Interview with Niccolo Cosme

I have known Niccolo as a great photographer... of the stars.

I became a fan of his Project Headshot Clinic wherein a lot of personalities gather to promote different cause.

As I keep on meeting him in so many events I discovered that he was also a vegetarian.

I know from the start that he really has this great vision...

Here's a little chitchat with him, just very basic.

What made you vegetarian? 

I have only been a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) for a year, I started in August of 2014 while I was in the US. I really wanted to become a vegetarian for a long time for various reasons; Animal rights, environmental sustainability, overall health and spirituality. 

How long have you been vegetarian/vegan?

Before turning full lacto-ovo vegetarian I was a Pescatarian for about 6 years. I did that as my stepping stone towards being vegetarian but took some time for me to fully shift for a lot of personal reasons. 

What changes did you notice in you when you became veg?

I definitely felt lighter in so many levels! I lost the guilt that I've been feeling for so long eating dead animals too. I noticed that I am more mindful about what I buy, what i cook, what I eat... I think being mindful is a very important thing.

Is it difficult to be veg? what makes it difficult?

I'd say it's not that difficult because I cook my own food most of the time, but does get a little rough when I travel, most especially in the provinces or out of town.

What is the usual reaction of people who just knew you’re veg?

The usual reaction I get from people is "why? how long? I think that's sad, I think that's really difficult"

Where do you get your food? 

I go to regular groceries and sometimes at farmers market when I can. We also have our own produce in our rest house in Tagaytay, I love going up there during weekends to "harvest" and I really like it when I say that word!

There are also several places in Manila where I get mock meat, one place that I really love going to is Quan Yin Chai in Binondo.

Get to know more about Niccolo Cosme via his website http://www.niccolo-cosme.com/
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Interview with Bianca Valerio

How long have you been vegetarian/vegan? why did you become vegetarian?

I’ve been pesco since March 13,2007. It all started when my boyfriend, Mikee Carrion decided he’d give up meat for Lent. Now since eating was and still is, our thing, I was pissed! After a few days, I decided, fine, I’ll try it out too. Ironically, I’ve never turned back since then while he eventually returned to being a meat-eater.

Is it difficult to be veg? what makes it difficult?
Not at all! It’s like quitting smoking, it’s all in the mind. It’s all or nothing. You just have to want it for yourself. I think the only thing that makes it difficult is that it’s not readily available (veg meat and products) in the market. Then if it is, it’s really expensive. Being VEG in our country is actually a luxury-lifestyle. Strange since veggies are actually way cheaper than meat. That’s why I loved it when I was living in LA last year, studying at Make-Up Designory. Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and pretty much all groceries have a big veggie meat section of everything under the sun! Although more expensive, it was worth every cent!

What changes did you notice in you when you became veg?
Well, more people find me boring, haha! The thing is, being Pesco, is not really the issue. It’s not about eating meat for most people as they’ve gotten used to me being that way, especially since they know I’m a model. The thing is, I am OBSSESSED with healthy food and healthy living!

I was a chain smoker, junk-eating, bad habit type of person years ago. I gave up vices before I became veg but ultimately became engrossed in healthy living when I turned pesco. I never go to work without making baon my own food. They’re all either steamed, grilled, organic and so on. I portion everything strictly and really watch everything I eat. It’s not a punishment: I honestly enjoy it tremendously! Every healthy meal and snack to me is an ecstatic experience!

I never thought I’d become such a person. But ultimately, I love who I am now and the healthy lifestyle I’m living. I really do feel amazing inside and out because I know I’m really taking care of myself as a whole.

Since then, my skin has never been so healthy-looking. People think that going veg is a way to a sexier body. Hell no! If you’re constatantly eating sugars, bad carbs and fried at that, then you’re not a healthy veg. You’re just veg, in my opinion. There’s a thin line.

I’ve also been more energetic and I just feel lighter in general, physically and mentally.

What is the usual reaction of people who just knew you’re veg?
- Like I said, people always question why but they understand because of my profession. By my profession is just one tiny reason why I love eating healthy. I just love life and intend to live a long, prosperous one in health, love and laughter. So healthy eating by going pesco is a commitment I have to myself 
My best friends in the industry, Isabel Roces (lacto-ovo), Raya Mananquil (vegan) and Val de los Santos (pesco) are so happy for me because now we never have problems of deciding where to eat just to be considerate to the so-called meat-eater. Hunting for great veg foods is such a babaw joy!

Where do you get your food?

Healthy Options, Salcedo Market, Bodhi and Shopwise

Women over 65 more prone to hypertension than men

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), men and women both have the tendency to develop hypertension—the medical term for high blood pressure—during their lifetimes. However, women over 65 years old are more prone to acquiring it, particularly those who passed through their menopausal stage.

In the United States, one in every three adults has high blood pressure. While women are as likely to have this condition as men, they are more prone to acquiring it during their twilight years.

High blood pressure or hypertension is a common condition which triggers the heart to pump blood excessively. Having the heart pump more blood and narrower arteries, it is likely to result tohigherchances of having high blood pressure.

Today, hypertension has become one of the major contributors to the global disease burden, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, since it causes health problems such as cardiovascular disease.

Amado Nazal, medical director of PharexHealthCorp., said that women who passed through their menopausal stage are at an increased risk of having hypertension because of hormonal changes and increase in body mass index that comes with age.

“As a woman ages, her chances of acquiring hypertension becomes greater than a man’s,” Nazal said. “Hormonal changes relative to menopause can lead to weight gain, making blood pressure more reactive to salt. Eventually, this leads to hypertension.”

Effective control of hypertension should be a priority among healthcare providers. This is why PharexHealthCorp, the most prescribed generic brand of medicines, emphasizes the importance of prioritizing optimum health among women who belong to this age bracket to keep hypertension at bay before it leads to heart failure.

“The most important consideration every woman ages 65 and older needs to make is to recognize the importance of having a healthy lifestyle as the key to preventing hypertension and other health conditions as well,” Nazal said.

He added, “It’s easy to start improving one’s lifestyle; the challenge comes in making it a habit. This specifically applies to people who already have the disease—for people diagnosed with hypertension, the best practice is to always consult the doctor and comply with the medication schedule even when symptoms are not surfacing.”

Nazal said that constant visits to the family doctor, maintaining a healthy diet, and taking prescribed medication already go a long way in saving one’s self from more chronic diseases.

“Taking your medication exactly as it is prescribed by your doctor is an important part of your recovery,” Nazal noted. “Without complying with your therapy, your health will eventually deteriorate, leading to a lower quality of life—or even death.”

He concluded, “Women who are already in their post-menopausal stage need to start taking care of themselves especially when their metabolism slows down. Embarking on a lifestyle journey is not a one-time travel—it is a life’s worth of adventure you can give to yourself. And someday, you’ll thank yourself you did.”

Ready, Sync, Go!

Synchronize your watches for a grand adventure in ARCA South. The 74-hectare Taguig property, set to become a new “city in sync” as master-planned by Ayala Land, Inc., is hosting a mobile-app integrated adventure run on Saturday, September 19, 2015.

           

SyncRUNize will be unlike other regular 5 km runs as it challenges both body and mind through a number of physical obstacles and mental drills. Racers will first have to download the exclusive SyncRUNize mobile app available on Google Play and iOS. 

The app directs participants from one checkpoint to another where they will have to accomplish the physical or mental challenge before they can get to the next.

           

ARCA South has partnered with Guerilla Race, organizers of the fierce sport Guerilla Race Series, to specially design the obstacle course. Mental drills, which can include calculations, stock knowledge tests, or abstract reasoning were designed by Go Go Hunt. Other partners are The North Face, Fox, Oculus Archery and as the partner-beneficiary of the event, the Help Educate and Rear Orphans (HERO) Foundation. Part of the proceeds from SyncRUNize will serve as educational aid to the children of soldiers incapacitated or killed in the line of duty.

 Racers can compete as individuals or as teams of four.  They will get a chance to win P90,000 worth of cash and prizes for individual and group winners. At the end of the race, participants can celebrate their victory at Sync City, where they can enjoy the interactive booths and the food market.

“SyncRUNize is the kind of event that embodies the principle behind ARCA South as a City in Sync,” said Mr. Stephen Comia, ARCA South Project Development Manager. “The development is envisioned to be the newest CBD in Taguig where all the elements that make a city are present and in sync. In addition, the efficient management of the road network, traffic, communications, environment, security and other systems in ARCA South are primary.”

With DOTC’s planned Integrated Transport System (ITS) –South Terminal being recently awarded to Ayala Land, Inc., ARCA South will become one of the most highly connected districts in the city. This world-class transport terminal will rise beside ARCA South and increase accessibility to the property. The direct link to the Skyway and C5/ C6 highways will also make ARCA South minutes away from Makati, Bonifacio Global City and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

ARCA South will also eventually operate with a centralized system for traffic, power and security management, furthering its vision of being a city in sync. The district will be highly pedestrianized, punctuated by green spaces and streetscapes, and integrated basement parking to free the streets.

Registration for SyncRUNize is available on www.arcasouth.ph or in Chris Sports branches nationwide until September 18, 2015.

To get to ARCA South, participants can take the East Service Road along South Luzon Expressway or C5 in Taguig.  While for those interested to take the public transport, for a minimum fee of P30 per person per roundtrip, participants can also avail of shuttle services to the race via pick up points in Tower 1 in Ayala Avenue, Makati; TriNoma Mall, Quezon City; and Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa.

Lacto-ovo Vegetarian Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan

Eat. Enjoy. Repeat!

It was great to know the story of fellow vegetarian Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan at the launch of Metamucil, she is the Brand Ambassador of the product - held in Mercato Central, BGC Taguig.

Metamucil is a fiber powder drink

Maricel is a lacto-ovo-vegetarian for 16 years, has been joining triathlon with her family for 9 years and survived her suffering from gallstones.

Turning into vegetarian is a decision she has to make because she was diagnosed that she developed gallstones from eating too much meat.

For women, the risk of forming gallstones increases during pregnancy.

She has to give it up because the day before her surgery they found out that she was pregnant and the only solution is to take a lot of medication if the pain occurs or to completely change her diet.

She decides to completely change to a plant based diet. Here's my short Q & A with Mommy Maricel:

What happened to your gallstone after you went vegetarian?

I couldn't have surgery and I  was able to delay it for four years and because of the vegetarian diet I did not have pains...I did not have medications. I delayed it but eventually I had to take out(surgically)  kasi masyado na maraming stones.
 
The two children (4th-5th) that I carried while vegetarian has no allergies at all.

Where do you get your food?

We grow our own veggies at home, it's organic and then we cook it. You can check it at my blog
#MyManangRocks  http://www.mommymaricel.com/mymanangrocks-2/ were we put all the food that we harvest and cook.

Can you describe where you plant your food?
 
It's a far place in Laguna. Sariwa ang hangin. Malamig, mataas...yun ang importante - No pollution.

When her gallstones was completely removed via surgery, she experienced no more problem at all and that is why she wants to help her kidney and liver by being vegetarian.

Her being vegetarian does not impose to her family to become vegetarian specially the kids. For her it's still their choice.

"I don't look down people who eat meat but I do have a special sensitivity towards the animals (chickens, cattle) parang meron akong connection with them" she adds.

Know more about the inspiring story of Mommy Maricel, she blogs at http://www.mommymaricel.com/

Experts: Daily food intake may pose serious oral health problems

You heard how your daily food intake may affect your health. From obesity to various chronic diseases, your diet may take a toll at your overall wellness—and also your oral health.

Maintaining a balanced diet is essential to healthy living, but indulging in foods rich in sugar will make you a candidate for tooth decay and gum disease.

According to Carmie de Leon, vice president for sales and marketing of Healthway Medical, sweet-toothed Filipinos should be aware that they not only increase their chances of acquiring type 1 or type 2 diabetes whenever they reach for a rich, chocolatey dessert or carbonated drinks.

“What they don’t realize is that, when they expose their teeth to too much sugary foods from sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks, or high-in-sugar desserts, they are giving permission to cavities to attack their teeth,” de Leon said.

She added, “By eating foods rich in sugar content, they tend to invite more cavities, which cause the formation of plaque and eventually, tooth decay. But sugary foods are not the only culprit for teeth erosion. Even those rich in starchmay contribute to tooth decay. In some instances, it may also cause periodontitis.”

Periodontitis, a severe gum disease, destroys the soft tissue and bone that serves as the backbone of your teeth. When left untreated, this serious infection could cause the gums to loosen the hold of the teeth, causing them to fall out.

“People who are most prone to periodontitis are those who have been diagnosed with diabetes since diabetes decreases the ability to resist infection and slows the healing process,” de Leon said. “If a person has this serious oral health condition, their blood sugar levels tend to rise, making diabetes more difficult to manage.”

Since food that contain sugars of any kind affects not only the oral health but the overall wellness of a person, Healthway Medical—the most trusted and preferred mall-based clinic in the Philippines—highlights the importance of proper nutrition to ensure that physical and emotional health are always in its best condition.

“You may be able to prevent two of the most common oral health conditions (tooth decay and periodontal disease) simply by improving your diet,” de Leon said. “But the challenging part comes in the choosing process, the moment when you’re locked up choosing which food groups are best for you,” de Leon said.

The Nutrition month comes with a full plate of health and wellness recommendations, but de Leon said that the first big step will start from the kitchen. “If you want to achieve optimum wellness from head to toe, you’ll need to check your fridge and swap your junk with foods that are actually good for you.”

De Leon said, “As for your oral health, you’ll need to practice good oral hygiene every day.”

Brushing alone won’t keep bacteria at bay. To give your mouth the holistic dental care, you need to floss daily, maintain a balanced diet, replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if bristles are already frayed, and consult your dentist regularly.

To help you address your dental health concerns, Healthway Medical ensures that every Filipino has control over his or her dental health by offering a wide-array of dental services.

“To win a confident smile, you’ll need to give regular attention to your mouth,” de Leon said. “It’s easy to smile painlessly throughout the day if you have the right attitude towards improving your overall wellness. For an optimum health security, you need to make sleeping, eating right, exercising, and de-stressing (S.E.E.D.) as part of your daily routine.”

De Leon concluded, “Every person needs a confidence-boosting teeth. In order to achieve this, you’ll need to give your teeth the right care it needs through good nutrition and unparalleled quality dental service.”

If you want to achieve a great-looking set of teeth, visit any Healthway Medical clinics at the Alabang Town Center, EdsaShangri-la, Market! Market!, Festival Mall, Healthway Manila, SM The Block and Greenbelt 5.

For more details, please contact (02) 751-4929 or visit www.healthway.com.ph. 

Susi Vegan Restaurant

Jose Rizal is a filipino inspired dish.

One of the best seller brunch meal.

Brown Rice, Mushroom Chorizo, Omelette, Spinach and Tomatoes.