“Do you fall into #MalnutritionTraps?”

Solving the Philippines’ Double Burden of Malnutrition should be a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors as it is not an easy feat. With this, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation partnered with government agencies to conduct education programs to raise awareness and promote the practice of Pinggang Pinoy® in malnutrition hotspots, where incidences of Double Burden Malnutrition are high. This training was given to homemakers/mothers who have malnourished (underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight and obese) school-aged children.

The pilot run resulted in improvements in the knowledge & attitudes of households related to the practice of Pinggang Pinoy® within target areas. However, behavior changes towards healthier eating habits remain to be a challenge. The program uncovered a number #MalnutritionTraps that some Pinoy households easily fall into. The following #MalnutritionTraps provide a picture of how unhealthy eating habits may lead to Double Burden of Malnutrition:

Overconsumption of carbohydrates: Voracious rice eaters can easily fill half of their plates with rice. Others have pandesal & noodles as regular meal deprived of other nutrients derived from a well-balanced meal. 

Underconsumption of vegetables and/fruits: It is common for some to be content with rice & meat to satisfy their hunger and skip/take the insufficient amount of vegetables/fruits. Fact is, the variety of colors found in Glow foods are important sources of vitamins & minerals to sustain our energy & keep us from getting sick.

Overconsumption of protein: Typical Filipino “SILOG” meals include a double serving of proteins (e.g. Tapa+Itlog, Tocino+Itlog, Longanisa+Itlog, Bangus+Itlog). Eating different kinds of protein is fine for as long as they are taken in moderation. We must also avoid protein dishes served high in fat, cholesterol, and sodium. 

More stories about #MalnutritionTraps can be referenced from these documentary videos:

Louder for the people in the back!

Whether or not you’re an aspiring balladeer, everyone is at risk of injuring their vocal cords, especially if they don’t take care of their voices. Luckily, top hospital in the Philippines Makati Medical Center is here to break down how vocal cords are usually injured and how you can avoid straining them.

According to Shiella B. Lim, MD of MakatiMed’s Department of Otorhinolaryngology, the three most common results of injury to the vocal cords are: nodules, polyps, and cysts. Though they all have little differences, they share one underlying cause: overusing one’s voice. They usually result from such seemingly harmless activities as shouting at a sports match or singing without resting. Many times, these lesions can develop into voice disorders that require surgery to be treated.

“Vocal cord nodules are calluses in the vocal cords, and often present problems by making you hoarse or voiceless” she says. “They’re more commonly seen in female adults than men, and in children of both genders. Patients with vocal fold nodules usually have a history of vocal abuse or misuse. This is the most common type of lesion found in singers.”