Sometimes, even when one goes on a strict diet or has a daily exercise regimen, those nasty last few pounds just won’t seem to go away. It’s like the body has reached its plateau, refusing to shed those last few centimeters of extra fat. And since desperate times call for desperate measures, people have a tendency to push the envelope, taking it to the extreme. From being on a strict diet, they go to a practically non-diet by skipping a meal or two every day.

What people don’t realize is that when they skip eating meals, they are actually slowing down their metabolism, hence slowing down even further the fat-burning process. When your body doesn’t get much to eat, especially when it gets too little, it gets a feeling that it’s under starvation. The body knows that it isn’t getting the amount of food and nutrients that it needs to sustain itself daily. So instead of burning fat, it STORES fat, so that it can have something to burn if and when it doesn’t get any food and nutrient intake.

These food-group diets, which have been popularized by certain celebrities, have been all the rage for the past few years. But according to an analysis made by Dra. Sanirose Orbeta, Consulting Clinical and Sports Nutritionist, “These diets are unacceptable. The Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, South Beach Diet, Protein Power, Eat Right for Your Type, Carbohydrate Addicts Diet, Sugar Buster, and Peanut Butter Diet are all wrong for your body. How can your blood type determine what you should eat? That’s just as accurate as a horoscope!”

One might wonder: Why do high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets work for some people? According to Dra. Orbeta, “With this type of diets, there is overall calorie restriction, which is essentially what dieting is all about. But in this case, the rapid weight loss is actually due to water loss. So there’s no real weight loss here.”

Among the current popular diets, what is accepted by nutritionists are still the traditional ones: Traditional Food Guide Pyramid, Weight Watchers Dieting with the Duchess, Mediterranean Diet, Volumetrics, Eat More, Weigh Less, and Choose to Lose. Dra. Orbeta emphasizes, “What is important is to have a balanced diet. You can’t choose just one food group and stick to it. We all need carbohydrates, protein, and even fats and sugars. Everything should just be kept in moderation. That’s what the traditional food pyramid teaches. The body gets the nutrients that it needs and, at the same time, you’re not deprived of the satisfaction of eating.”

For more information on diet and proper nutrition, visit Asian Hospital and Medical Center located at 2205 Civic Drive, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. For more information, call 771-9000 or visit their website: www.asianhospital.com.

The Asian Beauty and Health Secretes Revealed forum, which was held at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City, had topics that catered to different types of audiences. One of the most popular and much-awaited was the presentation on glutathione, given by Dr. Evangeline Handog of the Department of Dermatology.

According to Dr. Handog, “Glutathione is composed of three amino acids—Glutamate, Cysteine, and Glycine. More popularly known as ‘gluta,’ it is actually an anti-oxidant that is very essential to the human body. It regulates and regenerates immune cells, and is the most valuable detoxifying agent in the body.”

Though it only seems to be gaining popularity in the past couple of years, Dr. Handog’s presentation showed that glutathione was first accidentally discovered by a surgeon, Dr. Gustavo Bounous, who worked for over two decades for the Canadian Medical Research Council, while searching for a protein that would help people recover from surgery faster.

WHAT DOES GLUTATHIONE DO?
Because it is a major anti-oxidant, “Glutathione is used by the cells to neutralize and destroy damaging oxygen radicals, keeps vitamins C and E in their active state, and plays a crucial role in maintaining an optimal balance of pro-oxidant and anti-oxidant within a cell,” said Dr. Handog.

Glutathione is a very important detoxifying agent, ridding the body of many toxins, consequently enhancing the immune system. It also regulates many of the cells’ vital functions, such as DNA synthesis and repair, protein synthesis, and enzyme activation and regulation.

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?
According to Dr. Handog, “Certain clinical conditions have been associated with low levels of glutathione, such as pressure ulcers, diabetes, burns, sepsis, cystic fibrosis, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, low sperm count, autism, hepatitis, and cataract, among others.”

She adds, “Some studies show that silymarin prevents the depletion of glutathione induced by alcohol and other toxins and also increases the level of glutathione in the liver cells. Herbs such as curcumin and alpha lipoic acid are also found to increase glutathione levels. Vitamin B6, Riboflavin, and Selenium are required in the manufacture of glutathione.”

Dietary glutathione is found mostly in fresh (uncooked) meats, and certain raw fruits and vegetables. Small amounts can also be found in grains and pasteurized dairy products. Fruits and vegetables like tomato seedlings, spruce needles, carrots, spinach leaf tissue, and asparagus contain more glutathione compared to other fruits and vegetables.

DOES GLUTATHIONE REALLY WHITEN THE SKIN?
Recently, this is what glutathione has been famous for. But Dr. Handog says that “there are no published controlled and randomized controlled clinical trials to support this claim. There is one unpublished randomized controlled clinical trial, which is company-sponsored, but results are unknown because a copy can’t be retrieved. However, there are numerous personal testimonials, which is why people have believe such.

HOW SAFE IS IT?
Dr. Handog reassures, “Overall, the intake of glutathione in reasonable amounts appears to be safe. Although, it is recommended that people with milk protein allergies and those who have undergone organ transplants should avoid it. It’s always best to consult a dermatologist first before taking in any supplements or undergoing any treatments.”

For more information on glutathione and other dermatological concerns, visit the Asian Hospital and Medical Center located at 2205 Civic Drive, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Golf, compared to all the other sports, seems to involve less physical activity and decreased chances of getting an injury. Though it is not a contact sport, golf is surprisingly very physically demanding on the golfer’s body, with the possibility of getting injuries to the elbow, back, knees, or wrist.

Keeping in mind the goal of helping golfers to improve their performance and prevent sports-related injuries, the Asian Hospital and Medical Center opened the Golf Performance and Sports Rehabilitation Clinic, the first in the Philippines that offers golf performance training and sports rehabilitation services to all sports enthusiasts, golfers and non-golfers alike.

Dr. Tyrone Reyes, head of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center, said, “Golf involves 8x the stress because a lot of body movements are applied in every golf swing. The motion of a golf swing, if done incorrectly, can cause injuries in many parts of the body. With the Golf Performance and Sports Rehabilitation Clinic, golfers can fine-tune their golf swing to improve their performance and most importantly, prevent injuries later on.”

Keep in mind that The Golf Performance and Sports Rehabilitation Clinic does not teach swing techniques; rather, they focus on the biomechanics and scientific evaluation of the golfer. “We concentrate on the body of the golfer, particularly the problems they have with their swing, which can lead to injuries. By improving the body, we improve the swing,” explained Chris Borja, Physical Therapist and Master Golf Performance Specialist, trained at the Golo Golf Performance Institute in Texas.

According to Mr. Borja, “Most golfers today are not conditioned to make the movements required for golf, like large trunk rotations and movement of both shoulders at very high speeds. Without the proper preparation to these motions, golfers are likely to suffer lower back pain, which is caused by rotational stresses of the golf swing; Golfer’s Elbow, which is an inflammation of the elbow that produces pain on wrist movements; and wrist injury, which can be caused by a weak wrist or a heavier club; knee and ankle injuries, which are caused by sprains or strains when the golfer is not in a balanced position.”

Michael Que, a Golf Teaching Pro at the Southpoint Driving Range, mentions four questions commonly asked by his students: “How can I get better? What is the right way? Why is it so hard? Why am I not getting better?”

A golfer’s capacity is composed of several factors. Time, intelligence, creativity, physical ability, attitude, focus, and money all come into play. With physical ability come coordination, speed, strength, flexibility, and balance. Mr. Que explains, “A golf swing is a golfing machine, which involves 2 horsepower of energy. To generate that much, you’ll need 32 pounds of muscle.”

Force is applied all throughout the swing sequence. Mr. Que emphasizes, “110% of the body weight is applied on the left foot at the start of the downswing, and then 25% of your body weight is applied on both feet upon impact.” This shift in force happens in all of two seconds, which goes to show how physically strenuous golf actually is.

Mr. Que adds, “The traditional approach is to change the task to accommodate the person. A more radical strategy is to change the person to accommodate the task.”

This is where the services of the clinic come in. The Golf Performance and Sports Rehabilitation Clinic offers a complete package to achieve a pain-free game of golf and improve the performance of the golfer. Mr. Borja makes clear, “The package includes Evaluation, which consists of video analysis, manual evaluation, and swing exercises to check for posture and movement of the body as the golfer swings; Physical Therapy treatment based on the results of the evaluation, for whatever condition or pain that the golfer may have; and an Exercise program specific to the golfer’s need to help the golfer be physically fit.”

Mr. Borja explains “Some golfers think that golf itself is their form of exercise already, which is wrong. It’s a sport, and like most sports, your body needs to be prepared in order to do the movements required for the game. An exercise program is important to help them become physically fit for the sport. At the clinic, we will design a golf-specific exercise program tailored to the golfer, which aims to strengthen the right muscles to resolve his swing problems, increase his power, and elevate his game.”

The Golf Performance and Sports Rehabilitation Clinic is open from Monday to Friday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call the Asian Hospital and Medical Center at 771-9000 local 8018. You can also visit its website: www.asianhospital.com.

One of the most important parts of one’s daily life is also one of the most neglected. Ideally, if one gets the required eight hours of sleep a day, then one should be sleeping for one-third of his or her entire life.

This was one of the topics discussed during the recently concluded forum dubbed “Asian Beauty and Health Secrets Revealed” held at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang.

According to Dr. Agnes Remulla of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, “There are different stages of sleep, which are a combination of REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM stages. As we grow older, our bodies need less and less sleep.”

She adds, “Infants who are younger than two months old will need 10.5 to 18.5 hours of sleep every day, including their mid-day naps. As they grow older, they’ll need 14 to 15 hours of sleep daily, until they turn a year old. Sleep requirement then slowly declines, from 13 to 15 hours a day to 12 to 14 hours as they reach their toddler years.”

Adolescents and adults, two age groups that are the most sleep-deprived, need 8.5 to 9.5 hours and seven to nine hours of sleep respectively.

Sleep schedule is pre-determined, with levels of alertness that coincide with the sun. When the sun has risen at around 6 a.m., the mind and body’s level of alertness starts going up, getting ready for the day ahead. It continues to rise throughout the morning, peaks, and then starts going down at noon. Alertness then declines, and it is this mid-afternoon dip that explains why most, if not all, people feel sleepy after lunch. And it’s not just because you had a very hearty meal.

IMPORTANCE OF SLEEPING
Sleep is what helps organize memories, converting and storing memories into long-term memory, solidifies learning, and improves daytime concentration. Sleep-deprived individuals experience impaired judgment and alertness. In fact, driving after being awake for 17 to 19 hours is like driving after having two glasses of wine. And it is lack of sleep, not drunk driving, that explains a majority of road accidents. Extreme sleep deprivation can cause hallucinations, paranoia, blurred vision, slurred speech, and memory and concentration lapses.

“Remember when your parents or yayas used to insist on afternoon naps when you were younger, telling you that you won’t grow tall if you didn’t go to sleep? They had a point, you know. Essential hormones that affect growth, regulate energy, and control metabolic and endocrine functions are secreted in your sleep,” says Dr. Remulla.

Too little sleep has also been linked to obesity and diabetes. When you don’t get enough sleep, then you don’t go through the different sleep stages, decreasing the slow-wave sleep that you’re getting, which is when the immune system is turned on. Consequently, there is decreased secretion of leptin, which is what signal to your body that it is full.

DISORDER IN SLUMBER
According to Dr. Remula, snoring is more than just an irritating noise. A snore is the vibration of the structures in the upper airway, which indicates an incomplete obstruction. A more serious disorder is sleep apnea, where there are definitive pauses in breathing during sleep, causing blood oxygen levels to drop, and also characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness.

She cautions: “Snoring shouldn’t be taken lightly. According to studies, loud snorers have 40% greater risk of suffering from high blood pressure, 34% greater odds of having a heart attack, and 67% greater chance of having a stroke.”

Sleep apnea is characterized by excessive sleepiness, poor memory and concentration, impaired learning, and morning headaches during the daytime, and snoring, pauses in breathing, restless sleep, and waking up gasping, choking, or coughing.

In Dr. Remula’s presention, she mentioned that about 10 percent of children snore, while a smaller percentage of 1 to 3 percent have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea, though rare, can cause impaired brain development, lower IQ, obesity or poor growth, altered facial development, and some cardiovascular effects like systemic hypertension and pulmonary hypertension.

Symptoms for sleep apnea in children are similar to those in adults. At night, they snore loudly and on a regular basis, with pauses, gasps, and snorts, and actually stop breathing. They’re restless, causing them to sweat heavily in their sleep, or sleep in abnormal positions with their heads in unusual positions, to help them breathe.

Children with sleep apnea experience behavioral, school and social problems, are more difficult to wake up, have headaches during the day, especially in the morning, are irritable, agitated, aggressive, and cranky, either fall asleep during the day or daydream, and have a nasal voice and breathe regularly through the mouth.

For more information about sleep and health, visit Asian Hospital and Medical Center located at 2205 Civic Drive, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Inspired by a Mongolian restaurant formerly situated in Makati, Deck Gil decided to put up one of her own, bringing the Asian flavor to the southern part of the metro. So in 1999, Mongolian Quick Stop was formally established, with its pioneer branch along Presidents Avenue in BF Homes, Parañaque. Deck brings with her over 16 years of experience in the food and restaurant industries, with previous management experience from handling her mother’s Vietnamese restaurant. With customer satisfaction as their key motivating factor, MQS has been dedicated to provide only the highest quality in food and the best standard of service in the industry.

Everything is prepared from scratch every single day—from the minced garlic and chopped onions, to the carrot strips and toge, even the chopped meat and wide array of sauces. Their signature sauces, which can be customized to your personal preference, are a variety of specially blended mixtures, made with high-quality sauces and ingredients. Best of all, none of the dishes at Mongolian Quick Stop contain MSG. How’s that for healthy eating? Dishes are prepared and cooked only upon ordering, so one can expect a fresh and hot meal in just a few minutes.

The Mongolian Eat-All-You-Can, P245, is an experience in itself that one must definitely try. If one’s in the mood for a sweet seafood mix, then feel free to come back for seconds…and thirds, even. If one has a palate that’s more accustomed to spicy food, then load up on the chili! Meat-lovers can choose to have more beef, pork, and chicken in their bowls, while semi-vegetarians can enjoy limitless fresh vegetables and seafood.

Those with smaller appetites can opt for the Single Mongolian Bowl, P130, where one can fill the bowl with one’s choice of fresh ingredients and they will fill it up with one’s choice of meat and seafood. The King’s Bowl, P89, has choices of Beef, Pork, Chicken, Vegetarian, or Seafood, with one’s choice of sauce. But for those on the go, the Mongolian Quickbox, P75, is perfect, which comes in sweet, spicy, or sweet and spicy. [Read more...]