Good morning, listeners. Welcome to our radio program "Information for New Immigrants". Our guest today is Dr John Smith and he will talk to us about healty food. Welcome Dr Smith.
Thank you very much.
Now, can you tell our listeners why everyone should eat healthy food?
Well, there are many reasons why people should eat healthy food. The most important one is energy. When you eat healthy food and sleep enough, you have energy.
Is that all?
No, you can control your weight when you eat healthy food. People who are overweight always eat the wrong kinds of foods. Also if people eat healthy food, they are less likely to suffer from heart disease. Also people who are sick should watch what they eat.
Can you give us an example, please?
Yes, people who are diabetic should eat healthy food. They should have blood tests every now and then to see the blood sugar levels they have. If the blood sugar level is high, this can be dangerous for them. Also if it is low, they may need to see their doctor or even go to hospital.
Is there anything else they can do?
Yes, they can read about their health problem so they don't need to see their doctor or go to hospital quite often. If they have good information about their health problem, they will start to understand how important it is to eat healthy food.
So, eating healthy food is important for them. Is that what you are trying to say?
Exactly. If you eat healthy food and you are diabetic, you will have less health problems.
Are there any kinds of foods that we need to eat less of?
Yes, people should eat less chocolates and sweets. These things can affect their teeth badly. Also use less salt when you cook food at home. Too much salt can cause health problems.
And are there any foods that people should eat more?
Yes, people can eat fresh vegetables and fruits as much as they can. This can make them fit and healthy.
But many young children don't like eating vegetables. What can parents do to overcome this problem?
I know that many children do not like eating vegetables but you can talk to them about how important vegetables are for them. Give them a variety of vegetables to choose from. If you give them one kind of vegetable to eat, they may refuse. You can also tell them that vegetables are important for health. You can borrow books from the local library or buy them at bookshops and learn to cook them in different ways. I am sure your children will like vegetables if you cook them in a different way.
And are there things that people must not do to lead a healthy life?
Yes, everyone knows that smoking is bad for health. My advice is, if you don't smoke, don't start. there is nothing good about smoking. You lose your money and of course you lose your health.
Are there any foods that people should avoid?
Yes, there are some foods that make people fat like pizza. I know it is tastey but eating pizza a few times a year can affect the general health of the person. Also soft drinks like Pepsi and Coca Cola have a lot of sugar in them. I am talking about 16 spoons of sugar in one bottle. Do you understand how bad it will be if you consume 16 spoons of sugar in a minute or so? Soft drinks are really bad. I tell my children not to drink them.
So, what can people do if soft drinks are bad?
They can drink different sorts of drinks that don't have too much sugar. You can make your own drinks at home using water and fruits. You can also use milk to make these drinks. It really depends on what you like.
But making our own drinks at home can be difficult for some people.
No, it is an easy job to do. It is not rocket science. They can just put a banana in the blender and mis it with milk and add a little sugar. In less than a minute, you will have a healthy drink. The most important thing to know is that too much sugar is bad for you.
And what can people do to find more information about eating healthy food?
Well, they can talk to their doctor. He or she can help them and give them information on what to do. A doctor can also tell them about foods they should eat less from or not eat at all. They can talk to a dietitian. People can also go on the internet and read about healty eating.
Well, Dr Smith. The information you've given us is really imporant. We have to stop here because we are running out of time. Thank you very much for coming here today.
Not at all. A pleasure to be here.
