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One can never know when a health crisis will come. In two weeks’ time, we have gone from freely wandering outdoors and going about our businesses uninterrupted to only living within the confines of our homes. The rapid spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused our lives to shift. On March 16, 2020, Luzon was placed under “enhanced community quarantine” as declared by President Rodrigo Duterte. Strict rules are being enforced such as work-from-home arrangements, prohibition of mass gatherings, home quarantine, and suspension of mass public transport facilities, among others.
COVID-19 is an infectious disease first identified in Wuhan, China, which is now declared as a pandemic. It is often characterized by symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Severe cases can progress to multiple organ failure which can lead to death. Currently, it has no known cure. The infection is said to be spread through droplets produced during coughing and sneezing and can survive for hours on different surfaces.
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- Category: Region NCR
The National Nutrition Council - National Capital Region conducted an orientation on the revised Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation Protocol or MELLPI Pro on March 12, 2020.
The orientation held at the Crown Regency Hotel in Makati City was attended by six (6) Nutrition Action Officers and 24 Nutritionist-Dietitians from the 15 LGUs of NCR. Representatives from Las Pinas and Navotas were not able to attend the activity. The following thirteen (13) members of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team also joined the activity: Department of Education (DepEd), Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines (NFP), Grace Family Helper Project (GFHP), Bantay Bata ABS-CBN Foundation and Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Manila and San Juan Campus.
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- Category: Region NCR
Society has found its way to living a fast-paced life, which has driven people to adapt to a lifestyle centered on efficiency. This is causing significant shifts in how health is perceived, making nutrition secondary to physical appearance. Shortcuts have become more appealing, an example of which is a fad diet.
The National Nutrition Council defines a fad diet as any dietary regimen or practice promoted for weight loss and improvement of health that does not form part of standard dietetic-led weight management advice. It promises rapid weight loss of greater than 1 kg per week. However, drastic weight loss does not promise much long-term success. Adhering to a fad diet may be a quick fix but it may eventually induce stress and cause disease to certain organs.
There are healthier alternatives to achieve and maintain our desirable body weight, such as eating a balanced diet, engaging in physical activity, and modifying our lifestyle and behavior.
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- Category: Region NCR
The newly elected officers and board members of the Association of Nutrition Action Officers of NCR, Inc. (ANAO-NCR) for CY 2020-2022 took their oath of office on March 5, 2020 before National Nutrition Council Executive Director Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang. The oathtaking took place at the Berjaya Hotel in Makati City.
NNC ED Dr. Dayanghirang congratulated the new set of officers and board members of the Association and acknowledged the support of the group particularly those who are always present during regional nutrition activities. She calls for the Association’s further assistance in scaling up nutrition in the region.
Read more: NNC ED Dr. Dayanghirang inducts into office new set of ANAO-NCR Board of Directors
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Iodine is an essential mineral necessary in the production of thyroid hormones which regulate and control the body’s metabolism, among other functions. Since it cannot be produced by the body, it is important that enough is obtained from the diet. Aside from goiter, inadequate intake may cause other Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs) such as hyperthyroidism and cretinism. Adequate intake is especially important in pregnant women because of the role of iodine in the development of the fetal brain and nervous system. Deficiencies may result in mental retardation in infants and young children.
Goiter is the most common manifestation of iodine deficiency. It is the abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland and may be characterized by a swelling at the base of the neck, coughing, difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing. While there are several factors that may contribute to the development of goiter, studies show that iodine deficiency is the leading cause of goiter cases worldwide.
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What comes to mind when you think about self-care? Do you think about staying in bed and indulging in a tub of ice cream, or binge eating junk food while watching a movie? Taking care of yourself doesn’t only mean fulfilling temporary wants. It means deciding to invest in your health so that you can boost your well-being not only for the next hour but for the rest of your life.
One way to take care of yourself is by protecting your heart. The human heart is an organ that pumps blood throughout the body; it delivers oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and carries away metabolic waste. The heart is one of the most important parts of the body because once it stops functioning, the body begins to shut down as well.
Philippine Heart Month is celebrated on the month of February of every year as declared by Proclamation No. 1096, s. 1973 to increase public awareness on the growing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and to enact the highest possible degree of health care through research and community involvement.
