Moringa helps detoxify immune system and heal wounds

By Cory Quirino

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Date

DESIGN YOUR own personal rewards program and be more than satisfied with the results—a stronger, more energetic body and pleasant disposition.

Here are points to remember:

Make your doctor your partner. As partners, both decide on a modality of treatment or regimen required, which is acceptable to both.

If you are feeling out of sorts, getting recurrent body pain, do not ignore them. Pain is a signal from your body that something needs fixing. The sooner, the better.

At some point, our bodies will give in to abuse, ignorance, and untold invaders like virus or bacteria. So, we should take care of our body.

Step 1—Green leafy food. All things green like broccoli and spinach are rich sources of Vitamins A and C, iron and folate. They contain phytochemicals—plant compounds that have super protective properties.

Step 2—Moringa (malunggay) contains lunasin, an antibiotic-like protection for the cells which also has antifungal properties. Extracts of moringa oil from seeds and leaves have been known for decades to address the following: immune system detoxification; management of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar; speeds up healing of wounds. Try Moringa Gold Plus. For inquiries, call Naturesherb Inc. at 3763288.

Step 3—Load up on berries—highest in ORAC value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity). Locally, there are stories that surround the native bignay, but no clinical studies have been made to date.

Step 4—Increase soluble fiber like oatmeal (as opposed to insoluble, which may irritate the stomach lining) that can naturally absorb cholesterol and maintain a healthy digestive tract.

Step 5—Hydrate. Drink eight to 15 glasses of water daily. This keeps the mucus membranes in the upper respiratory tract resilient to infection. Also it’s a good toxin detoxificant.

Step 6—Eat orange-colored veggies like pumpkin and root crops like kamote rich in beta-carotene and Vitamin B.

Step 7—Exercise daily. It’s consistency that counts, not so much the intensity.

Step 8—Sleep and relax more. Start unburdening yourself with work. Or if your social life is depriving you of much-needed rest, cut back on your commitments. Partying hard will leave you weak in the mornings thus making you skip your morning exercise regimen. You’ve got to weigh the consequences carefully before it takes its toll on your heart or liver. Remember it is only in deep sleep when the body’s thymus gland produces T-cells for our antibodies.

Step 9—Avoid stress; the more stress, the less antibodies. People who are always stressed have colds/flu more frequently than others. Learn to relax.

Therapy

Light a candle. Turn off the bedroom lights. Focus on the flame for a minute or two. Play soothing music. Practice slow breathing.

Affirm: “Serenity is my constant companion.”

Love and light!

Mag-exercise tayo tuwing umaga.............

My usual workout around town in a mountain bike made myself conscious about the health benefits my body receives.from daily exercise. With sweat and perspiration getting out of the system make yourself feel strong and healthy.  Add to this the many friends and would-be friends you would encounter in your daily grind.

Some of the regular joggers I encounter daily are Teddy Baylon who does his jogging without fail. Mr. & Mrs. Jun and Brenda Mangapis can be seen from time to time together with some regular faces whose names I can;t remember as of the moment.

Benefits

A common elliptical training machine

US Marines exercising on theUSS Bataan

Physical exercise is important for maintaining physical fitness and can contribute positively to maintaining a healthy weight, building and maintaining healthy bone density, muscle strength, and joint mobility, promoting physiological well-being, reducing surgical risks, and strengthening the immune system.

Exercise also reduces levels of cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that builds fat in the abdominal region, making weight loss difficult. Cortisol causes many health problems, both physical and mental.

Frequent and regular aerobic exercise has been shown to help prevent or treat serious and life-threatening chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, insomnia, and depression. Endurance exercise before meals lowers blood glucose more than the same exercise after meals. According to the World Health Organization, lack of physical activity contributes to approximately 17% of heart disease and diabetes, 12% of falls in the elderly, and 10% of breast cancer and colon cancer.

There is some evidence that vigorous exercise is more beneficial than moderate exercise  Some studies have shown that vigorous exercise executed by healthy individuals can increase opioid peptides (a.k.a.endorphins, naturally occurring opioids that in conjunction with other neurotransmittersare responsible for exercise-induced euphoria and have been shown to be addictive), increase testosterone and growth hormone, effects that are not as fully realized with moderate exercise. More recent research indicates that anandamide may play a greater role than endorphins in "runner's high".

Both aerobic and anaerobic exercise also work to increase the mechanical efficiency of the heart by increasing cardiac volume (aerobic exercise), or myocardial thickness (strength training). Such changes are generally beneficial and healthy if they occur in response to exercise.

Not everyone benefits equally from exercise. There is tremendous variation in individual response to training: where most people will see a moderate increase in endurance from aerobic exercise, some individuals will as much as double their oxygen uptake, while others can never augment endurance. Similarly, only a minority of people will show significant muscle growth after prolonged weight training, while a larger fraction experience improvements in strength. This genetic variation in improvement from training is one of the key physiological differences between elite athletes and the larger population. Studies have shown that exercising in middle age leads to better physical ability later in life.

Source: Wikipedia

Mouthwash Manufacturers Cautioned Against Unproven Claims

By MARAH S.D. RUIZ

September 29, 2010, 3:56pm

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning letter to Johnson & Johnson, CVS Corporation and Walgreen Company, cautioning these three mouthwash manufacturers against unproven claims about their respective products.

These three companies claim that their mouthwash can help prevent gum disease, but the FDA refutes this saying that while sodium fluoride, an ingredient found in all three mouthwash brands, can help prevent cavities, there is no proof that it can prevent gum disease or plaque.

The FDA has ordered the three companies to take appropriate actions in 15 days or their products would be seized in addition to the possibility of facing civil or criminal penalties.

Source:

Medical News Today

5 Surprising Benefits of Alcohol

Longevity

The news about wine keeps getting better. Dutch researchers say that a half-glass of wine per day might help you live longer--five years longer, in fact. (Remember, though, excessive drinking can lead to health problems that may shorten your life.) Though the researchers note that more study is needed, the theory is that light alcohol consumption--and especially red wine--may contribute to longevity because the "polyphenolic compounds contained in wine have been seen in animals to stop the build up of fatty tissue in the arteries that can result in stroke or heart attack."

Improves Heart Health

Japanese researchers believe that light to moderate drinking paired with socialization (enter happy hour) can significantly reduce your risk for heart disease. While the researchers mostly looked at men, it's easy to see why the findings could be true for women too. Most health experts are fine with light drinking--one glass per day (but not every day) for women. And aren't we all happier when we're spending time with friends?

Reduces Inflammation

Those who drink were found to have a significantly reduced risk of developing several arthritic conditions including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Osteoarthritis (OA), reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and spondylarthropathy, according to Dutch researchers. Researchers aren't exactly certain why alcohol consumption (note, no guidelines were given as to which type of alcohol and how much, but we can safely assume that the scientists are talking about moderate drinking here), but they speculate that alcohol may have inflammation-reducing effects.

Aids Weight Loss

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston who studied the alcohol consumption of more than 19,000 women over 13 years found that women who drank a "light to moderate amount of alcohol" (defined by no more than two servings a day of wine, beer or liquor--I'll add that some studies have found that any more than one drink per day for females to be excessive, so just file that away) tended to gain less weight than women who didn't drink. The study was recently published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.

An explanation, please? "Women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol tend to eat less food, particularly carbohydrates," said cardiologist Lu Wang, lead researcher on the study and an instructor at Brigham and Women's Hospital, who spoke to USA Today.

 Fights Osteoporosis

A new studyreports that beer is a significant source of dietary silicon. Dietary what? It's an ingredient believed to increase bone mineral density, and researchers from the Department of Food Science & Technology at the University of California, Davis, say that beer is loaded with it.

They studied commercial beer production and found that most commercial beer--especially hoppy beer--is a rich source of dietary silicon. Based on these findings, the scientists suggest that moderate beer consumption may actually help fight osteoporosis.

 

Medical Evidence Urge to Backup VCO Claims

By MARVYN N. BENANING

September 8, 2010, 4:41pm

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Coconut Authority Wednesday urged virgin coconut oil (VCO) and coconut oil (CNO) manufacturers to back up with solid medical evidence the touted beneficial effects of their products on human health.

PCA Administrator Oscar G. Garin said this is necessary to reassure consumers that there is ironclad evidence that VCO and CNO are good products that reduce cholesterol levels and guarantee better defense against diseases.

“Nine years after the market launch of the VCO, what we have secured so far is a rapidly growing market which gives credence to the health enhancing capabilities of the product as spread by personal testimonies and anecdotal stories of people from around the world” Garin noted.

“Without a solid clinical and medical study on our hand, we may not hold a secure and sustainable future for the VCO and other coconut-based food products” the PCA chief stressed.

Garin recalled that the coconut industry had been maligned by competitors who allegedly misinformed the market in the United States by declaring that coconut oil is bad for human health.

“We went down, the industry suffered badly to such an extent that it was considered as a sunset industry” the PCA chief emphasized.

“Thanks to researches undertaken around the world and the scientists who maintained their faith in the coconut industry, we were able to rebound,” Garin said.

He cited the work of Drs. Conrado Dayrit, Mary Enig, Bruce Fife and many others in defending the coconut industry and proving that the criticisms against coconut oil were scientifically untenable.

 “Their researches, which affirmed the beneficial effects of coconut oil and showed its being neutral to heart and vascular diseases, curative of HIV/AIDS, antimicrobial, and similar to mother’s milk, showed that coconut oil is probably the healthiest type vegetable oil on earth,” Garin said.

In spite of these, the PCA chief still called for definitive clinical studies to beef up the host of anecdotal evidence on the beneficial effects of VCO and CNO, particularly on control of cholesterol levels.

Considering the magnitude, precision and scientific rigor the clinical study requires, Garin said PCA is poised to call for public-private partnership for the activity in line with the call of President Benigno S. Aquino III for greater collaboration, particularly on R&D.

“We know that all business entities, including our coconut products manufacturers, are allowed by law to set aside a certain percentage of their income for use in their R&D, the same amount is allowable as deduction for tax due,” he said.

Published in Manila Bulletin September 9, 2010.

Drugs from India not that safe, says expert

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippines—An infectious disease expert has warned against using pharmaceutical drugs from India, whether generic or branded, because their formulations may not be safe.

“Generic drugs are really cheap but we’ve been telling our patients to make sure that the generic drugs they’re taking are not from India because the add-ons or substances of these drugs are not stable,” said Dr. Mario Panaligan, secretary of the Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and a consultant at the University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center (UERMMC).

Speaking at a forum on “Fever: The Multi-faceted Ally and Foe,” Panaligan said that paracetamol, antibiotics and other medicines from India are not 100 percent effective compared to those manufactured by “innovator” companies.

There are more than a hundred generic companies in India, he said, and even those drugs manufactured by its top 10 companies are not guaranteed to be 100-percent safe.

Add-ons

According to Panaligan, a drug’s efficacy depends on its add-ons during its formulation.

“They have to add more substances to make that particular drug stable,” he explained.

A substance in a particular generic drug could become unstable, meaning they can cause side effects.

“The joke among us is, it’s gawa sa gawgaw (made from cornstarch),” he said.

Told that such a statement could spark a protest from the Indian government, Panaligan said he was a member of a hospital’s therapeutic committee and knew what he was talking about.

He said the committee was shown drugs made by the top 10 pharmaceutical companies of India and told that the products’ efficacy and capability were guaranteed.

Guaranteed, but …

“The problem is, if you say they’re guaranteed, then you have to perform a bio-equivalent study to prove that when compared to the original (drugs made by innovator companies), it will have the same effect on humans. So even if they say that the drugs are made by a top 10 company, it’s hard to believe because there is no bio-equivalent study. Whereas the innovator companies who made the original drugs have done a cycle of studies,” Panaligan said.

Panaligan said he did not want to be accused of promoting branded drugs but stressed that paracetamol under the brand names Tempra and Biogesic have actually been proven to be effective as first-line treatment for fever. Both brands are known to be equivalent in terms of efficacy and capability, he said.

He said the health department’s Food and Drug Administration does not have the infrastructure to evaluate drugs for approval, and merely relies on the reports being submitted by the manufacturers which are usually self-serving. Cynthia D. Balana

In villages of Aetas, cure found in plants

By Tonette Orejas
Central Luzon Desk

MABALACAT, Pampanga, Philippines—Villagers in Barangays Marcos and Macapagal here boil the leaves of acacia and roots of cogon together. The mixture is an old solution to high fever and malaria and is used to wash the patient down to lower his body temperature.

It is now being used to combat dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Patients are made to drink a concentrated version of the mixture, according to Robert Serrano, a tribal leader in the two villages.

Acacia and cogon abound in the area.

But Aetas do not rely only on this indigenous cure, he added. They avail themselves of medical help andmedicines at the provincial government-run Mabalacat district hospital in the town proper.

The Aeta way

In Barangay Bihawo in Botolan, Zambales, the 150 Aeta families there keep dengue away by keeping their resettlement site clean, according to Carlito Domulot, chair of the Lubos na Alyansa ng mga Katutubo Ayta sa Sambales (Lakas).

For two years now, they have maintained an organic farm in nearby Barangay San Juan where they grow 100-percent chemical-free vegetables.

“There is not one case of dengue in our tribe for years,” Domulot, 55, said in a phone interview. “Mosquitoes are rare here,” he added, referring to the carriers of the dengue virus.

Should a dengue case occur, Domulot said he would go up their old village at Villar near Mt. Pinatubo to look for “kupit-kupit,” a highland grass that rises to a person’s knee.

The leaves are heated and pressed on the forehead of a sick person. The roots are boiled to produce a mixture for drinking, Domulot said.

Other cures

For Aetas originally from Barangay Poon Bato in Botolan, Zambales (they now live in Itanglew resettlement), the big leaves of a tree called “dita” is a cure for high fever and malaria.

Elsa Novo, a village councilor, said old folk used dita during the malaria outbreaks in evacuation centers from 1992 to 1994. The tree is difficult to find in the upper slopes of Mt. Pinatubo, she said.

Aetas have growing trust for modern medical help, Novo said. Last week, a 17-year-old boy survived dengue because his parents immediately took him to a local hospital.

In Ifugao, which recorded 187 dengue cases from January to July this year, indigenous communities have also resorted to their old remedies against malaria-carrying mosquitoes, which used to be their bigger seasonal health problem.

Dengue Fever (Epidemics)

Santos Bayucca, an Ifugao environmental advocate, said villagers have started burning dried peelings of locally grown pomelo. The smokey pomelo aroma had been credited for warding off mosquitoes and other insects, Bayucca said. With a report from EV Espiritu, Inquirer Northern Luzon

Garlic for pimples, other home cures

By Isabel Roces

Philippine Daily Inquirer

DateFirst Posted 22:05:00 08/20/2010

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THE FOOD we eat is more than just nutrition for our bodies. Many of these medical foods have therapeutic properties against a number of disorders, and regular intake or topical use not only prevents illness but also helps cure skin diseases.

They can ward off infection, relieve pain and reduce scarring.

Best of all, they are available in your kitchen.

Pimples

Garlic is known for its antibacterial properties and makes an excellent pimple treatment. Press some garlic into a paste and leave it on your pimple for 15 minutes, then rinse off.

Another solution is by leaving toothpaste on pimples overnight. You can dry out the pimple and it will reduce the swelling in time for the morning.

The final remedy is dabbing some tea tree oil on the pimple to dry it out and kill any bacteria.

Acne, nail fungus and warts

Apple cider vinegar is a natural treatment for a number of human skin disorders. Apple cider or even regular plain vinegar can kill off bacteria by balancing the skin’s pH and absorbing the extra oil from skin.

First, clean and dry skin, then apply diluted vinegar (eight parts water to one part vinegar) directly with cotton ball. Leave it on and rinse off after 10 minutes to cure acne, nail fungus and warts.

Blackheads

Although it seems awkward that toothpaste will help you get rid of blackheads, the fact is that it works. Not only does it work but it is also known to cure them 100 percent.

Apply the paste directly to skin and let it dry completely. As you remove it, the debris will be extracted. With continuous use this can work as a permanent cure for blackheads. Toothpaste is also a home remedy for other types of acne.

Scars

Take one Vitamin E capsule and poke a hole in it with a stick pin. Squeeze the gel out and smooth it onto scars and bruises. They’ll be gone in half the time.

You can also glide it onto chapped lips like lip balm. Not only is it soothing and extremely healing, but also a little glossy. You’ll look as though you have lip gloss on.

Baby oil as makeup remover

At under P15 for a small bottle, baby oil makes the perfect budget eye makeup remover and moisturizer. It is especially great in the perpetually dry eye area (it’s true, our eyes have no oil glands) because it is gentle and long-lasting. As makeup remover, just smooth it on with your fingertips and dab clean with a cotton ball or soft tissue for clean, moisturized eyes.

Under-eye dark circles

Cut thin slices of cucumber. Now lie down and put these slices on your eyes for 15 minutes. Regular use will relieve discomfort in the eyes and help remove dark circles in a few days.

You can also try used tea bags. Put them in cold water till they are frigid. Lie down and place them on your eyes for 15 minutes.

Again, regular use is required to eliminate dark circles.

Sound like old wives’ tales? I asked four ladies to share their proven home remedies. Their answers are certainly unexpected solutions for day-to-day skin problems.

“The nature of my work takes a toll on my skin, so I have to give extra attention to caring for it. I make an at-home facial mask using honey and oatmeal. Both honey and oatmeal are good sources of Vitamin B complex and contain properties that attract water, making for an excellent hydrating and exfoliating facial mask. I also drink a lot of water which is the best way to keep the body healthy and hydrated.”

—Michelle Panemanglor, print and runway model

“I use virgin olive oil for my dry lips, as massage oil, and as hot-oil treatment for the scalp. Goes without saying, it’s great for salads as well. I also mix it with rock salt and coffee to make a salt glow scrub. It’s great for getting rid of any dry skin cells—perfect to do before going to the beach or a pool date. The coffee ingredient makes a good anti-cellulite scrub if I mix this solely with olive oil. So I do this for a really special occasion or definitely before pouncing around the beach.”

—Kate Moynihan, yoga instructor and mom

“I patronize products with honey as main ingredient because it is a good skin and hair moisturizer. My daily moisturizer from Human Heart Nature has this ingredient and it has produced nice results for my skin. Skin seems to be softer and less dry. On the other hand, shampoos, conditioners, hair masks and other hair products with this ingredient revitalize my very dry and damaged hair. It makes my hair a lot softer and more lustrous.”

—Patty Ortega, commercial model

Want something from a bottle? Try Beyond Bath Organics. You get the same benefits of natural and organic products because they are specially formulated using a combination of the most potent and efficacious plants, organic ingredients, herbs, vitamin supplements and natural oils.

You green your beauty routine while saving the environment, because Beyond Bath has partnered with Bantay Kalikasan, to help protect La Mesa forest reserve. Available in a wide range of relaxing ingredients like sunflower, licorice, orange and inca inchi and energizing ingredients like grapefruit. For more information, visit www. beyond-bath.com.

Also try Mineral Flowers, available at SM Megamall, MOA, Makati, Cubao and North Edsa. Made of rich mineral salts and flower waxes, these products contain 99.65 to 100 percent natural ingredients. With three variants to choose from, it helps clean, moisturize, balance skin, making it fresh and beautiful.