PROJECT WOMAN: CRAVE Healthy

Unilab just keeps coming up with great products.  

Here's another amazing find specifically for pregnant women.  We all know that pregnant women need to be even more particular with their food intake, no matter how intense the craving they may have.  

I think this is a very thoughtful product in the sense that it understands how a woman craves during pregnancy.  

Crave Healthy is the first snack product in the Philippines that is specifically designed for the pregnant woman by doctors and nutritionists. 

                                      

It’s NUTRITIOUS because it contains essential nutrients – Folic Acid, Iron, and Calcium that are critical for both the mom and her growing baby. It also has reduced salt and just the right amount of calories that give the pregnant woman that extra energy she needs daily. 

It’s DELICIOUS because it tastes just like her regular snack. Crave Healthy is currently available in Sweet Corn flavor and does not have any aftertaste of nutrient fortifications. It helps support the nutritional needs of pregnant women and their developing fetus. 

A healthy way to satisfy hunger and food cravings of pregnant women!

... and curious gals like me.

A pack of Crave is worth Php 25.00 at 30 grams each. 

It’s available online at www.cravehealthysnacks.com, select Med Express branches, and select Robinsons Supermarket outlets.

Oh I can't wait to try this out. I know, I know, it's actually for moms-to-be but hey, I suppose no one's going to stop me from sampling this anyway.  If it's safe for pregnant women, it most definitely is safe for me to at least try, right?

So, come on!

{Back to Basics}: Jump Start the Journey to Good Health

Hey there health buffs, couch potatoes and the in-betweeners!

The first month of this year, 2016 is almost through!  I'm sure that most of us have already gotten over the long holidays (or getting there, somehow) and have now acclimated to the normal life routines.  Like most people, you may have already written down those resolutions, intent and committed to achieving those. I just hope you haven't thrown out your list of goals this early.  If you don't have goals, now is the best time to think about it.  I myself have set some goals for this year, and it will not be complete without the health goals. 

Here's the thing.  Last year, I have joined only one organized fun run and I don't do my regular weekly runs after that.  I regressed, so to speak.  I don't know.  Maybe I got tired of running around lol! Naturally, I gained weight...and bulges uggghhh!  But you know, having started this health blog some years ago, I wasn't really so much into the body image thing.  I was mostly concerned about my overall health. Being slimmer is just a desirable by-product of a healthier lifestyle.  

{Fit and Strong Day 26}: Timing Nutrition With The Workout Phases

Before I do any strenuous workout, like running or swimming, I make sure I eat at least 2 hours before that to fuel my body and prepare it for the workout.  Some people can manage an hour before the workout, but not me.  I'll definitely regurgitate whatever I ate.  I learned that while doing the warm up exercises for Tai Chi class some years ago.  Good thing I was able to hold the food in or it would have been such a mess, not to mention very embarrassing.

{Fit and Strong Day 25}: Eat Healthy

Many, many posts ago, I have already posted a guide to proper nutrition before and after a workout.  We need the right kind of food to fuel our activities.  You can find the infographic on this older article:

Infographic: Workout Nutrition Guide

And here's another one showing the evolution of nutrition guide, from the food pyramid to the food plate.  I think the food plate is much easier to visualize, and a more helpful guide since the plate is where we put our food on, not some kind of pyramid. The point is, it's time we really pay attention to what we eat and how much, because a healthy diet makes for a healthier and stronger person.  

Avocado and Hypertension

Source

When I was a kid, my mom would prepare sliced avocados swimming in milk for dessert. I also love avocado smoothies. I have always eaten it that way and wouldn't dream of eating it as is. But there's always a first time and yesterday, I dared to eat one without anything on it. While my office mates were dipping it in white sugar, I find myself savoring the creaminess and the natural sweetness.  I am enjoying it as it is. It's this change in mindset really that made me enjoy real foods without all those extra things. Eating real foods did that to me. My palate has adjusted and is not craving too much for the usual artificial tastes.  So I guess that dissolves my plan to do food and restaurant reviews as I would probably fail miserably in that department.

Infographic: 9 Foods That Lower Blood Pressure

I was frequenting this site, Natural News for quite sometime, but I was mostly reading the articles. I didn't notice before that they have tons of infographics and I saw this one that would prove to be helpful, not just for people suffering from hypertension, like me, but also for those who want to improve heart health in particular.  Out of these, I have yet to try Hawthorn berries and hibiscus.  I don't even know if we have the berries locally but there may be an equivalent of that here.  And I have yet to research about how to take hibiscus but I would guess that it's for making tea, sort of.  The other items, I eat occasionally. Maybe it's time to have more of them in my diet.

There are a lot more foods that help lower blood pressure.  As I have mentioned before, those foods rich in potassium are great!  So, I'll just be sharing this one.  

Natural News: 9 Foods That Lower Blood Pressure

Note to Natural News site owner... My comment that was under moderation was published, but my query was not answered.  I hope that publishing my comment means you allow me to post this infographic.  Thank you.

I Heart Corn

I came from an early morning run just a few hours ago. It's a holiday today, so no work schedule. I took that opportunity to run, only wishing that I woke up even earlier and jogged at around 5am, when it is much cooler. I can't say that I had a blast, since the summer heat is really zapping my energy. I did manage to run for more than 30 minutes, well run-walk-run as always. I have not had the strength and stamina to run continuously for that length of time, and certainly not in that kind of summer heat.

Why Slaving Over the Treadmill Alone May Not Do the Trick

I downloaded this health app from Google Play just a couple of days ago.  It's called Noom Weight Loss Coach, one that keeps track of food and exercise, much like what My Fitness Pal does.  I'm just trying out different apps.  This one has got tips popping out and this just popped up to me on my tablet the other day. 

So here's something to mull over:

Should I Stop Taking Coffee?

Coffee!!

I've been pondering on that question for some time. I've been a coffee drinker probably since I was ten years old.  My stomach couldn't handle having milk or chocolate or juice drinks early in the morning when I have breakfast before going to school. I tend to vomit it all out or get that queasy, unsettling feeling.  Coffee seems to be the only satisfying early morning beverage for me.  So, it was and still is a habit up to this day.  But since having hypertension, I was thinking if it is a strong reason for me to eventually stop drinking coffee.  

Of Potatoes and Hypertension

Potato Harvest

Who doesn't like potatoes? Raise your hands please.  I have yet to meet someone who hates it.  Potatoes are something of a comfort food for me, although I don't really eat it on a daily basis.  But when I do, I practically gorge it.   Many Filipino recipes incorporate potatoes and if you know me, I'm the first to dish out the potatoes from Menudo, Nilaga, Adobo and anything with potatoes.  

Remember on one of my previous articles, I have mentioned that we have certain cravings for certain foods and that we should not dismiss that as plain gluttony.  There is an underlying reason why our body craves certain foods.  As for me and potatoes, I don't know if it's just my body telling me it is good for me or that I am simply going gaga over it.  Whatever, I just love potatoes.

Workplace Wellness: The Link Between Food and Productivity

Last post, we talked about what should be in a healthy plate of food.  I thought of sharing this infographic on workplace wellness  courtesy of Compliance and Safety.  Most of us work either in a typical office, an institution or even at home.  When we work, we need to be well-nourished to sustain us for the day's tasks.  I think it's something that employers (or home owners) must not overlook so as to get the optimum productivity out of everyone.  I have already sent a copy of this to our human resources manager as well as the manufacturing manager.  Hope it gets a good exposure somehow.  A lot of workers could really benefit from this.

What's On Your Plate?

Choose MyPlate

I've been mostly talking about fitness and running lately.  And while I may have amused you or somehow caught on with the pep talks about choosing a more active lifestyle,  I have not forgotten something that is closer to heart.  Food of course!  As they say, the way to a man's heart and I daresay a woman's heart as well is through their stomachs.  I don't know about you, but I do love eating!  Who doesn't?  

But while most of us love to eat, the experts say that we should eat mindfully.  After all, our mouth and stomachs, and consequently our whole body are not dumping sites for whatever we can chew and swallow as long as they taste good.

A Dragon Named Pitaya

What's a pitaya or pitahaya?  I was ignorant of that name until now.  I have only known the fruit by its more common name: the dragon fruit.  

Pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus), a photo by blumenbiene on Flickr.

Potassium and High Blood Pressure

Fruit plate, a photo by Upsilon Andromedae on Flickr.

Ever wonder why we crave for certain foods at certain times?  I'm not talking about sudden craving for, say, donuts, which I would probably consider an unhealthy craving.  I'm talking about whole, natural foods here.  When we do crave for those, sometimes, it could be our body's subtle way of telling us we need certain nutrients.  Don't you find that fruit plate above quite inviting?  I do.  I see the words antioxidant and Vitamin C hidden among the grapes, strawberries, orange slice and everything else on the plate.

 Ever since I could remember, I love these fruits, in order of preference:

Kiwifruit and Hypertension

I may sound naive here, but I've only seen it in pictures and on T.V.  Yesterday was the first time I have ever eaten a kiwi.

Little spotted kiwi, Apteryx owenii, a photo by brewbooks on Flickr.

Hold on, that's not what I had (who put that picture in there? lol!). But it looks a lot like that minus the feet, beak, and most of the head. I wonder if they eat kiwis in New Zealand hehhehe.

Annette Larkins' Journey to Health

I was researching for something a few hours ago but as you know with all the web links intertwining here and there and me being always curious about stuff, I stumbled upon this woman at this site.  The site had the word gossip there so I thought of probing some more because this might be some bogus, sensationalized article that is not uncommon on the internet.  Turns out to be legit, so it's not gossip after all! 

Nothing extraordinary about the picture of a woman, seemingly in her 40's right?  Except that as I was reading through, she was actually 30 years older!  I was simply dumfounded, realizing that I was looking at a 70-year old woman...and with a slim physique to boot!  One hot mama?  More like one hot grandma!  Woot woot!  Annette Larkins has truly found the proverbial fountain of youth.  Her husband has already gotten used to being referred to as his wife's father, or was that grandfather?  Hahaha! Watch this video so you'll understand what I am yakking about. 

Amazing woman!  I don't know if I could ever be a full-time vegan.  It takes a full turn around with regards to lifestyle and eating habits.  But enjoying slightly cooked vegetables is a good start for me, as well as eating more fruits in season.  I could learn to eat more raw foods that are plant-based.  Raw meats, I could only picture myself eating raw fish like those served in Japanese restaurants, but not anything that walks on two or more legs.  That is still repulsive to me and it would definitely require a huge change in mind set.  That would be a gigantic leap but I like to take my health journey one step at a time. 

Annette Larkins, you simply rock!

Medicines Are Meant To Be Taken, Not Taken for Granted

Last week, after 28 days of taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin) to manage my cholesterol level, I thought, that would be the end of it.  No more forcing big tablets down my throat.  I almost choked twice on it because it was that huge (or my throat opening is so small hehehe).  So  naturally, I am pleased to know that I am down to the last tablet and I eagerly went to the doctor to inform him.  My heart sank when he said to take it for another month, this time at half dosage.  I was thinking, was my cholesterol level that high or was it just to ensure that the levels are quite under control?  I was also concerned that taking medication for cholesterol might have an adverse effect on my liver.  Apparently, the doctor saw no signs that my liver is in danger because of this medication.  Just the same, I was already prepping up for the blood chemistry but I suppose that has to wait for another month. Not that I'm excited to be poked with needles again, but I sure would like to be medicine free, at least this particular one that's giving me a hard time to swallow.  

 

 What do YOU eat for breakfast?, a photo by Lintilla on Flickr.

How I Personally Manage My Salt Intake

Is salt really bad for health?  I've done some browsing on the internet and I have read varying opinions about salt.  Should we really take it out from our daily diet, run away from it like it's some kind of poison?  For the life of me, if I keep reading more, I'll probably go insane. But we need to know. So we keep searching and weeding out the good or credible information and those sites that clearly promote a certain propaganda. 

Until such matters are resolved and those scientists and doctors and medical practitioners come into agreement, we either take this side or that side or stay in the middle perhaps?  I think I'll take the last option instead.  After all, my doctor didn't tell me to have a no-salt diet but merely to limit my salt (sodium) intake.  Even the DASH diet plan only limits the salt.  They have two versions of it, the high salt (2,300 mg/day) and the low salt diet (1,500 mg/day).  Take note that I am only limiting my salt intake because there are studies that implicates the correlation between high sodium consumption with essential hypertension.  Besides that, I believe in the concept of moderation.  Too much of anything, even a good one becomes a poison right?

So how do I manage limiting my salt intake to 1,500 mg?  Here are a few steps I took that are not too drastic for me (but it could be for you, so just do it one at a time if you're not in any health risk).

Happy Weekend...Happy Eating!

It's a long weekend once again as it was declared a holiday on Monday.   It's the Chinese New Year and the list of holidays here in the Philippines keeps getting longer by the year.  I wonder what other special holidays would be added in the future.  Pretty soon we'll be spending half of the year on vacation.  Nah just kidding. Business people would protest, I am most sure.

Anyway, I'm going home to the province for the weekend to visit mom and the nephews. Family time! The kids have no idea what aunt will be bringing home for them. I wonder if they'll enjoy this as much as I did.  I can't wait to see their reactions once I serve this on the table tomorrow at lunch time.  Well at least I hope they take a bite or two.  I don't think the cauliflower would be a problem, but I don't know about the broccoli.  (I didn't bring Baguio beans anymore...that's probably pushing things too far hehehe).

Steamed broccoli, cauliflower and Baguio beans

Not Your Typical Cereal Eater

Remember when I made a DASH to the Grocery?  One of the items I bought was a big box of shredded wheat, slightly frosted.  I chose that for the fiber content and I wanted to try something new for breakfast. 

When I was a kid, we rarely had cereal at home.  I do remember having Fruit Loops, not for breakfast but something to munch on when I watch T.V.   Weird?  I guess so because typically cereals are breakfast items.  And the typical way of eating it is by pouring milk over the cereal and topping that with fruits right?   Well, the day after I bought that box of cereal, I tried to do it the normal way.  It was okay until halfway through my bowl of cereal.  The shredded wheat started getting soggy and I didn't have to chew anymore but just swallow it.  Now that didn't go right with me.  It's already like baby food.  I wonder...do you eat cereals as fast as you can so it stays crunchy?  I couldn't possibly finish a bowlful in one minute.  

The next day, I came up with a solution to the soggy cereal.  See, halfway through and the cereal is still crunchy as if I have just taken them out of the box.

I'm not your typical cereal eater.  I have no need for a spoon to eat this.  I simply munch on the cereals and prunes that I pick up with my fingers (I washed my hands okay?) and I take a sip of the milk.  Where there's a will, there's a way.  And who says cereals are just for breakfast?  I munch on it for dinner sometimes.  I really don't need to eat that much at dinner time because I will be sleeping in a few hours.  So, cereal alone (this time no milk at all) is enough for me before I take my good night's sleep.