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{
"id": 882678,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/882678/?format=api",
"text_counter": 206,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) James Nyikal",
"speaker": {
"id": 434,
"legal_name": "James Nyikal",
"slug": "james-nyikal"
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"content": "What is the best way to approach it? It is to have a national programme to take care of non-communicable diseases like cancers, diabetes, obesity and heart disease. For diabetes in particular, the programme must look at lifestyle starting with food. The worst foods are sugars and fats that are readily available. The best foods to eat are vegetables and fruits. I am also impressed by the research that has been done by my colleagues on the apple cider vinegar. Yes, they are not off the mark. The main content in apple cider vinegar is acetate acid which is known to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and is useful in the treatment of diabetes. Perhaps, it is thought to prevent diabetes. Many things are said about many foods. However, what science has brought out is that apple cider vinegar has effect on blood cholesterol, sugar and diabetes. This is real, but we must look at how to utilise it. Most often, it is used as a dressing in salads, you do not find people seated somewhere with a bottle of vinegar drinking it. However, it is an important additive in foods. I think it helps those who like eating uncooked vegetables. However, when added to salads it makes them more palatable. It also offers better digestion and improves gut mobility so there is good motion, which is very important in diseases like colonic cancer. I appreciate the research my colleagues have done. On lifestyle we have looked at food, let us look at physical activity. I want to tell my colleagues that I do not meet many of them in the gym. This is free treatment we are avoiding or not using. Physical activity is most important in non-communicable disease, particularly diabetes, hypertension and obesity. This alone will save many of us. In fact, this was a resolution in the World Health Organisation (WHO), I think in the year 2004/2005 on physical activity and lifestyle. Countries like Rwanda have taken it to a level where they have policies on people to do physical activities. Some of you have travelled to China and in the morning you have seen people in the parks doing exercises. This is a national policy. So, let us not downplay physical activity. The cars are good but in fact, if you are in six storey building you should walk up and down every day. That may be quite useful. So, physical activity is extremely important. Also on the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, the main effect people see is being an addict or alcoholic. However, it has other subtle side effects you do not see on a daily basis. So, if you can reduce your alcohol consumption, you are better off. Also leave cigarettes, there is nothing they do other than cause illness. If you look carefully at tobacco, it is the only plant which animals do not eat, they know it is bad. We are the only ones who are using it as Shisha and other items. So, people should quit using it. We must also improve our work situations. For people who work in factories and in farms using chemicals, we must have a policy that ensures the chemicals and machines they use do not expose them to non-communicable diseases. Screening is also extremely important, not only for diabetes but also for cancer. For diabetes, it should be done early, for example, diabetes type 2, which for our age is the most troublesome. Both type 1 and 2 are problematic, but with type 2 you just need to reduce your weight once you are screened and they find you have slightly raised blood sugar. Sometimes, you may not need any treatment but just reducing your weight will be adequate. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}