Ilog Maria and Human Nature-- World-class Brands of Organic Philippine Personal Care Products

I am featuring here two Filipino companies which every Filipino ought to be proud of.  They are Filipino through-and-through, environmentally-friendly, health-promoting, socially responsible and world-class.   

Ilog Maria

Ilog Maria is an ordinary family’s heartwarming tale of honeybee farming which has grown into a stable company, producing a line of organic bee-product-derived personal care products.  The family lives in a modern-day paradise surrounded by hives of honeybees and all kinds of trees from which these bees source their honey.  The amazing thing is that the farm is powered by green energy such as solar and wind.  They have this charming windmill which lends to the place a European countryside ambiance.  I want to live in a place like this when I grow old.  The idea of growing bees, living with bees and using bee products for personal care--while making a living out of them-- is simply amazing to me.  You must visit the site, if only to get to understand the wonders of bee products and even bee stings, to health.

 Their products:

• Essential oils for aromatherapy such as ylang-ylang, apple, lemongrass, jasmine, sampaguita, orange, cinnamon and other plant oils.
• Beauty and skincare line includes honey face scrub, royal jelly honeymilk lotion, royal jelly cleanser, moisturizer and face oil.
• Health products include pure, premium grade bee products such as bee propolis, honey cider vinegar, virgin honey, frozen royal jelly and fresh bee pollen (all are in my wish list).
• Handmade soaps come in all sorts of natural goodness—sandalwood and honey, propolis, coffee, milk and honey, bamboo charcoal, ginger and lemon, spearmint and oatmeal, lavender and honey, and many other natural soaps.
• Other personal care products include toothpaste, sanitizer, feminine wash and insect repellant.
• Spa products include massage oils featuring oils of rosemary, lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus.
• Beeswax products are made of their surplus beeswax which they sculpt into artistic, iconic candles which come in the shapes of flowers, leaves, colonnades and angels—perfect as décor and gift items and to light up candlelit dinners.

Human Nature

Human Nature is the first brand of organic personal care products that I have tried and the one which educated me first about organic lifestyle.  What impressed me with this company is that ring of authenticity which you could sense after a quick tour through their site.  Read the amazing history of this company here.  I also love the fact that this company maintains a professional website which features everything there is to know about the company, its products and advocacies.  For instance, they have an online store which caters to both the Philippines and the US.  They have a well-updated monthly newsletter which you can access online. 

I have ordered several times from their online store and I have always been satisfied with their promptness in delivery and with the fact that they deliver out-of-stock items free of charge as soon as the product becomes available.

Human Nature products use natural, plant-based ingredients such as essential oils of coconut, coco nectar, avocado, sunflower, passion fruit, citronella, lemon, lemongrass and elemi oil.  There are no parabens, talc and artificial colorants.

The company has enough social responsibility to build sunflower and passion fruit farming communities which provide livelihood to thousands of farmers.  That is compassionate social responsibility redefined.

Their products:

• Mineral make-up includes mineral foundation, blush, eye shadow, lip gloss, tinted lip balm, lipstick and cleansing oil.
• Hair care products include shampoo, conditioner and hair mask.
• Facial care products include facial wash, facial scrub, toner and moisturizer.
• Body care line includes body lotion, body butter, hand and foot salve, massage oil, feminine wash, underarm deodorant and shaving oil.  
• Kiddie- and baby-friendly products include baby wash, baby oil and baby lotion; sanitizer spray, citronella anti-mosquito spray and pocket hand soap.

Photo Credit:  ilogmaria.com

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Grains of Truth About Graviola

Graviola, also known as soursop, is locally known in the Philippines as guyabano.  It is currently being raved about as a powerful anti-cancer agent.  Some have said it has compounds which are 10,000 times more potent than the chemotherapy drug adriamycin.  This could explain the sudden mushrooming of graviola-containing supplements in the market. 

Personally, I would rather eat the tangy-sweet delicious fruit rather than try some tasteless capsule.  But to investigate the claims, I did some research and here are some notes:

No Human Trials

As of 2012, there are laboratory tests using graviola supplements on animals but virtually none on humans.  As such, we do not have any scientific data regarding the effects of graviola supplements on man.  This means that we do not know how much is the recommended dosage, what are the possible side effects and drug interactions of graviola.

Anti-cancer Activity Limited to Laboratory Animals

There is a 2011 study detailing how graviola fruit extract inhibited the growth of human breast cancer cells.  The study was done in vitro (in laboratory test tubes) and in vivo (involving laboratory animals).  Human trials were not conducted.  There is a great chance that graviola has the same anti-cancer effect on humans but the concern about side effects is an issue.

How about personal testimonies about healing from graviola?

There have been personal testimonies of cancer patients who have seen positive results after taking graviola supplements, but it is difficult to ascertain if the said results were due to graviola alone as they are also under chemo or radiotherapy.

Kills colon cancer cells?

In the 1916 Journal of Natural Products, there was a study published on the cytotoxic (cell-killing) activity of the graviola compound cis-annonacin against colon cancer cells.  It was here that the anti-cancer activity of graviola was found to be 10,000 times greater than the chemotherapeutic drug adriamycin.  But again, we must remember that the study used the isolated compound (cis-annonacin) and not the graviola fruit or supplement.

The Parkinson’s Scare

Regular and long-term ingestion of graviola fruit has been linked with the development of Parkinson’s Disease or Parkinson’s-like symptoms among residents in Caribbean countries.  This finding cautions us against taking graviola supplements which are even more concentrated forms of graviola.  The consensus among experts is to take 2 days off of eating graviola fruit each week.

My Personal Opinion

 I would err on the safe side and avoid taking graviola supplements pending human trials.

I would rather eat graviola fruit than take it in supplement form.  But I would refrain from eating graviola fruit for days in a row as that may cause Parkinson’s Disease. 

Photo Credit:  okrahealthbenefitsrecipes.com

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Filipino Brands of Coconut Sugar

Here are a few of the Filipino brands of coconut sugar I found online.  I know there are many brands of coco sugar out there, but these three are the ones which  maintain a website and/or an online store (which makes their claims open for scrutiny).  They are all certified organic and have passed ISO as well. 

If you are a diabetic, realize that your artificial sweeteners have toxicity concerns in the long run.  Better take charge of your health by opting to use this low-glycemic index sugar which is devoid of chemicals and bursting with cell-nourishing vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

Disclaimer:  I am not paid to write about these companies or their products.  I just wish some Westerners who are desperately searching for a truly healthy sweetener would find these coco sugar brands, and in the process help provide income for Filipino farmers.

www.coconaturasugar.com

What I particularly like about this company is that it is basically a family business borne out of real faith in what coco sap sugar can do.  Harry Liu is a veteran Filipino stockbroker who wants a healthier and safer alternative to artificial sweeteners which he is forced to use due to his diabetes.  The company now provides livelihood to thousands of Filipino farmers in Southern Philippines.  It is guided by the vision “bringing sweetness back to life.”  The only drawback with this company is that it does not have an online store, though all its products are said to be sold in most supermarkets in the Philippines.  

www.coconutsugarphilippines.com

This site is owned by Larry and Lalaine Abonal who are Filipinos now living in California.    The site contains many helpful information about coco sugar—its low glycemic index, its differences as against sugarcane-based sugars and other sweeteners, its usage in drinks and recipes, etc.  I also like the fact that their products have certifications from USDA and two other certification bodies.  The site is basically an online store which sells coco sugar in different forms such as coco sugar rocks, sticks, sachets, fudgy and even fun shapes.  They accept paypal payments as well as most major credit cards.

www.naturesblessings.com.ph

This site sells coco sugar as well as other coconut products such as virgin coconut oil (VCO), coco water and coco oil-based massage oil.  Their products are also USDA certified.  Major credit cards are also accepted.  The site features a Doctor Research page containing research findings on the efficacy of VCO in treating pediatric, cardiac and dermatologic problems.

Photo Credit:  opinion.inquirer.net

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Oil Pulling-- a Simple, Cheap and Safe Way to Improve Health

I came across oil pulling after researching on what to do with my gum swelling and bleeding.  I have just been diagnosed with a mild case of periodontal disease or gum problem.  It is not yet a gum infection, the dentist said, but it could be soon if left untreated.  All my teeth were declared healthy, but apparently my gums were not.  She prescribed a special mouthwash which I am to use every after brushing and also ordered me to gargle warm salty water each night before going to bed.

I am religiously doing what the dentist told me and I’ve seen good results.  The bleeding is gone, though there are still some signs of swelling.  But still, I need to find a real solution—not just a temporary fix—for this problem. 

I have long sensed that my gums have a problem but kept postponing going to the dentist for time constraint reasons.  The only thing that prodded me to finally have a check-up was when I had profuse bleeding on—of all days—my birthday.  I also have this lingering suspicion that my gum problem is due to nutritional deficiencies.  I have been breastfeeding my third child for a year now and I know breastfeeding pulls so many nutrients out of the mother’s body and into the child, so much so that when the mother is not adequately nourished at all times, she may end up with some health problems.

Now for the oil pulling part.  Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic health practice of swishing oil inside the mouth to cure many kinds of illnesses.  It is said to cure allergies, headaches, gum problems, throat infection, ear infection, sinusitis, dental caries, eye infections, etc.  What particularly perked my interest is the fact that it whitens teeth as well.  (A single tooth whitening session is worth 5,000 pesos said my dentist.)

Oil pulling also serves to nourish the body as natural oils are rich in oil-soluble vitamins and antioxidants.

Some notes:

·         The oil used should be a healthy one—natural, preferably cold-processed plant oil. 

·         The practice should be done daily, ideally in the morning before taking your breakfast.

·         Swish less than a mouthful of oil inside your mouth, making sure all teeth, surfaces and crevices inside your mouth come into contact with the oil.

·         Do the swishing until the oil turns from yellow to white and becomes thick and viscous.  Such transformation is said to be due to germs and toxins being pulled from your oral cavity.

·         Spit out all of the oil afterwards.  Never ever swallow even a fraction of it as it now contains many germs.

·         Gargle with warm water several times.

·         Recommended oils include virgin coconut oil, sunflower oil and sesame oil.  I personally have more faith in VCO as it is the richest source of lauric acid, a fatty acid which transforms inside the body as monolaurin, one of the most powerful antibacterial substances on earth.

My hopes:

·         That I would regain perfect gum health as I am particularly afraid of the finding which says that gum disease is closely linked to heart disease.  Plus it also leads to tooth loss in old age.

·         That I would have whiter teeth.

·         That I could blog about fantastic results sometime.

Any good experiences with oil pulling out there?

Photo Credit: idhayam.com

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Coco Sugar-- Probably the Healthiest Sugar

Coco sugar is fast becoming a popular and much healthier sweetener alternative for many reasons.  Also known as coconut sugar, coco sap sugar and coconut palm sugar, this brown-colored sugar looks much like muscovado sugar but with a mellow coconutty taste and aroma plus delightful notes of caramel and butterscotch.  It is normal to have differences of taste, texture and color as these traits are affected by the coconut species used as well as the season in which the sap was harvested.

Origin and Manufacture

The world’s biggest manufacturer of coco sugar is my country—the Philippines.  It is also being produced in many countries in Asia, notably Thailand and Malaysia.

Here you will see a man climbing a coconut tree.  (Such is the precarious occupation of coconut climbers in my country.  I do hope somebody somewhere would invent a coconut harvester which eliminates this kind of high-risk job, but that is beside the point.)    Once the cut is made, coconut sap starts to flow and the sap is collected in a bamboo container.

To make coco sugar, the coco sap collected from many coconut trees is then heated in a large cauldron to evaporate water, which comprises 80% of the sap.  As water evaporates, the liquid thickens into a syrup, then gradually transforms into a soft paste, then into granules and finally crystallizes into coco sugar.

There are no artificial colors, flavors and preservatives used in the process.  Coconut sap is simply boiled until dehydrated. Such minimal processing makes this natural sugar even healthier.

Health Benefits of Coco Sugar

• Coco sugar is a low-glycemic index food which means that it does not cause a sharp rise in blood sugar when ingested.  Its glycemic index of only 35 is only half that of white sugar and a third of white rice.  As such, it is easy to see why it is currently being raved about as a healthier alternative to sugar substitutes.  Diabetics are especially benefitted by this healthy sweetener.
• Coco sugar is replete with the minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron, among others.  Compared to brown sugar, it has 36 times more iron, 4 times more magnesium and 10 times more zinc.
• Coco sugar is also rich in B vitamins which play critical roles in neuromuscular health.
• Coconut sugar contains 16 amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
• Coco sugar is especially rich in the amino acid glutamic acid, which is said to be a key ingredient in Viagra.  I figure this is one of the foremost reasons why this is saleable in foreign countries.

       Price

The current selling price of coco sugar is 3oo to 400 pesos per kilo or about $10 a kilo.

Photo Credits:

coconutworldbiz.com

skyscrapercity.com

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