Doctors may soon be prescribing vegetables instead of drugs for chronic illnesses

Photo || Pixabay

Cordillera - It was the Greek Physician Hippocrates, the father of medicine who coined the famous words "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food". And now doctors might soon prescribing fruits and vegetables to patients suffering from chronic illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

In a new study conducted by a team of doctors and public health experts in 2019, they found out that healthy food prescription would improve overall people's health, which is also more cost-effective in the long run. 

The researchers had studied data from a nationwide group of adults between the ages of 35 and 80. They were divided into two groups, one is covered with 30% of the cost of fruits and vegetables and the other is covered with the same amount but whole grains, nuts, seeds, seafood and produce were added. 

The result showed that fruit and vegetable could prevent up to 1.93 million cardiovascular diseases and could save 350,000 lives while the other group deduced 3.28 million cardiovascular diseases, which could save 620,000 lives.

The Insurance company Medicare and Medicaid who sponsored the study have found out that prescribing fruits and vegetables could be as more cost effective as other common interventions, such as preventive drug treatments for hypertension or high cholesterol.

The data that was presented has added to the growing evidence that healthy food from nature is the best cure for chronic illnesses.

It also proved the cost-effectiveness of fruit/vegetable prescription as it is better to spend money on buying healthy food than paying for hospitals bills and medication. 

True to what had the great physician Hippocrates once said "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food"

source || https://www.techtimes.com/articles/239965/20190320/doctors-may-soon-be-prescribing-veggies-instead-of-drugs.htm

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Health Benefits of drinking "Tapuy": Cordillera's traditional rice wine

Photo Courtesy || PhilRice

You might have heard of  Tapuy when you visited Baguio or some places in the Cordilleras. You might have even tasted and got intrigued with this one-of-a-kind local drink. Stalls in major souvenir shops sell bottles of Tapuy in different varieties. The most popular one is the red rice wine. But, do you know the benefits you can get from drinking rice wine or Tapuy?

What is Tapuy/Tapey?

Tapuy is a traditional Cordilleran alcoholic beverage made from fermented steamed glutinous rice (red or white) and yeast (locally known as bubud). 

In Japan they call it sake, makgeolli in Korea and brem in Bali. Rice wine is a popular alcoholic drink in South East Asia. While Tapuy is the local wine in Cordillera.

Rice wine  isn't only used as a beverage but used in different cuisines as well.  Research studies conducted about rice wine suggested that it is beneficial for health in many ways.  But did you know that  Tapuy offers many  health benefits just the same? Tapuy contains essential amino acids, sugars and organic acids, as well as vitamins and minerals.


These are some of the health benefits of Tapuy you probably didn't know.

• It promotes blood circulation.
• It reduces inflammation.
• It improves immunity and metabolism.
• It serves as an anti-bacterial substance.
• It helps improve the skin's protective function or slows down the signs of aging by protecting the skin against the harmful effects of UV rays.
• It helps with the destruction of free radicals that cause cancer.
• It boosts stomach health because of  the presence of lactic acid bacteria which are considered probiotic.

Read Also: Survey says Igorots are among the 'healthiest' Pinoys in the country

Tapuy, specially the kind that was made from red glutinous rice offers anti-oxidant benefits. A study published in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation shows that "red rice wine is a new and healthier version" of Tapuy. The pigmented rice  was used in this particular wine which is an excellent source of anti-oxidant.

Photo Courtesy || Pixabay.com

Another interesting health benefits of rice wine is its anti-cancer potential. A study conducted by scientists from the Korean Food Research Institute discovered that dealcoholized rice wine could eliminate gastric cancer cells in mice. They found out that the size of gastric tumors was reduced after the mice were injected with non-alcoholic makgeoli mixture for 7 weeks. The study suggests that plant extract used in the drink have an anti-cancer effect. (michaelrucker.com). 

So, the next time you drop at your favourite souvenir shops in Baguio, grab a bottle of Tapuy and enjoy the health benefits that comes with it. Just remember to drink moderately and responsively. 

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