'Back to nature' will keep you in good shape<\/p>\n
Maya Santo Soeratman, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
You are what you eat! This statement is apt to
\nraise a few eyebrows, but many health conscious individuals
\nbelieve that there is truth in this axiom.<\/p>\n
The high mobility in today's world has allowed us to change
\nour diet and lifestyle. It no longer limits a particular culture
\nor people to consuming only the staple foods in their diet. The
\nease of travel and global knowledge of food and delicacies have
\nenabled us to choose and determine what to eat and what not to
\neat.<\/p>\n
But how does an individual measure his or her health? How does
\none know if one lacks a certain nutrient? The objective of modern
\nman is to keep his body healthy so he can live longer, to enhance
\nhis life energy and fight disease.<\/p>\n
Nutritionists and other health experts advise us to have a
\nbalanced diet, a balanced lifestyle and a clear mind. This is a
\npromise that's hard to keep!. Of course, the easy way out is to
\ngo to the drugstore and purchase one's monthly supply of food
\nsupplements or vitamin pills. But the question is how to find
\ncheap supplements that are not only beneficial to our health but
\nalso safe to consume.<\/p>\n
One easy way to keep your body in prime condition is to go
\nback to basics and exercise, says Indra Sugiarto, a general
\npractitioner, internist and natural health practitioner.<\/p>\n
The term food supplement refers to something that is needed by
\nan individual that his or her body lacks. Therefore, if a person
\nfeels he or she needs food supplements, it would be wise to
\nconsult their nutritionist or doctor.<\/p>\n
Food supplements needed may differ depending on an
\nindividual's lifestyle.<\/p>\n
Indra says that one of the basic foods in Asia is rice, part
\nof the staple diet of most Asians, which is now gaining
\npopularity in the West.<\/p>\n
However, if we only eat rice, without the addition of
\nvegetables and fruit that are rich in fiber, this would create an
\nimbalance. Imbalances could result in illness, fatigue and
\nlethargy. A properly combined diet of fiber, carbohydrate,
\nvitamins and minerals would complement each other, creating a
\nhealthier lifestyle.<\/p>\n
The rice now sold in the market is too refined. It has more
\ncarbohydrate than its nutritional value as half of its vitamins
\nhave been removed during the refining process. Unrefined rice is
\nyellowish in color and looks more like wheat grain than rice
\nbecause the outer layer which contains fiber needed by a person's
\ndigestion system, is still intact.<\/p>\n
If rice is a major part of our diet, then it should be
\ncombined with vegetables, fruit, fish and poultry.<\/p>\n
Soybeans, another staple in the Asian diet for thousands of
\nyears can be said to be an ideal food. A naturally occurring
\ncompound called genistein that can block cancer-causing genes is
\nfound in tofu. This compound can also be found in soymilk, soy
\nprotein and most soy flours.<\/p>\n
Another winner is garlic and onions. These magical bulbs are
\ncommon in Mediterranean and Asian cuisine. Sharp in taste and a
\nbit unfriendly to one's breath, (in Victorian days, the smell of
\noverpowering garlic would be shunned in the kitchens), garlic
\ncontains sulfur compounds that have been proven by modern science
\nto kill bacteria and fungi.<\/p>\n
Garlic also has a property which slows blood coagulation,
\nwhich could reduce the risk of clots and heart disease; a
\nthinning property similar to aspirin.<\/p>\n
A study in India showed that 222 patients with histories of
\nheart disease were given six to 10 grams of garlic daily which
\nreduced mortality rates and incidence of nonfatal reinfarction.<\/p>\n
Patients taking blood thinners, however, should check with
\ntheir doctor before using garlic supplements. Several
\nepidemiological studies in China also show that a reduction in
\nstomach cancer risks were found in diets that were rich in
\nvegetables of the onion family. These included chives, shallots
\nand leeks.<\/p>\n
Simply put, fresh common ingredients found in our mother's
\nrecipes already contain the necessary nutritious foods that are
\nnow the rave of the century.<\/p>\n
Researchers come up with new findings every day, but what
\nsurprises us most is the fact that these essentials have been
\npart of our daily diet for years. One familiar vegetable which is
\noften unpopular with children is broccoli. We should give a big
\nround of applause for broccoli though. A study made in 1992 by a
\nteam of scientists at the John Hopkins University in Baltimore,
\nMaryland, stated that a sulfur-rich chemical in broccoli called
\nsulphoraphane \"may be a significant component of the
\nanticarcinogenic action of broccoli\". Cruciferous vegetables such
\nas broccoli are bursting with chemicals called indoles that block
\ncertain cancer-causing agents in animals.<\/p>\n
Dr. Jon Michinovicz states that capsules of purified indole
\nspeed up the breakdown of the hormone estrogen, a risk factor of
\nbreast cancer. In mice, cruciferous indole substantially reduced
\nthe incidence, size and multiplicity of spontaneous mammary
\ntumors.<\/p>\n
If in a person's diet there is not the regular intake of
\nfruits and vegetables over a long period of time, taking food
\nsupplements is one way to insure good health -- but improving
\nyour diet is a much healthier choice, says Indra.<\/p>\n
According to him, addicts whose bodies have been long consumed
\nby drugs can also turn to food supplements to recuperate and
\nimprove their health, but a major factor in this is the
\nindividual's mind-set.<\/p>\n
We should learn from our ancestors. Indonesians are islanders,
\nthey have the advantage of abundant fish from the sea and edible
\ngreens from our forests and valleys that are rich in vitamins and
\nminerals, to provide us with a great source of nutritious food.<\/p>\n
We also have a lot to learn from our ancestors about foods
\nthat nourish and heal our bodies, so it would be unwise to only
\nfocus to modern day culinary. We should go back to the heritage
\nof Indonesian cuisine that is so rich in nutritious dishes.<\/p>\n
Our multicultural background provides the opportunity to eat a
\nvariety of dishes and food. This variety is beneficial as one can
\nacquire all the different nutrients found within these foods.<\/p>",
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