On Sunday, while having a conversation with a friend of mine, she casually mentioned to me that her husband is actually very, very healthy. Her reason was that he eats regularly and goes to the toilet often – yes.. that really is what she said, and she was proud of him – it showed in the way she spoke and in her facial expression – so she wasn’t kidding.
Of course, she chose not to take into account the fact that he’s easily 20 – 30 kg overweight, eats too much sugar, and lives a sedentary lifestyle. It was at that point I realized how disillusioned some people can be and overlook the obvious. I don’t blame her for this – it’s not her fault she just doesn’t realise those to be a problem.
I, however, personally think he’s a walking time-bomb, and it’s just a matter of time before something lights his fuse. More alarming is that I realised that somewhere out there… there are also many of you who MAY think that as long as you ‘seem’ to have some healthy habits in place, you can totally ignore everything else and be irresponsible about your health.
Some common examples are those who are blessed with a fast metabolism and don’t gain weight as easily, whose daily diet consists of foods shockingly high in fat (especially saturated fat and trans fat) – some people can’t live a single day without their daily burger or pizza. And they let this ‘slip away’ simply because it doesn’t show a toll on their physiques – hence, they’re still healthy right? Or if you are significantly overweight… but still think ‘that’s okay’…
Well this prompted me to look up a research I knew existed from way back in 2007 (and I found the article that talks about it) as I wanted you guys to read it. So, I’ll let the article do the rest:
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Study strongly links fat, cancer
Processed meat is a key culprit
By Nanci Hellmich
USA TODAY
There is more evidence than ever that a person who weighs too much is more likely to develop cancer, a landmark report said Wednesday.
And forget eating bacon, sausage and lunchmeat. No amount is considered completely safe, according to the analysis from the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund.
An international panel of experts reviewed more than 7,000 large-scale studies and spent five years developing the report (www.dietandcancerreport.org).
Excess body fat increases the risk of cancer of the colon, kidney, pancreas, esophagus and uterus as well as postmenopausal breast cancer, the report says.
“This was a much larger impact than even the researchers expected,” says Karen Collins, a cancer institute nutrition adviser. “People forget body fat is not an inert glob that we are carrying around on the waistline and thighs. It’s a metabolically active tissue that produces substances in the body that promote the development of cancer.”
Michael Thun, head of epidemiological research for the American Cancer Society, says, “People are not paying nearly enough attention to the relationship between obesity and increased cancer risk.” The report also found:
•Every 1.7 ounces of processed meat consumed a day increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 21%.
“This is a wake-up call for people who eat hot dogs or pepperoni pizza regularly,” Collins says. “They need to be looking for other alternatives. But you can still occasionally have a hot dog.”
There could be several reasons why processed meats may increase cancer risk. Carcinogens have been linked to smoked meat and the nitrates and excess salt in processed meats, Collins says.
•The evidence linking red meat intake (beef, pork and lamb) to colorectal cancer is more convincing than it was a decade ago, the report says. It advises limiting red meat to 18 ounces of cooked meat a week. The cancer risk is minimal for people who eat that amount, but beyond that the risk increases, Collins says.
•Alcohol consumption is linked to an increased risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, breast, colon and liver.
The report is drawing fire from the food industry.
Ceci Snyder, a registered dietitian with the National Pork Board, which represents pork producers, says, “The U.S. Dietary Guidelines include meat and processed meat, and those guidelines are based on a review of the scientific evidence.”
Mary Young of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the group engaged scientists to review the scientific literature on the topic, and they concluded there is no evidence red meat causes cancer.
A separate survey of 1,022 adults, also released Wednesday by the cancer institute, showed that 39% say cancer is their top health concern and 49% say it’s highly unlikely they can do anything to prevent cancer. “Let’s not be afraid anymore,” Collins says. “There is something you can do about it.”
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The truth is… you need to start watching what you eat – regardless of what your fitness or health goals are. It’s not just a cool quote, but You REALLY ARE what you eat.
You may want to be cheap and spend RM0.80 for your nutritionally obscene Roti Canai breakfast – but it will hit you harder if you had medical bills that run into the thousands to pay for treating cancer.
Recently there was a write-up in the local papers that Malaysia is heading towards an obesity crisis (like that’s a big surprise… but apparently it is).
There is something we can do about the sorry state of health our nation is in… and it starts by making better decisions when it comes to your food. Not some government obesity awareness campaign, or any other campaign that is actually funded by the culprits themselves.
But the question is… WILL we do something? Or will we try to pretend that everything is fine? Leave me your feedback below… I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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This post was written by...
Noel Chelliah, ACE-CPT, ACE-LWMC, has been recognized as one of the Top Transformation Experts in Malaysia. No stranger to being overweight himself, Noel has gone through a life-changing transformation himself, from fat, to fit. In 2010, Noel founded the DailyMuscle Body Transformation Camp, which today helps hundreds of individuals exercise and practice healthier habits. In his spare time, Noel serves the community with various programs that promote a healthier lifestyle, and enjoys playing with his dogs.
My name is Noel Chelliah, and I’m a Transformation Specialist and founder of the 
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m guilty as charged. I’m that person who doesn’t gain weight no matter how much she eats and makes it as an excuse to gobble down Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, Pizzas etc.
But I am trying to change to a healthier diet. Admittedly, it’s pretty tough to eat entirely ‘clean’ food. Nowadays, I hardly eat fastfood – only have it once in a while when the cravings set in.
I stumbled on the ‘Clean Eating’ magazine in the library recently and am now enlightened. I consider what I put into my mouth and feed myself with as the most important factor in my well-being. Some people may work out like crazy, but still make poor food choices all the time. Too tempting I guess with all the choices we have here.
So, yeah .. I try to avoid processed food like a plague, and it ain’t easy :)
Yes it’s not easy – but I believe that as long as we know everything IS NOT OKAY if we eat fast food/processed foods 24/7, then that’s a step towards the right direction, and eventually, to a point where we no longer crave these foods.
went to weight management thru diet n exercise at FIT last weekend.. an eye opener. now looking at food with a different angle. food is just our means of fuel. nothing more. but, sad thing is that the food industry is making us eating far too much calories than we ever need. even food for kids, i mean why is that all those candies are even tot of back then?? now it has become a problem…
Light healing: So you got to meet Suzanne? :-). Yes it is sad how the media and everything else has perverted food to become. Many of us are living to eat.. and not eating to live.
yup got to meet her. she made it so simple, the nutrition on food labels, proportions of food groups, among others stuff. i know them before, only not is specific. but now understand better. and SEE BETTER!!
Moderation is still the key to eating…eat anything as long as it’s done in moderation, right DM?
light healing: Good to hear that! Do put what you learn into practice. :-)
Ronald: Yes, but sometimes… I think that statement has been ‘abused’… and that it becomes an ‘excuse’ to have sloppy eating habits because ‘we’re doing it in moderation’. I’m not saying that we all need to avoid fat (I enjoy my steaks every now and then) – but we do need to be aware of what we put into our mouths and realise that every decision you make will either bring you closer to your goals, or further away. It is up to us which path we’d like to choose. Do we want to walk on the fence, on take a side and finally get somewhere?
true but DM, it is very hard to maintain a proper eating habit let alone change the way i/we eat..i believe that’s the biggest hurdle for me personally because i love my food very much and it took me a year to adjust from the normal malaysian breakfast i.e nasi lemak, mee goreng, roti canai to oats, fruit salad, wholemeal bread etc…when i mean moderation, it means whenever i achieve my goals, my rewards wud be indulging in this kind of food but in smaller portion than normal..i shud mention ‘moderation with awareness’ of what i put into myself…
but still, considering the amount of food choices that we have here in msia..it is really difficult to resist that foodie temptation…:(