Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead.

I love watching documentaries and I chanced upon a really inspiring documentary yesterday that I would like to share with all of you. The title 'Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead' was enough to get my attention... and it did make me change my lifestyle after watching it. Well, I started incorporating juicing as part of my healthy lifestyle.


So what's the film about? Overweight Australian Joe Cross attempts to do something about his failing health that was an accumulation of bad diet choices and sedentary lifestyle. He was 100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease. Being overweight, or rather, obese, is taking a toll on his health and he is on the brink of getting a heart attack anytime.

This is "Fat Joe" when he was 310 lbs

The film takes us through his self-imposed 60-day juice fast (under the supervision of his doctor) journey through America in which he engages everyday Americans in discussions about food and obesity in this lighthearted documentary addressing a deadly serious subject. Why America? He goes there for work regularly and he can't think of a better place than America (it is junk food paradise afterall, or should I say hell?) to face his battle against unhealthy food.

Joe talks to everyday regular Americans about their weight, diet and health.

Soon after his journey began, we could see how quickly Joe's weight in on the steady decline. I have to say he is an inspiration - for not eating doughnuts, pizzas, burgers and all things unhealthy while he was in Amercia. That's a massive load of willpower. He stuck to his juices and nothing else. He also ended his dependence on prescription drugs as his body begun to heal itself.

Joe brought his juicer everywhere he went.

And now... are you ready for an inspiring moment? This is how Joe looks now. After his fast, he continued to include juicing as part of his lifestyle. He exercises daily and eats wisely.

Holy smokes! Beneath the fat suit is a gorgeous man!

Yup, this is Joe Cross now. Amazing transformation that resulted from a healthy lifestyle!

Joe proved just how empowering it can be to take responsibility for our own health. In his film, he also showed how he inspired "Fat Phil" to make a lifestyle change. Fat Phil was a truck driver who was morbidly obese, tipping the scale at over 400lbs.

Fat Phil on the left, Joe Cross on the right (can't call him Fat Joe now...)

Fat Phil having his first fruit juice

Fat Phil on his way to a new him. He has lost lots of weight and still losing...

This is really a must-watch film as it would change your life or would at least inspire you to change your lifestyle. I have incorporated juicing into my dietary needs after watching this film. I replace at least one meal with a powerful fruit & veg juice cocktail. It is the best thing I can do for my body and immune system, by drinking the anti-oxidants and vitamins. It is not about losing weight for me (although it will be a bonus of course), but more about cutting down on processed food with empty calories and zero nutrients, and giving my body the good stuff it needs to be strong and healthy.

I opt for organic produce as much as I can but when it's not possible, I will ensure I wash the fruits and vegetables with an organic wash to remove the pesticides and unwanted stuff. Start looking after your body and it will start looking after you. :)

For more information, please visit: www.fatsickandnearlydead.com

John McIntyre, founder of Healthy Juicing, got in touch with me to share the interview he did with with Joe Cross. In the interview, they talked about Joe's favorite recipes, motivation, how to resist peer pressure and the need for a juicing community. You can read the interview by clicking on this link: http://www.healthy-juicing.com/joe-cross-interview.html

Bollywood Veggies Farm & Poison Ivy Bistro

In my quest to find wholesome organic food, I decided to visit Bollywood Veggies Farm today. I have been wanting to visit this farm in Lim Chu Kang for the longest time and decided to end my procrastination. The drive from River Valley to Lim Chu Kang took less than 30 minutes. Not that far away after all. It was rather nice to be greeted with so much greenery in the countryside.

Arriving at lunch time, we decided to eat at Poison Ivy Bistro before exploring the farm. Here's the chalkboard with the daily specials.

Sitting at the sheltered outdoor dining area, we had a splendid view (despite the heavy rain) of the entrance to the farm.

Love their cooking philosophy and sense of humour. Good wholesome home cooking without the use of msg and very little salt. When you have good and fresh produce, there's no need to use artificial seasonings to flavour the dishes.

Aloe vera drink made with farm grown aloe vera

Lemongrass drink made with farm grown lemongrass

Chicken and mushroom burger

Otah omelette. Very yummy. Must try if you love otah.

Stir-fry 3-veg combo (kang kong, spinach and sweet potato leaves). My kind of dish.

Nasi Lemak (only avail on Sat and Sun)

We had the yummy banana bread for dessert. It tasted more like banana cake. Must try!

After a yummy meal, we decided to check out the farm. However, we had to cut short the walk as it started pouring. Below are some pics I managed to take before the storm arrived.

It is fun and educational place to visit for both adults and kids. A nice escape away from city life.

Farm grown herbs are available for sale too.

I am planning to visit the farm again next weekend. Do note that the farm is open from Wednesday through Sunday, including Public Holidays, from 9am to 6pm. They only accept cash so do bring a stash with you. :)

For more information, please visit www.bollywoodveggies.com

The Organic GLOW

My recent pre-cancer scare ignited my desire to seek out good wholesome organic food in Singapore. I started with what I have known for years - Glow Juice Bar & Cafe, located at Hilton Hotel. Like most of my friends, I remembered it as a place offering healthy food that was bland and uninteresting. However, my first visit there after a hiatus of 5 years changed my perception completely. Think organic Asian delights such as Penang Laksa and Vietnamese Pho Bo! Yumz!

Still the same unpretentious cafe located at the 2nd level of Hilton Hotel.

*Penang Assam Laksa - S$28
Peranakan spicy noodle soup with pineapples, cucumber and fish flakes

This is a 'weekly' special so it's not always on the menu. I love it so much that I asked the cafe to call me when it's available again. It is difficult to believe that this entire dish was made with organic produce. It's a tad pricey compared to the usual Penang Laksa from hawker stalls (S$6-S$10) but it was worth every cent. I can't wait to eat this again.

Phad Thai - S$19
Thai style friend noodles with deep sea prawns, lettuce and eggs.

My friend who ordered this dish said it's the best phad thai he ever had... and he's one who goes to Bangkok regularly for work. I tried it and I can't agree more. You can really taste the good wholesome flavours of this dish, and you can eat it even without the usual garnish of sugar, chilli flakes and fish sauce. This is perhaps the healthiest phad thai one can find.

Vietnamese Pho - S$20

Noodle soup with grass-fed beef fillet and Asian herbs and spices

Seriously, no MSG? I am in Pho Bo heaven. It was the tastiest broth I ever had and my foodie friend also agreed. Modern day diet uses too much artificial seasonings and going back to basics made me realised that the same dishes made with organic produce can taste so much better.

Alaskan Crab Salad - S$24
With shaved mango tossed with zesty mustard herb chilli

The serving portion is just right to create your own "salad and soup" combo. I ordered this with a watercress soup. This appetising salad is very Thai style and a departure from the normal boring salad. I definitely didn't feel "deprived" even though I was eating healthily.

Sugar Free Chocolate Cake - S$14

Guilt-free indulgence. Need I say more? The other yummy dessert worth trying is the Mango & White Chocolate tart, which I forgot to take a pic of it as I was greedily pigging out.

I go there weekly for healthy lunches. Great variety of power juices too! Do note that it opens on Monday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm... and is closed on Sunday and Public Holiday. They also don't take reservations.

Anti Cancer : A New Way Of Life

I always believe that cancer is a modern day disease. Unhealthy lifestyle and stressful work life are the main contributing factors. I took my health for granted until recently, as I thought I was relatively fit and cancer won't affect me. Prior to my recent pre-cancer condition, I exercised occasionally, I didn't consume much alcohol, I smoked socially, and I ate red meat in moderation. I was the average normal adult... till I became part of a statistic, when I was told I have pre-cancer cells in my cervix. I am sharing my experience here in hope that it will help you and the people whom you care about, when you still have a chance to make a change in your life.

A dear friend of mine highly recommended the book "Anti Cancer". This book changed my life and my lifestyle. Ignorance is definitely not a bliss when it comes to strengthening your immune system. I wished I had read this book earlier but it was first published in 2007. I am thankful I am reading it while I am at pre-cancer stage, so I still have a fighting chance before it develops into cancer.

Why I wrote "Anticancer: A New Way of Life" - by Dr. Servan-Schreiber
"This book is above all my testimony as a witness and fellow sufferer. I had cancer. I’m cured now, and I wanted to share what I learned with other people. Being a doctor doesn’t protect you from cancer. But because I’m a doctor and a scientist, I was able to take my knowledge to its limits and learn to look after myself. I wanted to write the book I would have liked to read – the book that, if it had existed, would have helped me to avoid falling ill, and that would have helped me learn very quickly how to give my cancer treatments the best possible chance of working."

With the knowledge that I have gained from the book, I am incorporating simple achievable lifestyle changes that can make a difference to my health.

#1 - Drinking at least 3 cups of green tea daily

Green tea contains numerous polyphenols called catechins. One of these is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a powerful nutritional molecules against the formation of new blood vessels by cancerous cells. Green tea also acts as a detoxifier for the body as it aids the liver in eliminating cancerous toxins from the body more rapidly.

#2 - Taking Omega-3 supplements

The modern day diet is lacking in Omega-3 and it is important to take the supplements to keep the Omega-3 and Omega-6 balance in check. Omega-6s stock fats and promote rigidity in cells as well as coagulation and inflammation in response to outside aggression. They stimulate fatty cells from birth onwards. Omega-3s does the opposite by making cell membranes more flexible and reduce inflammation, as well as limiting the production of fat cells.

#3 - Eating organic food when I can

We are being exposed to many chemicals on a daily basis and the best bet we have to reduce ingestion of harmful chemicals such as pesticides, is to choose organic and free-range animals products whenever we can. I shop at Cold Storage (a small selection of decently priced and fresh vegetables, fruits and dairy products), Brown Rice Paradise (Tanglin Mall) and Four Seasons Market (Great World City).

#4 - Cutting down on my refined sugar and white flour intake

When we eat sugar or white flour - foods with high glycemic index, our blood levels of glucose rise rapidly. Today we know that the peaks of insulin stimulate not only the growth of cancer cells but also their capacity to invade neighbouring tissues. By reducing the intake of refined sugar and white flour, skin will also be healthier. Not too bad a proposition. I have switched to agave nectar as a sugar substitute and making my own low-fat sugar-free frozen yogurt instead of eating ice cream.

Prevention is better than cure and this book can teach you how to boost your immunity. This book is also perfect for those who are facing cancer-related issues. This book will give you the hope and facts that you need to overcome your fear and pain.

For more information, please visit the website: www.anticancerbook.com