Yes, I literally eat bacteria – actual live bacteria – a billion of them every morning, and sometimes, for snacks, six varieties of them in one cup of Chobani 20 Gram Protein, Lactose-free, Mango Greek Yogurt, with Zero Added Sugar. These are live cultures of wiggly bacteria. These good live bacteria support our gut microbiome, where harmony is vital; any imbalance between good and bad bacteria can weaken the immune system and cause diseases, not only in the gastrointestinal system but in other organ systems.
I switched from Chobani Mango-Passion Fruit Greek Yogurt, which I loved for its taste, because of lactose intolerance. Greek yogurt is the healthiest variety of yogurt.
What benefits do we get from yogurt? Firstly, it is highly nutritious. It has double the protein and half the carbohydrates. Key health benefits include: It supports muscle and energy, aids in weight management, improves digestive and gut health, has live and active probiotic cultures that boost the immune system, strengthens bones, rich in essential micronutrients (vitamin B-12 for healthy brain function, zinc for the immune system and cellular repair, and iodine for thyroid health). Fermented dairy products, like Greek yogurt, are associated with reduced risk for T2 diabetes lowers blood pressure, thanks to the potassium and magnesium in it.
In the United States, more than 176 million Americans eat Greek yogurt. No statistics for the Philippines, but Chobani, among others, has entered the Philippine Market. The counterpart of Greek yogurt in the Philippines is “Kesong Puti” (White Cheese), Carabao Milk Yogurt, made by curdling raw Carabao (water buffalo) milk with salt and a coagulant (citrus juice or vinegar) and straining out the liquid whey, like in making yogurt, to achieve a thick, creamy flavor.
Does the Carabao Milk Yogurt confer the same health benefits as Greek Yogurt? The answer may surprise you. In some areas, Carabao Milk Yogurt actually outperforms Greek Yogurt, according to experts, because Carabao milk is naturally a “premium” dairy base, which “exceeds many of the Greek yogurt’s famous nutritional properties without needing to be as highly processed.”
Come and join me to eat live bacteria! It’s healthy.
Veggie false claim
Fruits and vegetables are healthy food items that should be a part of our daily meals. The US FDA recommends 2-3 cups of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. The TV ads of Balance of Nature (and a dozen others) claim that taking 3 capsules of its fruits and veggies is enough; a substitute “for good health” is patently false.
In fact, you would realistically need to take 40-50 capsules every day to equal the USFDA recommendation for the daily requirement of fresh fruits and vegetables. And even if one takes 50 capsules a day, they would still not provide the health benefits of natural fresh fruits and vegetables.
Why this misinformation, which to me is fraudulent, is allowed to victimize unsuspecting consumers is puzzling to me. Granted, it may not harm those who take the capsules, but this precludes them from taking enough daily, which is a deceptive practice by these greedy entrepreneurs.
This is why I have been advocating for decades that this trillion-dollar food supplement industry be regulated more closely and more strictly by the government to protect the gullible and uninformed public. It is regulated but not seriously. These Ads are supposed to be true and accurate by law, but the US FDA has done nothing about false claims about hundreds of other food supplements. The unsuspecting public is the ultimate victims, who spend their hard-earned dollars to be healthier, but simply gets scammed.
By the way, I have developed and am selling Exercise Capsules (Exercise Mimetics), so you don’t have to move a muscle, live on a couch with a TV remote in hand, or sit the whole day doing computer work, to replace physical exercise. Dose: 50 capsules, 3 times a day. Only a dollar a capsule. Anyone interested?
Indeed, caveat emptor!
Soft drinks and cancer
When I was a youngster, I enjoyed the bubbly, fizzy, crispy taste of soft drinks until I went to medical school and learned that soft drinks, which I call “liquid candy,” were poison to our bodies. It causes metabolic syndrome, especially among children.
A recent large study from Mass General Brigham involving 112,000 individuals suggests that daily soft drink consumption “is linked to a higher risk of developing stomach cancer, compared with those who drank them less than once a month.”
Do yourself a favor, stay away from this poison, and warn the children too.
Tai chi and the brain
Against data from more than two decades ago, which thought the brain only produces new cells early in life. Now, we know that the brain has the ability to change throughout our lifespan, growing new cells, making new connections, and even increasing in size.
“In a meta-analysis of 20 studies on tai chi and cognition, tai chi appears to improve executive function-the ability to multitask, manage time, and make decisions-in people without any cognitive decline. In those with mild cognitive impairment, tai chi slowed the progression to dementia more than other types of exercise and comparably improved their cognitive function compared to other types of exercise or cognitive training.” – MS
Tai bo, modulated kick-boxing in slow motion for anyone, especially for seniors, is my game. It is like slow-motion shadow-boxing. It can be done anywhere in the house or outside. Like tai chi, it needs no gadgets or tools, just your mind and deep concentration.
Coffee reduces fat
Coffee is a healthy drink. Consuming 3-4 cups a day appears to help lengthen our telomeres and our longevity, as long as combined with a healthy lifestyle. Coffee confers a lot of health benefits.
Finland, where coffee consumption is the highest per person compared to other nations, was an appropriate place to track more than 2,200 adults born in 1966 and find out what coffee did to their bodies. Researchers found that “the heaviest coffee drinkers carried less total and visceral fat and more skeletal muscle than those who drank none, even with identical BMI.”
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States.