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 | Jul 31, 2016 | Business
Reader’s Digest’s Trusted Brand Award
MediCard, a leading health maintenance organization (HMO) provider, has been given the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand 2016 Gold award in the Health Card category. Now on its 18th year, the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Awards commends products and services most trusted by Filipinos.
How are the Trusted Brand awardees selected?
Brands were chosen by consumers and were rated on the following attributes:
- trustworthiness and credibility
- quality
- value
- understanding of customer needs
- innovation
- and social responsibility.
Dr. Nicky Montoya
President of Medicard Philippines
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award because it reflects the trust given to us by consumers. MediCard takes pride of its highly competent and well-trained doctors and medical professionals who can help and present solutions for the health and wellness of their patients,” said Dr. Nicky Montoya, president of MediCard Philippines.
What services does Medicard offer?
MediCard offers services such as:
- preventive health care
- hospital confinement
- outpatient care
- emergency care
- members’ financial assistance
- and dental care
It also has numerous freestanding clinics and satellite clinics nationwide, bringing the best and accessible medical care to its members.
To help its patients practice a healthy lifestyle, MediCard also has the MediCard Lifestyle Center, which is designed to offer effective solutions for wellness. According to their website:
A first-of-its kind, The MediCard Lifestyle Center is designed to offer effective solutions for wellness and lifestyle diseases. Housed in a new and modern edifice, the MediCard Lifestyle Center is home to, among others, a state-of-the-art dermatological center, a fitness facility, an eye and colorectal center, dental clinics and a yoga center. The MediCard Lifestyle Center also has a coffee shop that serves organic food to help clients stay on track of their health and fitness goals.
Visit http://mlc.medicardphils.com for more details on the Medicard Lifestyle Center.
With the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand 2016 Gold award reinforcing MediCard’s accomplishments, MediCard continues its commitment to bringing trustworthy and excellent healthcare services to Filipinos.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 25, 2016 | Health Tips
Did you know that aside from your toilet bowl, kitchen counter, and pet cage, there are other germ-infested spots and things inside your home – such as makeup, yoga mat, and headphones? It is crucial to keep these things clean and dirt-free to have a healthy body and prevent sickness.
“Contact with dirty everyday items such as mobile phones, kitchen sponges, and sinks increase your risk of having illness-causing bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Staphylococcus and influenza virus, which might cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps,” says MediCard President Dr. Nicky Montoya.
Here are some of the most germ-infested places and personal belongings that you must clean:
Dish sponge
The irony here is that sponges are supposed to ‘clean’ dishes and countertops, yet they are the dirtiest thing in most homes. According to a study, 77% harbored coliform bacteria, 86% contained yeast and mold, and 18% had staph bacteria.
To disinfect a sponge, soak it in water then heat it in the microwave for one to two minutes, or pour boiling water over it. It is also best to replace your dish sponge every two weeks.
Kitchen sink
Did you know that the kitchen sink is dirtier than most bathrooms? It typically has more than 500,000 bacteria per square inch in the drain. Clean your sink with an antibacterial product after preparing or cleansing food such as raw meat, fruits, and vegetables.
Headphones
Using headphones or earphones for one hour has been shown to coat them with bacteria from the ear and increase the germ level in your ears by nearly 700 times.
Keep your earphones dirt-free by simply cleaning your earbuds using a soap solution or replacing detachable silicone covers.
Makeup and makeup brushes
Imagine putting on grimy makeup and brushes on your face. Numerous studies found that approximately half of all makeup brushes and mascara tubes are harboring germs.
Make sure to keep and use makeup for about 6 months maximum and clean brushes frequently using a disinfectant cleaner.
Yoga mat
Practicing yoga is a relief for those who want to relax and calm their mind and body. However, yoga mats, especially communal ones, harbor sweat and microbes that can linger for days if unwashed. It is best to invest in a yoga towel to keep sweat off the mat itself or occasionally scrub mats with a bit of dish soap and water.
Cell phone
Cellular phones have been considered a necessity for people. But did you know that mobile phones are one of the risk factors for infection?
According to a study, 1 in 6 cell phones is contaminated with fecal matter. That is why it is advised to shut down your device once a week and clean or wipe it with a disinfectant cloth.
Awareness of the dirty spots inside and outside your home and getting check-ups are important in preventing diseases.
MediCard has 13 free-standing clinics located in key cities nationwide that offer consultations, diagnostic tests and specialty medical services.
Visit a MediCard clinic near you or check out their website at www.medicardphils.com for more information.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Did you know that aside from your toilet bowl, kitchen counter, and pet cage, there are other germ-infested spots and things inside your home – such as makeup, yoga mat, and headphones? It is crucial to keep these things clean and dirt-free to have a healthy body and prevent sickness.
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