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!

PROJECT WOMAN: Athena for the Active Woman

First post of the year, so first of all, a happy new year to everyone!  

Right, resolutions....  And what better way to start the year than to set health goals!  I've been out from blogging for quite sometime and during that span of time, my body has gone through a lot of changes.  At some point, I was super active with work that it was hardly an effort to stay slim.  I ate a lot, mind you and yet I was down to my lowest BMI ever and if I had exerted more effort into exercising, I'd probably see well defined abs.  

Well, fast forward to a couple of months ago, and here I am covered in flabs once again.  So much for the abs hahaha!  Time to do some reality check.  Lately, I've been on desk job and so I was sitting around most days.  The inevitable happened of course.  And so as my clothes were observably a bit more snug fitting, it is time to take some action.  

For starters, I've been doing longer walks lately, something I did't do for quite some time.  And in the coming weeks, I'll be back in line duty which involves more walking.  So, I am expecting more mobility these days, which is good!

Fitness and good health as we all know, is a combination of proper exercise and nutrition.  So as I am starting to move around more again, I also need to supplement my body with the proper nutrition.  

I'm basically a coffee fiend, so milk is not in my beverage list.  But at my age, I know I need the nutritional values found in milk, particularly for the bones.  I'm happy Unilab has the right milk that I could start with, without worrying about getting even plumper than I already am.

Introducing Athena, the milk especially formulated to meet a woman's special nutritional needs.

                    

             

   

No other milk understands us better. Women like us, who are always on the go, seek to strike a balance between work and personal time to be able to enjoy life to the fullest. That is why we need to stay fit and attractive, to look good and feel good whenever we can. We have unique needs that only women like us truly understand.

Here are some of the great nutritional benefits of Athena:

• High Calcium essential for optimum bone health. It is also a source of Vitamins D and K, Magnesium and Phosphorus – nutrients to help maintain strong bones 
• Low in Fat so you can enjoy this beverage without the risk of high caloric intake 
• Source of Anti-oxidants such as Vitamins A & E and Zinc to help maintain healthy skin and promote optimum immune function. 

Athena comes in two flavors – Milk (180 grams – Php 130.00; 400 grams – Php 273.00) and Choco (180 grams – Php 130.00). It’s available online at www.athena.com.ph and in-store at Mercury Drugstore, Watsons, and Southstar.

Athena, a delicious beverage made just for us women! I would definitely buy this one on my next trip to the grocery or those drug stores and I'm loving that they have chocolate flavor!

{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: Why Coffee and Tea Are Amazing for You

A few months ago, I've been pondering on whether I should stop drinking coffee.  Truth be told, I have not stopped and I'm still enjoying my morning (and even afternoon) brew.  Some say they could not live without the caffeine fix. I guess if it has turned into an addiction, that could be true.  I would say I can still stop taking coffee if I need to.  But that is something I still have to establish.  Of course, I will not be immune to the withdrawal symptoms also.  I know for a fact that I will have headaches for a couple of days and studies validate that.   

Right now, I only skip drinking coffee in the morning when I have a scheduled early morning run.  It's not because it is a known stimulant.  I think my body could handle that even if I have hypertension.  The thing is, coffee is a diuretic for me.  I don't like interrupting my runs with trips to the restroom.  Twice, I had to endure holding the water in during 5K runs and that is quite a feat considering how each time the foot hits the pavement, my bladder keeps reminding me lol!

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.

Infographic: Workout Nutrition Guide

Fish on Negei Plate and Chilewich Placemat

I've been asked by Sarah of Not My Own Anymore in her comment on Philhealth: Post Run Update if it's alright to have an extra helping of rice after a long run. My answer is of course just based on what I normally do and something that applies to me. But, we could all benefit from reading what the fitness experts have to say. After all, they're the ones who have had studied this aspect of workouts.

I'd be honest. I don't usually eat anything before I run and I just take a sip of water.  That's because I have to get up before 4 am and leave before 5am to go to the running venue.  If I run before 6am, I'd still have something in my stomach and it worries me that I might throw up with the exertion lol!  Barely no liquid also as I tend to pee if I have coffee or water that early. Running could get uncomfortable when you have to hold that water until you finish the run.  I suppose I have to make adjustments so I could have the proper nutrition before my run.  That way, I could probably last longer and not have my energy zapped out during the last kilometer of the run.

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.

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!

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.

Diets That Don’t Work According to Yahoo! Health

It is pretty interesting that there are so many existing diets and there are still a lot being concocted to date. I once thought I could be a vegan. It remained just a thought up to this time. I realized I couldn't remain faithful to that kind of eating lifestyle for long. Besides, humans are omnivorous by nature. I suppose the animal food to plant food ratio depends on every individual. As for me, keeping a healthy balance is the more reasonable way to go.

For me, that is more achievable than these extreme diet fads :

Diets That Don’t Work | Yahoo! Health

There is no one-template-for-all when it comes to the proper diet. Finding the one that gives good results without putting too much stress on one's mind and body is what everyone should strive for.

Know Thyself : Food and Nutrition Self Assessment

english breakfast under water..., a photo by austinevan on Flickr.

When I first learned about my so-called essential hypertension, the first thing that came to my mind was the food I have been eating for the past few years.  Ever since I started living independently, I could not vouch for the nutritional value of what I am ingesting.  There was a time when I became a fast food junkie when I was just in my mid to late twenties. That was the time that I was going out a lot, and eating out seems to be the more convenient choice.  I don't smoke or take alcoholic drinks, but greasy fast foods laced with a lot of artificial seasonings and generously sprinkled with salt and monosodium glutamate has finally taken their toll on my body.  Where I work, the foods served in the canteen were no better, if not worse than fast foods.  Add to that dangerous combination is that when I do get to prepare my own food, it usually comprise of instant food such as noodles.  

In essence, I am literally digging my own grave with this kind of lifestyle.  I am now in my late thirties and should still be in good health.  But having to take Losartan for now says otherwise.  I don't want to be on medication for the rest of my life.  So I know it's more than just lowering my blood pressure with this medicine.  

A few months back when I started on my medications, I have also started to make some changes in my eating habits.  Truth be told, a lot of people say that I have slimmed down considerably.