Oliver Holmes, the dean of Harvard Medical School in the 19th century, wrote a poem called “The One-Hoss Shay,” describing a well-designed carriage that could run flawlessly for a century. However, one day, it suddenly fell apart, like a burst bubble [1]. This poem symbolizes the concept of graceful aging, where individuals strive to maintain good health until their final days. While death is inevitable, we can potentially avoid the decline in organ function and the development of chronic diseases, much like the carriage operating smoothly until its sudden collapse. Unfortunately, the envisioned “perfect carriage” never became a reality. In the past century, various car models emerged, but only a few could avoid frequent breakdowns before being discarded. Similarly, chronic diseases and ailments affect human health in comparable ways.
We have come to accept that aging is often accompanied by conditions like “senile dementia,” mobility issues, and health problems such as high blood lipid levels, high blood pressure, diabetes, abdominal obesity, and alcoholic fatty liver. Moreover, these diseases are now appearing at younger ages. Studies in Taiwan found that 25% of teenagers consume more than 500ml of milk tea daily, with over 40% showing elevated uric acid levels[2].
In Yangzhou, a city in eastern China, a 2020 study revealed that 37.9% of teenagers aged 13-16 had hyperuricemia. The “Report on the Development of National Mental Health in China (2019-2020)” reported a 24.6% detection rate of depression among Chinese adolescents, with 7.4% experiencing severe depression. Among high school students, the detection rate of depression is nearly 40%, with severe depression ranging from 10.9% to 12.5% [3]. Last year, I translated a book by Dr. Drew Ramsey, an associate professor at Columbia University, titled “Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety,” which explores the relationship between diet and mental health. A healthy diet can play a preventive role against depression and anxiety.
In this blog, I will share insights on how to regain control of our health through a nutritious diet and appropriate supplementation when needed. Stay tuned for practical tips and valuable information.
