Organic food

An alternative source for better, healthy life

“Deaths caused by cancer has sounded an alarm bell among experts for fear of further proliferation. The statistic speaks for itself… 58 million deaths in 2005, cancer accounts for 7.6 million or about 13 percent of all deaths worldwide. The raise of cancer cases is a worrying trend and triggering health authority to position it as the no. 2 killer disease in the sultanate. More alarming though, the country’s young generations are also at risked contracting the disease, the experts observed.

In 2004 alone, based on the most recent figure released at last week Health Seminar at ICC, a number of 278 cases was reported in this country. The most common type of cancers that lead to mortality are lung, stomach, liver, colon and breast cancers. In Brunei, five most common cancers for both sexes are lungs, breast, stomach, cervic and nasopharynx.

As emphasized by the speaker, Bruneians should not be compelled to give up easily when they are diagnosed with the disease. Another speaker spoke of a general malaise that cancer is “an automatic death sentence”. She stressed the need for cancer patients to be monitored as they have a high incidence of psychological distress and this in turn can ultimately impact on quality of life and possible survival. At this juncture as experts pointed out, there is a high need to ‘de-stigmatize’ cancer and raise more public awareness thus dispelling the myths that cancer diagnose equates to a death sentence.

The good news is that cancer is treatable, curable and preventable if detected at an early stage. However, as one expert said, patients only consider a consultation with doctors once they inhibit symptoms. In some cases, cancerous cells had metastasized and more difficult to treat.

“Cancer are insidious diseases and most are without symptoms until the very last stage. Even if there are symptoms like backaches, headaches, flatulence or general tiredness; most of us would have dispelled them as mere manifestations of a tired or aging body,” an extract taken from a book “Thanks Goodness I have Cancer’, authored by cancer survivor Lawrence Loh who was himself diagnosed with the deadly disease in 2001.

“Healthy children are valuable assets for future generation” - Lawrence

Recently, the author was participating in the first ever Health Expo 2007 held in the sultanate to promote his new venture with an organic farm company which produces tropical fruits and vegetables. “Organically grown food is free from pesticides and use only natural fertilizers, no chemical, no addition of inorganic materials, no air pollution and so forth,” commented Mr. Loh when asked about his undertakings. He is currently collaborating with Tropical Organic Farming and Research (M) Sdn Bhd who owns a 30 acres of virgin land specifically allocated to plant and grow organic food such as pumpkin, water apples and lady’s fingers. “Organic food just tastes so much better,” exclaimed visitors who tasted water apples (Jambu air) at Lawrence’s booth at the expo.

“Jambu air is one of the most difficult fruits to produce because of inherent worm infestations inside the fruit. It is to our knowledge, a lot of attempts by local enthusiasts or farmers to try to grow them succulently. Fortunately, we have the technology to produce the fruit organically without worms and our produce are above average sizes and nutritionally palatable,” Lawrence explained.. “All of our fruits and vegetables are delivered to customers within 12 hours of harvesting to ensure freshness.”

Historically, the phrase “organic farming’ first appeared in a book by Lord Northboume entitled “Look to the Land” published in 1940. But the truth is, organic farming is the oldest form of agriculture. Before the end of World War II, farming without the use of petroleum-based chemicals (synthetic fertilizers and pesticides) was the only option for farmers.

These days, farmers are switching to organic agriculture once again but now with an ecologically base, systematic approach that includes long-term planning, detailed record keeping and major investment in equipment and supplies. Lawrence went to say that public has the leeway either to go for conventional or organic food as both type of farming bear diverse outputs in terms of flavors, nutritional contents and pricings. As long as organic food producers meet stringent standard, organic is much more rich in vitamins, fibers and retains much of the nutrients longer thus the body is more resistant to diseases.

The weight of an organically grown pumpkin can reach up to 10kg

Apart from growing vegetables and fruits, the farm has the technical expertise and infrastructure to breed up to 4,000 edible fishes such as Pacu fish (Ikan bawal), Patin and Tilapia in organic environment. The fishes can be bought on contractual basis. Lawrence touted anyone wishes to commercialize fishes can seek professional assistance from him and his team.

“I believe organic food will help in the prophylactic of diseases such as cancer. Vegetables such as pumpkin is rich in anti-cancer properties and healthy for diabetic sufferers. People who regularly consume pumpkins are believed to have lower incidence of cancers of the breasts and lungs. Lady’s fingers is rich in zinc and is useful as a cancer preventive source,” Lawrence claimed.

The farm is also capable to rear up to 2,000 ‘organic goats’ on contract basis - the reared animals are solely fed on organically produced fruits and vegetables deliverable within 2 years to prospective buyers, Lawrence added.

Lawrence’s book on his battle against cancer

Touching on the sales of his book, he was delightful the demand is still growing. “This shows that public is more health-conscious now and parents should play a pivotal role in educating their valuable assets (children) to live out a healthy lifestyle. I always believe the book will be a great help not just for cancer sufferers/survivors but can be a reference guide for general health,” he concluded.