Question to GP Maarten: I eat unhealthy, which vitamin can I take?

Maarten Vasbinder lives in Isaan. His profession is general practitioner, a profession that he mainly practiced in Spain. On Thailandblog he answers questions from readers who live in Thailand.

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Dear Martin,

I have been living in Thailand for several years and I am 57 years old, 20 kilos overweight but otherwise healthy, no history either.

My questions:

• which vitamin preparations can I take, as I eat far too few vegetables. Do not reach 500 grams per week!
• for my feet I used MYK1, which Thai remedy can I use for this.
• I have had a cross trainer for 3 weeks and started with 10 minutes every other day. Last 2 times, 15 minutes of which start and end 5 minutes cycling. Never worked out, are there things I should watch out for? Want to keep the every 2 days for 1 month and then to every day, building up to 1 hour.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Regards,

S.

*****

Dear S,

As far as vitamins are concerned, the simplest thing seems to me to eat more vegetables. They are widely available on the market. There is also fantastic fruit available all year round, which sometimes makes you lick your fingers.

If all that is too much effort, stick to Vit C 500-1000 mg per day and Vit D3 1000 UI (25 micrograms).

Remember that healthy eating is the basis of good health. Vitamins can't replace that, not even in astronauts.

As for the MYK 1, you can buy foot powder from Boots, which contains an antifungal agent. Mycoderma C and Mycozole are also available here. Ointments are not suitable in the heat.

As for your exercises. For this you will have to consult a sports doctor, who will test you first.

I can hardly give any advice for that myself. First, because I don't specialize in this and second, because I don't know anything about you other than your overweight and age.

An excellent exercise is brisk walking for 5 km a day. You can build something like that up slowly in the morning when it's not so hot. Do bring water. That's safe and sound. Moreover, you also see something of the environment.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Maarten