Reconnecting your health with nature

WE take a walk to feel the nature and get the sunshine vitamin we needed to restore our health damaged by free radicals. Nature helps our body reduce stress, cancer, and even heart attacks.

A Japanese study showed that spending six hours in nature over a two-day period helps increase the white blood cells, which fight virus.

Health experts said urban and modern lifestyle tend to have the so-called “nature deficiency”. Taking herbals and botanical supplement would help make up for a nutrition deficiency.

Botanicals for example, which have long been part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), have shown that this age-old practice helps improve one’s health.

Today, going natural is being practiced by many health enthusiasts and health buffs.

On the other hand, some people are skeptical on the efficacy of herbal and botanical supplements. And their primary concern is about its safety and efficiency.

Dr. Rolando “Oyie” Balburias, General Internal Medicine and IFM Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, said people should look into the source of the ingredients and how the natural products were processed.

He said not all natural products on the market are backed by science. Some may even be harmful to consumers due to the source and processes these natural products go through.

He said high-quality and effective natural products consider the “therapeutic benefits of the raw ingredients based on their science-backed capability to restore homeostasis and balance of the body systems”.

He cited Unilab’sSekaya, a plant-based herb and botanic tea infusion produced by SynnovatePharma Corporation, which had been rigorously tested against micro-toxins, heavy metals and molds that may be present in natural products. 

“It’s through science that the medical industry learned how to process plants for efficacy and safety. Not all natural solutions in the market, however, are backed by science, producing sub-standard products that are ineffective and may be harmful to consumers,” Doctor Balburias said during a media virtual conference as he encouraged the public to go more for natural foods for overall optimum health.

The conference underlined Sekaya’s “Prescribing Nature” advocacy that focuses on promoting the healing benefits of nature as validated by science.

Abigail D. Nepomuceno, Director and Business Unit Head of Synnovate, said the ingredients that Sekaya uses are not only carefully sourced from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or European Union (EU)-certified and Quality Assurance International (QAI) certified organic farms all over the world, these are also tested against microbial contamination, pesticide residues, heavy metals, and molds. Sekaya has been providing high-quality plant-based products that go through rigorous testing in pharma-grade facilities to ensure their efficacy, safety, and purity.

Internationally-recognized author and scientist Deanna Minich advocates for eating a rainbow diet.

“Eating more inflammatory foods can cause inflammation and an inflammatory body leads to impulsive behavior,” Minich said. She said the more colorful your meal, the more likely it is to be healthy for you. The vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables are indicator of vitamins and nutrients our body needs.

Here’s what a rainbow diet can do for your health:

• White. White fruits and vegetables includes bananas, pears, apples, cauliflowers, cucumbers, onions, potatoes and mushrooms. They provide immune-boosting nutrients and help lower stroke and heart disease risks. They also help strengthen bone tissues.

• Orange/Yellow. Foods like squash, cantaloupe, oranges, peaches, pumpkin, yellow peppers, pineapple, carrots, apricots, mangoes and papaya contains minerals that help lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol (LDL). They are also great for joints and help build strong bones.

• Red. Red foods are rich in antioxidants, lycopene and anthocyanins. These nutrients are necessary for the body to make vitamin A, which is good for the eyes. They also help reduce the risk of prostate cancer and lower blood pressure. Includes these in your daily meals: Tomatoes, watermelon, cherries, raspberries, beets, kidney beans, red cabbage, red bell peppers, rhubarb, cranberries, red grapes, red onions.

• Green. Spinach, arugula, avocadoes, leeks, green peppers, green beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, celery, kiwi, limes, peas, zucchini and honeydew are among the greens high in fiber, calcium and vitamin C. They help reduce risk of cancer, strengthen overall immune system and vision, help blood clot properly, and lower risk for chronic illness.

• Purple. Purple foods contain anthocyacins, an anti-oxidant that may reduce the risk of heart disease.  Currants, blackberries, blueberries, pomegranates, prunes, plums, purple potatoes, eggplant and purple cabbage.