The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lifestyle

  • Practitioners urge healthy lifestyle to fight diseases

    Practitioners urge healthy lifestyle to fight diseases

    Natural and alternative medicine practitioners have advocated a healthy lifestyle to prevent or reverse chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart attack and kidney failure, among others.

    According to them, the major causes of death are chronic diseases due to people’s bad lifestyle choices.

    A  health and wellness coach, Dr Biyi Olusanya, who spoke during Wholesome Health seminar with the theme: Maintaining a healthy human body in the 21st century, said people needed to be adequately informed about risk factors of chronic diseases to avoid them.

    Olusanya said there was the need to proffer alternative healthcare solutions that are affordable, cost effective and sustainable in giving hope to people suffering from chronic diseases or non communicable diseases.

    He said nutrition promotes the body’s self healing therapy, stressing that by adopting a healthy lifestyle people can put diseases at bay.

    Besides, it is important for people to know that making the right  choices  promotes their health.

    “People should embrace diet, fitness and spirituality, have a good state of mind and rest appropriately,” he said.

    He said a holistic approach to treatment will help to prevent chronic diseases, adding that natural medicine provides total or complete healing.

    Olusanya said: “The seminar was organised to change people’s lifestyle culture by educating them on the predisposing risk factors and alternative lifestyle options that promote healthy living. These are based on natural, scientifically proven and cost effective options that are easily available and affordable to everyone. This in turn will allay the fear of chronic diseases, reduce dependence on medication, which has deleterious side effects and increase life expectancy”.

    Reverend Tony Akinyemi, a natural medicine practitioner, said people are looking for alternative methods to healing.

    “Moreover, people are sick and tired of being sick and tired,” he said.

    He said people should take ownership of health, adding that their role in managing their health is much more than that of the doctor.

    Speaking on 21 steps to holistic health plan, he urged the people to increase their knowledge of healthy eating/ lifestyle.

    He continued: “They should also abstain from taking every food that they can lay their hands upon, and thus be moderate. People should maintain personal hygiene and detoxify their system. Taking nutritious food is non-negotiable. They should drink water to prevent dehydration and exercise regularly. Rest and sunshine will also do them a lot of good.”

    The reverend said people need to be pro-active by having regular check-ups, adding that they also need to laugh and be safety conscious.

    “They should engage in healthy relationships, pray and worship God. Many are proud but humility helps. It is also good to show gratitude. They should exercise faith, which is a word therapy and have the will to live as well as have purpose so that their lives can count,” he said.

    A naturopath, Dr Tina Mba, said people can improve their health by simply taking water to move their bowel and, as such, reverse constipation.

    According to her, water should be drunk first thing in the morning and last thing at night to prevent or reverse constipation.

    Getting rid of waste products from the system, she said, was a good way for people to begin their daily activities.

    Dr Mba said vegetables and fruits can reverse chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart attack, and obesity.

    She enjoined Nigerians to take fruits and vegetables to boost their immunity and, as such, prevent chronic diseases.

  • About his lifestyle and family

    About his lifestyle and family

    I drink, I smoke, I do everything.

    For once, have you thought of quitting the habits?

    The Bible says that in everything, moderation should be applied. I don’t have any qualms about doing anything; my qualms is, don’t do it to kill yourself.

    How challenging has marriage been?

    It’s very challenging. We just made up our minds early to do things differently. She has her own radio show and she has her own TV thing she’s trying to do. I just let her be her own person like she’s my girlfriend. She has her own life. If she needs my advice on certain things, I give her and vice versa.

    How are the kids?

    Those ones; they already know that both of us are ‘not well’ (laughs). They are nice kids. They are bookworms.

    Do you believe in the maxim ‘Happily ever after’?

    Na lie. I don’t believe in it. Tongue and teeth, they fight. Where is the happily ever after in that one? There will always be quarrels. Only just learn to bend over for each other. You can argue, you can quarrel, but learn to say sorry. You see that word ‘I’m sorry’; it’s not far from my mouth. I like to see my wife as my girlfriend. My wife and I go to night clubs. We drink together. She does skimpy. You no go fit tell say she don born and men they toast am 24-7. We don’t touch each other’s phones. Not that we can’t touch it, but it’s a case of ‘anything your eye see there, don’t get angry’. We don’t lock our phones, but we have an understanding. And I think that’s the most important thing.

  • Lifestyle changes ‘ll prevent non-communicable diseases

    Former  Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and a public health physician, Prof  Akin Osibogun, has advised the Federal Government to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to avoid double jeopardy as Nigeria  is already grappling  with communicable diseases.

    He  urged people to make lifestyle changes to avoid coming down with NCDs.

    Osibogun spoke at this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM)/ Scientific Conference of the Guild of Medical Directors (GMD). The theme was: Combating the burden of NCDs in Nigeria through lifestyle changes.

    He said poor or unhealthy lifestyle is responsible for the high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, particularly coronary heart problem, among other NCDs in Nigeria.

    The don attributed NCDs to factors, such as sedentary lifestyle and inactivity, coupled with poor diets can pre-dispose people to NCDs.

    The professor of public health said many young people are dying from NCDs these days, adding that in the past record of NCDs deaths in developed countries showed that two persons out of 10 those above 70 years die yearly.

    In the developing world, the data shows that seven in 10 persons die from NCDs, he added.

    Osibogun, who was keynote speaker, identified tobacco use, elevated cholesterol and blood sugar as well as wrong/poor diet as factors responsible for rising cases of NCDs.

    Others are alcohol abuse, adoption of western lifestyle, unprotected sexual activity and lack of exercise.

    Besides, 80 per cent of coronary heart disease is caused by poor diet while 90 per cent of cancers are linked to poor lifestyle.

    “One third of cancer cases can be prevented by eating healthily. Modest weight loss will also prevent diabetes in some people,” he said.

    Quoting a study done by Lagos State, he said only 20 per cent of Nigerians eat fresh fish. About seven per cent eat vegetables.

    He urged the government to promote physical activities in school to stop child obesity.

    “In Amsterdam, Holland, there are more bicycles than cars. So, the people engage in daily exercise by riding on their bicycles,” he said.

    Health, he said, should be promoted in transportation and agricultural policies, among others.

    President of the Guild, Dr Tony Phillips, said the theme was germane because NCDs is on the rise.

    He said most diseases are caused by people’s lifestyles, especially what they take. This may make or mar their health, he noted.

    Phillips said people can be free from non-communicable diseases if they make lifestyle changes.  “Obesity is one reason people develop NCDs. So, they must learn to eat right,” he said.

  • Dietary and lifestyle changes to help boost your immune system

    Too much stress can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heart beat and other symptoms of hypertension which can be harmful to health. While there are some medications that help reduce stress and depression (especially antidepressants), natural remedies are advisable as they are less addictive and with few or no side effects unlike drugs.

    Avoid unhealthy habits

    Don’t rely on alcohol, smoking, caffeine or even hard drugs as your ways of coping with stress or life’s challenges. Studies show that men more than women are likely to do this as women are better at seeking support from their social circle. Known as the avoidance behaviour, these habits will not solve whatever problem you have but worsen the situation by creating new ones. It might provide temporary relief but it will not make the problems disappear. You need to tackle the cause of your stress.

    Take up regular exercise

    Exercise won’t make your stress disappear, but it will reduce some of the emotional intensity that you’re feeling, clearing your thoughts and enabling you to deal with your problems more calmly.

    A little regular exercise can have a profound effect on all aspects of your emotional well-being. It can relieve stress, ease depression and anxiety, improve your memory, help you sleep better, and boost your overall mood. No matter your age or fitness level, you can use enjoyable physical activities to improve your emotional health and change your life for the better.

    Cycling, swimming, tennis, jogging or regular walks not only reduce stress, but encourage efficient functioning of the lymphatic system – a network of vessels that picks up toxins and removes them from the body. Unlike circulation which relies on the heart to pump blood around the body, the lymph system is dependent on muscular contraction. Working the muscles prevents the lymphatic system from becoming sluggish and promotes efficient removal of toxins.

    The expert’s advice: Choose an exercise programme that will keep you motivated. Avoid the temptation to dive in at the deep end. Instead, slowly build up your fitness level to avoid putting undue strain on your body.

    Get enough sleep

    Sufficient sleep combined with diet and exercise helps prevent infection. Sleep gives our immune organs – tonsils, sinus and lymph glands – the chance to regenerate. While we are asleep, our bodies undergo certain important processes – from repair and renewal to energy restoration. Sleep is important for our immune system – the part of the body that is responsible for fighting infection. Some scientists believe that during sleep, we secrete higher levels of cortisol – the hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that protects the immune system than during the day.

    The expert’s advice: Although each person needs different amounts of sleep, aim for at least six hours per night. Learning to relax and steering clear of alcohol will help achieve refreshing, deep sleep.

    Herbs for stress

    Herbs that calm include passionflower, St. John’s wort, kava, oats, damiana, chamomile. Those that reduce the effects of stress on the body include licorice and ginseng. Avoid caffeine which is a stimulant that increases adrenaline in the body, the very hormone you are looking to reduce. Avoid coffee (decaf is ok), colas, chocolate and more than 2 cups of tea daily.

    Meditation

    Take up a stress reducing technique such as meditation. Meditation is a technique used to empty the mind of thoughts, achieved through deep breathing and focusing the mind. Breathing deeply and rhythmically aids the uptake of oxygen and releases tension throughout the whole body. This creates a sense of calm, clears the mind and sharpens general awareness.

  • Nigerians warned against sedentary lifestyle

    Nigerians have been warned against living a sedentary lifestyle to prevent heart problems, especially coronary heart disease.

    At the continuing medical education (CME) training for surgeons by Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, in Abuja, a Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Dr. Rajeeve Rajput, said coronary heart disease was rife in Nigeria and the world at large.

    He said the increase is due to the high incidences of diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking, adding that they aid heart problems.

    Moreover, they do not exercise enough, and many live a sedentary life by being inactive.

    “All these are factors, which make people have blockages in the blood supply to their heart. Majority of them come down with chest pain, artery pain and heart problems in the process,” he said.

    Besides, Africans and Asians are more prone to artery blockage than other races.

    He said a lot needs to be done to train doctors in the country.

    On treatment, he said: “The gold standard of managing heart attack these days is to do a gene venography of patients and open the artery and put a stand. I spoke to the doctors who came here that there is one centre doing it. It is not routinely available in Abuja.

    “With Abuja population of about four million, if it were a developed country, we need to have between 12 and 15 cardiology hospitals to take care of cardiac problems. The information I have is that there are only two big cardiac centres here and the two are not offering the best services.”

    Rajput said there is room for improvement in the management of the problem, saying New Delhi in India was where Nigeria is 15 years ago.

    “What we have today is a general reflection of the development of the economy. When you have a better economy, education and infrastructure; better hospitals will come up. There is no developed country without good facilities, especially good hospitals. Health in all developing countries does not get as much money as it should get,” he said.

    To prevent coronary heart problems, he said, people should change their lifestyle by quitting smoking and avoid second-hand smoke too. “Quitting smoking may be the best thing you can do to prevent heart disease. They should also exercise regularly. There are lots of ways that exercise boosts people’s heart health. It can improve cholesterol and blood pressure as well as helping people have a healthy weight.”

    He enjoined people to talk to their doctor before starting an exercise programme to make sure that it is safe for them.

    “They should also eat a heart-healthy diet. The way people eat can help them control their cholesterol and blood pressure or mar it,” he said.

    People, he said, should stay at a healthy weight be getting active. Eating healthy foods can help people stay at a healthy weight or lose weight if you need to, Rajput added.

  • Asthma: How lifestyle, environment trigger attacks

    Asthma: How lifestyle, environment trigger attacks

    Certain foods, allergens, dust and other irritants are the biggest triggers of asthma attacks according to health experts. These triggers lead to breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness and nighttime or early morning coughing which are the main signs of asthma, a disease that affects the lungs. In asthma, the airways, which are tubes that carry air into and out of the lungs, are inflamed. The inflammation makes the airways to narrow, causing less air to flow into the lungs, triggering asthma symptoms like breathlessness, coughing, wheezing and others.

    Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood. The disease affects about 300 million people worldwide, causing an estimated 250,000 deaths annually. In the past thirty years, there has been a wide increase in the prevalence rate due to rapid urbanization and other environmental factors.

    In Nigeria for instance, asthma was uncommon in the country fifty years ago. Recent reports from different parts of the country, however show a prevalence of adolescent and adult asthma in excess of 10 percent and a rising trend in the prevalence of asthma. This increase in burden of asthma, according to experts, has been attributed to environmental factors such as urbanization, industrialization and adoption of western life style.

    To Dr Saheed Babajide, a medical practitioner, “asthma is a chronic respiratory problem. It is caused by a constriction in the bronchus from allergic reaction which makes the patient not to be able to breath in and out. It is difficulty in breathing. It can be likened to somebody that is a sickler. Some can have it early. Some can develop it through the environment and due to allergic reaction. That is exposure to things that can make the bronchos to contract.”

    Living with attacks

    Miss Comfort Agu, an undergraduate in one of the higher institutions in the country is one of the millions of asthma sufferers in Nigeria. The lady had her first attack at sixteen in secondary school. “I was not born with the disease, neither do we have a family history of asthmatics. But one day, I slumped in the school laboratory and was rushed to the hospital, where it was discovered that I’m asthmatic. Since then, I have been having frequent attacks, especially when I’m exposed to those things I react to,” she disclosed. She confessed that it was not easy living with the ailment because of the attacks which can be uncomfortable and embarrassing especially ‘when I’m in a public place.’

    To manage the disease which has no cure, experts advocate early detection. “The best way is early detection and once that is done, you start medication that would usually take care of it,” advised Dr O. Salau, a medical practitioner. Continuing, he stated: “It does not have a cure. There could be some things that the patient reacts to, so you would need to know those things so that they can be avoided. The commonness things are dust, smoke and maybe food.”

    On the role of genetics in asthma, Dr Nnenna Oluge, a medical doctor stated: “It tends to run in families. Genetics play an important role in causing asthma. If your mom or dad have asthma, then you are more likely to have asthma.”

    Describing what happens during an attack, Oluge added: “Asthma can pose a lot of risk to a patient’s health if not well managed. And when an asthmatic patient has an attack, which occurs suddenly, the patient experiences what is called in medical term, ‘constricted hyposic oxygen deficiency’ and if the patient does not get immediate medical attention, the patient can go into coma, which could also lead to death. Poor asthma management can lead to airway remodeling. Airway remodeling is a serious condition that happens when asthma is untreated or poorly managed. The lungs become scarred, asthma medicines do not work as well, and less air is able to move through the airways. Airway remodeling does not have to happen. You can avoid it by taking control of your asthma!”

    Asthma sufferers, Oluge stated can however live normal lives with proper management and medication. “Asthma is a serious health problem but being asthmatic does not prevent you from living a normal life as long as you avoid those things that can trigger an attack. In fact, an asthmatic patient that takes positive steps to avoid substances that trigger an attack, can live without having any attack. An asthmatic patient can engage in sports activities, as long as there are preventive measures to avoid future attacks. When you breathe, air passes through your nose and down your throat into your lungs. Inside your lungs are branching tubes called airways. With asthma, the airways are often swollen and red (or inflamed). This makes them extra sensitive to things that you are exposed to in the environment every day or asthma ‘triggers’. A trigger could be a cold, the weather or things in the environment such as dust, chemicals, smoke and pet dander.”

    When someone with asthma breathes in a trigger, the insides of the airways make extra mucus and swell even more. This narrows the space for the air to move in and out of the lungs. The muscles that wrap around your airways can also tighten, making breathing even harder.”

     Avoiding triggers

    Experts have identified certain risk factors or triggers in asthma attack. A trigger is anything which starts asthma symptoms or makes asthma symptoms worse. These include food, environment (air pollution from industries, car effluents), lifestyle, pets, allergens among others. On this Salau says: “Cleaning dusty areas is likely to affect an asthmatic person. Even when you wash clothes, the smell of soap can cause it. If you are in an environment with lots of dust it could lead to it. Some people are allergic to sea foods and others and if you work in an industrial environment when there is always smoke, it can lead to an attack.”

    To Oluge, contact with allergens, certain irritants or exposure to viral infections as an infant or in early childhood when the immune system is developing, have been linked to developing asthma. “Environmental irritants and air pollution may also play a significant role in adult-onset asthma. Furs from animals could also trigger an attack,” said the doctor.

    On preventing attacks, she advised: “The first preventive measure is to identify what triggers your asthma, because different people react to different things. Avoid your asthma triggers, monitor your symptoms or check your airways using a peak flow meter. Asthma is episodic; the patient may experience on and off periods. There are drugs to help expand airways and also injectable drugs and a machine called enabler.”

    But it is always advisable to visit your doctor regularly to help manage your asthma. Without proper treatment, asthma can be extremely dangerous and even fatal.”

    Some of the most common asthma triggers include tobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, allergens from cockroaches and rodents, pets, mold, smoke from wood, grass and other sources. Others are fragrances from perfumes, soaps and body lotions, some food and food additives, sinus infections, allergies, some medicines, breathing in cold, dry air among others.

  • Diet, lifestyle, health profile impact manliness

    Diet, lifestyle, health profile impact manliness

    Does a man’s food play any role in his sexuality? Yes. According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nature Healing Alternatives, Dr Leye Popoola, whatever a man ingest plays active role in his masculinity and reproductive ability.

    Man’s prowess, Dr Popoola said, is influenced directly and indirectly by his diet hence, it is good to eat foods that contain muscle and blood building ingredients. A diet that is bad for a man’s heart is also not good for his ability to have erections.

    He said: “Research has shown that the same eating patterns that can cause heart attacks due to restricted blood flow in the coronary arteries can also impede blood flow to and within the male sexual organ. The blood flow is needed for it to become erect. Diets that include very few fruits and vegetables with lots of fatty, fried, and processed foods can contribute to decreased blood circulation throughout the body. Anything that is bad for a man’s heart is also bad for his genitalorgan.”

    He continued: “It is my candid advice to men to watch what they eat as this may be the cause to their sexual weakness, especially, men suffering from impotence, otherwise known as erectile dysfunction (ED). My personal study and researches have pointed to the fact that it is due to their lifestyle and the food they eat.

    “The food they consume often predisposes them to weak libido or ED. Men should keep off denatured or devalued food, especially bread. They should abstain from  smoking and taking of alcohol. I observed that many men complain and actually have ED this day. It is alarming the rate at which they go for orthodox drugs as respite. I want to state that medication is not the only solution for treating impotence or ED, because there could be underlying factors, such as lifestyle, or stress that  should be addressed.”

    Dr Popoola said there are herbs, such as gboingboin (Yoruba) and sombo (Yoruba) cayenne which can solve their problem without side effects.

    He said there is need to understand how man’s body is composed in order to understand ED and the way out. “When a sub-system is disabled the entire system is affected. Even headache and cough can affect sexual relationship. Similarly, high blood pressure can also predispose men to low libido. If a man is stressed up; experiences sleeplessness or eat too much fatty foods that clog the blood stream, impressive libido will be impeded.

    “In fact, impotence is an early warning sign that cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be looming. ED caused by narrowed arteries commonly develops years before any symptoms or problems of CVD, hypertension or diabetes become apparent,” he said.

    Describing impotence, Dr Popoola said: “Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotenceis sexual dysfunction characterised by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of men genital organ during sexual activity. Most homes have broken because of men’s inability to attain and maintain erection to carry out normal sexual intercourse. This can also be caused as a result of medication ingested by them.

    “Some drugs have side effects, especially hypertensive drugs, which can reduce men’s libido. This is why some men would experience lack of erection.”

    Diabetics, he said, experience impotence or have problem sustaining an erection. “Diabetes affects blood circulation to the extremities of the body, such as the tips of the fingers, toes and male organ. Most  impotent people often have a very high blood sugar level. Tests often confirm this,” he said.

    People with heart problems, he said, are also susceptible to poor libido.

    According to him, this is because the heart pumps the blood to the body. “When the heart cannot perform its functions effectively, there would be problems with other parts of the body,” he said.

    Popoola said people, who have Parkinson’s disease would not be able to have an erection. Backache, he said, may also not allow them engage in any sexual act because the back is the engine room of sexual intercourse apart from the male genital organ.

    He said men should not smoke or be hooked on drinks, as “smokers and drunkards are susceptible to ED. These substances will increase estrogen. Excess estrogen could lead to a  reduction in the progesterone level. It will affect testosterone and the urge to have intercourse will reduce. Just as ulcer medications can cause impotence or hamper erection, likewise, antidepressant drugs and sleeping pills affect sexual urge and limit libido.”

    Prostate drugs, he said, has some inscriptions on it that it may cause impotence. “People, who take such drugs will eventually not be able to have an erection again in their lifetime. So, it is expedient for the person with the problem to choose whether he wants to stay alive by taking his drugs or enjoy his sexual life and die afterwards. The drug may boost their sexual performance in the short run, but later in life it will wear them out ,“ he added.

    Any way out? Popoola recommended vitamins A, B, C, E for strong libido and energy.

    He said: “Vitamin A, which is beta carotene, is good for the body and it is converted by the body to sexual hormones. So, people who use Vitamin A will have long lasting sexual life. B-complex (B-Co) is very important. B6, B12 and B3 make the heart function properly and as such aid an erection. A functional heart will assist in good libido.

    “Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant, repairs the body tissues. It repairs elastin and collagen. It works as a scavenger of any tumor within the body system and as such extracts clog within the vein. Vitamin E, is known as sexual vitamin because it aids good intercourse. It is also a scavenger. It supports the heart. Zinc also ensures that the prostate is in good health.”

    Dr Popoola warned that people should consult  practitioners to handle their ED challenges, rather than buying over the counter (OTC) preparations or aphrodisiacs that litter the markets. “Sufferers should let their health providers prescribe herbs for them because many have died as a of result drug misuse to aid their sexual performance. For instance, herbs such as Yorinbe is good, but it has adverse effect because it aggravates high blood pressure.

    “There is Damiana. It can be used by all. It is good for blood circulation, especially to the genitals. Damiana enhances libido. Also, there is Gingko biloba, which helps blood flow to the brain and the system. Macca helps to enhance stamina. Ginseng promotes reproductive health,” he said.

    Popoola said Gboingboin (Yoruba) is a local herb that has been in use for over 100 years to enhance sexual prowess. This, he said, can be given to men suffering from impotence to invigorate their sexual organs without any side effect. “Cayenne is good because it helps the blood to circulate,” Popoola added.

  • Lifestyle changes can prevent cancer

    Lifestyle changes can prevent cancer

    Nigerian  women have been urged to watch their lifestyles to prevent breast cancer.

    A naturopath, Dr Solomon Abutoh of Towersea Centre, Lagos, who gave the advice, also said conventional treatment of cancer and the effects vary from one person to another, depending on the stage and mode of treatment applied.

    He said: “Some of the unpleasant side effects of conventional treatment of cancer include loss of weight, tightness in the affected skin area, loss of strength in the muscles, numbness and tingling in the chest, under arm, shoulder and the arms. The breast may become firmer, larger or smaller, the skin could become more sensitive or less sensitive. Patients are more prone to infections, bruise or bleed easily, loss of hair and appetite, bone marrow suppression or sores. Nausea and vomiting are the most serious side effects of Chemotherapy. Periods could be irregular or may abruptly stop; some might not be fertile, especially between ages 35 to 40 years. Hot flashes and vaginal dryness or irritation may also occur.”

    He added: “Since prevention is obviously better than cure, which in this case has been elusive, patients are strongly advised to check breast monthly; women aged 20 to 40 should have a health care professional check their breast every year; have a mammogram annually.”

    Abutoh said as in all disease conditions (breast cancer inclusive) the choices we make, our life style, the food we eat and drink, the environment and or conditions we expose ourselves to, are crucial, very crucial for anyone who desires to stay healthy.

    According to him, “The natural healing force within each one of us remains the greatest force in getting well. Certain percentage of all breast cancer cases could be avoided by taking preventive measures. Breast cancer is one of the most widely studied cancers and it has been proven that nutrition can make an impact on risk for individuals with and without a breast cancer diagnosis.

    “Consuming a mostly plant based diet is a good choice. This can be achieved by striving to consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables and at least one serving of whole grains or legumes per day. Managing your weight is another consideration. Women who had a body mass index (BMI) in the normal range had a 13 percent reduction in risk. The recommendation is to be as lean as possible without becoming underweight. The range for a normal BMI is 18.5 to 25. Reducing dietary fat intake could improve relapse-free survival rates in women with breast cancer. Women with breast cancer may have less risk of recurrence when following a lower fat diet.”

    He advised: “Women should be as lean as possible without becoming underweight; be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day; avoid sugary drinks and limit consumption of energy dense foods; eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes such as beans; limit consumption of red meats and avoid processed meats; if consumed at all, limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men and limit consumption of salty foods and avoid foods processed with salt.

  • Lifestyle changes ’ll prevent cancer

    Alternative health practitioners, such as naturopaths and energy therapists, among others, have identified lifestyle changes as a definite way to curtail cancer.

    This was the position at a health seminar on cancer in Lagos. It was organised by the Committee of Concerned Women and Sunshine Foundation, with the theme: Lifestyles that prevent cancer.

    A naturopath, Dr Godwin Ihesie, enjoined the people to eat right, adding that unhealthy food, such as processed food can affect their overall health and as such predispose them to cancer.

    Poor eating habit, he noted, can trigger the disease. “Many do not know what to eat,” he added.

    Ihesie said people should take water, which is a natural endowment to detoxify their system. “It helps to clean the colon as it will flush out unwanted materials from the system,” he said.

    Being inactivite, he said, may trigger the disease as it can make people become obese and consequently put them in danger of some cells becoming cancerous.

    He advised people to engage in regular exercises to burn unwanted fat, stressing that this would promote their health.

    The alternative medicine practitioner said God has arranged food in seasons and as such there are protective food and energy food. Protective foods are vegetables and fruits, which nourish the liver. “Carrot and mango are good. They help the kidney and urinary system. Also, they strengthen people’s immunity.

    “These fruits and vegetables have the neecessary antioxidants that people need to build their immunity.”

    Ihesie said during those seasons when there are different fruits and vegetables, people are able to strengthen their immunity.

    “So, my advice is for people to consume fruits in season as they help boost immunity. They also remove toxins and free radicals from the system,” he said.

    Ihesie said cancer can afflict people when there is disharmony in their system.

    Explaining this, he said, cancer is a cell that has lost information in a system, and as such becomes rebellious.

    “Any cell that has lost its link with the medium gross matter can ail the body,” he said.

    The naturopath identified the liver as the only organ that can help an individual prevent cancer in any organ in the body.

    He, however, said people often abuse it, especially with tobacco smoke, which is its number enemy.

    “When tobacco smoke is mixed with atmospheric oxygen, it produces more than 200 other dangerous chemicals.

    Ihesie said the foundation of cancer is laid at infancy.

    He said more than 99 per cent of women who have had emotional trauma develop breast and cervical cancers.

    “Emotional trauma will further ruin the activities of the liver,” he said.

    An energy therapist, Mrs Chinwe Emegokwue, said ideally no part of human body should be painful.

    According to her, pain is a sign that an organ is diseased or that there is weakness.

    She said people should take control of their thoughts because they determine their words. That is, through thoughts people frame their words and as such habit is formed and it becomes people’s belief. Their belief then becomes their destiny.

    Mrs Emegokwue described energy medicine as a way of balancing the energy.

    She said energy therapy complements other therapies, stressing that this makes it a self help therapy of some sort.

    The energy therapist said by being angry or having animosity can make people can develop negative energy, which can affect their wellbeing.

    Besides, it makes us to have negative energy, which gives rise to negative vibration because man is an energy field.

    “Negative vibrations kill our cells. And gradually we are digging our grave without knowing,” he

    Mrs Emegokwue said every part of man’s body is liable to the disease, especially when there is negative energy flow.

    This, she said, can also cause blockage to the intestines, especially the small one.

    Being worried can result to stomach upset and then progress to ulcer.

    She described the large intestine and the lungs as the region of confusion is the body, adding that when there is order within the human system the man will feel free and well.

    She said too much of concentration leads to stress, stressing that it sometimes put people in trouble.

    The energy therapist said stretching by people can help them remove the blockage, which causes stress.

    She advised people to remove negative energy from their system before going to bed.

    Explaining the steps, she said people must first raise some heat by rubbing the palms together and then touch their body, especially their heads to remove the negative energy.

    “Also, people need to sleep very well. By resting adequately they will be able to maintain their physical and spiritual wellbeing,” she added.

  • My love of extravagant lifestyle and greed for money led my husband into crime (4)

    THAT foreign vacation was just the beginning. After our return from the trip which we all enjoyed despite the rain that fell a lot of the time and prevented us from exploring the city as much as we would have liked, I intensified my efforts in upgrading our lifestyle and status. Some months later, our house on the city outskirts was completed and my husband wanted us to move in immediately.

    “We don’t have to pay rent again; we are free from Lagos ‘landlord wahala’,” he said happily the day he broke the news of our impending relocation. There was nothing bad in moving to our own property. The problem was the location which was far from the city centre, in an undeveloped area with poor facilities. It did not just fit in with the kind of environment I wanted to live in – a posh place like that of Runo and my other friends.

    Hilary noticed my lack of enthusiasm for the new house.

    “What’s the matter, dear? You should be happy that we now have our own property,” he stated.

    I told him about my misgivings about the move, like lack of good roads in the area and decent schools for the children and other issues.

    “Besides it’s too far from town. How will I be seeing my friends when we will be living so far away,” I grumbled.

    “Don’t worry. With time, we will adjust and you can always come to town once in a while for visits,” he stated.

    Shortly after, we moved to the new house. God knows I tried to adjust to our new environment but it was just impossible. There was no electricity as the power company had not deemed it fit to erect poles and connect us. When the residents in the area tried to fix the poles and get a transformer through self-help effects, we learnt the utility company refused to give permit as they said it was illegal.

    The roads were more like village footpaths and were virtually impassable during the rains. In fact my husband had to park his car as it was always breaking down due to the bad roads. He had to resort to taking public transport to and from work. Worse, I could not get any good school around for the children to attend. I was not happy in the new place and at a point, I told my husband that I could not stay there anymore.

    “Our village is even better than here. I can’t stay here any more o! The suffering is just too much!” I complained late one evening on his return from work.

    “So, what do you want me to do? We just moved here! Endure, with time you will adjust to the situation. Afterall, others are coping here so why can’t you?” he countered.

    I was not ready to listen. I had had enough and I wanted out. I had even made up my mind to move back to the city on my own if he was not ready to do what I wanted. Runo had told me I could move to her house anytime I wanted, saying there was enough room for me and the kids if I could not cope with ‘that bush place’ as she called our new place.

    I kept on harassing my husband so much and even threatened to quit the marriage if he refused for us to relocate, that he finally acquiesced.

    I found a nice duplex in a very quiet, lovely estate in the city. The rent was on the high side and Hilary complained about how expensive the house was but I pointed out the advantages like proximity to his workplace, a good school for the children and other nice amenities. I was so happy the day we moved in.

    ‘At last, I’m living somewhere I can be proud to bring my friends to and not be ashamed,’ I thought happily.

    I bought new furniture and household appliances as we had left most of our old stuff in our personal house. It cost a lot of money but the effort was worth it.

    “Nice decor. You did a good job here,” Runo, who had very high tastes and standards, stated when she visited sometime later after we had settled down in our new home.

    “Thanks. It was’t easy convincing my husband to move here. You know how he is,” I said as I served her some chilled wine.

    ***

    Most of our neighbours were wealthy people and this showed in their lifestyle especially the kind of cars they drove. No rickety or ‘tokunbo’ vehicles in sight but sleek, classy cars. I wanted to ‘fit it’ so I told my husband we needed to upgrade our cars to poshier models. To my surprise, he did not even argue about the cost. The following month he bought three brand new cars for the family, an SUV for me, a nice salon car for himself and another for taking the children to school.

    You might be wondering where all the money to fund this expensive lifestyle we were living was coming from for a worker with an average salary such as my husband. As the chief Accountant in the company, I knew he earned well and there were perks attached to his position as well. But I knew it was not just his earnings alone. Truth was that, I did not care as long as my husband did whatever I wanted. At a point I got bored of staying at home as the children were in school so I did not have much to do. To keep busy, I told my husband to open a business for me, at least a shop where I could sell ladies clothes, accessories and gift items.

    I found a space in a shopping mall not too far from our house. With the capital my husband gave me, I bought goods worth millions of naira to stock the store and the business took off. With time, I started travelling out of the country to buy goods for the shop with money Hilary gave me and some of the profit from the business.

    We were living really well, the kind of ‘hight class’ lifestyle I had always wanted and I was happy. It was not up to the standard of my very rich friends like Runo but at least we were getting there. With time, I hoped to be among the top class people, living really ‘big.’

    After that first vacation in London, we would spend subsequent holidays abroad in different countries including the U.S, South Africa and France. My husband never complained anymore about the cost; once I make a request, he would grant it unlike before when he would grumble about the money. You might think my husband is a weak man who can’t say ‘No’ to his wife. It was not that- something else was involved which I will explain later.

    Anyway, things continued to go well for us till about two years ago. One day, my husband came home and told me he needed some money for a project he was doing.

    “I need about a million naira. I will pay you back once the ‘project’ works out,” he assured me. I had some cash I wanted to use to order some goods but I felt that could wait.

    The following day, I gave him the money. Some days later, he asked me for another one million and I became suspicious.

    “Dear, what kind of project is this that you keep demanding for all this money from me? I can’t take more money from the business or it will affect it. As it is, it was the money I needed to restock that I gave you last week. I don’t have money left,” I told him. He looked downcast but he did not say anything.

    A few days later, he came back from work around noon which was unusually early. He said he was feeling unwell and had taken a few days sick leave from work.

    “Let’s go to the hospital if you are sick,” I stated. But he said it was not necessary, that he simply needed bed rest. I gave him some paracetamol and he went upstairs to bed.

    He had been at home for about three days when we got unexpected visitors early one morning. Three policemen came and picked up my husband on corruption and theft of funds charges.

    “Mr Hilary, you are under arrest for theft, fraud, conspiracy to defraud and other offences,” one of them said.

    I could not believe what was going on. My husband a thief? How come? Who did he steal from? Were some of the thoughts that were going through my mind as I watched the officers handcuff my husband.

    “Please, leave my husband alone! He is a good man, he hasn’t done anything wrong,” I shouted as they led him away. They ignored me, took my husband to a waiting vehicle and drove away.

    It was later the full story of my husband’s fraudulent acts came out. Some external auditors who came to check the company’s books where he worked discovered massive fraud in the account department, with my husband alone responsible for the disappearance of over 70 million naira!

    I nearly fainted when I heard the large sum he had stolen.

    “So, all the money we have been spending was company funds,” I said when I went to see him in the police cell where he had been detained.

    He shrugged and said:

    “Who caused it? You and your incessant demands and love of a flamboyant lifestyle pushed me to this. I had to meet up and where was I supposed to get the money from? The moon?” he said sarcastically.

    Due to the case, our properties were seized including our personal house, all the goods in my shop, cars and others. Even our accounts were frozen. My in-laws on hearing what happened to my husband and my role in it, came and took my children away, stating that I would infect them with my ‘bad character’ and ruin their lives with my greedy ways.

    Even my step daughter Estelle, now a big girl attending one of the universities in town, refused to have anything to do with me, calling me a ‘bad woman who ruined my father.’

    Later, the company took the case to court and my husband was given a ten year prison sentence.

    He has been in prison for about a year now. Our lives have been turned upside down by my husband’s actions which nearly everyone is blaming me for. I know I wanted to live ‘big’ but I never told him to go and steal.

    After a while, I had to move out of the duplex we lived in to a room apartment in another part of town as we could no longer afford the rent on the property. My business is gone, husband in prison and my children taken away. To worsen matters, I have been struck by a strange ailment which I have found out is spiritual. You see, a friend had taken me to see a native doctor sometime ago who gave me a charm that would make my husband love me more and do my bidding all the time.

    The downside was that I must not stop using it on my husband or there would be a problem. It turned out the strange sickness is the problem.

    Now, I live in constant pain and misery, all alone now, no money, family or friends. Runo and the other rich friends of mine all abandoned me as soon they heard about our troubles.

    So was it all worth it? We lived big and enjoyed life, living beyond our means on stolen money, but now we are paying the price. A very high price at that! Where do I go from here?

    Concluded

    What do you advice Annette to do about her situation? Readers reactions are welcome!

    Names have been changed to protect the identity of the narrator and other individuals in the story.

    Send comments/suggestions to 08023201831(sms only), psaduwa@yahoo.com or psaduwa007@gmail.com