CONZACE: A Heavy Duty Mom’s Partner for Heavy Duty Immunity

In all three surgeries – two births and one pregnancy-related ailment – I’ve had in the past five years, my doctors have always prescribed Conzace to help improve immunity and to promote healing.  You see, in all my surgeries, my body would not heal well and I would always suffer from seroma.  Blame it on my unhealthy body due to my sedentary lifestyle then.  I was told to increase my Vitamin C intake to help with the healing process but my doctors prescribed Conzace specifically because, aside from Vitamin C, it has Zinc which would speed up by healing process.

However, I’m not really one who’d regularly take vitamins so when my wounds were completely healed, I stopped taking Conzace also.  I have nothing against vitamins and supplements but since childhood I was always the one who posed a challenge to Mom come vitamin-taking time.  All my sisters took theirs judiciously while I always snuck mine back into the bottle.

That’s about to change though as I’ve been advised to take Conzace again.  No, I have not undergone any surgery again nor have any wound that hasn’t been healing well.  But months of not having any househelp or yaya to help me with the two little ones and the house chores is taking a toll on my body.  Aside from being 24/7 mom-slave to my little ones, I also do the chores (thankfully hubby does his share of these – love you for that, hon!), cook, work as a part-time academic tutor, ghostwrite, and maintain websites.  Whew!

Stress, lack of sleep and recurrent cough and colds have gotten the better of me that one co-parent in school had even asked me, “What happened to you? You look so haggard!”  It sounds mean but, really, haggard is an understatement.

So, again, it’s back to Conzace!  But why Conzace when just vitamin C would suffice, you may ask.  Well, vitamin C does help develop white blood cells needed to boost immunity but we need more than that.  Conzace has a much stronger formula to develop white blood cells and make them stronger.

1 soft gel capsule of Conzace has:

  • 500mg of Vitamin C which develops white blood cells.
  • 100IU of Vitamin E and 5000IU of Vitamin A to intensify the protection of white blood cells
  • 25mg of Zinc which multiplies white blood cells so we can have the right number of white cells to defend us against sickness.

This formulation makes stronger white blood cells which means stronger immunity.

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The secret to strong immunity is in our white blood cells!

Post surgery, I would take two capsules a day. This time though, one capsule of Conzace per day would be enough to give my immune system a boost. I usually take mine in the evening before I go to sleep but you can take it anytime of the day.  Heed my advice, do avoid taking it on an empty stomach as vitamin C and an empty tummy don’t always go well together.

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CONZACE gives superior white blood cells for heavy duty immunity.

Conzace is available in soft gel capsules at P12.40 each (SRP) and is available in Mercury, Watson’s and other drugstores.  To know more about the #1 prescribed multivitamin for Heavy Duty Immunity, talk to Conzace thru www.facebook.com/conzace.



MAGGI MAGIC MEALS – Bringing Homecooked Meals Back On The Dining Table

When I was growing up, it was imperative for everyone to be at the dining table come dinner time. My mother was a homemaker and always had time to prepare delectable dishes.  Since my sisters and I were in school the most part of the day, dinner time was the perfect time for the family to talk and share stories.  I’m certain those in my generation also have very fond memories of warm homecooked meals shared over conversations and laughter with the entire family.

Today’s fast-paced lifestyle has altered this family tradition though.  With the cost of living skyrocketing,  most families have both father and mother working  to provide for all the family’s needs.  Consequently,  dinners with the entire family has become more of a weekend affair.

Believing that cooking and eating at home is the foundation of many positive things for the family such as developing healthy food habits, strengthening family bond, and deepening family traditions, MAGGI continues to innovate products and offer services that enable homemakers to bring back the habit of cooking and eating together as a family.

One such innovative product is the recently launched MAGGI MAGIC MEALS which is an ideal solution for modern-day homemakers to provide healthy homecooked meals for the family without slaving for hours in the kitchen.

Last week, I was invited to experience a unique way of preparing dinner using Maggi Magic Meals.  Together with other bloggers, I found out what makes this new product really magical.

A MAGGI MAGIC MEALS pack comes with a Maggi Magic Recipe Mix and a Maggi Magic Cooking Bag that allows time-strapped homemakers to cook a saucy dish together with the rice IN A rice cooker.  Yup! You got that right. The “ulam” and the “kanin” can be cooked at the same time and in the same pot!

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5 Simple Steps to A Delectably Saucy Filipino Dish
1. Place CHICKEN or PORK with THINLY SLICED VEGGIES
inside the MAGGI MAGIC COOKING BAG.
(Chicken has to be scored atleast 3 times per side, Pork sliced into thin strips, and veggies sliced as thin as a coin)
2. Add the MAGGI MAGIC RECIPE MIX.
3. Add 6 (six) tablespoons of WATER into the cooking bag.
(Use less water if you want a thicker sauce)
4. MASSAGE THE BAG GENTLY to dissolve the mix,
then seal the bag by tying a knot.
(Remove the air inside the bag but leave a tiny pocket
for air expansion during cooking)
5. Place the cooking bag flat on top of washed rice
then cook the rice as you normally would.
After 45 minutes, you’ll have both rice and “ulam” ready to serve.
(Don’t open the lid for the entire 45 minutes
to ensure that the meat is cooked thoroughly)

With such simple steps to follow, even your tweens and teens can prepare dinner themselves!  Really, even those who can’t cook can cook now.  Aside from the fuss-free way of cooking, what I like about MAGGI MAGIC MEALS is that I can prepare food that is healthy in less time and in an economical method.

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HEALTHY MEALS.  With Maggi Magic Meals,  we have the freedom to choose which vegetables and meat to use.  Since we would also be preparing the ingredients ourselves, we can be certain that the meat and veggies are all fresh.  We only used carrots and potatoes in our Chicken Pastel dish during the event but we were told that we have the option to add more veggies.  Chili can also be added to the Bicol Express dish for those who like this gata-dish really spicy.

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TIME-SAVING and EFFORTLESS.  There are really days when the laundry bins seem to be as high as mountains, or a deadline has to be met and you have no choice but to bring home papers to work on at night.  Maggi Magic Meals still allows you to prepare a saucy dish without requiring you to be in the kitchen for hours.  Apart from the few minutes it would take you to prepare the ingredients, the rest of the cooking is done with the rice in the rice cooker.  There’s no need to check on the stew to stir or season it.  All you have to do is wait for 45 minutes and you’ll have hot steaming rice and a delectable saucy dish laid out for dinner. That’s 45 precious minutes you can use to help your kids with their homework, to do some house chores, or to finish your work.

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ECONOMICAL.  The Maggi Magic Recipe Mix that comes with the pack guarantees a complete and proper blend of flavors which means that you don’t need to use garlic, onion and other ingredients used for sauteing. Also, Maggi Magic Meals are cooked together with the rice in the same pot so this translates to great savings on gas or electricity.  Lastly, Maggi Magic Meals makes cleaning up easy.  Aside from the chopping boards and knives used to prepare the ingredients, there are no pans and pots to wash which lets you save on water and dishwashing soap.

You don’t have to be a chef to provide healthy and delicious food for your family and you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen as well.  Rediscover the magic of meals prepared at home, try all four variants of MAGGI MAGIC MEALS and surprise your loved ones with Bicol Express, Afritada, Lechon Paksiw, and Chicken Pastel.

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MAGGI MAGIC MEALS are sold at 35 pesos per pack and are available in all branches of SM, Robinsons, Shopwise, Rustan, Waltermart, and Puregold Price Club & Jr.  They are also available in specific stores in the following areas:

GMA – Landmark, South, Llana’s, Ever, Cherry, Parco, Budgetlane, Pioneer Center, Isetann, Ng Chain, Tropical, Sta. Lucia and Hi Top.

Visayas – Metro Gaisano, Gaisano Grand & Capital, and Iloilo Supermarket

Mindanao – NCCC Mall & Main, Felcris Illustre, Gaisano Mall (Davao), and Gaisano Mall(Cagayan)

A Glass of Red Wine For A Happy Heart

Alcohol has been found to increase HDL, the good cholesterol, and by doing so decreases the chances of acquiring heart disease.  Wine has been widely believed to be good for the heart because of it contains flavonoids, antioxidants that lower LDL and increase HDL.   Red wine is our alcohol source of choice because it also contains the antioxidant resveratrol.

I read a little bit about red wine and its effect on cholesterol and found out that the sweeter the wine, the less flavonoids it contains.  Which means we’ve been buying the wrong kind of red wine.  You see, when drinking red wine to help decrease your cholesterol level, you’d want to choose those that contain a significant amount of flavonoids.  Apparently, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir contain the most flavonoids and should be our wine of choice.  Moreover, the dryer the wine is, the more flavonoids it will most likely contain.

Since red wine has been a part of my husband’s daily diet, perhaps we should get our own wine making kit at HomeBrewIt.com for home brewing supplies and make our own wine.

J&J Lifescan Diabetes Awareness Forum

Diabetes is now among the major public health concerns being addressed by the health industry.  Those diagnosed with diabetes have doubled in number in the last few decades and are expected to grow exponentially if left unchecked.  Most of those suffering from diabetes are afflicted with Type II Diabetes Mellitus which is caused by insulin resistance, more often due to fat that blocks insulin and glucose from entering cells, and can be managed quite well with exercise and healthy diet.

In their quest to increase diabetes awareness in the Philippines by conducting free blood glucose screenings and forums, Lifescae Inc invited bloggers and diabetic patients to a Diabetes Awareness Dinner Forum at Max’s Restaurant in Gateway Mall on May 26, 2012.

Before the program started, our blood sugar levels were taken by Jay-R, a specialist from J&J, using  a One Touch blood glucose meter. The process was fairly simple and the results were shown in just a few seconds. I was aghast though when my sugar level registered at 140 when the others who did not have diabetes like me just ranged from 80-100! My sister and I had the same meal during snack time and her blood sugar level was only 104.

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I was so worried about my sugar level that I couldn’t eat well.  I have got the sweetest tooth ever and can’t imagine having to live life without chocolates and anything else that’s sweet.  By happenstance, we were seated right across Mr. Alex and Aida Villareal who knew firsthand how to deal with diabetes.  Mr. Alex Villareal was actually one of the guest speakers that night.

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When Mr. Alex Villareal was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes 14 years ago, he said that he felt “deeply devastated, shaken, and felt that heaven and earth suddenly closed on me (him)”. He sought the advice of several doctors trying to figure out the best way to deal with this chronic disease.  Soon enough, he realized that, although a lifelong burden, diabetes was manageable and need not dampen his love for life.

Now 66 years old and with three grown up kids, he is enjoying life and making the most out of it inspite of diabetes.  He shared five ways on how he is able to cope with diabetes and live a great life:

  1. Religious Compliance to Medicine.
  2. Consistent Monitoring of Blood Sugar
  3. Regular Health Check-up
  4. Exercise
  5. Educating Oneself About the Disease

During dinner, Sir Alex and his wife shared plenty of advice to my sisters and I that my fear of having diabetes was calmed.  After hearing a diabetic patient’s testimony on how he is coping with the disease, we learned more about the disease itself through Dr. John Flores, the ASEAN Medical Affairs Director of Johnson & Johnson.  Read more about our crash course on diabetes in my previous post.  Among the many things that these two speakers shared,  proper blood glucose monitoring using the right meter was given much emphasis.

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Now more knowledgeable about Diabetes, I am less worried about my high sugar level and probable pre-diabetes condition.  We have plenty of relatives who have Type II Diabetes so it’ll not be improbable for me to acquire it (still crossing my fingers though that I don’t!).  Let this be a wake-up call for me to follow proper diet and to live a more active and healthier lifestyle. But in case I do have Type II Diabetes, atleast I know exactly how to deal with it.

 

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LifeScan Inc is a company under Johnson & Johnson Philippines that sells OneTouch blood glucose meters.  For inquiries, concerns, warranty, rewards, privileges & diabetes counselling:

Call: 1-800-1-888-7954 (toll free line), 824-8736 (Manila line), 0917-8782218 (mobile line for Visayas & Mindanao)

Text: JNJ<space>your inquiry and send to 2327(Globe) or 0917-8902327(other networks)

Email: [email protected]

Visit: http://www.lifescanphilippines.com

 


Sugary Facts and Figures about Diabetes

When diabetes is mentioned, sugar is more likely the word that comes to mind. We’ve all heard about sugar-free diet for those who have diabetes and we’ve heard several say that didn’t want to eat too much sugar lest they acquire diabetes. However, sugar in the form of glucose is an important part of our diet, whether you have diabetes or not. It can sometimes be hard dieting with diabetes, so it is definitely worth reading up on what you should and shouldn’t be doing. You’ll want to know what can cause diabetes, you’ll also probably want to know what diabetes can cause. For example, it might be the reason that you have an overactive bladder. If this is the case then it might be a good idea to check out something like this Advanced Urology centre to see if they can help you with your problem.

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Dr. John Flores, Medical Director of Johnson & Johnson ASEAN, shed light on the many misconceptions about diabetes and increased our awareness of diabetes during the Diabetes Awareness Dinner Forum held on May 26, 2012. Understanding that many are not familiar with medical terms, Dr. John Flores explained the causes and types of diabetes in a manner that we all could relate to. Now, bear with me as I try to share with you what I have learned from him about diabetes and how to properly manage it.

GLUCOSE in the blood is needed by the cells to provide energy.

It is the FUEL that sustains cellular activity necessary for our body to function.

That means we need glucose and should not remove it entirely from our diet. So, if sugar isn’t the culprit for diabetes, what is? Well, another term that is closely associated with diabetes is Insulin.

If glucose is the fuel, then INSULIN is the KEY needed for glucose to enter the body’s cells.

No, insulin is not the culprit. But the lack of insulin and our body’s resistance to it are the primary causes of diabetes. Without insulin, glucose is unable to enter the body’s tissues and this causes the tissues to use up their energy reserves.

So a person with diabetes has high blood sugar either because his body does not produce enough insulin or does not respond to the insulin produced. The different causes are used to classify diabetes into several types where three of the main types are:

Type 1 DM (Diabetes Mellitus), Type 2 DM, Gestational Diabetes

Type 1 DM results from one’s inability to produce insulin, Type 2 DM is caused by insulin resistance, and Gestational Diabetes is when women experience high sugar levels during pregnancy.

While there are no definite triggers that cause such abnormalities in our insulin, a number of risk factors can make our body prone to insulin breakdown or resistance. These factors include: stress, old age, obesity, medication, pregnancy, surgery and sedentary lifestyle.

Type 2 DM (Diabetes Mellitus) cases have been steadily increasing in the past couple of years. This is because most people have poor lifestyle habits that are surefire recipes for acquiring diabetes. There are also genetic factors that contribute to the development of diabetes in a person but unless this is a juvenile or inborn condition, there are still measures that we can take to prevent this illness.

First is for us to be aware of the dangers of this illness and be on the lookout for possible symptoms and regular monitoring of our sugar levels. Irregularities in blood sugar levels, hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, may be experienced by individuals in certain situations whether they have diabetes or not. So, how would you know if you have diabetes? The only way you can be certain is through laboratory tests and these critical numbers:

126 – 8 – 2

200 – 2 – 75

The first set of numbers means that you have diabetes if you have 126 mg/dl of glucose after 8 hours of fasting in 2 separate occasions. The second set means a result of 200 mg/dl of glucose after 2 hours of consuming 75 grams of glucose also indicates diabetes. The normal fasting glucose is 70-100mg/dl, so if your test results are anywhere between this range, you have nothing to worry about.

What if test results do indicate that you have diabetes? Though this is something that you have to bear with for the rest of your life, be glad that this disease is quite manageable now with proper medication and a healthy lifestyle. Dr. John Flores shared five things a diabetic patient needs to do to cope with diabetes:

Medical Nutrition Therapy
Exercise
Patient Education
Drugs/Medications
Optimization of Glucose Level Through SMBG

A person with diabetes would be smart to Achieve Blood Glucose Control, Blood Pressure Control, and Cholesterol Control. It is important for him to be able to monitor his blood glucose sample with diabetic testing supplies as this is one of the cornerstones of diabetes management. It is therefore important to choose the right monitor that is both accurate and precise. A home blood glucose meter should have a CV(coefficient of variation) of less than 5%.

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During the event, our sugar levels were taken using One Touch meters which gave results in just a few seconds. Meters such as these are essential for those who have diabetes as Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) can help guide therapy towards optimized glucose control.