James Ong, M.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons.), who co-founded VitaKids with his wife, Samantha Foo, in 2002. He is passionate about natural health and the use of ancient, traditional and natural remedies for the prevention and treatment of ailments and the maintenance of good health.
He continues to set aside time, despite a hectic schedule, to read about natural health topics and holds to strong opinions about the role of conventional medicine in today’s healthcare and the validity of mainstream dietary advice.
James feels it is important to keep abreast of the latest findings and developments in natural health science. More importantly, he practices what he learns and teaches. Maintaining a regular exercise program, careful diet and disciplined supplement regimen, James has remained in excellent health over the last 16 years. When asked if he has a regular family doctor, he well invariably reply, "Well, actually, no! You see, I haven’t seen a doctor in years. Anyway, I believe that drugs should only be used as a last resort when other gentler natural remedies, as well as dietary and lifestyle changes, do not work and some form of medical intervention is absolutely necessary".
James firmly believes in the inventor, Thomas Edison’s, prophetic statement about the future of healthcare: “The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” Quoting James, "Many are unaware that Hippocrates, the father of modern Western medicine, once said some 2,500 years ago, ‘Let food be your medicine and your medicine be your food … Leave your drugs in the chemist’s pot if you can heal the patient with food.’ Unfortunately, this simple statement and smart way of thinking has yet to become a mainstay of modern culture. Yet significant changes are taking place in the healthcare industry and it may surprise everyone that in America there are now more visits yearly to alternative and complementary healthcare professionals than visits to conventionally-trained medical doctors. In Europe, China, naturopathy, homeopathy and traditional herbal medicine are highly regarded healing modalities.”
James makes it a point to seek out healthy foods in as natural a state as possible: the way God had created them for human consumption. In other words, he advocates eating whole, unprocessed and unadulterated foods, preferably organically or bio-dynamically grown. He also feels strongly that if land or space is available, one should grow some vegetables and fruits as a small-scale gardener, to enjoy the foods at their healthiest!
