More on food supplements

WELLNEWS

Victor Romulo Gallardo Dumaguing MD

Garlic joins ampalaya and banaba, as one of the most-touted natural substances with purported medicinal properties. A few years back, as training resident in internal medicine, a  man in his mid-40)s was brought to the Emergency Room because of nape pains, vomiting and blurred vision. Slurred speech and incoherence made the staff thought that he had drank too much alcohol but instead of the usual alcohol breath, the ER was reeking with the heady smell of garlic. Blood pressure was 250/120. More worried than upset, the nurse gently asked the relatives if the patient had any maintenance medicines. Without batting an eyelash, the wife fished out a big bottle containing garlic capsules and proudly even raised it for everybody to see.
    Garlic, also known as Allium sativum, indeed has some clinical uses. Dentist-friends of mine, who had Mombusho scholarship grants to Japan, capped their academic stay, with research and even actual clinical trials, using garlic for its antiseptic effect. It must be emphasized at this point that antiseptic effect does not necessarily mean “antibiotic effect." In fairness, a few studies have shown that garlic may help prevent the growth and multiplication of microbes, particularly fungus.
    Now as to whether, garlic indeed has anti-hypertensive effects, cardiologists and internist this author have talked to , out of courtesy and fairness, said probably there is, but the patient may have to bring with him baskets and baskets of garlic daily, enough to drive all the "  aswangs" to Mars. On the other hand, dietitians come to the rescue of garlic, by saying that in order to maximize the anti-oxidant effect of garlic, it should be sliced at least 10 minutes before throwing it into the cooking pan, to allow air exposure to get its useful “allicin."  The same is truer with tomato, it should be sliced ahead of time, exposed  to air, and to get that much-desired lycopene, must be dashed with a sprinkle of olive oil.
    Let us not forget malunggay and saluyot. Malunggay, which grows abundantly in the Ilocos, was used a post on which makeshift fences were either tied. The author and just like any kid who are promdi (read: province) have fond memories being asked by their mothers to gather malunggay leaves whenever a native chicken is butchered, which adds a distinct flavor to the tinola or chicken broth. It's only lately, that aside from providing vitamins, calcium and being green and leafy, magnesium, there is also fiber, which would make anyone's trip to the toilet daily, coming out with a smile and screaming success. How's that for our constipated readers.
    Saluyot, which is as Ilokano as basi, has also gained not only acceptance into mainstream cooking and even in avant garde restaurants, enjoy the same prestige and reputation as malunggay, despite its slimy texture, which some snobs describe as weird, if not, yucky. 
    So popular malunggay and saluyot have become that again, some businessmen saw a goldmine in them, and came up with capsule forms of the vegetables, coupled with  enticing, high fallutin words like " clinically proven" scientifically-tested," systematically inserted into their massive, aggressive advertisements have brought them hordes of customers and buyers. Nutritionists and dietitians are unanimous in saying that these vegetables when eaten fresh and properly cooked, are better source of nutrients and much less expensive. Not only good for your health, also kinder to your pocket
    Shrewd businessmen would do anything just to promote their food supplements, getting noted celebrities- star athletes, movie stars, beauty queens, name it, as endorsers of their products
    So much so that many observed that these endorsers may just be mouthing memorized statements without understanding a bit what the food supplement is all about. Of course, with the endorser demanding a fee- which could fetch a king’s ransom- naturally, the endorsed product would be expensive, and yet there are many equivalent products which are much less expensive and are as good. Take home message, talk to your family doctor or instead of the capsule or tablet form of the food supplement, and eat the fruit or the vegetable.
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