like I am losing the shape - thanks to my ever increasing appetite. So now its time for a weight-loss diet plan. Now don't get me wrong. I am not going to follow any of the ridiculous FAD diets in the market. Its going to be a personalized-well-balanced diet plan. What is the point of being a nutritionist when you can't take care of your own diet huh? :P

Sample of a typical diet plan for a day:

Breakfast (7.00am):
1 cup of milo (you need soothing drink in the morning, avoid coffee)
2 pieces of idlee (low calorie - only 70kcal per piece)
3 tabsp of dhall curry (lentils are good for you ;))

Morning snack (10.00am):
1 cup milo (may be can add tiny amount of coffee in it - no harm)
Handful of sunflower seeds

Lunch (1.00pm):
2 wholemeal bread (God knows how I'm going to swallow this)
1 tabsp tuna spread
1/2 bowl lettuce
1/2 tomato
1 apple

Tea-time (5.30pm):
Tea with milk (I'll die without it)
4 pieces of cream crackers

Dinner (8.30pm):
2 pieces of idlee
3 tabsp of dhall curry
2 bananas

Okie now I know what you guys will think...where is the DIET???
hahahaha.. well, a nutritionist would know what I'm talking about here. This is what we call a healthy diet. No fried food (or should I say.. no excessive consumption of fried food?). No snacks (or chips) in between. About 5 servings of fruits and vegetables. No or less caffeine. No alcohol of course. And I have to take few small meals in a day because of my hypoglycemic background. Now, can you think of anything healthier than this?

Fast food issue: a compromise

2007-03-14T23:10:00.000+08:00

Looks like its a win-win situation here. While MOH could not push for a total ban of fast food ads, they came up with rather compromising solution.

concurred with the ministry that such advertisements should not be aired during children shows........fast food outlets will carry announcements on the calorie count of each food item besides stating the average number of calories a person should take a day.......the ministry has total control over fast food advertisements as the companies concerned cannot advertise their fast food without our approval,

Read MORE.

There you go! Hopefully the 'rule' will be around for a long time. We certainly don't want the next Minister to change the whole set of rule.

sick hospital

2007-03-14T01:26:00.000+08:00

I am having busy days going through Malaysian newspapers lately! Something is not right about our health / healthcare system? Or is it just me? A report about a 'sick' hospital would definitely catch my eyes. Although its not exactly about nutrition, its patients' health and welfare at stake.

KUALA LUMPUR: It’s barely a year into operations but already Ampang Hospital seems to be falling apart.

The Star checked out the complaints received from the hospital’s staff and patients and found that parts of the ceiling in the paediatric and general wards had collapsed and were not replaced.

The ceiling in the paediatric ward was fungus ridden, while in the ward’s pantry, water was seen dripping from the ceiling.

Lose the weight babe!!

2007-03-12T09:59:00.000+08:00

TANGKAK: Proper exercise and good eating habits are the key to losing weight.

“There is no point wrapping bandages around the waist or thigh if a person does not exercise or eat nutritious food,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek said.

He explained that if simply by taking slimming tea or pills or wrapping bandages would help people lose weight, then developed countries such as the United States would not be having half its population overweight.

Read MORE.

I think for years, nutritionist been advocating balanced diet and increased physical activity for successful and long term weight loss.However, FAD diets and so called magic-bands seems to take precedence over our advice. Will such statements from the Minister change it all? I am rather sceptical about it. His suggestion on banning of fast food ads did not go well with people, many feel its ridiculous. Probably because everyone will feel guilty over their eating habits. And now slimming tea/pills and bandages? I'm very sure most of mass have resort into these 'solution' for their weight problem. Again, they going to feel offended and start 'kutuking' the Ministry. Ridiculous isn't it?

Ban over fast food

2007-02-17T10:37:00.000+08:00

Is this a first step towards an revolution??? I wonder...

The Health Ministry is “seriously considering” a ban on fast food advertisements.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the move would also cover endorsements of events linked to fast food.

This was because such meals are considered “silent killers,” he told reporters here.

Opinion: The yummy curries

2006-11-01T10:21:00.000+08:00

We all love curries, don't we? Malaysians and curries are quite inseparable. We need it everyday and we try to incorporate curries into our daily diet in every possible way. Now, seems like its a bonus news for those who loves curries. Some researchers have found that curries could actually better your cognitive function!

Well, actually the cucurmin found in turmeric which are ingredients in curries found to possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. You can read more about it in the Yahoo Health News.

While I'm happy that turmeric, a well-known Indian spice is given it due recognition bit by bit, I'm rather sadden by Indians on the way they treat their very own ancient medicine - Ayurvedic medicine that is. We are believer of the famous phrase - Food is medicine; Medicine is food. Yet, the younger generation seems understand the whole point. Now, you have mothers who are feeding sausages to their kids rather than feeding rice with the nutritious milk. School-going children who prefer to gulp down Coke and munch on fries rather than eat properly cooked rice with curries and vegetables. Even we tend to serve fatty non-vegetarian foods on auspicious days like Deepavali, claiming that we HAVE to serve our non-Indian friends.

Where are we heading? Why someonelse have to point of all the goodness in our traditional foods while we are abandoning it? Are we losing our grip? Interesting views are welcomed but I really hope you will think over it.

Opinion: pH Diet

2006-10-05T13:08:00.000+08:00

This is another type of diet that caught my eyes..pH Diet.. This diet claims to works on the basis that acid / alkaline balance of our foods needs to complement the pH of our bodies. According to Bharti Vyas (a 'holistic' health and beauty therapist): "Our bodies are alkaline and find it hard to cope with too much acid-forming foods such as cheese, meat, wheat and sugar." These foods claimed to strain our major organs, resulting in wrinkled skin, brittle nails and weight gain (ouuccchhh!!!)

Now answer me this:

Are you looking for a radical change to your eating habits and do you have enough willpower to see it through?
Do you want to cut back on processed foods?
Would you like to stop drinking so much tea and coffee?
Do you love vegetables?

If you answer 'yes' to at least 3 of the above questions, Vyas thinks she should prescribe you this 3-level eating plan :P

Level 1

Duration: One - seven days

Aim: To reduce your 'toxic' load by decreasing your intake of processed foods and sweeteners. These encourage the build-up of free radicals, which can lead to premature ageing.

What you should do: Replace coffee, tea and fizzy drinks with water, ginger, green and fruit teas or warm soy milk. Restrict your intake of shop-bought fruit juices which are acidic. Eat your usual breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Level 2

Duration: One - two months

Aim: To increase your alkaline reserves by eating more fruit and veg juices.

What you should do: Start to introduce more of the top 80-alkaline forming foods such as alfalfa (God knows how i'm going to get them in Malaysia), kiwi fruit, oranges ( :D ), raisins, honey and wheat grass into your diet. Improve the quality of your diet by adding more nuts, seeds, substituting cow's milk for soy milk and cuting back on wheat.

Level 3

Duration: On-going

Aim: Maintain alkaline diet.

What you should do: By now your body should be replenished with adequate alkaline reserves, so it is okie to increase the acidic foods that you like to consume.

What I think about pH Diet?

Of course it is my ultimate aim to cultivate a good and health eating habit such as this one. Increasing number of fruits and vegetables in diet, which cutting down salt, sugar and alcohol is what i preach and of course, what i practice. Consumption of antioxidant-rich foods definitely going to make you glow :)

But, I don't quiet agree with the concept of changing one's pH with foods one consume. By right, a person's body should be able to retain a suitable pH through a homeostatis, and i don't see how you going to surpass that process in order to change your blood pH.

Opinion: Let me to do my job

2006-10-05T13:00:00.000+08:00

I am a nutritionist; a fairly good one. So what about it? You may ask. The problem here lies with my role of nutritionist, and the task given to me to educate public on nutrition.

What is holding me back from executing my role? It is the industry and the public themselves, mainly. While I am trying not to point finger to only others, I can'thelp it but to fume with anger when I see non-nutritionist (or even worse, poorly trained sales reps) taking the role of nutritionists/dieticians and 'educate' public..or in a way, sell their products!

It is really heart-wrenching to watch sales reps blabbering about the importance of spirulina and 'appropriate' dosage to be taken, after sitting through one or two session of so-called seminar or training given by their respective company.. Worse still when these people called themselves a nutritionist!! 'Hello, excuse me..you are a sales rep, and thats it'.

I was fuming with anger when I met this particular sales assistant in a well-known hypermarket in Malaysia. She was basically giving out free samples of skim milk to the customers, and honestly she should have just sticked to it instead of blabbering about the importance of calcium and the recommended intake of calcium by WHO to me! First of all, we have our very own Recommended Nutrient Intake (2005) for Malaysians and she is practically unaware of it. Of course she wouldn't know because she is not a trained person in the field. While many think it may be harmless for one to use recommendation by others, but the RNI is there for a reason..and that is to suit Malaysians. Besides, she should be just giving out the free samples and talk about her skim milk instead of talking about things she don't know. The public should be educated, not to be confused.

In another incidence, I was walking in a shopping mall and was approached by a sales rep (again) who was 'appearing' as a nutritionist. Pointing at my belly, she said i'm having fat over there and should test the body fat percentage with the body fat monitor that she is having. She claims that it is a free service. Of course, nothing is free in this world. After 'testing' oneself for body fat, he/she will be counselled into buying their slimming products! Duh!! How long people going to fall for this gimmicks? Anyone can handle a body fat monitor, no big deal.. but only trained individuals should be allowed to interprete and counsel others accordingly. Come on, its our job!

Anyone with similar experience?

Opinion: Care for the BREAST

2006-10-05T12:55:00.000+08:00

Breast cancer, the number one cancer killer of women in Malaysia and worldwide; a field of my current interest; probably my focus of study for my PhD. I must admit that all this while I've been focusing so much on colorectal cancer, which I studied for masters degree, but neglecting what females fear most..BREAST CANCER..

Although I don't have any personal story to share (Thank God), but I've been reading quiet a number of true stories based on patients suffering from breast cancer, and seeing social perspective towards this killer disease. There are many heart-wrenching stories which brings tears to the eyes..but that is what I want to share about now.. Its about social stigma attached to the term 'breast cancer'..

At the moment, I'm helping out a friend of mine who came all the way from Saudi Arabia to study on breast cancer among Malaysian female teachers. Its her PhD, unfortunately but she is finding it very hard to get co-operation from the teachers. And it is so embarassing on my side to see a fairly educated (and educating) population group refusing to co-operate on educational program which actually brings benefit to them! We have teachers refusing to allow us to measure their waist line**, saying that they are wearing corset and no way they going to remove it in order to get the real measurement. Making situation worse, there are even teachers scolding us, saying that we are trying to implicate that they already have breast cancer. Or refusing to be a part because they feel they WILL NOT get breast cancer and whatever we are teaching is pure rubbish.

I also heard about a medical doctor, refused to seek treatment (which means surgically removing her affected breast) because she doesn't want to lose her husband's affection.. to me, it sound silly.. literally it means she is willing to lose her life but not her breast..I also know a medical student (now a doctor) who made fun of breast affected with cancer.. for me, this is the most disgusting thing I've ever heard as far as breast cancer is concerned.

But why? why breast cancer isn't accepted as just another cancer affecting an organ in our body? After all, even men get breast cancer (yes, they HAVE breast). Although it rarely happens, but its fatal among men. Provided detected early and proper treatment is given, breast cancer survivors actually have the highest survival rate compared to any other cancer..When come to matters pertaining lives, there is nothing to be shy off.. and its time for our Malaysian women to realise that.

**waist circumference has close correlation with risk for metabolic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure etc