Easy Indoor Workout Routines: Stay Fit at Home Regardless of Weather Conditions

Easy Indoor Workout Routines: Stay Fit at Home Regardless of Weather Conditions

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Santé lists activities you can do at home when you don’t want to hit the gym

With the changing weather conditions, maintaining good health and fitness has become increasingly important. Unpredictable weather patterns can often hinder individuals from visiting the gym or engaging in outdoor activities, especially now that the rainy season is here.

Recognizing this challenge, Santé, a premier natural health and wellness product and service provider, introduces a range of indoor workout routines, ensuring individuals can stay fit and healthy regardless of the weather. These exercises are easy, convenient, and require minimal equipment since they can be performed in the comfort of your home, allowing individuals to maintain their fitness goals.

Here are five easy indoor exercises recommended by Santé:

Stationary walking. This exercise serves as an excellent alternative to outdoor walks, requiring only a pair of shoes and some uplifting music. It is a perfect starting point for individuals looking to incorporate regular exercise into their routine, even during monsoon season. Stationary walking is also a safe exercise option for pregnant women.

On-spot jogging

This fun activity allows individuals to burn calories like normal jogging, without leaving their homes. All that is needed is a pair of running shoes and comfortable clothing for unrestricted movement. Whether enjoying a favorite sports match or listening to music, on-spot jogging provides a convenient way to engage in cardio exercise.

Planking, squats, pull-ups

Strength training exercises using body weight can be performed at home and offer benefits such as improved bone density, increased muscle mass, and effective weight management. Exercises like planking, squats, chest press, pull-ups, and lunges provide an opportunity to strengthen muscles without the need for special equipment. For those seeking additional resistance, affordable exercise equipment such as exercise balls, resistance bands, or weights can be incorporated.

Mat Pilates

This activity is a holistic exercise form that focuses on concentration, precise movement patterns, and controlled breathing. By engaging abdominal and lower back muscles, Pilates helps strengthen the core, improves flexibility and posture, and promotes relaxation. All that is required is a mat and comfortable clothing to fully enjoy the benefits of this exercise.

Yoga

This is an excellent exercise that enhances flexibility, promotes inner peace, and aids in weight loss. Practicing yoga indoors on a yoga mat, wearing comfortable clothing, allows individuals to experience various poses and breathing exercises that contribute to overall well-being.

Healthy drink

Aside from engaging in indoor exercises, it is important to fuel the body with healthy drinks. Santé emphasizes the significance of consuming nutritious beverages, such as Santé's Fit N' Trim. This 3-in-1 fat burner and energy booster serves as your reliable fitness partner.

Santé's Fit N' Trim contains key ingredients, such as L-Carnitine, which facilitates the transportation of fats into cells for energy, green tea that stimulates calorie burning and reduces body fat, and organic young barley grass that aids in weight loss.

"At Santé, we are dedicated to helping individuals live healthier lives by providing natural health and wellness products. So, if you want to take control of your diet and physical activity, Santé's Fit N' Trim is an excellent choice," says Joey Marcelo, CEO of Santé. "With organic barley grass providing fiber to keep you feeling fuller for longer, and the combined benefits of green tea, L-Carnitine, and lemon, Fit N' Trim supports weight loss and enhances physical performance."

Headquartered in the Philippines and with a presence in New Zealand and seven other countries, Santé has been a prime mover in the health and wellness industry for 15 years. The company is engaged in the direct selling and retailing of premier natural health and wellness products and services. Santé also offers additional facilities, including a fitness and rehabilitation center and leisure and recreational facilities, staying true to its thrust of promoting a healthy lifestyle.

To experience the benefits of Santé's Fit N' Trim and explore the wide range of Santé health and wellness offerings, visit mySanté.com.

Read More

James Arthur showcases grit, emotion and raw edge in new single “Blindside”

James Arthur showcases grit, emotion and raw edge in new single “Blindside”

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Following his recent return with new music, singer-songwriter James Arthur today serves up a superb offering in new song ‘Blindside’. Watch the Tim Mattia-directed video HERE.

‘Blindside’ is James at his very best, featuring a killer, top-down driving chorus and another belter of a vocal. Of the track, James comments, “Blindside is a song I’ve wanted to write for years, about falling in love with the right person at the wrong time. It’s an energetic song with a sad lyric and it really suited this new rawer style I was after.”

The anthemic single also comes with a visual helmed by Tim Mattia. The MV director shares, “Blindside is such a raw and emotional track, and when James and I spoke about how it came to be written, and the meaning behind the lyrics, I immediately knew we had to capture some epic performances from him, carrying on with the Americana feel of our previous video for ‘A Year Ago.’ We tied in a series of dramatic and emotional narrative scenes, showing the sudden loss of love in relationships, and a scene in which James gets literally more and more bloodied and bruised as the song progresses - the physical embodiment of his emotional pain.”

James recently received the BRIT Billion award which celebrates surpassing one billion career UK streams. Presented to him live on BBC’s The One Show, the award puts him in elite company, alongside recipients including ABBA, Anne-Marie, Coldplay, Ellie Goulding, George Ezra, Lewis Capaldi, Mariah Carey, Rita Ora, Sam Smith & Whitney Houston.

The Middlesbrough-born, recent Brit Billion-certified artist has scored 4 top 10 albums, with 2016’s Back From The Edge hitting the Number 1 spot and over his career has collaborated with the likes of Anne-Marie, Sigala, Rudimental, Marshmello and many more.

James is one of the world’s biggest streaming artists, with over 37 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. ‘Say You Won't Let Go’ became his breakthrough hit in the US. It was officially the UK's most streamed song in 2016 and has gone on to be enjoyed via 4 billion streams while the song's official video has achieved 1.5 billion views on YouTube. Earlier this year, the track became his first RIAA Diamond Single with 10 million certified units – making James one of just 100 recipients of an RIAA Diamond Single certification in the programme's history.

Other huge hit singles include: ‘Impossible’, ‘Can I Be Him’, ‘Sun Comes Up’, ‘Naked’, ‘Empty Space’, ‘Rewrite The Stars’, ‘Falling Like the Stars’, ‘Train Wreck’ and ‘Lasting Lover’, which are all certified platinum records. The song Cars Outside is currently becoming another global hit for James. 

Back from the Edge was released on October 28, 2016 and entered the UK Albums Chart at #1. James’ last album, 2021’s It’ll All Make Sense In The End, was a lockdown project recorded at home that leant heavily on programmed beats. Playing it live he found himself tweaking the songs to give them an organic band feel.

James Arthur is currently in the studio working on a new record.

James Arthur’s “Blindside” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Read More

Smile Train Launches First Cleft Leadership Center in the Philippines

Smile Train Launches First Cleft Leadership Center in the Philippines

Bound by a shared commitment to increasing access to cleft care, Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, and Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation Philippines, Inc. (NCFPI) launches the country’s first Cleft Leadership Center (CLC). As Smile Train celebrates a milestone of supporting more than 75,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines, the launch of this premier cleft center reinforces the organization’s continued dedication to providing enhanced progressive treatment, especially for cleft-affected Filipinos in need. 

“Smile Train celebrates its 75,000 cleft surgery milestone this year and, as we recognize this significant accomplishment, we know there is still more work ahead of us. The launch of the CLC represents our commitment to continuously providing safe, high-quality, and timely care for the Philippine cleft community by building a stronger, comprehensive cleft care system,” shared Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train’s Vice President for Southeast Asia.

The CLC also serves as a regional hub for cleft care and training, anchored on Smile Train’s comprehensive approach and sustainable model for cleft treatment. The presence of the CLC in the country bridges the gap between the Philippine cleft community and their access to quality cleft care.

High-Quality Cleft Care 

The CLC is a multidisciplinary center that provides 100% free comprehensive cleft care from birth to adulthood, powered by a capable local network of medical professionals. 

Dental Room at the Cleft Leadership Center in Joshua Center, Taft, Manila

To reach more cleft-affected Filipinos in need, Smile Train strengthened its existing partnership with NCFPI, an organization that leads the standard of multidisciplinary cleft care in the Philippines. Both organizations work together to provide free, quality cleft care to Filipinos who would otherwise not be able to afford the treatment they need. 

“NCFPI is a long-time partner of Smile Train in bringing holistic cleft care to cleft-affected individuals in the Philippines. The CLC ensures that an individual’s treatment journey does not stop with cleft surgery but also requires other services necessary for them to live a full and healthier life,” said Dr. Bernard Tansipek, President of NCFPI. 

The CLC brings comprehensive cleft care closer to Filipinos as it houses different services necessary for holistic treatment and rehabilitation. All these can be found in NCFPI’s two sites: the Smile Train Craniofacial Center in Joshua Center, which has orthodontic and speech therapy services, and at the Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Parañaque where surgeries, orthodontics and dental treatment, nutrition services, and counseling are held.

The CLC also serves as a training and educational hub for local medical practitioners. The skills and experience of the cleft teams and state-of-the-art technology in these centers help build local medical capacity in treating different types of clefts, ensuring that Filipinos do not have to travel far to get access to high-quality cleft care. Smile Train supports NCFPI with the needed resources and enables them to help those in need. 

Going Beyond the 75k Smiles

The launch of the Philippines’ first CLC paves the way for more Filipinos to get the high-quality, safe, and free treatment they need. More than this, it also signals a more optimal outcome for every surgery through continuous innovation and development of care. 

For more information about Smile Train’s global efforts, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s local programs in the Philippines, please visit smiletrain.ph, follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

Read More

UnionBank drives growth for Filipino entrepreneurs at BSL Business Week 2023

UnionBank drives growth for Filipino entrepreneurs at BSL Business Week 2023

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) continues its unwavering commitment to supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines through its digital platform, UnionBank GlobalLinker. Recently, the bank demonstrated its dedication by sponsoring this year's Barangay San Lorenzo (BSL) Business Week, held from June 21 to 23, 2023, at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

Spearheaded by the City Of Makati, BSL Business Week is an annual gathering of stakeholders in the country's MSME sector that aims to provide support and opportunities to enterprising Filipinos and help drive growth for their businesses. The annual event brings together business experts from the private and public sectors to enable and empower the attending entrepreneurs.

This year’s BSL activities included: a three-day bazaar showcasing products from long-time and starting MSMEs, one-on-one coaching and mentorship sessions conducted by entrepreneurship experts, and entrepreneurial learning sessions. UnionBank and UnionBank GlobalLinker subject matter experts were featured prominently in some of the sessions. UnionBank SME Market Insights Head Jennifer Rayala and UnionBank Senior Product Manager and Squad Lead for Digital Supply Chain Finance Ron Arceo led finance supply chain discussions. While another session focused on MMSE business digitization that led to business network expansion courtesy of UnionBank’s Global linker platform as guided by UnionBank GlobalLinker Community Lead Gerome Melo.

Featured at the UnionBank booth were its different products and services meant to assist entrepreneurs in managing and growing their businesses. UnionBank’s support of the BSL Business Week was aligned with its TECH UP Pilipinas nation-building advocacy aimed at accelerating financial inclusion by future-proofing society though digital innovations. 

To learn more about UnionBank's solutions for MSMEs, visit www.unionbankph.com/msme/products.

Read More

Oh, Flamingo!, Ena Mori, The Itchyworms, and more to represent the Philippines in AXEAN Festival 2023

Oh, Flamingo!, Ena Mori, The Itchyworms, and more to represent the Philippines in AXEAN Festival 2023

Now rebranded as AXEAN Festival, Southeast Asia’s leading music showcase platform will take place in Singapore from October 28 to 29, 2023

Six (6) Filipino music acts will be performing at this year’s AXEAN Festival, Southeast Asia’s premier collaborative showcase festival happening in Singapore on October 28 to 29 at Goodman Arts Centre in Singapore!

Filipino alt-rock icons The Itchyworms and critically acclaimed band Oh, Flamingo! will be joining Ena Mori, Alisson Shore, obese.dogma777 and LONER as the country’s representative to the second edition of the music festival. 

Formerly known as ASEAN Music Showcase Festival, the newly rebranded AXEAN Festival will feature and attract networking opportunities with notable international talent buyers from Asia and the rest of the world.

Birthed in 2020 as a virtual music showcase festival, AXEAN Festival launched into the “real world” in 2022 and became an internationally recognized platform, bringing regional artists to the global music stage. With the announcement of the 2023 iteration of the festival, the organisers are taking the opportunity to re-introduce the festival with its new name – AXEAN Festival.

Festival co-founder Piyapong ‘Py’ Muenprasertdee explains, "Despite our different languages and customs, Southeast Asia is a region rich with historical heritage and shared cultures and identities. Colloquially, the term '"ASEAN" (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is often used interchangeably with "Southeast Asia" due to reasons including the spoken language of its people, signifying the sense of unity we have as a region. After 3 successful editions, we want to make a statement of our commitment to elevate Southeast Asian music onto the world stage by renaming our event 'AXEAN Festival', with an 'X' symbolising our core values of collaboration and crossing borders, whether physical, lingual or cultural, while also inviting artists and fans from all corners of the world to celebrate and share their music with us!"

This first wave of artists performing this year is headlined by Shye, Reality Club, The Itchyworms, KIKI, and Oh Flamingo!. The event will also host performances from Singaporean pop artist Jean Seizure, Thai R&B artist Flower.far, Indonesian singer-songwriter TANAYU, and many more exciting artists.

AXEAN Festival is Southeast Asia’s first intraregional music showcase festival, an annual event that springboards Southeast Asian music onto the world stage held physically in Singapore with 2 main elements: a music showcase festival and business networking events.

Its inaugural edition was organized by 5 participating countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. It was held virtually via live video streaming of pre-recorded performances in September 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as an initiative to help regional artists stay connected with their fanbase and gain international fans. The goal was to encourage artists and their teams to look beyond the pandemic and prepare for future export and international touring opportunities by being performance-ready and meeting with music business professionals from all over the world.

The second edition was again organized online in 2021, but joined by 2 additional countries: Cambodia and Vietnam. In 2022, the third edition was its first live edition, held in Singapore and jointly organized by the 7 countries with Laos added to its upcoming 2023 edition.

The Wave 1 lineup of artists performing at AXEAN Festival 2023 in alphabetical order is as follows:

ABANGSAPAU - Singapore

Alisson Shore - Philippines

DVY - Indonesia

Ena Mori - Philippines

Flower.far - Thailand

H 3 F - Thailand

inch - Singapore

Jean Seizure - Singapore

Jessla - Indonesia

KIKI - Thailand

KWAN - Cambodia

Limebócx - Vietnam

LONER - Philippines

Mantra Vutura - Indonesia

Minh - Vietnam

motifs - Singapore

Nick. - Cambodia

obese.dogma777 - Philippines

Oh, Flamingo! - Philippines

Polarix - Cambodia

Rangkai - Indonesia

Reality Club - Indonesia

San - Cambodia

Shye - Singapore

TANAYU - Indonesia

The Itchyworms - Philippines

THINH SUY - Vietnam

Vũ Thanh Vân - Vietnam

Zweed n' Roll - Thailand

Get your tickets here: axeanfestival2023.peatix.com

Read More

Australian recording star BIRDEE 王煒 announces Southeast Asian tour

Australian recording star BIRDEE 王煒 announces Southeast Asian tour

Monday, July 31, 2023

The eclectic pop singer-songwriter will be performing in Manila, Jakarta, and Singapore ahead of her “Best Mistake I Never Made” release

Sydney-based alt-pop artist BIRDEE 王煒 will be touring Southeast Asia next month!

The eclectic singer-songwriter will be performing in Manila, Jakarta, and Singapore to promote “Best Mistake I Never Made,” her upcoming new single, which draws earnest comparisons to forward-thinking pop auteurs Lorde, Tove Lo, and Charli XCX.

“Growing up, I have always felt connected to Asian culture,” the Australian pop act explains in a press statement. “My mother’s side of our family is from Kuala Lumpur, so I have always embraced my mixed heritage with honor and pride.”

The breakthrough recording songstress, whose own lineage of Asian, Greek, and Russian ancestry defines her sound and storytelling, is also looking forward to meeting her fans, who have shown love and support for her work as an artist. “My music is really high energy, and I love to move on stage. I'm so excited to meet people there, to sing, dance and have a good time with those who come to a show.”

According to James Lewis, CEO of DISRUPTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, BIRDEE 王煒’s music has seen a massive surge on streaming services and playlists in the region, particularly in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.”

“Given BIRDEE 王煒 ‘s heritage, she has always wanted to tour Asia,” Lewis adds. “With the support she has received now, it feels like the right time.”

BIRDEE 王煒: Live In Southeast Asia dates:

AUGUST 8 - Manila - 225

AUGUST 9 - Manila - Noor

AUGUST 10 - Manila - Wish Bus

AUGUST 11 - Manila - Eastwood Mall

AUGUST 12 - Manila - McKinley Mall 

AUGUST 15 - Jakarta - Resso office

AUGUST 16 - Jakarta - performance venue tbc

AUGUST 17 - Jakarta - performance venue tbc

SEPTEMBER 8 to 14 - Singapore - All That Matters Festival (3 performances)

FOLLOW BIRDEE 王煒 on social media:

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK

Read More

Meet Bard, the Google AI and your new assistant in the kitchen

Meet Bard, the Google AI and your new assistant in the kitchen

When it’s raining and gloomy outside, you just want to cuddle in bed and remain in your pajamas. It’s also the perfect weather to indulge in comfort food to warm us.

But what to cook? Well, just as AI can boost your productivity at work, it can also bring new ideas to your home life — particularly the kitchen. Meet Bard, Google’s AI. Available in over 40 languages, Bard can supercharge your imagination, boost your productivity, and help you bring new ideas into your daily life—whether you want help planning a party and drafting the invitation, or understanding really complex topics.

As for the kitchen, Bard can make recommendations and actual recipes because it has the ability to digest vast amounts of data, including food trends and ingredient combinations. Then the algorithms analyze this information to develop an understanding of flavor profiles and popular dishes.

AI does not replace humans in creating recipes, of course. But haven’t you ever been undecided on what to cook? Especially for parents or guardians cooking for their families, trying to come up with a menu can be time-consuming and a challenge, especially with picky kids. Well, Bard is here to complement your kitchen adventures and spark inspiration.

So we tested Bard — and you can too! — and asked Bard what to come up with 30-minute recipes for rainy days. We’re impressed with the diverse dishes it returned, more so that these can be whipped up in half an hour. All you have to do on your end is simply ask it; prompts like “What healthy recipes can I cook on a rainy day?” will be enough.

Will Bard get it right? Well, the proof is in the pudding — or in this case, in four dishes. To give you an idea of what it can come up with, here are some of Bard’s rainy-day suggestions:

● Chicken Noodle Soup: This classic comfort food is perfect and unbeatable for a rainy day. It's easy to make and can be customized to your liking.

● Beef Stroganoff: While not on everyone’s common rainy-day comfort food checklist, this hearty beef dish is sure to warm you up on a rainy day. It’s also easy to make and can be served over rice or noodles.

● Pasta with Pesto Sauce: Got some leftover pesto sauce, as well as some pasta lying around? This quick and easy dish is also a great way to use up leftover pesto in a pinch, as all you have to do is boil the noodles and top it with the delicious sauce.

● Veggie Omelette: Or maybe you’re feeling like eggs. You can go healthy with this particular recipe that uses veggies as a filler in a hot and fluffy omelette, which is ideal for colder days.

● Grilled Salmon with Roasted Vegetables: There’s nothing like fish, too. If you’ve got some salmon in your freezer, thaw it out and throw it in the pan with some vegetables for a scrumptious and fishy rainy-day treat.

There are so many more recipes waiting for you when you ask Bard—you just have to know what to ask. It doesn’t even have to be for rainy days; you can ask for recipes and suggestions for all occasions.

Want to see what Bard has to show you? Try it yourself by clicking here.

Read More

Create Your Own Happiness for Better Mental and Physical Health

Create Your Own Happiness for Better Mental and Physical Health

A growing number of Filipino adults are increasingly recognizing the importance of mental health in our country today. Recognizing the profound influence of happiness on mental health and overall well-being, it becomes clear that each individual has the power to cultivate their own happiness. In fact, this relationship works both ways - a healthier person tends to be happier, and a happier person tends to be healthier! By understanding this connection, we can take significant strides towards achieving better mental health and experiencing a more fulfilling life.

In a byline written by Dr. David Heber, MD, Author, Chairman of the Herbalife Institute, and Herbalife Advisory Board Member, happiness is the physical, mental, and emotional state of well-being. It can be achieved by boosting your physical health as well as optimizing your emotional and mental health. Following a healthy lifestyle of balanced nutrition and physical activity can result in a lower heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety, all of which can be linked to happiness. Additionally, happiness is associated with the release of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters associated with brain health.

August is Wellness month and the perfect opportunity to assess our own mental health, evaluate what makes us happy, share what happiness means to each of us with those we surround ourselves with, and how we can find it. In openly discussing your perception of happiness with others, you may discover that much of what can make you happy is not only linked to greater health and wellness but completely within your control.

What Makes People Happy?

According to an Ipsos survey, people most look to their health and well-being (both physical and mental), their family (partner/spouse and children), and having a sense of purpose as what gives them “the greatest happiness.” Next comes their living conditions, feeling safe and in control, being in nature, having a meaningful job, and having more financial security.

While the path towards better health and its connection to happiness may be relatively straightforward, finding your purpose is also a personal journey requiring you to dig deep and get to know your true self. Positive psychology, the field which studies the optimization of emotional and mental health as well as happiness, has found that people who have a purpose are more likely to be happy.

Here are several proactive tips that can help guide you in your journey to creating your own happiness and achieving better overall health long term.

Fuel Yourself

Science shows that healthy eating also contributes to happiness. The physical state of well-being is largely determined by how you fuel your body. Your body is a vessel that can only run optimally the better you take care of it. We do this by adopting daily habits of practicing balanced nutrition and a healthy, active lifestyle.

Exercise Regularly

Exercising regularly and maintaining an active lifestyle can benefit both our bodies and our minds. When we exercise, our muscles and brain benefit from an increase in blood flow, bringing oxygen and nutrients to our brain cells. Our dopamine pathways in the brain are also stimulated, which activates our pleasure center. For this reason, exercise is used for treating mood disorders, depression, and addictive behaviors, including overeating.

Make Time to Relax

There’s a reason why the worldwide interest in self-care is growing— making the time to relax and recharge is one of the best ways to find true happiness. The most effective way to do this is by igniting the relaxation response. This theory shows that relaxing has many effects on the body, including lowering blood pressure, and pulse and calming the mind. The step-by-step process to triggering the relaxation response includes 1) Sitting quietly in a private spot 2) Relaxing your muscles from head to toe by contracting and relaxing each muscle 3) Focusing on your breathing 4) Breathing deeply; and 5) Thinking of a relaxing image like ocean waves. Practicing this for just 20 minutes a day can recharge your mind and help you get to sleep at night.

Finding Your purpose

A key principle of Positive Psychology is finding your “why,” or your purpose. True happiness comes from living a life that you choose because it fulfills your personal purpose. To find your purpose, elaborate on these four steps: 1) Find your passion or what you love 2) Establish your mission or what you feel the world needs more of 3) Work for which you can be paid 4) Have confidence in what you’re good at doing.

Once you have worked through these four steps, your purpose will be revealed. For myself and my colleagues at the Herbalife Nutrition Institute, that purpose is to foster the world’s premier health and wellness company and community, giving people the tools to live their best lives.

Remain Grateful

Reframing your mindset can go a long way—rather than complaining about things that are wrong in your life, focus on the good things, large or small. While this may be easier said than done, psychological research shows that concentrating on what is good in your life and expressing gratitude will make you happier. Keeping a gratitude journal or making a brief gratitude list every day giving thanks for all you have, can help you improve your mood.

Focus on Things You Can Control

All of us have a circle of influence and a circle of concern. The circle of concern is made up of all the external factors that are out of your control, while the circle of influence includes things you can control—like your personal habits. Choose a proactive approach, and work on the things you can change rather than worrying about the things you cannot change. Taking responsibility for your personal habits and accomplishments will increase your confidence and your sense of happiness. Having a proactive mindset allows you to focus on change, rather than being inactive, which paralyzes your growth through worry and anxiety. One of the best ways to improve your happiness is to develop healthy habits in all aspects of your life—including eating a balanced diet and implementing a healthy, active lifestyle.

Happiness is not an accident, or something that just happens, but something that you make happen. Happiness is a physical, emotional, and spiritual sense of well-being, that, when found, should give you a lasting feeling of contentment. Use this month to consciously create your own happiness by implementing habits that will positively impact your physical and mental health, enabling you to maintain a sense of inner peace.

For more information about Herbalife, please visit herbalife.com.ph.

Read More

3 common breastfeeding challenges solved

3 common breastfeeding challenges solved

From your mother to her mother and her mother’s mother too, generations of women have been told that breastmilk is the best food to give to a baby. “Safe, clean, natural, and free, breastmilk contains the right amount of carbohydrates, protein, and fats, plus essential vitamins, minerals, and antibodies needed for your baby’s development and protection against diseases,” says Patricia Florestine Kho, MD, from the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of the top hospital in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed).

Breastfeeding’s benefits also go a long, long way—for infants and their mothers. Kids who were breastfed are less likely to be obese, diabetic, and asthmatic, or experience ailments like ear infections, respiratory tract infections, and upset tummy. They also grow up smarter, as evidenced by their high scores on intelligence tests. As for moms, breastfeeding lowers their risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, and breast and ovarian cancers. And because it burns calories, breastfeeding contributes to post-pregnancy weight loss.

Yet for all its advantages and the numerous laws in place to encourage breastfeeding, the exclusive breastfeeding rate in the Philippines is a mere 34%, according to a report by the University of the Philippines.

“Mothers will tell you that breastfeeding hurts or that they can’t produce milk,” says Dr. Kho. “Others say they are too exhausted to breastfeed after a long day at work.”

Still, breastfeeding advocates are not giving up, and with government support through the promotion of breastfeeding programs and maternity protection in the workplace, plus the expertise of breastfeeding counselors within reach, they hope to bring the number up to at least 50% by 2025. That is the goal set by the World Health Assembly.

For its part, MakatiMed encourages the practice of this most natural, nutritious, and beneficial means to nourish your infant by offering solutions to mothers’ most common breastfeeding challenges.

“I don’t produce enough breastmilk.” 

Polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid or hormonal problems have been known to interfere with the production of breastmilk, as do stress, dehydration, weight loss, obesity, and certain medications (contraceptives, cold medicine).

Otherwise, health experts describe the production of breastmilk as a matter of supply and demand. “The more you breastfeed or pump, the more milk you produce,” Dr. Kho explains. “Try breastfeeding every 2-3 hours, or at least eight (8) times a day. This way you empty your breasts to encourage milk production and sustain lactation. Nurse baby from one breast to the other and compress your breast as baby suckles to facilitate milk flow.”

“Breastfeeding hurts.” 

Nursing a baby may be a unique bonding experience between mother and child, but when your nipples end up painful, sore, and cracked, the last thing you want is to spend time with your little one. “Consult your doctor or a lactation specialist on the proper way for your baby to latch,” Dr. Kho advises. “Inverted or flat nipples may pose challenges in breastfeeding and can lead to breast pain, and these health experts can advise you on how to ease the pain.”

To relieve sore nipples, gently massage the sensitive area and place a warm heating pad or washcloth on your breast before feeding. Put a cool compress over it after feeding. “Also, find a place and position where breastfeeding is comfortable for you and baby,” adds Dr. Kho. Use pillows and footstools for extra support.”

“I’m tired.” 

After a long day at work or managing your household, you deserve some “me” time. “It’s perfectly normal for moms to want to check out temporarily from parenting duties to rest and recharge,” says Dr. Kho. “But they can still feed the baby on time by pumping or hand expressing their breastmilk then storing what they collected until it’s time to feed.”

According to the MakatiMed health expert, breastmilk lasts up to eight hours at room temperature, from 1-8 days at 2°C-4°C in the fridge, and for three months inside a 2-door freezer.

“While you are producing breastmilk, take advantage of its many health benefits for your baby,” is Dr. Kho’s message to moms. “We only want what’s best for our children, and they have everything to gain from nature’s ‘perfect food.’”

For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. Follow @IamMakatiMed on Facebook and Twitter.

Read More

Don’t Let the Flu Stop You from Life’s Adventures

Don’t Let the Flu Stop You from Life’s Adventures

Whether it’s catching up with loved ones, going on new adventures, or witnessing important milestones – don’t let the flu stop you from being present for the things that matter most. Enjoy an #Unstoppable2023 by safeguarding your health from the flu and other infectious diseases.

 

What is the flu? How can it stop me from life's adventures?

 

●     Influenza can be a critical illness that can lead to complications, hospitalizations, and even death in high-risk people.^1,2

●Seasonal influenza occurs globally and is estimated to infect (symptomatically or asymptomatically) 1 in 5 unvaccinated children and 1 in 10 unvaccinated adults.² In addition, up to 5 million people fall severely ill because of the flu, and every year, up to 650,000 people are at risk of dying globally because of influenza-associated respiratory diseases.²

 

Why should I get an annual flu shot? 

 

●     A flu vaccine helps your immune system provide optimal protection against the flu, enabling you to live your life to the fullest. For vaccinated children as young as six months and older adults, a flu shot can be lifesaving.^3,4

●   Flu vaccine protection declines over time due to the constant changing of the flu virus strain. Due to this, vaccines are annually reviewed and produced to ensure optimal protection against the current flu virus.³

 

When is the best time to get vaccinated against the flu?

·  In the Philippines, influenza viruses circulate year-round with multiple annual peaks. Increased activity is seen from June to November.⁷ The best time to get your flu shot is before the flu season starts.⁶ However, it’s better if you get vaccinated as soon as the new flu vaccines come out.

 

Make this your year and be #Unstoppable!

To know more about the benefits of the flu vaccine and to get your flu shot, talk to your healthcare provider today.

 

1.       WHO Fact Sheet – influenza (seasonal). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal). Last accessed December 2022.

2.       Vaccines against influenza – WHO position paper-May 2022. WHO Weekly

Epidemiological Report, No 19, 2022, 97, 185-208. Available at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-wer9719

3.       Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm. Last accessed December 2022

4.       Arriola, C.; Clinicial Infectious Diseases; 2017;65; 1-26. Available at https://academic.oup.com/cid/issue/65/1

5.       Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About flu. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/index.html. Last accessed December 2022.

6.       World Health Organization. WHO SAGE Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Recommendations during the COVID-19 Pandemic Interim guidance – 20 September 2020. Available at https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-sage-seasonal-influenza-vaccination-recommendations-during-the-covid-19-pandemic.

7.       Lucero, M.G., Inobaya, M.T., Nillos, L.T. et al. National Influenza Surveillance in the Philippines from 2006 to 2012: seasonality and circulating strains. BMC Infect Dis 16, 762 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-016-2087-9

Read More