“You should read Thailandblog better”
Although I don't often publicize my private life, I want to share it with you a little this time.
Unfortunately, my -Dutch- wife passed away completely unexpectedly 21 years ago during our holiday in Thailand on Koh Lanta. Rest assured; I am not going to share with you all the trouble that such an event entails. I do want to tell you that I am not a man who wants to and can go through life without a buddy and that I have had a girlfriend for 20 years who, just like me, has suddenly lost her life partner. So we both know from experience what it means to lose your partner so abruptly. Together we have a nice relationship and spend the weekends together.
Thailand
We have already traveled a lot together and Thailand is now very familiar territory for her as well. Of course she reads Thailand blog regularly and that is where my problem lies.
As a fashion designer, my girlfriend has worked in Paris and New York for the greats of this industry in years gone by and is, how could it be otherwise in this profession, terribly precise and neat. In her eyes I'm a real mess. My desk and study are a mess, at least in her eyes. I never go wrong myself and know how to find everything perfectly. Within my man's world I allow myself the luxury of a professional help who regularly keeps my accommodation super neat from all blemishes. My study is off limits to her and cleaning this part… yes, that's part of my job.
Cooking
After being a member of a renowned cooking guild for several years, I dare to say that I can hold my own in the kitchen. But Joseph cooks well but does not think about his health. He should look more at the vitamins according to my girlfriend. Who then adds: “You should really read Thailandblog better”. In addition, the sweet darling pushes a few articles under my nose that she has printed out. Vitamin D is the supplement of the year. Over 50 and vitamins: How do you age? Watch out for a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Do you have a low vitamin E level? Deficiency of vitamins makes you fat. A Multi vitamin every day makes you slimmer. Just adding that I have to go to bed earlier and put a garlic bulb under my pillow for a good night's sleep.
Fruit
“You don't eat enough fruit either” I also get thrown in front of my head. I need to eat more bananas because they are full of energy, a counterbalance to depression, an excellent remedy for high blood pressure and anemia, but also good for the nervous system and much more.
For an extra portion of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, iron and magnesium, you should eat sweet chestnuts or nuts, which also lower the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Yes, they are articles that could be read on Thailandblog and I honestly do not have my highest attention. Oddly enough, I did read Kuhn Peter's article: 'More sex in Thailand? Take care of good health'
“That's typical for men” was the answer I got rubbed under my nose. But now there are bananas in the fruit bowl, I got a bag of walnuts and bought a jar of vitamin D for a few euros that will last me for over a year. Eternal life beckons.
Ever since I had to swallow a spoonful of cod liver oil (vitamin D) every day as a little boy – when I think about it, that rancid fishy taste returns to my mouth – I have not used any vitamin preparations in my life.
If you eat healthy and varied, you don't need them either, because all the necessary vitamins are in all kinds of food. It is possible that other people's body balance is different, so that they benefit from extra vitamins, but I have never used it and will never use it despite the many advertisements.
And Joseph, knowing you, you will last your entire life with that one bottle of vitamin D pills, because you are guaranteed to "forget" a day!
Dear Gringo, it is unfortunately a persistent misunderstanding that you get enough vitamins if you eat a healthy and varied diet. There is (just) no shortage, but that is something else. Incidentally, scurvy still occurs today due to a shortage of vitamin C: https://www.skipr.nl/actueel/id28646-scheurbuik-is-terug.html
Even regular doctors are becoming aware of vitamin D deficiencies: https://www.ntvg.nl/artikelen/nieuw-licht-op-vitamine-d/volledig They also indicate that good nutrition and taking a supplement can still be insufficient to make up for deficiencies. An injection is then the only option.
A good friend of mine lives as a monk eats extremely healthy and varied. Despite this, he had a serious vitamin D deficiency and therefore many health problems. After a number of injections of vitamin D, he recovered and is now a different person.
This is what the Dutch Journal of Medicine says (still a serious authority):
– Vitamin D is necessary for the prevention of osteomalacia, rickets and to support osteoporosis therapy.
– But it is also necessary for proper muscle function and the proper functioning of the immune system and cell maturation.
– Vitamin D supports antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and possibly antiviral activity.
– A low vitamin D status has been associated with an increased risk of upper respiratory infections, asthma, autoimmune diseases and various types of malignancies, such as prostate, colon and breast cancer. A deficiency is related to the occurrence of heart failure.
– For good bone quality and muscle function, a minimum serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D of 50 nmol/l is required, but for prevention purposes a value of 75-80 nmol/l is recommended. Rickets and osteomalacia occur at values < 25 nmol/l. - A good diet or a multivitamin tablet contains too little vitamin D to meet the necessary requirements. - Supplementation in accordance with Health Council recommendations (400-800 IU daily) is unsuitable for correcting a serious vitamin D deficiency. In such cases, a booster treatment is desirable, followed by a maintenance dose. The elderly and people with dark skin in particular produce less vitamin D through sunlight and the elderly are less able to obtain vitamins from food.