December 5, 2025

What is the best exercise?  I was often asked.  My most often simple answer is:  The exercise you are willing to do, and do it regularly.

What is the best diet?   You bet I can't answer this question the same way I answer the 1st question.

Diet is a whole lot more complex.  So, I approach this question from the opposite angle, what are the bad diet we should really avoid, avoid from young?

 

 

LCD or Low-Carbo Diet is a commonly promoted diet, that is popular.  Yes, it is my opinion that LCD is one of the diet we should really avoid, especially if the carbo is replaced with animal protein AKA meat.  

 

This is a technical, medical research paper write up. In simple common language, it means, LCD in young adults put them at higher risk of getting heart disease in their middle age, and also progression of blockage is higher. Therefore, those who use LCD, esp LCD with non plant protein for weight management should take special care to prevent heart disease/heart attack.  

 

Do low-fat, low-protein diets show LOWER cancer risk?

✔ YES — in observational studies, low-fat + low-protein (especially low-animal protein) diets correlate with the lowest cancer incidence.

Examples:

1. Rural China Diet (The China Study)

• Protein <10% of calories

• Fat <10–15%

• 70–80% carbs from whole plant foods

• Cancer incidence among lowest ever recorded

• Animal protein strongly correlated with cancer mortality across regions

2. Traditional Okinawan Diet

• Protein ~9%

• Fat ~6%

• Carbs ~80% (mostly sweet potato)

• Lowest cancer rates globally (both incidence and mortality)

3. Adventist Health Studies (AHS-1, AHS-2)

Vegans and near-vegans (low protein, low fat):

• Significantly reduced risk of all cancers

• Especially GI, breast, prostate cancers

SUMMARY

How do fat and protein correlate with cancer risk?

Protein

• High animal protein → increases cancer risk

• High plant protein → neutral or lowers risk

• Low total protein (especially animal) → lowest risk

Fat

• High saturated fat → increases risk

• High unsaturated fat (olive oil, nuts) → protective or neutral

• Very low fat → lowest observed cancer rates in long-lived populations

 

If we think in term of avoiding diseases, the above ChatGPT analysis does imply that avoid LCD, moving toward simple Old time Kampung style diet is better, makan kangkung, type. 😁

 November 28, 2025

 Dec 1 is World AIDS Day. A time we in health care community should help the society to take note of this dreadful disease, and help the people to prevent contracting it.

 

Source: World of Buzz July 2, 2025  

From the above news, we can see that it is still an issue in our country.

 

 

1. HIV transmission The virus is spread through certain bodily fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
2. Transmission routes The most common ways HIV is transmitted are through unprotected sex, sharing needles for injecting drugs, and from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
3. Casual contact is not a risk HIV cannot be spread through non-bodily fluid contact, such as shaking hands, hugging, sharing toilets, or being in the same room with an infected person.
4. No cure, but manageable There is no cure for HIV, but it has been transformed from a fatal illness into a manageable chronic health condition with effective treatment.
5. Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) ART involves taking a combination of daily medications to control the virus by stopping it from multiplying.
6. Treatment benefits Consistent use of ART can prevent the progression to AIDS, allow people to live a near-normal lifespan, and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
7. AIDS progression AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV, which occurs when the immune system is severely damaged. It is diagnosed by the presence of certain opportunistic infections or cancers, not by the virus itself.
8. Symptoms Some people experience a flu-like illness within a few weeks of infection, which can include fever, swollen glands, rash, and tiredness. However, many people may not show symptoms for years, so the only way to know for sure is to get tested.
9. Testing is crucial Regular HIV testing is essential for early detection, which is critical for starting treatment promptly.
10. Prevention is key Prevention methods include practicing safe sex (like using condoms), not sharing needles, and taking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).  

 Source: Google AI

ANTIBIOTIC

 

November 21, 2025

 

Antibiotic was a great discovery about 100 years ago. It saved many lives over the past century, likely someone closed to you have been protected by it, or even you, and me. 

 

 However, situation becomes more complex when it is overused.  Here is why:

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Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) happens when germs—like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—stop responding to the medicines used to kill them. When this happens, antibiotics and other treatments no longer work well. This makes infections harder or sometimes impossible to treat, which can lead to more people getting sick, more severe illness, and more deaths.

World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a worldwide event held every year from 18 to 24 November. Its goal is to help people understand what AMR is and why it is a serious problem, and to encourage countries and communities to take action. It is one of the official health campaigns of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The theme for WAAW 2025 is:

“Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.”

 

This theme highlights that we must act quickly and work together to fight AMR. AMR is already affecting our health, food supply, environment, and economies. It is not just a future issue—it's happening right now. Drug-resistant infections are rising, but awareness, funding, and action are not keeping up.

Following the discussions at the 2024 United Nations meeting on AMR, everyone—including governments, health workers, veterinarians, farmers, environmental groups, and the general public—needs to turn promises into real, measurable actions that save lives.

To protect today and ensure a safer future, we must invest for the long term and take strategic action across human health, animal health, and environmental health. This includes improving tracking of drug-resistant infections, making sure everyone has access to quality medicines and tests, supporting new innovations, and building strong systems that can last.

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Projected Deaths According to local health authorities, about 87,000 Malaysians could die between 2020 and 2030 due to antimicrobial resistance if no strong intervention is made. Portal Berita+2Utusan Malaysia+2

• This projection comes from the WHO’s regional office (WPRO).

•  

  Resistance Trends

• Some commonly found bacteria in Malaysia — for example, E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae — have shown increasing resistance to antibiotics in recent years. Broadsheet Asia+1

   

  In Hospitals

• A recent (2020–2023) study in a big hospital (University Malaya Medical Center) looked at surgical site infections (SSIs). Out of the isolates from those infections, 42.1% were multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). BioMed Central

• AMR is a real and growing threat in Malaysia. It's not just a “future problem” — resistant infections are already causing deaths and making treatment harder.

World Diabetes Day

 November 14, 2025

 

Today is World Diabetes Day. It is established by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is observed annually on November 14th. It commemorates the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin. The day's purpose is to raise global awareness of diabetes, its prevention, and the challenges faced by those affected. A key initiative is the blue light campaign, where iconic landmarks worldwide are illuminated in blue to symbolize the fight against the disease. Each year has a specific theme; for example, recent themes have focused on access to diabetes education and the role of nurses.

Series of Activities are planned and carried out in Penang by the State Branch.

November 5, Webinar on Diabetes in the Workplace.

November 12, Kurang Manis Run at USM. 

Look out for the evening Blue Lighting of Buildings and Iconic Structures in Penang, take photos and post it on Social Media to help highlight Diabetes Awareness.  Read here for the meaning behind this Blue Circle.

KOMTAR

City Hall

TNB Monopole Along 1st Penang Bridge

 Support Penang effort to raise awareness on Diabetes. Visit our Facebook or Website. Follow and Like us.  Post in social media with #worlddiabetesday2025. Link to Diabetes Malaysia, Penang Branch.

Health Promotion in November

 November 7, 2025

 

November is a special period where IDF (International Diabetes Federation) encourages its member associations all over the world to put additional effort to raise awareness and advocate for diabetes, and people living with diabetes. So, look out for these, and talk about it with your social circle, the implication of this body condition, that might seem to be mild in the early stage, for most if not all who have the condition.

1. What is the implication to you if you have diabetes? How would it change your life? Short term, medium term, long term?
2. What does it mean if your loved ones, someone you really care have diabetes?
3. What does it mean to you if 30 or 40% of your colleagues have diabetes? How would it affect your work, your standing in the company?
4. If our society, our country men have high number of people living with diabetes, including those who are under 30 years old, how can it impact you, and me? 

(short term- in the next 5 years; medium term in the next 10-15 years, long term- >20 years) 

 I am interested to hear from you.

The above KURANG MANIS Blue Fun Run Campaign is specially designed for promoting health among College aged youngsters, with support from USM School of Management, Student Council, AKPK club. It is a closed event. Support us by visiting our FACEBOOK page www.facebook.com/dmpenang Like and Follow us. We need your support. Thank you very much.