慈济雪隆分会展开“健康挑战21”

【吉隆坡讯】慈济雪隆分会启动“健康挑战21”计划，透过全食植物性饮食，协助马来西亚人民，特别是患有“三高”及肥胖症者，重获健康。最近一梯次的“健康挑战21”计划将于2022年8月12日展开。居住在雪隆地区及彭亨关丹，且有意参与者，可在网上(http://21day.tzuchi.my) 登记。

约两年来，经由国际慈济人医会（简称「人医会」）专业医疗人士的精心设计及持续改进，此计划已有逾九千人次的参与。令人惊讶的是，其中百分之六十六的参与者在21天内，体重减轻。此外，挑战21天圆满結束时，逾百分之九十的参与者在总胆固醇、血糖和血压指数方面，都有显著的改善，更有逾百分之五十参与者的三高指数在21天后恢复到正常水平。

临床显示，对于饮食习惯的改变，必须透过21天，才能够真正在人的“饮食意愿”上产生变化，因此计划进行期间，所有参与者将连续21天，以自费的形式享用共42份美味的全食植物性午餐和晚餐便当。参与者可自行到指定地点或合作餐厅领取便当，亦可选择付费安排送餐服务。主办团队也从教育着手，邀请所有参与者在线上与人医会医疗专业人士和志工交流，让大家了解如何在整个计划中，为自己准备餐点及落实更健康的饮食方式。

计划协调志工姜志濠表示，便当品质控管团队与每家合作餐厅密切合作，确保每一份餐食都美味可口且营养均衡。在准备餐食的过程中，合作餐厅一律采取少油或无油的准则，同时，也不使用味精、糖、精致淀粉和加工酱汁。每份便当的分量組合则依据美国生活方式医学学院的健康餐盘标准：蔬菜佔了二分之一、全谷类碳水化合物四分之一、植物蛋白质四分之一。

“健康挑战21”发起人，也是雪隆人医会召集人暨马来西亚生活医学学会理事的陈成亨医生表示：“全食植物性饮食能支持身体的免疫系统、减少发炎、及帮助维持健康体重。”他补充：“我们也鼓励所有参与者在挑战开始前及结束后，到特定的诊所进行验血，以便能更准确地测量参与者在挑战期间的健康变化。”

如今，许多大马国民都患有非传染性疾病、心血管疾病、糖尿病和癌症。而在这后疫情时代，许多人也更注重饮食健康。“健康挑战21”计划通过示范正确的饮食方式，提升普罗大众的健康意识。慈济以非盈利方式推动此计划，故活动的相关费用，参与者将直接付费给指定的餐厅和诊所。欲知更多详情，欢迎扫描以下二维码游览 http://21day.tzuchi.my/

TZU CHI KL & SELANGOR TAKES ON THE “HEALTHIER ME 21-DAY CHALLENGE”

Kuala Lumpur – Tzu Chi KL & Selangor launched the “Healthier Me 21-Day Challenge” programme to help Malaysians regain their health with a whole-food, plant-based diet (WFPB). This programme aims to target Malaysians who suffer from obesity and 3-Highs. Residents staying in the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor areas and Kuantan (Pahang) can now register their interest at http://21day.tzuchi.my, and the first day of the next challenge falls on August 12, 2022.

For almost two years, the programme was meticulously designed and improved by Tzu Chi International Medical Association of Malaysia (TIMA) medical professionals; and was participated by over 9,000 participants. To the ex-participants’ surprise, 66% of them recorded healthy weight loss within 21 days. Furthermore, over 90% of all participants displayed astonishing improvements in their total cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels by the end of the programme, while more than 50% of the participants have seen their 3-Highs reduced to the normal levels.

Clinically, it takes 21 days for people to willingly make changes in eating habits. For 21 straight days, all participants will enjoy 42 tasty WFPB bento boxes for lunch and dinner at their own costs. These bento boxes can be self-collected from designated pick-up points or restaurant partners. As an added convenience, you can have your bento boxes delivered to your home and office for a fee. On the educational side, the organizing team invites all participants to join multiple online sessions hosted by TIMA medical professionals and volunteers on how to prepare and practise eating healthier throughout the programme.

According to the programme coordinator, Mr. Keong Chee Hoe, the food quality control team works closely with each restaurant partner. This process ensures every meal is deliciously prepared and nutritionally balanced. Carefully selected, each restaurant partner meticulously prepares meals using small amounts or no cooking oil at all. Restaurant partners also do not use MSG, sugar, refined starch and processed sauces in the food preparation. In accordance to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s suggested eating plan, half of each bento box consists of vegetables, a quarter of whole-grain carbohydrates and a quarter of plant-based protein.

Why is a WFPB diet good for your health? The initiator of the “Healthier Me 21-Day Challenge” programme, Dr. Eddie Chan, who is also TIMA KL & Selangor lead, says, “WFPB diet supports your immune system, reduces inflammation and helps your body maintain a healthy weight.” Dr. Chan is a physician and council member of the Malaysian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. He adds, “To measure the health changes of the participants more accurately during the programme, we encourage all participants to have their blood tested at specific clinics before and after the challenge.”

Today, many Malaysians suffer from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. Furthermore, as the world enters the post-Covid-19 era, more people want to eat healthier. The “Healthier Me 21-Day Challenge” programme hopes to help these Malaysians regain their health and to increase the general population’s health awareness by showing them the right way to eat.

Tzu Chi Foundation promotes this programme on a non-profit basis. All payments by the participants are directly made to the respective participating restaurants and clinics. For more information, kindly scan on the QR code below, or visit http://21day.tzuchi.my/