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Tsungai Chekerwa-Machokoto
It is often said that we are what we eat. But do we really believe that? If we really did believe it, the way we eat would be different.

Conditions like diabetes and diseases such as cancer can be controlled by diet. It is important for people to know that we actually are what we eat.

My husband is diabetic and his condition has taught me quite a few lessons about health in general and the effect of what we eat on our wellbeing.

There are diabetics who control their blood sugar levels with just eating unrefined foods such as sadza rezviyo (isitshwala samabele) and millet instead of white sadza, lots of vegetables and other low GI foods.

Cancer cells that feed on animal protein if diagnosed at an early stage, can may be slowed down by cutting out meat completely.

A close friend of mine became vegan after being diagnosed with cancer and she is managing well three years later.

Medication coupled with good eating habits can have a dramatic effect on your life.

First of all, it is important to drink lots of water. People are supposed to drink a minimum of eight glasses of water per day. Apparently there are ways in which water can be most useful.

The moment you wake up, you are supposed to drink two glasses of water before you eat anything.

This apparently activates your kidneys. You are to later on take the next two glasses 30 minutes after breakfast.

Before lunch you are to drink the next two glasses and then the last two glasses an hour before dinner.

During the course of the day, one is to maintain hydration by sipping on water throughout the day. You are not limited to eight glasses, it is only a minimum.

In this hot weather with an anticipated heat wave, a water bottle should be everybody’s best friend.

It’s important to eat unrefined foods. In Zimbabwe, we are gifted with cheap organic foods.

What the West calls organic food is our everyday privilege. It is unfortunate that some of our children, if not most, do not particularly like healthy traditional foods and vegetables and we let them alter their future by not eating vegetables.

Good eating habits should be inherited, and be carried on from generation to generation. When my husband got his diagnosis, they sat us down and explained that our children could end up diabetic as well and they advised us to change our eating habits.

We met with a nutritionist who educated us about the importance of a minimum of five vegetables per meal and two of them should be raw.

Everybody who knows me knows how healthy my home is. Our lives literally depend on how well we eat.

There are some diseases that are called lifestyle diseases. Some of them include hypertension.

You will confirm that what you eat in your house today is what you grew up eating.

It is however said that knowledge is power and when you are aware of certain information, you are empowered to make a change in the right direction.

Adding salt on the table causes an instant hike in your blood pressure.

It is not encouraged to add salt on the table. Parents should teach that to their children.

If it becomes a rule that there is no salt to be added on the table, you would have contributed to your child’s health.
There have been families that reduced their salt intake and the results on their health were phenomenal. They have not experienced hypertension in years.

Eating fruits on an empty stomach does wonders for your digestion. We are supposed to have a fruit before food.

When one is constipated, fruits will help with bowel movement. Oranges, which are a rich source of vitamin C, for example, are a better alternative to taking vitamin C supplements.

Drinking ice cold water after food is not advisable. Room temperature water is best.

I have travelled to China numerous times and their eating habits fascinate me constantly. Their people live to well over 110 years old.

They sell healthy fast food — it is not oily and comes with many healthy options with vegetables and boiled rice and corn among other options.

They do not give you added salt sachets. The Chinese spend the day drinking green tea, and other teas that cleanse and constantly detoxify their bodies.

They drink warm water and their food is mostly steamed and boiled. If you go into a Chinese restaurant, you are most likely to find some dishes that will be floating in water.

They use minimal oil. While we love fried food, they prefer boiled food.

While we like salads with lots of mayonnaise, they eat a medley of vegetables without any dressing.

They snack on sweet potatoes and maize cobs that are very tasty.

They sell watermelons and pineapples on the roadside. They also sell nuts and freshly squeezed juices. We ought to learn a lot from their diet.

Fizzy drinks are a definite no no. There is just way too much sugar in those drinks that is terrible for us because sugar turns into fat.

Caffeine drinks should be replaced with the cleansing herbal teas and drinks. Water is the best beverage ever.

Exercise is mandatory in our busy lives today. Walking is the ultimate exercise, not to lose weight or anything, but just to stay fit.

If you drive to work, park your car a few blocks away from work place to enable you to walk a bit.

When you get to work and there are elevators, it is best to take the stairs — it is good for your heart. Exercise does not mean going to the gym.

Times are tough and a large number of people are not able to subscribe to a gym but that should not be an issue at all.

Working out at home and just moving up and about is good exercise.

Our complete wellbeing is important and that is the combination of our physical, mental and spiritual person.

It is possible to reverse or control some medical conditions with how we handle our food.

Drinking lots of water and exercise is encouraged. Fruits and vegetables should be a regular on our tables and caffeinated drinks should be replaced with freshly squeezed fruit juices or better still, water.

Tsungai Chekerwa-Machokoto can be reached on [email protected]