AFTER two different consultations and assurance that a lump that appeared on his body was nothing serious, President of Scotia Insurance Hugh Reid intuitively had the lump removed.

However, after general procedures that followed his surgery, tests showed that the lump was in fact cancerous. This was a year and a half ago.

In cases such as Reid’s, many people are often left bewildered, not only because they have been diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness but also because of the financial burden that comes with treating it. Fortunately for Reid, he had a Scotia Criticare insurance policy, which covers nine critical illnesses, one of which is cancer.

Since the insurance boss’s cancer scare, Scotia Insurance has undertaken a wellness and healthy lifestyle initiative and Reid is leading by example, taking the initiative seriously and incorporating wellness into his daily routine.

“It’s said that if you have your health, you have everything. And given my recent experience I really believe that promoting health and wellness should be a priority for the entire community,” said Reid. “We lose so much when good health is out of our reach that we really should consider all the things we do as individuals and as a nation to reach to take care of ourselves.”

Scotiabank has partnered with the Medical Association of Jamaica for its Healthy Population Initiative — a plan that seeks to promote wellness and reduce health risk behaviours through health promotion and health education, with a focus on obesity and its devastating impact on Jamaicans and the healthcare industry.

Now on a personal journey to boost his knowledge of wellness issues, Reid recently met with the owner and executive chef of the Aisor Fire Light Gourmet Vegan Restaurant, Ben Tsedek, who showed him how to prepare tasty, natural juices to assist him with controlling his appetite for sweet beverages while losing weight in the process.

They prepared a callaloo green juice with coconut water, Seville orange, Irish moss, sarsaparilla root powder, bladderwrack powder, and ginger and another healthy beverage from sorrel, coconut water and ginger.

These juices, according to Tsedek, stimulate the liver and are good for the heart, while the sorrel beverage also cleanses the urinary tract. The callaloo supplies the body with a supply of iron, which helps the body to attract other nutrients to sustain good health.

Tsedek explained that there are various food preparation techniques that can be used to help a person achieve the desired weight. But first, a doctor should assess and advise on the areas of their health that need focus. Based on the doctor’s advice, Tsedek makes his own assessment and makes recommendations about the types of food or juices that will produce the best results.

“If a person is overweight, their body is acidic and the liver may be malfunctioning so it is best that person is detoxed,” shared Tsedek. “Put them on food that has alkaline, food that is yang in nature like seaweed, grains, black rice, and quinoa.”

“You have food that helps you to expand or lose weight, you need to know the type of food that you consume,” Tsedek continued.

Reid has been assessed by his family physician that advised that he focus on reducting sugars and carbohydrates in his diet.

“I’m hoping that this natural juicing demonstration will help me to maintain a healthier lifestyle and curb my appetite for sweet beverages and to also lose 15 pounds to maintain a body weight of 180 pounds like the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama,” said Reid.

Ben Tsedek’s juicing tips

1. It is best to drink the juice right after it is blended, however, it can be refrigerated for one day.

2. Use a Vitamix or any other heavy-duty blender for optimum quality.

3. Top fruits and vegetables for juicing:

o Callaloo: An excellent source of calcium, iron and potassium.

o Cherry: A low calorie fruit and a rich source of vitamins.

o Passion fruit: Packed with antioxidants, which protect against cancer and inflammation, and vitamin C.

o Tamarind: A good source of copper, iron and potassium.