MediCard Offers Advanced Food Intolerance Testing

Do you sometimes feel bloated or suffer headaches after eating certain food items? Your body may be “secretly” reacting to the food you have just eaten. It is also possible that some of the recurring health issues you have been experiencing are caused by certain food that your body cannot tolerate.

According to Dr. Nicky Montoya, president of MediCard Philippines, a leading health maintenance organization, “food intolerance, unlike food allergy, manifests symptoms gradually, usually 72 hours to a few days after eating the offending food. It may cause different inflammatory symptoms which may affect different organs of the body and manifests as weight gain, bloating, migraine, body aches and pains including joint pains, PMS, depression etc. These can also become worse over time and may lead to more serious health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and the likes, if ignored.” Due to food intolerance’ delayed onset to manifest in the body, it is difficult to trace the root cause which is often just the food you are intolerant to.

MediCard has recently introduced FoodPrint, the most advanced and comprehensive food intolerance testing, to its members. This food intolerance test from the UK helps identify the food groups that trigger health problems. It involves exposing your body to 220 food items then taking a pin-prick sample of your blood for analysis. The test is a preventive measure and lifestyle modification tool. Knowing what food your body cannot tolerate can help you get rid of the symptoms and prevents the development of other diseases, like cancer and diabetes.

Food intolerance is a detrimental reaction of the body after ingesting certain food and beverages, which usually triggers a mild inflammatory reaction of the gut and digestive problems, like diarrhea and constipation. Its other symptoms include migraines, moodiness, and tiredness at certain times of the day, and difficulty losing weight.

MediCard offers a discounted rate for the Food Intolerance Test—PHP 11,400 for MediCard members and PHP 12,000 for non-members until July 31, 2016 only. After the test, you will be given a personalized food report and dietary guidebook. 

The innovative service is offered at the MediCard Lifestyle Center, a first-of-its-kind wellness center in Makati, and at the MediCard clinics in Centris, EDSA and Alabang. To avail of the service, call the MediCard Lifestyle Center at (02) 894-5720 or 878-5101, MediCard Centris, EDSA at (02) 920-5164 or 775-4629, and MediCard Alabang at (02) 850-3209 or 807-9219.

For more information about food intolerance testing, visit www.medicardphils.com and the MediCard Philippines Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MEDICard.Philippines. 

Highlights of the 2nd National Integrated Waste Management Exhibition - 2016 Environmental Summit

The 2nd National Integrated Waste Management Exhibition - 2016 Environmental Summit was held at the Megatrade Hall 1 & 2, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City last June 21-24, 2016, with the theme, “Fostering Shared Responsibility in Integrated Waste Management.” 

This event was held in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Climate Change Commission (CCC), National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the local government units (LGUs). The four-day summit and exhibition showcased the programs and projects aimed to reduce air, land, and water pollution, and the ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Senator Loren Legard, a notable environmental advocate and author/co-author of several environmental laws in the country, graced the event as the keynote speaker at the 2016 Envonmental Summit :  "We are living in a world with finite resources and yet generations have lived over the centuries like there is no tomorrow.

Our natural environment has been compromised. Our biological diversity has been significantly reduced and the general health of our environment is conceded to the greed of some. Our ecosystems have been altered more rapidly in the name of development; but the poor have remained poor and their numbers are increasing notwithstanding the emergence of megacities and the increasing GDPs of nations. This only underscores the need to establish accountability for environmental issues.

Other distinguished guests and officials from DENR, selected members of traditional media and online media participated in the opening ceremony.

Meanwhile, DENR Secretary Ramon Paje also gave a speech and urged everyone to see the exhibition. He said “I am sure visitors will find this most instructive, fruitful, and truly worthwhile. I commend the organizers, exhibitors, and sponsors of this exhibition. Let us strengthen our shared responsibility in integrated waste management. Only collaboration and greater public awareness and support can effectively address the challenge posed by improper waste management and environmental pollution.” DENR Assistant Secretary, Atty. Juan Miguel Cuna, also encouraged students from different schools and universities to attend the said summit so that they will become environmentally aware about waste management at a young age. He said, “Let’s start them young.”

Environmental advocates and educators discussed during the summit emerging technologies and new inventions to address and manage today’s important environmental concerns, specifically solid waste, water quality, air quality and hazardous waste and toxic substances. To address these concerns, “we need to build and strengthen mechanism of partnership and collaborations among government, LGUs, non-government organizations, business and industry, sectoral organizations and organized local communities and raise public awareness on the need to protect our environment, reduce emissions and manage waste at source, and adopt 3Rs

(Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) towards mitigating global warming and climate change,” said by the EMB-National Capital Region Director Minda Osorio.

Another highlight of this exhibition was the fashion show during the opening ceremony. Models walked in the runway wearing the fabulous indigenous and recycled creations of some of the talented fashion designers from the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP). Ms. Digna Rosales, President of FDAP, was also present during the said event. The 2016 Environmental Summit was managed by Artistespace, which specializes from planning to executing events and digital marketing solutions. 

For more information about 2016 Environmental Summit, visit their official website, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Study shows 60% of patients with heart disease fail to comply with their medication, study shows

For patients with cardiovascular disorders, adherence to medication goes a long way in ensuring that their health is in its tiptop condition. However, 60 percent of these patients are not complying with the medication as prescribed by their doctors, according to a study.

Published in the American Heart Association, the study revealed that non adherence to medication remains to be a major problem for cardiovascular patients, often leading to poor clinical outcomes, frequent hospitalizations, and increased mortality.

To prevent the worst consequences of heart disease, expert says that religious compliance to medication should be a top priority—starting from curbing the risk factors associated with the disorder.

“One of the risk factors for developing heart disease is having high blood cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of formation of plaques and atherosclerosis,” said Dr. Amado Nazal, medical director of Pharex HealthCorp. “If our patients will comply with their medication from the moment their doctors instructed them to lower their cholesterol levels, then we will be able to keep their condition from worsening.”

He added, “We believe that many patients fail to adhere to their medication because of the costs that come with it. However, medication need not be expensive. This is why at Pharex, we provide optimum health assistance to these patients through maintenance medicines that are not only of high quality but also affordable.”

Pharex HealthCorp., the most prescribed brand of medicines, offers quality maintenance medicines that are designed to help curb high cholesterol levels at an affordable price.

With Pharex’s 15-day Compliance Pouch for Cholesterol, patients will be able to comply with their medication to prevent tendencies of having chronic cardiovascular diseases.

“Fat as a result of bad cholesterol can build up on the walls of your heart’s arteries, which suppresses the smooth blood circulation that’s crucial to our body system’s functions,” Nazal said.

When arteries are narrowed down or blocked, the heart will not be able to pump blood to the other parts of the body, Nazal added. “Too much cholesterol weakens our heart, therefore putting to risk our lives.”

“With the new Pharex 15-day Compliance Pouch for Cholesterol, we are assuring patients of three things: first, they can conveniently bring their medicine whenever and wherever they go as it is packed in a resealable foil pouch. Second, it’s affordable and accessible to leading drugstores nationwide.Lastly, healthcare professionals proved and tested the effectiveness of the medicine, making it a top choice for people who have high cholesterol levels,” said Nazal.

Dairy Queen reveals Fan’s Choice Blizzard of the Month: Nutella Blizzard

Ice cream is a celebration of life and through the years you have chosen a favorite ice cream flavor which you choose to celebrate life with.

Do you love the gooey, rich and luscious taste of Nutella? So do 10,000 fans of Dairy Queen! 

In response to the clamor for this favorite chocolate spread to be its next featured ice cream flavor, Dairy Queen, the world’s most favorite ice cream chain, unveils its newest Blizzard of the Month – the Nutella Blizzard.

The exciting flavor is being introduced after Dairy Queen, as part of its 10th year anniversary celebration, asked its fans on Facebook which brand of chocolate they would like to be the next Blizzard of the Month. From a choice of six top choco favorites, over 10,000 fans voted for Nutella!

Dairy Queen’s Fan’s Choice Blizzard of the Month is available in two incredible flavors: Nutella Brownie, a combination of Nutella and chewy baked brownies melded with Dairy Queen’s soft serve; and Nutella Cheesecake, perfect for those who love the sweetness of Nutella and the tanginess of cheesecake. You can enjoy it in a mini size Blizzard cup at P59 and biggest size at P119.

Aside from the introduction of Fan’s Choice Blizzard of the Month, Dairy Queen is celebrating its 10th anniversary in the Philippines with a series of activities that include is doing monthly charity activities with the Binibining Pilipinas winners and its #10on10th campaign, where customers can buy the One Ball Ice Cream Cone for only P10 on every 10th of the month. Dairy Queen has also released special Blizzard cups to celebrate this milestone.

For more information, visit www.dairyqueen.com.ph or like Dairy Queen Philippines Official Facebook page.

ABOUT DAIRY QUEEN
Dairy Queen® is one of the largest ice cream chain in the world.  It offers a lot of variety presentations of delicious soft serve, like classic and dipped cones, shakes, sundaes, Royal Treats, Moolatte, Blizzard®, and DQ® Cakes. The Dairy Queen system has more than 5,700 locations operating throughout 24 countries including the Philippines.

In the Philippines, Dairy Queen is owned and operated by the Philippine Pizza, Inc., the same franchise owners of Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. It currently operates 80 stores that are strategically located all over the country.

Dairy Queen is proud to be different, unique, and fun, because it has an optimistic ambiance that encourage you to live life to the fullest. Whether it be any celebration, a family day, a self-indulgent moment, or a mere break to satisfy one’s dessert craving, the Dairy Queen experience makes you always come back for more.

PANCIT BIHON (Rice Noodles)

Pancit Bihon Guisado (Sauteed Rice Noodles) is a favorite and popular dish here in the Philippines. You can either add chicken or pork into it, or do a combination of both if you want. I like to cook the vegetables separately to avoid it from being overcooked, its nice when the vegetables are still crunchy. I don't soak the bihon noodles in water as it tends to be soggy and wet when cooked. I just add a little bit more of cooking liquid into it.

Ingredients:
2 tbsps. Cooking Oil
1 head Garlic, chopped finely
3 medium size Onion, sliced
½ cup Soy Sauce
¼ tsp Black Pepper
1/4 kilo Pork Liempo, cut up into small cubes
¼ cup water
¼ kilo Pork Liver, cut into small cubes
2 pcs. Langgonisang Macao (Chinese Sausage), cut diagonally
3-4 cups water or broth
½ kilo Cabbage, cut julienne
3 pcs. Medium size Carrots. julienne
1/2 c. Kinstay, chopped coarsely
¼ kilo Squid Balls, cut into half, slightly fried
1 pack Bihon noodles (400 gms.)
Salt and Pepper
Few pieces of calamansi

Procedure:
In a big pan or wok , sauté half of the garlic in 1 tbsp. oil, when slightly brown, put onion, continue sautéing, then put the carrots, let it cook for a few minutes then add the kinstay, then the cabbage. Set aside, in a separate container.

In the same pan, put the pork with about ¼ cup water,cook in medium heat, stirring occasionally. Let it cook until the water is dry and fat starts to come out from the pork, let it cook for another 3-5 minutes, then take out the pork from the pan, then put 1 tbsp cooking oil and start sautéing the garlic till a bit brown, then the onion, stir well, then put back the pork and continue stirring for about 2 minutes, then put ½ c soy sauce, then the pepper. Let it sauté in the soysauce, then put about 4 cups water, let it boil in medium heat for another 10 minutes. When it starts to boil add the bihon noodles, continue cooking, stirring often, until all of the liquid has been absorbed. Test a noodle by pressing it between your fingers. If there is still a lot of resistance, add some more broth and seasoning, and continue cooking until dry. When the noodles are done, add the sauteed vegetables and squid balls to the pan and toss until everything is evenly heated. Serve with kalamansi halves on the side.

Start Your Day with QUAKER Good Start Oat Dairy Drink in a Bottle

Our most recent discovery is Quaker’s Good Start Oat Dairy Drink in a bottle.  Yes, this is an instant favorite of Sam (my daughter), as I have mentioned from my previous article here, she’s not a ‘heavy breakfast’ kind of person. 

We first tasted this Oat Drink in one of the sports activities in our church and almost all the children loved this drink, and we liked it too.

Picture from the Web

This is just a clever idea to put in a PET bottle a morning drink, how awesome is that J.  Actually you can have it anytime of the day, warm or cold, it’s so delicious.  Quaker Good Start comes in two delicious flavors, Vanilla Malt and Banana Crème.  My daughter liked both flavors, but she did mention that the Banana Crème has that special flavor in it and she just loves it.

This is what we have in stock now, Sam just loves the Banana Crème Flavor.  I love the idea that you can just grab the bottle, put it in your bag and have an awesome healthy drink anytime of the day, even when you are on the go anywhere.

PORK BINAGOONGAN

Pork Binagoongan  is Pork cooked in Shrimp Paste,  left to simmer until it becomes saucy and  delicious.  My version of this delicious dish is with lots of onions  and tomatoes, these two will help balance the saltiness of the bagoong (shrimp paste), the sauce becomes a bit sweet, succulent and delicious! 

Ingredients:

1 kilo Pork Belly, cut into 1-1/2 -inch cubed

4 to 5 cloves Garlic, peeled and chopped

2-3 pcs  Onion, peeled and diced

5 to 6 Ripe Tomatoes, diced

2 tbsps Cooking Oil

4 to 5 tbsps Shrimp Paste (bottled,sweet or spicy - whichever you prefer)

2 tbsps Vinegar or 2 tbsps calamansi juice

2-3 tbsps Brown Sugar

Black Pepper

2-3 pcs Eggplants, sliced diagonally, fried lightly browned

½ cup water (if needed)

In a heated pan over medium heat, sauté garlic, onions and tomatoes until they are fragrant and soft.  Add in pork cubes and continue to sauté till a bit browned, then put the shrimp paste, mix very well, if it tends to dry, add a bit of water (1/4 cup or more),  continue cooking  stirring occasionally to avoid burning, then add the vinegar - allow to cook for 2-3 minutes, add brown sugar and black pepper.  Lower heat and  let it simmer until the sauce is thickened and the pork is tender.  Season to taste according to the sweetness and saltiness you prefer.  When almost done, add the fried eggplant and cook for another 2 minutes.  Serve hot with steamed rice.   Enjoy!

Healthy On-the-Go Breakfast

We always hear that “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”, and it’s true, and sometimes it could be a challenge specially if you have a teenager at home who prefers light, easy to drink breakfast cereal like my daughter. She prefers to have something light first thing in the morning, and later on during the day you’ll see her eating her 2nd heavier breakfast.

Whenever there’s a new brand of Instant Oat Drinks, I really get excited and just have to grab, read the labels and buy a few of them, so excited to let my daughter taste them.

There are 5 new flavors available, Vanilla Flavor with Vitamin E - Source of Omega 3&6, Vit-C Strawberry Cream, Milk Calcium and Folate, GOLDEN OATS PLUS Chocolate with Milk Calcium and Folate, Banana Flavor Iron Vitamin A, so happy, we have many flavors to choose from.

Oats are significant source of dietary fiber and has complete vitamins and minerals. Here are 7 Reasons why we should eat Oats Everday:
1. Lowers Your Cholesterol Levels
2. Stabilizes Your Blood Sugar
3. Lowers Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
4. Help you to Lose Weight
5. Bolster Your Immune System
6. Reduces Cancer Risk
7. Can be a Part of Your Gluten-Free Diet

According to my daughter Sam, she loves all the flavors of the Instant Golden Oats, and it has thicker flakes which makes it more filling and satisfying specially for a growing girl like her. 

Picture from the web

Chicken Enchilada Soup (Tex-Mex Recipe)

The moment I saw this recipe on Six Sisters’ Stuff  facebook page, I knew right away that this is a delicious  dish, and  my family will surely love it.  And I was right! 

So I cooked it right way once I got hold of all the ingredients, including the corn tortilla chips.  The whole house  smelled so good while this is simmering.  My daughter asked me 3 times if the soup is ready, she’s so excited to taste my new recipe.

I made some revisions to the recipe according to our preference. Posted here 2 versions of the recipe, my version and the original recipe.

My husband, since he likes spicy food, added the 3 spices (Cumin, Cayenne & Chilli Pepper) before  eating the soup, and he said its tastier and added more flavor to it.

This dish is so delicious and easy to make. We will surely have this again. Definitely a keeper!!

My version, the Ingredients:

3 cups of homemade chicken stock

2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into chuncks

2-3 tbsps Taco Seasoning Mix

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 big  pc  green bellpepper, roughly chopped

2 medium sized, onions, roughly chopped

6 pcs. Cloves of garlic, chopped

1 big can, black beans

2 cups  frozen corn

2-3 tbsps Tomato Paste

½ cup Cheddar Cheese, grated

Cilantro, chopped (optional for topping)

Tortilla Corn Chips

This is the original recipe of Six Sisters’ Stuff , Ingredients:
3 cups chicken stock (or you could use broth)
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cayenne powder (add more if you like it hotter- I had to keep mine kid-friendly!)
2 (14.5 oz) cans of diced tomatoes
1-2 jalapeno peppers, minced (I only used about 1/2 of a pepper- once again, kid-friendly!)
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 large onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups frozen corn
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (you could really use any kind of cheese that you have)
1 cup pepperjack cheese
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (I just used a 2 tablespoons of dried cilantro because I didn't have any fresh and it still tasted delicious!)
Tortilla chips

Directions (about 1 hour total): 

In a large stockpot, add chicken stock and heat over medium heat. Add chicken breasts, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne pepper (in my version, I did’nt use these three spices, instead I used the McCormick Taco Seasoning). Simmer about 20-25 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside. Add tomatoes, jalapenos (I omitted this), bell pepper, onion, and garlic to the pot. Simmer about 30 minutes, covered until tomatoes have begun to break down. Add black beans, corn, and tomato paste and stir to incorporate.   Add cheddar cheese and half of the pepperjack cheese and stir to melt. Return chicken to soup and cook for a couple more minutes until you reach your desired consistency.

If you want thicker soup, add strips of flour tortilla, they will dissolve into the soup to thicken the broth . Add cilantro, reserving some to top individual bowls if desired. Ladle into serving bowls and top with crushed tortilla chips, leftover pepperjack cheese and more cilantro if desired.

Notes for the Spices:

I did not use the 3 spices indicated in the original recipe, I tasted each one and find them too spicy for me and my daughter…

Instead …

I used the McCormick Taco Seasoning Mix (I’ve used it several times before and we love the flavor), tho’ this is a bit spicy too, just add it sparingly…  it’s a good thing, I have this on hand J

Z HOSTEL CAFÉ + BAR

A few days ago, my friends and I  visited Z Hostel,  to see what the hostel can offer, like the type of rooms that they have and their facilities.  Their location is convenient,  centrally located in Makati, a good base to sightsee or explore the city and it’s just a few minutes walk to different food joints and two malls.

This is their nice lobby, btw, there’s free wifi in the whole building

There are two dining areas in the hostel, the smaller one downstairs,

and the bigger room upstairs, it’s a dining area during the day, and turns into a bar at night (sorry for the blurry photo)

We also get to taste their healthy and home-cooked style Filipino food.  For appetizer, they served us the Classic Pork Sisig. 

 It was so tasty and delicious, we can’t resist the urge to eat it 

with plain rice. Yummy!

Crispy Bagnet served with a delicious Salsa

Pork Adobo Flakes served with garlic rice

 and salted egg and tomato salad

Beef Adobo with Coconut Milk, the beef is so tender, it’s so good!

I appreciate that they serve these Salsas with the main dishes, one serving of salsa per dish, and I love them all.  

Though they have sodas in can, they also serve fresh juices, I chose the Fresh Calamansi Juice and it's really fresh calamansi, not the bottled type, super refreshing I must say.

\

The Z Blend Brewed Coffee is perfect for those who love a great tasting coffee but do not like it too strong.  It's perfect with cream and the brown sugar they served it with.

Z Hostel is the first Luxury Hostel for the smart traveller and the biggest in the Philippines with 30 rooms and 128 beds.

The rooms come in 4, 6 to 8 bed configurations and they even have a ladies-only dorm, the rooms are spacious, and reasonably priced.  You can get more details here.

Less than a year old but I must say that they are doing a good job. They will surely attract a diverse mix of travelers, both local and foreign.   But mostly, I like the homey ambiance of the place, not too big, just enough space to move around and mingle.

Facebook: Z Hostel Ph
Instagram: @zhostelph
Website: www.zhostel.com

Take Teaching To The Next Level

By Olive Coursolle, MFA; 51Talk Chief Academic Researcher

Education has long been abuzz over the place of technology in learning. As technology has become ubiquitous, however, the question is no longer whether it should be used in education, but how it can enhance a teacher’s skills.

Educators will definitely have heard about online English teaching by now, but may have never considered it seriously because of our preconceptions of it as not being worthy of our time, or being beyond our abilities. It may seem unworthy of any serious educator because of the informal learning context of an online English lesson. The learning environment online is one where the very technology that facilitates communication can also impede it, as anyone who has had Skype issues can tell you. On top of this, the online lesson is very short and therefore incompatible with lecturing, and demands a great deal of concentration and focus because of the requisite multitasking.

With careful reflection, however, it should become clear that despite the unfamiliar context and all the technical challenges that may come with it, the fundamental teaching skills needed in online English lessons are still the same as those needed in traditional ones: to communicate clearly and effectively in order to help a student. The steps may need to be more direct and concise because of time constraints, but the overall objective is still to get one’s student to successfully use what is learned to communicate effectively with another person.

It makes sense to think of teaching English online as the next level of teaching, then. If the classroom is a teacher’s stage, the online learning environment is but an extension of that stage, one that allows an educator to do so much more to help a student learn. This can initially take some more preparation than usual for a traditional lesson, but what professional teacher doesn’t prepare for a lesson, anyway?

Teaching English online provides an educator with a wide array of user-friendly tools that just need some getting used to. Definitions of words unfamiliar to the student can be searched for in a few seconds and given nearly instantaneously, for example. Once a teacher knows the best Websites to use for definitions, it’s only a matter of having a reliable dictionary Website open to be used during the lesson.

The chatbox or whiteboard replaces our blackboard and comes with display capabilities that are a teacher’s dream. We can easily share pictures or definitions with a couple of keystrokes and clicks. With enough practice, we can even do this while still talking to the student.

Teaching English online is the wave of the future. True educators will recognize and embrace this wholeheartedly because in the end, it’s all about the teaching and learning that happens, and not about the tools that are used. Being lifelong learners ourselves, let’s step up to the challenge of learning how to bring the heart and passion for English to the digital learning stage.

Passionate about education? Visit www.51talk.com/ph to take your teaching to the next level.

51Talk is the largest online English education provider in China. Operating internationally in multiple sites in China and overseas, 51Talk has millions of registered users and over 6,000 online English teachers

#DolceAmore Forever (Collection #1)

I  love the #LizQuen Loveteam so much from their first TeleSerye “ForeverMore” J  so its no surprise that I also love and watch “Dolce Amore “ every weekdays.  Me and my family love these two amazing persons, I still get “kilig” whenever I see them so sweet in pictures, in TV and videos.

I decided to have a collection of their pictures, starting with their “Dolce Amore Destiny World Tour in Europe”, I saw many amazing shots and can’t help myself but save them, so instead of just storing them in my hard drive, I would like to share them with you guys, and anytime we would like to see the pictures, its just here in my blog. 

"Kilig" Moments while the lovebirds are eating gelato

Some photos in their Yorkshire Concert

Enrique trying to get a picture of Liza

Some other photos...

I will add more pictures to this colletion, as I continue to look for more amazing shots of these two loverbirds.  Meanwhile, enjoy!

Note:  All these pictures are not mine, saw them in different IG accounts of people who love them as well.  I would like to thank all of them for sharing these pictures to all of us.  Some of them came from  the IG Accounts of Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano