What is Healthy and What is Not

Nutrition is nowadays a pretty controversial topic, what is healthy and what is not? When it comes to food, we have plenty of mediatic choices such as TV, newspapers, online, and other media that pass on a daily dose of brainwashing to its readers to believe that everything is good for us. As long you purchase and consume what they think is good for you, life becomes eternal and we will never die of any heart disease or cancer. Well, if you believe what your daily newspaper claims, then we must be living in Alice in Wonderland!

We are often victims of our own success, I happen to come across people who think they are too fat, too slim and some who think they look ugly and can't get rid of their high heels. If you can't hold on to the horse's mane then don't try to hang on to its tail! 

The key to longevity is certainly not about appearance but nutritional diversity and a balanced state of mind. It's like holding securities in a portfolio, if you invest in one single vehicle.. the chances that markets turn against you are considerably high. But if you diversify, you'll soon notice that diversification is what is needed to progress in life. The same thing goes for food and the way we look at things. The more we worry, the more things tend to happen in the opposite direction.

So, it's necessary to cultivate a philosophical aspect of what we want to have, when, and lastly how we going to get healthy stuff from super supermarket or farmer next door. My great-grandma passed away when she hit 104 years of age by accident and surprisingly not by age. She quit smoking at 98 years of age, and lived a pretty hard life. Left alone with three kids, one of whom passed away early with tuberculosis. Nevertheless, she had very strong willpower and a diet based on pasta, vegetables, beans, tomatoes, and chicken. Occasionally in the early morning hours, she loved to enjoy a good glass of Italian grappa (hard liquor). This is just one out of many examples of people who were going through hell in their lives but yet had long live spans. Then there are other unfortunate ones that always watch out for what they consume, do not smoke, do not drink but yet die at 45 of heart failure or prostate cancer. 

Cancer has touched many of us in some way. Whether we know of or have overcome cancer ourselves, or know someone who has passed away from it, we can all draw some form of intimate connection to the disease. There are plenty of foods that can be healthy or unhealthy, it's all about dosage in life. One example could be the southeast Asian fruit Soursop, a flowering evergreen that is said to kill cancer cells effectively and does not produce the same undesirable side effects. On the other hand, another study suggests that high consumption in Soursop could lead to a form of movement disorder such as Parkinson,'s etc. By the side of sickness, health becomes sweet and most of us remember this fact when it's too late. 

Remember, health is wealth in life and anything else will follow smoothly.. 

Your question is quite broad, and health can refer to various aspects of life, including physical health, mental health, and even the health of systems or objects. Here's a general breakdown of what is considered healthy and what is not in different contexts:

Physical Health:Healthy: A person with good physical health typically has a balanced diet, regular exercise, and maintains a healthy weight. They may also have no chronic illnesses, good cardiovascular health, and strong immune function.

Not Healthy: Poor physical health may involve a lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet, being overweight or underweight, suffering from chronic diseases, and having a weakened immune system.

Mental Health: Healthy: Good mental health is characterized by emotional well-being, the ability to cope with stress and life's challenges, positive self-esteem, and healthy relationships.

Not Healthy: Poor mental health may involve conditions like anxiety, depression, or other mental illnesses, as well as chronic stress, low self-esteem, and unhealthy or toxic relationships.

Environmental Health: Healthy: A healthy environment is one with clean air and water, sustainable ecosystems, and minimal pollution. It supports the well-being of both humans and other species.

Not Healthy: An unhealthy environment may be polluted, contaminated, or otherwise compromised, leading to negative consequences for ecosystems and human health.

Economic Health: Healthy: A healthy economy is characterized by low unemployment, stable prices, and sustained economic growth. It provides opportunities for people to earn a living and improve their quality of life.

Not Healthy: Economic downturns, high unemployment rates, inflation, and income inequality can indicate an unhealthy economy.

Relationships:Healthy: Healthy relationships are built on trust, communication, mutual respect, and support. They foster emotional well-being and personal growth.

Not Healthy: Unhealthy relationships can involve abuse, manipulation, lack of trust, poor communication, and emotional neglect.

Systems and Objects:Healthy: In the context of systems and objects, "healthy" often means functioning as intended without defects or malfunctions.

Not Healthy: "Not healthy" in this context typically refers to systems or objects that are broken, damaged, or not working properly.

It's important to note that what is considered healthy or not can vary depending on the specific context and individual circumstances. Additionally, promoting and maintaining health in various aspects of life often requires ongoing effort and attention to make positive changes and address issues when they arise.

Durian Forever!

Durian forever! I don't know you guys but this fruit rocks! Durian is nicknamed ''the king of fruits'' for a reason! In addition, it's astonishing that half of worlds population never came across to try this amazing fruit at least once in their lifetime. I can't even detect Durian in official translation books except Wikipedia which is by far the best encyclopedia. 

I went for a Durian feast trip out of Singapore to Malaysia two weeks ago, the trip took us straight to Desaru Fruit Farm in Johor. Thankfully the weather was just right as I hadn't brought my umbrella and despite my fears of being bitten by mosquitoes, I survived the entire and pleasant day tour. The tour guide at the fruit farm was a generous local lady who looked to have helped herself to the farms produce and she spoke really good english. 

We had the opportunity to help ourselves in all you can eat Durian buffet during that special day. Although we didn't get the best type of Durians, it was really nice to have enjoyed the atmosphere together with wife and friends. All in all, a trip to Desaru Fruit farm is worth time and money. 

But this story isn't about my trip now, its sort of introduction of this marvelous fruit that remains unknown to many folks that either aren't living in the tropics or have never seen one. 

Losing your durian virginity is a private moment, so nobody can tell you what works best for you.

However, in general, there are two ways that people choose to do it. You could start off by acquainting yourself with the mildest dose possible of durian scent.

This usually comes in the form of durian-flavored cakes and cookies, wherein the taste and scent of durian can barely be detected, or durian chips which are made from under-ripe durians.

Once you think you can handle it, move up to durian desserts that are closer to the real thing in terms of both the smell and texture, e.g., durian custard, durian ice cream, durian cakes 

This should prepare you well for your first durian encounter.  The majority of durian veterans will tell you, however, that the best approach is to tackle durian head-on. Choose one that is not over-ripe and milder in both flavor and smell. Mon thong and kan yao varieties are two of the top favorites and generally milder than others such as kop or cha ni.

Don’t even consider frozen durians, as freezing changes the texture to the point of ruin.

Go for the best and the freshest possible. After all, you can only have your first durian once, so save yourself for a high-quality durian that is very, very special. So it's a must try, unfortunately it's not available all around the world, you could take a note and try it in your next trip to south east asia!