MOSSEL BAY NEWS - More and more young people are being diagnosed with cancer - sometimes rare cancers - and families and communities are thrown into turmoil and trauma, wondering what could have caused the disease - and in someone so young.

It has been said that in terms of diseases, genes only account for 20% to 30%. The main factors influencing health are diet and lifestyle, experts say.

There are five places in the world that have been pinpointed where people live the longest and suffer the least from cancer and other degenerative diseases.

They are called "blue zones". Author Dan Buettner pinpointed and listed the blue zones and wrote a book about them. They are as follows:

• The island of Sardinia in Italy.
• Okinawa in Japan.
• Loma Linda in California.
• The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica.
• Ikaria, an isolated Greek island.

Vegetarian
Among other factors, Buettner found the following about the people, who live to more than 100 years, in these zones:

They are mainly vegetarian, eating meat only about five times per month; they eat pulses such as dried beans, split peas, lentils and chickpeas; they eat whole grains, not white flour products; they fast as part of their religious beliefs and or they stop eating when they are not yet satiated; they have close family ties; they exercise as part of their daily lifestyle; they do not lead overly stressful lives.

Some - not all - drink red wine in moderation and eat a substantial amount of fish. Also, their diets are low in sugar, salt and fats.For many years the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) has advocated eating "five a day" to avoid getting cancer. These are five fruits or vegetables.

When contacted by the Mossel Bay Advertiser on the subject of cancer and nutrition, the CANSA manager: services for the South Cape and Karoo region, Anina Meiring, refers to the CANSA national website because it is extremely informative and up to date on diet.

There is all the information necessary for anyone who wishes to lead a healthy lifestyle and avoid getting cancer.

Alzheimer's disease is another illness which many are fearful of developing. However, there is much advice available online on what to eat to avoid getting Alzheimer's.

White meats
Alzheimer's SA Southern Cape branch manager Hettie Theron refers to the blue zones when asked about the causes of Alzheimer's and which foods to eat. She says: "The diet good for the heart is also good for preventing Alzheimer's." Theron says people should avoid fats and eat white meats rather than red meat. Consume foods, such as blueberries, which are known to be rich in antioxidants. Red wine in moderation and dark chocolate are beneficial, as well as coffee in moderation, says Theron.

Many nutritionists say the hardest thing to do is to get people to change their diets.

Christo Strydom, the owner of a nutritionist practice in Mossel Bay, says most illnesses are caused by obesity.

Strydom says: "I was a senior commercial pilot, then I became a flight instructor. We were taught back then, you have to be thin to be a pilot. We were thin."

At 18 years, he was the youngest commercial pilot in South Africa in 1976.

Strydom's findings have been published in the original World Journal of Diabetes, he has appeared on kykNET television channel several times as an expert on nutrition and diabetes and he also holds the world record for assisting in the highest weight loss of a man in 60 days: 104kg.

'Obesity the biggest killer'
Strydom says: "Obesity is the biggest killer in the world, because it is coupled with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and other sicknesses."

He says 75 to 90 percent of all diseases are coupled with obesity.

Christo says he was the first in the world to get diabetes in remission in a patient, using diet.

"Basically the whole success story is based on a low carbohydrate, low fat diet," he says. "Diseases can be treated and also reversed with the right diet.

"I am not a doctor but I have worked with many doctors from the University of the Free State. He mentions Professor Willie Mollentze, the world-renowned diabetes specialist."

The ability to put diabetes in remission using diet has now been proved and this must now be recognised by doctors, Strydom says.

He says one should eat everything - protein, meat, vegetables and especially green vegetables which grow above the ground. Also, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", so fruits are important.

Don't mix foods, Strydom advises, for example, eat only fruits together in the morning. At lunch time, eat low fat meats and vegetables.

"High fat does not work. It is out. If people exercise a lot, they can eat whole grains."

'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'