Most of us hardly even think of our heart until something bad happens either to ourselves or to our loved ones! It is good to be aware that most risk factors of coronary heart disease are preventable and therefore, under your control.  Often after a loss of a loved one to a heart attack, our concern is only short-lived, before life continues to business as usual.  As you embark on this New Year, take a minute to assess your risk of heart disease so that you can take care of your heart.

Assess your risk using the following table (answer either yes or no to each risk factor)

The more times you answered “Yes”, the greater your chance for developing coronary heart disease. But now that you know the risk factors, I believe you are ready to address them and reduce the risk. Note that the 12  risk factors out of the 14 (marked with a *) are completely under your control, and you can do something to reduce eliminate them.  As one of my friends put it, “Take care of your heart so that it can take care of you”. Try to make this one of your New Year resolutions.

Jipende, Ufunguo wa mtindo bora wa maisha uko mkononi mwako.

“The key to a healthy lifestyle is in your hands”.

Nyama zilizosindikwa (processed meat), zimethibitishwa kwamba zinaongeza sana uwezekano wa kupata saratani (WCRF).  Wataalamu wanasema hawajaweza kuona kiasi chochote cha nyama iliyosindikwa kinachoweza kutumika bila kuongeza uwezekano wa kupata saratani.  Nyama zilizosindikwa ni pamoja na zile zilizohifadhiwa kwa kuongezwa chumvi, mafuta, kemikali au kukaushwa kwa moshi. Nyama hizi ni pamoja na nyama za kopo, soseji, bekoni n.k. Unaweza kujisomea zaidi kijarida cha kiingera kilichoandikwa na AICR.

Tukumbuke kwamba saratani nyingi huzuilika.  Siku ya saratani duniani mwaka huu ililenga kuzuia saratani.  Shirika la Afya Duniani (WHO), limetoa maelezo mengi kuhusu kuzuia saratani, lakini kwa bahati mbaya sio wengi wanaofikiwa na taarifa hizo.  Imeelezwa kwamba kiasi cha watu zaidi ya milioni 12 hugunduliwa na saratani kila mwaka ulimwenguni; na kwamba saratani inaua watu wengi kuliko ukichanganya wanaokufa kwa UKIMWI+Malaria+Kifua kikuu (TB) pamoja. Lakini ni vizuri kujua kwamba kila saratani tano zinazotokea, mbili zinaweza kuzuilika (WHO).  Kwa maana hiyo, katika hizo millioni 12 zinazogunduliwa kila mwaka, karibu milioni tano zingeweza kuzuilika.  Namna mtu anavyokula inachangia sana kuongezeka uwezekano wa kupata saratani.

Tutumie zaidi vyakula vitokanavyo na mimea kama maelezo katila jipende yanavyosema.  Bonyeza hapa usome maelezo hayo.

Jipende.   Ufunguo wa mtindo bora wa maisha upo mkononi mwako.

Baada ya tafiti nyingi kufanyika na kuangalia kwa umakini mambo ambayo yamethibitishwa kuwa na uhusiano mkubwa na saratani kwa upande wa chakula, lishe na mazoezi ya mwili, ushauri umetolewa na wataalamu wanaofuatilia maswala hayo kwa makini. Ushauri umelenga maeneo kumi muhimu (World Cancer Research Fund-report 2007):

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Hata tukiambiwa “kula chakula kupita kiasi kulisababisha kifo cha fulani”, hatuamini, au tukiamini, bado tunaendelea “kukupenda” na kula kupita kiasi! Sasa tutakutafutia mikakati!

Chakula ni kitu chochote kinacholiwa na kuupa mwili virutubishi. Nadhani kila mtu anapenda chakula, na kweli chakula ni kitu kizuri, tena huburudisha. Nakumbuka miaka kadhaa iliyopita nilikuwa naongea na kijana mdogo, mwenye umri kama miaka 18, tukazungumzia chakula.

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