by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 27, 2018 | Health Tips
We all admire strong and confident women who can take charge of their lives. And while we may think that only a certain few can achieve this, any woman can feel empowered.
As a strong supporter of women, Solane, the country’s top LPG solutions company, shares these simple tips to help women – from young ladies and professionals to mothers – gain self-confidence:
Exercise more.
They say it’s easy to feel confident when you have an active lifestyle. Regular workouts will not just improve your physique but also improve your mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Embrace your imperfections.
Nobody is perfect. Accept your imperfections. View your qualities in a positive way so you can gain more self-confidence and become one of those strong women you admire.
Keep striving for personal growth and work hard to improve yourself. List down all your unique characteristics, strengths and abilities and enhance them.
Dream big.
And don’t be afraid to go after your dreams! Make a vision board to illustrate your goals and remind you of all the goals you want to accomplish.
An empowered woman knows that, with courage, perseverance, and belief in herself, she can achieve anything she sets her mind and heart on.
Be independent.
When was the last time you did something without the help of others? Have you ever tried dining out alone? Being able to do things on your own is truly empowering because it helps you know yourself better. It also shows that you are strong enough to face any situation. So, go ahead and travel or watch a movie alone. Don’t keep yourself from doing things you want to do just because there’s no one to go with you.
Help out.
Join a charitable cause you or volunteer for a program you believe in. Giving back to the community and helping others will make you feel good about yourself.
Pursue your passion.
One of the most rewarding things you can do is to pursue your passions. Whether it’s traveling, building your own business or applying for the job you really want, don’t be afraid to go for it. Never give up. Surround yourself with positive people who will encourage you.
Keep learning.
An empowered woman doesn’t stop learning. Not only will it keep your brain healthy and active but learning something new will strengthen your bond with family and friends.
Discover new skills together, like writing or cooking. Let Solane, the country’s leading LPG solutions provider, help you develop your cooking skills with simple and easy-to-do recipes from http://www.solane.com.ph/recipes.
You don’t need to do grand things to feel empowered. You can easily boost your confidence by practicing these simple tips.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 1, 2017 | Health Tips
Have you ever experienced a day when nothing seems to go well, that no matter how you try to choose the right path, you keep making the wrong turn? Just like having a bad hair day, no matter how many times you comb your hair, it just would not budge.
Life can be challenging at times but there will always be a way to resolve these challenges and come out victorious. Having this in mind will be easy to keep your patience and continue to move forward.
Just like losing strands of your hair due to factors beyond your control, you too can do something.
Eat healthy
Eating the right food can alter your mood. Having low-level of folic acid in your body can cause anxiety, hence, food such as asparagus, avocado, salmon, and almond are recommended to fight stress hormones.
Stay calm
Listen to comforting music and reading feel-good stories can help switch you to a calm mood.
Exercise
Exercise releases endorphins that can relieve you from stress and anxiety.
Supplement
Taking in Vitamins such as B-complex can alter mood swings.
Don’t let your stress factors contribute to your hair loss. Letting yourself succumb to anxiety will definitely show up to your follicles and this can lead to more hair loss.
Hectic schedules and pressure from work, not to mention the pollution and filth outside easily make you feel unease and, at times, irritable. Slow down a bit, have fun and relax. There’s no better way to begin with your mane.
Hair care tips
Tip 1: The stroke of a comb can give you a soothing feeling while, at the same time, help unleash the natural oil of your hair.
Tip 2: Stay away from getting pigtails, hair weaves, braids and tight hair rollers, which can pull and stress your hair.
Tip 3: Avoid perming, straightening or coloring because they contain toxic chemicals that could cause damage to your locks.
Tip 4: Choose natural. Use NOVUHAIR topical solution. Apply liberal amount on to your scalp and hair. Massage it gently for -10 minutes to help permeate deeply from root to tip.
NOVUHAIR is packed with 19 natural ingredients that help promote growth, nourishment and rejuvenation of your tress.
NOVUHAIR is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide. For more information, please contact hotlines 4136570 and 09228830575 from Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm or visit www.novuhair.com. You can also purchase it from Lazada.com.ph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 24, 2017 | Health Tips, Public Service
You may have completed your vaccinations when you were a child, but do you know that vaccines are not only for kids but for adults, too? Vaccines are among the most cost-effective health interventions available. They help ensure optimum health.
Dr. Nicky Montoya, Medicard President
“Vaccines provide heightened protection against diseases, disabilities, and even death. They prepare the body to fight diseases without exposing the person to the symptoms. Many believe immunizations are for children only. But you are never too old to get vaccinated. Newer vaccines are being developed and booster shots may be necessary to maintain the efficacy of certain vaccines. Vaccination is important especially if you have a chronic disease, are pregnant, sexually active, or if your work requires you to travel to places where you can be exposed to different diseases,” says MediCard president and CEO Dr. Nicky Montoya.
MediCard, a leading HMO provider in the country, debunks some myths on vaccinations:
Myth: Vaccines are for children only.
Fact: Vaccines don’t offer lifetime immunity to diseases; they stimulate antibody production. Almost all vaccines wear off after 5-10 years. Getting vaccinated as an adult is just as important as getting it when you are young because you might be at risk for a new or different disease. The vaccinations you need are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, health conditions, travel, and previous immunizations. To find out what vaccines you need, consult your doctor.
Myth: Vaccines are ineffective and harmful.
Fact: Vaccines are effective and safe. They go through comprehensive testing before they are approved for general use. They are also continuously monitored for safety and effectiveness. For those who worry that vaccines will cause serious side effects, Dr. Montoya says such cases are very rare. Normal reactions to vaccination include redness, pain, and swelling in the body part where the shot was given.
Myth: Vaccines weaken the immune system.
Fact: Vaccines actually strengthen the immune system and help fight diseases. Vaccines strengthen the immune system by safely introducing an antigen, a substance that triggers the production of antibodies needed to neutralize viruses and bacteria. Vaccines also stimulate defense mechanisms that provide protection against specific diseases. Fears that vaccines can overload the immune system are unfounded because a healthy person’s immune system can recognize and handle thousands of organisms at once.
Myth: Vaccinations are not needed if you live a healthy lifestyle.
Fact: Good hygiene, a balanced diet, and an active lifestyle can help prevent the spread of diseases, but you are still exposed to germs and viruses. This is why getting vaccinated is encouraged, even if you live a healthy lifestyle, as it provides a significant level of protection from diseases. Learn more about vaccinations. MediCard has several free-standing clinics located in key cities nationwide that offer consultations, tests, and vaccinations. Visit a MediCard clinic near you or check out their website at www.medicardphils.com for more information.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 26, 2017 | Health Tips
Stress is a normal part of life. Experiencing bouts of stress every now and then may not be all that bad but keep in mind that too much stress can badly affect your body and cause serious health problems.
“Experiencing stress is normal. Sometimes, it may even help you perform under pressure and incite you to react to dangerous situations.
However, increased levels of stress can lead to numerous health consequences like heart disease and depression, which is why it’s important to know how to manage it properly,” says MediCard president Dr. Nicky Montoya.
Here are some ways to deal with stress:
Identify stress triggers.
It is essential that you identify the sources of your stress so you can begin to treat it effectively. By recognizing the problems, habits and behavior that cause stress, it will be easier for you to handle them, thus lowering your level of stress.
Eat a balanced diet.
Oftentimes, when people experience stress, they tend to immediately find comfort in eating sugary and fatty food like chips and sweets. However, consuming these will just make you lethargic, which may make you less motivated to deal with stress. On the other hand, low-fat, high-fiber and low-glycemic index food and plenty of fruits and vegetables help reduce stress as these types of food increase the body hormones that naturally fight it.
Get enough sleep.
Lack of sleep is a significant cause of stress. Sleeping is another stress buster because it allows the body to recharge and recover from the day’s stressful events. Dr. Montoya recommends that it is best to get 6-8 hours of sleep daily.
Exercise.
To combat stress, you need to work out consistently. Exercise not only keeps stressors at bay, but also improves your mood and increases your endorphins which may help relieve pain and trigger a positive disposition. In addition to going to the gym, you can try dancing, jogging or taking a short walk near your home or office.
In the last few years a rising trend in physical fitness is yoga. Yoga practitioners will tell you of its mental, emotional, and physical health benefits, and very high on the list is how practicing yoga is very good in reducing stress.
I recently read an article on JenReviews.com where the author writes about the 18 amazing benefits of yoga according to science that I found fascinating and informative. Check it out for yourself to know a little bit more about this meditative exercise.
Get a massage.
A massage not only relaxes your body, but it may also shift your thoughts away from the things that cause stress. According to research, a massage can help release endorphins, lower your heart rate and blood pressure as well as relax tight and painful muscles.
Communicate with someone.
One of the best ways to handle stress is talking the situation through with someone. Opening up about your stress to a friend or loved one — even for a minute — can significantly improve your mood.
Take deep breaths.
Relaxing and taking deep breaths have been proven to effectively fight off stress. Dr. Montoya suggests taking 15 minutes every day to sit and practice relaxation techniques, deep breathing or yoga.
Surya Fitness & Yoga, located at MediCard Lifestyle Center in Makati City, offers a revitalizing retreat for people seeking relaxation of the body, mind and spirit. They provide hatha, vinyasa, ashtanga and basic yoga classes.
MediCard also has 14 free-standing clinics located in key cities nationwide that offer consultations. Visit a MediCard clinic near you or check out their website at www.medicardphils.com for more information.
Note: Slight modificatios have been made to this article on 03 Janury 2018.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 20, 2016 | Health Tips
A healthy mind is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. It affects how you perceive the world and how you react to your environment and the people around you. In order to function normally and accomplish your daily tasks and goals in life, it’s important to keep your brain and mental well-being healthy.
“Healthy brain and mental functioning can be cultivated. In the same way that eating nutritious food and exercising can make your body stronger and more fit, certain habits and activities can also boost your brain power and mental well-being,” says Dr. Nicky Montoya, president and CEO of MediCard Philippines.
To improve brain and mental health, Dr. Montoya offers some tips:
Get enough sleep.
Sleep helps your brain and body work properly. While you’re sleeping, your brain is forming new pathways to help you learn and remember information.
Deep sleep also promotes normal growth in children and teens. It also boosts muscle mass and helps repair cells and tissues in children, teens and adults.
Drink plenty of water.
It is important for the brain to be adequately hydrated to function properly. Your brain cells require a delicate balance of water and various elements to operate efficiently. When you’re dehydrated, your brain has to work a lot harder to perform at the same level.
Drinking water also helps you feel refreshed, which may improve your state of mind. It can also prevent headaches and hangovers.
Get moving.
Exercise releases endorphins, which are essential for producing good moods. Working out also keeps your brain and vital organs healthy. It also improves your body image and keeps you motivated to conquer challenges and pursue your goals.
Learn a new skill and play brainteasers.
Learning a new skill and playing brainteasers can keep your brain sharp. When you learn a new skill, your brain creates new neural pathways that help you process and remember information better. Meanwhile, brainteasers and games that require you to decipher codes and pattern series, remember events and rationalize your answers can also enhance your problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, creativity, and imagination.
Communicate with other people.
Regularly talking and socializing with other people can boost your communication skills and improve your decision-making and problem-solving abilities. It is also a way to avoid depression and negative thoughts, which can interfere with your daily activities.
Practice meditation.
Meditation, which involves focusing your thoughts on the present moment, provides cognitive and psychological benefits. Aside from giving a sense of peacefulness and physical relaxation, it can also improve memory, empathy and sense of self. Harvard researchers discovered that practicing mindfulness increases the amount of grey matter in the hippocampus, which helps with self-awareness, compassion, and introspection, and lowers grey matter density in the amygdala, which helps manage anxiety and stress.
Since meditation is a big component of Ashtanga yoga, attending yoga classes can also be good for your mental well-being.
Dr. Nicky Montoya
President of Medicard Philippines
“The best thing about the human brain is that it adapts and re-wires itself as a result of behavioral changes. There are a lot of ways you can do to get the best out of your brain cells. One of the most effective ways is, of course, letting go of unhealthy habits and embracing a healthy lifestyle,” says Dr. Montoya.
The MediCard Lifestyle Center in Makati offers quality medical and specialty services, including nutrition counseling, diet management, and yoga classes. For more information, call (02) 878-5101or visit http://mlc.medicardphils.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 2, 2016 | Health Tips
As we get older it becomes more and more difficult to lose weight. It often feels as if we are constantly losing the battle of the bulge – especially once we hit our 40s and our metabolisms become slower and slower and slower. More than a few just give up and accept their “more curvaceous” selves.
Despite our best intentions we just can’t seem to lose weight. Perhaps at this point it is our mindset that is holding us back. In this day and age, when there’s a plethora of unhealthy food to consume and unhealthy lifestyle choices to make, it can be difficult to follow a diet program. But if we have the right attitude to lose weight and maintain our ideal weight, nothing is impossible.
Sheryl Garcia, who weighed 152 lbs., reached her healthy weight of 112 lbs. in just six months.
Francis Salazar started the program in 2011 weighing 325 lbs., and in eight months, he lost 153 lbs.
Sheryl Ehmene Uy-Garcia and Francis Salazar, two Cohen’s Lifestyle Program graduates who have maintained their healthy weight for more than three years, can attest to the effectiveness of conditioning one’s mind to lose weight.
Before adapting their new mindset, Uy-Garcia, an advertising sales unit head in her mid-30s, and Francis Salazar, a technology consultant, both suffered from asthma and obesity.
They turned to the Cohen Lifestyle Program, a rapid weight-loss, and wellness program through nutrition. Salazar started the program in 2011 weighing 325 lbs., and in eight months, he lost 153 lbs. Garcia, who weighed 152 lbs., reached her healthy weight of 112 lbs. in just six months.
Salazar and Garcia share the following “mental diet” tips that they learned from joining the program:
Assess your relationship with food.
Before you can effectively lose weight, you have to understand and deal with the root cause of your problem first –your relationship with food. The two Cohen clients reveal that they were emotional eaters before trying the program. Salazar shares, “I ate when I was happy; I ate when I was sad.” It’s important to be aware of why you may overeat and to stop feeding your emotion in order to successfully maintain your ideal weight.
Always remember your weight-loss motivation.
Losing weight can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be, especially when you focus on why you want to lose weight. “During one of my monthly ER visits, the doctor warned me that my asthma was fatal and I would expire early if I didn’t take care of myself. I enrolled in the Cohen’s Lifestyle Program because their approach is very personal. They made me focus on my ‘why’ – to live longer for my husband and kids,” shares Garcia.
As for Salazar, his family’s medical history compelled him to finally say goodbye to obesity. “A couple of my uncles died due to diabetes and stroke, and my mom knows that my current situation is a ‘ticking time bomb.’”
Have a support system.
There may have been times when you wanted to give up, but with the help and support of your family, you can push through with your weight-loss journey and reach your goal.
Garcia and Salazar stayed committed to the Cohen Lifestyle Program with the help of their families. “A key factor that helped me stay committed to the program is my supportive husband who encouraged and cooked for me whenever he could,” shares Garcia.
In addition to family support, it is also important to have the support of others who understand what you are going through and are supportive of your desire to lose weight and be healthier. Cohen Consultants often meet with their clients, such as Francis and Sheryl, to help them on their weight-loss journey.
Set realistic expectations.
Weight loss doesn’t happen overnight. You have to work for it, including sacrificing some indulgences. “Before Cohen, I only ate pork, rice and soda, no vegetables and fruits, but now, my plate always has salad with protein,” Garcia shares.
Sometimes no matter how hard you try to stick to your diet program, setbacks happen which can slow down your weight-loss progress or even increase your weight. The most important thing is you do not completely let go of your goal and you get back on track with your weight-loss program as soon as possible. Before you know it, you can reach your goal.
Salazar says, “Now that I no longer need to lose more weight, it is okay to indulge once in a while, but not overindulge. It’s okay to enjoy food. We eat to live, not live to eat.”
Change your perspective on food and diet.
Your mindset on food and diet is an essential factor in losing and maintaining weight safely and effectively. Salazar shares, “I learned that food is not supposed to run my life. That food is there for nourishment, but not to control me. I learned to be a more moderate and responsible eater.”
Garcia reveals, “It’s time to think of my family, not just my comfort. I eat to survive and only occasionally, eat to enjoy. Cohen teaches the discipline and the tools on how to make the right food choices, and I haven’t had any asthma attacks from the first day I started the program!”
To know more about Cohen’s Lifestyle Program, visit www.CohenLifestyle.com.ph, or visit http://www.facebook.com/CohenLifestylePhil on Facebook and http://instagram.com/cohenlifestyleph on Instagram.
If cooking is not your thing and you are more of a delivery kinda guy or gal then check out this post on Cohen’s Meals on Wheels … healthy food delivered right at your doorstep.
Nobody is perfect. Accept your imperfections. View your qualities in a positive way so you can gain more self-confidence and become one of those strong women you admire.
And don’t be afraid to go after your dreams! Make a vision board to illustrate your goals and remind you of all the goals you want to accomplish.
When was the last time you did something without the help of others? Have you ever tried dining out alone? Being able to do things on your own is truly empowering because it helps you know yourself better. It also shows that you are strong enough to face any situation. So, go ahead and travel or watch a movie alone. Don’t keep yourself from doing things you want to do just because there’s no one to go with you.
Join a charitable cause you or volunteer for a program you believe in. Giving back to the community and helping others will make you feel good about yourself.
One of the most rewarding things you can do is to pursue your passions. Whether it’s traveling, building your own business or applying for the job you really want, don’t be afraid to go for it. Never give up. Surround yourself with positive people who will encourage you.
Discover new skills together, like writing or cooking. Let Solane, the country’s leading LPG solutions provider, help you develop your cooking skills with simple and easy-to-do recipes from http://www.solane.com.ph/recipes.
Have you ever experienced a day when nothing seems to go well, that no matter how you try to choose the right path, you keep making the wrong turn? Just like having a bad hair day, no matter how many times you comb your hair, it just would not budge.
Eating the right food can alter your mood. Having low-level of folic acid in your body can cause anxiety, hence, food such as asparagus, avocado, salmon, and almond are recommended to fight stress hormones.
Listen to comforting music and reading feel-good stories can help switch you to a calm mood.
Exercise releases endorphins that can relieve you from stress and anxiety.
Taking in Vitamins such as B-complex can alter mood swings.
NOVUHAIR is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide. For more information, please contact hotlines 4136570 and 09228830575 from Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm or visit 
It is essential that you identify the sources of your stress so you can begin to treat it effectively. By recognizing the problems, habits and behavior that cause stress, it will be easier for you to handle them, thus lowering your level of stress.
Oftentimes, when people experience stress, they tend to immediately find comfort in eating sugary and fatty food like chips and sweets. However, consuming these will just make you lethargic, which may make you less motivated to deal with stress. On the other hand, low-fat, high-fiber and low-glycemic index food and plenty of fruits and vegetables help reduce stress as these types of food increase the body hormones that naturally fight it.
Lack of sleep is a significant cause of stress. Sleeping is another stress buster because it allows the body to recharge and recover from the day’s stressful events. Dr. Montoya recommends that it is best to get 6-8 hours of sleep daily.
A massage not only relaxes your body, but it may also shift your thoughts away from the things that cause stress. According to research, a massage can help release endorphins, lower your heart rate and blood pressure as well as relax tight and painful muscles.
One of the best ways to handle stress is talking the situation through with someone. Opening up about your stress to a friend or loved one — even for a minute — can significantly improve your mood.
Relaxing and taking deep breaths have been proven to effectively fight off stress. Dr. Montoya suggests taking 15 minutes every day to sit and practice relaxation techniques, deep breathing or yoga.
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