Did you know that heart disease is already the #1 cause of death in the Philippines? And in a separate survey by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) , it was found out that
one out of two adult Filipinos has borderline to high cholesterol mainly because of unhealthy diet and lifestyle.
This is not really surprising to know since fast food with the accompanying sugary drinks plus instant noodles seem to have become the staple food of most Filipinos.At times, we just hear of people as young as in their mid-20s or 30s dying from heart ailments or sudden heart attack. A sad state of affairs indeed.
It is for this reason that Quaker, the number 1 oats brand in the world, launched anew the Quaker Smart Heart Challenge. First introduced in 2004 in the Philippines, the challenge was developed to demonstrate how adding oatmeal to your daily diet helps reduce cholesterol.
Me attending the event at Manila House Private Members Club –
In a forum, celebrities like Neri Miranda, health coach Nadine Tengco and Nadia Montenegro shared the life transformations which led them to adopting a healthier diet –
There was a wealth of information shared by experts on the benefits of good nutrition and exercise.
“Oats is a common cereal noted for its heart benefits, owing particularly to
its high soluble fiber content called beta-glucan,” said Dr. Rodolfo F. Florentino, Immediate Past Chairman-President of the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.
“Scientific studies have shown that beta-glucan is capable of lowering the cholesterol level in the blood, particularly LDL- cholesterol,” he added.
The Quaker Smart Heart Challenge aims to help individuals lower their high cholesterol in just 30 days by making one simple change: incorporating two scoops or eight tablespoons of Quaker
oatmeal daily, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
This challenge was created to help adults learn about and develop heart-healthy eating habits, especially now that more and more individuals – including more and more young Filipinos – are experiencing heart problems and high cholesterol levels.
Meanwhile, Jake Brandon Andal of the Philippine Society of Nutritionist-Dietitians said aside from consuming oats which is a good source of protein, people can take simple steps to having a healthier diet. First is to focus consumption on food that is whole, plant-based and minimally-processed.
Andal noted that Filipinos consume too much rice. Oats can be added to the menu as a way of diversifying the source of carbohydrates.
People usually think of oats as “good for breakfast only” or something to eat when you’re sick. Towards this end, Quaker partnered with Nadine Tengco to create a variety of sweet and savory recipes to complement the 30-day Quaker Smart Heart Challenge.
Chef Nadine created tasty recipes that will remove the boredom out of eating oats with milk. Her masterpieces include Smoked Fish & Oats, Choco Oats Pancakes, Salted caramel Oats, Oats and Mango Breakfast Jar, to name just a few.
In the launch event, Chef Nadine demonstrated how to make the Oats ‘n Raisins Banana Mug Cake which is basically just mixing together oats, banana, milk, egg white, cinnamon and other ingredients in a blender, and baking them.
For more information on the Quaker Smart Heart Challenge, visit www.quakeroats.ph. Quaker oats
is available in instant, quick, and rolled oats format. And is also available in a variety of flavors: Chocolate, Banana & Honey, Chocolate with Milk, Milky Original, Beef & Carrot, Chicken w/ Mushroom, Banana bites, Fruit & Nut, and Tropical Fruit.
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