Health lies on your plate

I refer to Dumilah Ayuningtyas' "Health reform essential for hospitals' survival" (The Jakarta Post, Dec. 3, 1998). I am particularly impressed by the statement: "Under the new paradigm, medical services will be geared toward helping people become healthier rather than just curing certain illnesses. A person who is not actually ill is not automatically healthy."

To maintain health, we must be more prudent with our daily food and lifestyle, particularly during this monetary crisis in which medical costs have been skyrocketing. Here's why.

First, when I saw my doctor at the local clinic, I noticed the doctor's wise words Health is not everything, but without health everything is meaningless. Hence we should always take care of our health. Second, food is the major factor that shapes our health, as pointed out by Jean Carper in her book Food -- your miracle medicine. Food often becomes one of the main causes of our ailments. This is also in line with what doctors say: "You are what you eat."

Third, in their book Fit for Life, Harvey and Marilyn Diamond say the greatest threat to your and your children's survival is not the terrible nuclear weapon, but what your are going to eat from your dinner plate tonight. They also suggest the best way to keep ourselves healthy is by avoiding eating anything but juice and fruits until noon.

ODO FADLOELI

Cimahi, West Java