Garlic (Allium sativum) is used as culinary spices and medical herb. It is a member of the Lily family and a cousin of onions.  It is arranged in a head, called the “bulb” which is made up of separate cloves  Garlic gloves are off-white in color, and although they have a firm texture, they can be easily cut or crushed.

Garlic provides a numerous benefits to prevent certain illnesses including certain cancer, colds, heart disease, hypertension, and infection.

Cancer: Eating more garlic may greatly lower the risk of certain cancer. Studies shown that garlic has an ability to reduce the formulation of cancerous cells and it is actually block cancer causing oesohagal, breast, stomach, prostate and bladder cancer.

Colds: Garlic is also known to treat colds.  Upon the onset of the sniffles, many people testify that consuming a clove or more of raw garlic takes them away. Studies have shown that garlic extract improves immune function and gives the natural defense system a boost.  It also conserves the levels of antioxidants in our system.

Heart Disease: Since garlic help to reduce the high blood pressure so it is also help to lower the cholesterol levels.  It raises the good cholesterol levels and prevents bad cholesterol from building up on arterial walls which reduces the chance of plaque forming in the arteries. Regular consumption of garlic slows the aging of the aorta and helps to keep it flexible.

Hypertension: Garlic has the ability to control the blood pressure by thinning the blood.  It contains ajoene which thins the blood and keeps clots from forming.

Infection: Garlic contains anti-bacterial properties.  It is effective against intestinal parasites, recurrent yeast infections and growth of candida albicans.  Garlic is known to stimulate T-cells that help to fight infection.

Pineapple is one of the popular fruits here in the Philippines. Aside for being delicious, pineapple is loaded with vitamins and minerals which are good to our body. It contains calcium, potassium, fiber and vitamin C. It is also low in fat and cholesterol.

The nutrients from pineapple can be achieved by eating fresh, canned or frozen pineapple and by drinking its juice.

The following are the health benefits of pineapple

1. It served as treatment of conditions such as acute sinusitis, sore throat, arthritis and gout because it contains bromelain.
2. It also helps to prevent constipation.
3. It is excellent cold and flu fighter because it has high contents of vitamin C which is important to proper functioning of immune system.
4. Pineapple is an excellent source of manganese which is essential in some of the enzymes necessary for the energy production.
5. It contains vitamin B1 (thiamine) which is essential in energy producing enzymes.
6. It helps to protect against age-related eye problems such as macular degeneration and maintain eye health.
7. Fresh pineapple juice use to remove intestinal worms.
8. It is regulates gland and help in cases of goiter.
9. Helps to reduce high blood pressure.
10. Prevent nausea such as morning sickness and motion sickness.

Halayang Ube is one of the popular Filipinos delicacies and often cook during Christmas and New Year. Every year my mother always cook halayang ube with suman as partner of halayang ube.

Ingredients:

1 kilo ube yam root
1/2 kilo gabi (taro root)
1/2 cup margarine
3 cans condensed milk (12 ounces)
2 can evaporated milk (12 ounces)
1/2 cup dairy cream
1/2 cup grated cheese
1/4 kilo sugar
2 cups of water

Procedures:

1.    In a big pot, boil the unpeeled ube yam and gabi and simmer for about 30 minutes.
2.    Peeled the ube yam and gabi after draining and cooling.
3.    Grate the ube yam and gabi.
4.    In a casserole, add water and bring to boil.
5.    Add sugar to boiling water and put the grated ube yam and gabi.
6.    Put the margarine and dairy cream and mix well.
7.    Keep mixing the ingredients for 30 minutes and add condensed and evaporated milk. Continue to mix for another 15 minutes or until sticky and add grated cheese while mixing.
8.    Remove from heat and let cool and place in the platter.
9.    Refrigerate before serving

Notes:

•    You may add latik or fried coconut milk solids on top of halayang ube.
•    You may also spread additional margarine on top.

Inihaw na bangus is one of the popular dish here in the Philippines.  Some men prepare it for their pulutan.  The best way of cooking fresh bangus is to be grilled.

Ingredients:

1 pc. big size boneless bangus (milkfish)
4 medium sized tomatoes, chopped
2 medium sized onion, chopped
3 tbsp. fish sauce
Pepper to taste

Procedures:

1. Clean the bangus or milkfish (make sure that the scales are intact)
2. Combine tomatoes and onion. Add fish sauce and pepper to taste.
3. Insert the mixture of tomatoes and onion inside the fish.
4. Wrap with aluminum foil and grilled over charcoal for 10 to 15 minutes on each side.
5. After grilling the bangus, you can unwrap the bangus and serve it with your dipping sauce. Dipping sauce can be soy sauce with calamansi and siling labuyo.

Winged Bean is a pea like beans with four winged edges.  The fresh young pod are long, flat which covered with wings among four edges.

Almost all part of winged beans is edible and tasty. The tuber and young leaves is can be used as vegetables and the flowers can be added to salads. The dry leaves of winged beans just like soybeans can be used for extracting edible oil while the flour from winged bean can also be used as a protein supplement in bread making.

The taste of leaves of winged bean is taste like spinach and the flower is like a mushrooms. Winged bean is a good source of protein.  It contains abundant natural vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

I prefer to eat small winged beans (2 to 3 inches long) because it is very crunchy and can be eaten as a whole like finger food.  I usually boil it and eat as finger food. I boil the winged beans not more than five minutes to avoid overcooking. It is best to cook the winged bean the day you pick or purchase because if you store it in the refrigerator, it will turn ugly green veggies.

1.    The cord must be cut between two clamps or tied using clean and sterile scissors or blade.  Then the baby is immediately put to mother’s breast. The mother must be closely watched.  During the first two hours after delivery for bleeding.

Mother
-    The uterus is contracted and hard
-    Blood pressure and pulse rate must be normal
-    Placenta must be completely expelled
-    Lacerations along the birth canal

Baby
-    Vital signs/reflexes with use of APGAR scoring
-    Congenital defects

2.    Midwives should be made aware of the deliveries attended by Traditional Birth Attendants (hilot). They must see to it that these deliveries must be reported by the TBAs to the nearest health facility for purpose of continuing services.

3.    Each baby must be registered in the civil registry.  The birth certificate should be filled-up by the attendant at birth ( if it is a hilot, she/he has to be helped in filling up and registering by the midwife)

4.    All newborn should be enrolled for Under Fives and should be issued a Growth Monitoring Chart.

5.    For home deliveries, the first postpartum visit shall be done within 24 hours after delivery, the next visit  shall be at least one week after delivery, and third visit two to four weeks thereafter.  The visit to the health facility shall be within four to six weeks after delivery.

6.    Postpartum check-up should include:

For mothers:

-    Check for bleeding and infection
-    Check vital signs, breastfeeding practices
-    Postpartum counseling to include birth spacing, cord care, hygiene, breastfeeding and nutrition.

For babies:

-    Check sucking reflex and breastfeeding practices and problems
-    Check umbilical stump for bleeding and signs of infection
-    Observe for pathologic jaundice and pallor

Source: Community Health Nursing Services in the Philippines

Champorado is one of the pinoy’s favorite breakfast or snack especially children because of the great taste of chocolate.  Eating champorado involved pouring evaporated milk in circles over a bowl of champorado.

Ingredients:

1 cup of malagkit or rice
1/2 cup cocoa powder or milo powder
1/2 cup of sugar
4 1/2 cups of water
Evaporated Milk

Procedures:

1. In a medium sauce pan, cook rice with water.
2. Stir constantly while boiling.
3. When rice is cooked or ready (transparent), add cocoa or milo and sugar.
4. Cook until rice is tender. If rice is too dry, add little more water. I prefer to have a bit soupy and adjust sugar to taste.
5. Serve champorado with a swirl of evaporated milk on top.

Enjoy the taste of delicious fruit macaroni salad. Fruit macaroni salad is good snack and dessert for you and for your family.

Ingredients:

1 cup fruit cocktail, drained
4 cups cooked macaroni noodles
1/2 cup condensed milk
1 cup mayonnaise (220 ml bottle)
2 small red apple, unpeeled and cut into cubes
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, cut into cubes

Procedures:

1.    Mix mayonnaise and condensed milk.
2.    Add 4 cups cooked macaroni salad, fruit cocktail, and apples.
3.    Top with cubed cheddar cheese.
4.    Refrigerate and serve cold.

My family loves to eat chicken salad macaroni.  It is best served during holidays such as Christmas and New Year. It is easy to prepare because it is just a mixture of ingredients that combine.

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked salad macaroni noodles
1/2 cup boiled chicken, cut into cubes
2 tbsp finely chopped carrots
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup pineapple tidbits, drained
2 tsp finely chopped celery
2 tsp pickle relish
1/2 cup cheese, cut into dices
Salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:

1. Combine all ingredients such as cooked macaroni noodles, boiled chicken, carrots, mayonnaise, pineapple tidbits, celery, picked, cheese while adding salt and pepper to taste.
2. Refrigerate and serve.

Cancer is happens when normal cells have gone wild and lost their growth and development controls. Cancer would surely be easier to detect and treat if it were a single entity with a single simple cause. But it is not.  Experts agree that there are actually some 200 different diseases that can be called cancers.  They have different causes, originate in different tissues, develop for different reasons and in different ways, and demand vastly different kinds of treatment

Medical studies have constant eye to search for factors in our environment that can produce cancer in human beings.

Some factor that result cancer to human beings are the following:

• Large number of chemical agents such as those in tobacco smoke, and asbestos fibers.
• Other occupational chemical hazards such as ionizing radiation found in x-rays, nuclear bombs, and sunlight.
• Injury or repeated irritation
• Metal or plastic implants
• Flaws in the body’s immune reaction
• Genetic mistakes
• Parasites
• Viruses