The latest statistics from the Department of Health (DOH) are alarming:
276 Filipinos die of heart disease every day.
One person dies of stroke every nine minutes.
Six out of 10 die of diabetes every day.
Nine people are diagnosed with cancer every hour.
One is diagnosed with kidney failure every hour.
Obesity or weight problems increase risks of diseases.
Natural wellness advocate Cathy Turvill quotes Health Secretary Francisco Duque as saying that statistics on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs or ailments that are not transmitted) make for a “perfect storm,” which jeopardizes the country’s progress and the Filipinos’ aspirations.
Turvill is founder and president of Nurture Wellness Village that has evolved from a spa into a natural health resort. As head of the health and wellness committee of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, she is helping educate Filipinos on natural health prevention and intervention.
In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a campaign on NCDs. Its goal was to reduce the number of premature deaths by 25 percent by 2025, and to educate people on how to guard themselves against factors that contribute to NCDs.
Alternatives
Nurture Wellness Village has joined this campaign by designing natural intervention programs that address kidney health, diabetes prevention, cardiovascular health, immune boosting and weight loss. It has also customized programs for other conditions such as cancer.
Patients are required to undergo a thorough blood test with its partner-health facilities. One of these partners, Biomark, is an app-based platform that sends the test results to one’s mobile, keeps track of signs of ailments, infection or exposure to one’s surroundings, and provides tips on how to maintain optimal health.
Dr. Samuel Dizon, natural healing consultant, customizes the program based on the results. Nutritionist Christine Alcantara designs the menu in the patient’s weeklong program.
Natural supplements
The package includes natural supplements, electrostatic therapy that targets the cause of the ailment, charcoal wrap to remove the toxins, fever bath to strengthen the defense system, therapeutic massage, enema and light exercises.
“We use evidence-based technology,” says Turvill.
Cooking classes are important because the program is geared toward lifestyle changes to prevent NCD recurrence.
Alcantara and wellness chef Marlon Azuelo have created a plant-based menu using ingredients from Nurture’s organic farm. The chef says that tasty meals can be prepared with fresh, local ingredients. The Foraged Spinach Salad, for instance, uses spinach, alugbati and candied walnut.
Alcantara explains that alugbati is rich in antioxidants, promotes good digestion and prevents the formation of cancer cells.
Healthy comfort food
The Mussa Cake, Falafel, Wild Herbs and Hummus is a spin on the banana blossom with carrots and celery and Middle Eastern comfort food. The banana blossom is rich in phosphorous, potassium and calcium. It is complemented with falafel and hummus, made from protein-rich chickpeas.
The open-grilled lasagna is made with vegetable pavé or finely sliced root vegetables balanced with vitamin-rich spinach and moringa or malunggay, which contains more protein than dairy.
“Our philosophy is that you don’t have to suffer while going through the wellness intervention program. The menu is low in calories but high in nutrition. The meals are enhanced with superfoods which will speed up the healing process. We encourage people to learn to prepare the food themselves,” says Turvill.
Alcantara also provides nutritional counseling. They learn about portion sizes and how to read labels to determine the nutritional content per serving.
Nurture Wellness Village, located in Tagaytay, has already accommodated several patients.
“Our message to the medical profession is to look at us as partners in addressing NCDs,” says Turvill. “People need wellness intervention, especially when living in Manila, which is very toxic. It helps to jumpstart their way to health.” —CONTRIBUTED