Love your heart the 'red' way

The Heart Month starts on Tuesday, Feb. 1. What better time to mind our hearts which must be on overdrive in a season like this. Or, come to think of it, any season for that matter.

I just got a copy of How To Live Longer, the latest book by Dr. Willie T. Ong who writes a health column (out on Tuesdays) for The STAR, with a foreword by STAR CEO/President Miguel G. Belmonte. The must-read is a compilation of Doc Willie’s choice pieces, available at all National Bookstore outlets.

How to live longer? Doc Willie gives the following 20 tips:

Stop smoking,

Take medicines for diabetes and high-blood pressure,

Reach your ideal body weight,

Eat green leafy vegetables,

Eat oily fish and fruits,

Consider taking Aspirin,

Be financially wise,

Live a less risky lifestyle,

Keep your cholesterol level in check,

Think positive,

Get married or have a lifetime partner,

Exercise moderately,

Find a good doctor,

Do charity work,

Limit intake or avoid alcohol,

Get vaccinated,

Read health books,

Pray,

Check your vitamins and supplements, and

Sleep well and relax.

Doc Willie and his wife Liza, also a doctor, have been co-hosting the segment Payo ni Doc on the ABS-CBN public-service program Salamat Dok, with Bernadette Sembrano as main host.

It was on that show where Docs Willie and Liza gave tips on how to take care of your heart: Eat red-colored foods, including:

Red apples. The skin contains pectin which, according to some studies, can lower bad cholesterol by as much as 16%. Eating the fiber-rich skin promotes better complexion, improves bowel movement and lower the risk of colon cancer.

Red watermelon. The US Department of Agriculture researchers claimed that watermelons increase the body’s arginine levels, an important amino acid. Arginine is a component needed to produce nitric oxide, a substance that relaxes the blood vessels, improves blood flow and may protect a person from a heart attack and stroke.

Red grapes. They contain extremely beneficial compounds such as flavonoids, quercetin and resveratrol (found in the skin of grapes). Grapes can help boost your good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) and prevent blood platelets from clumping together and forming a deadly blood clot.

Tomatoes, tomato sauce and ketchup. Doc Liza said that tomatoes are rich in anti-oxidants like lycopene and beta-carotene. Studies show that tomato-based products lower the risk of prostate cancer, heart problems and diseases of the digestive tract. She added that you should take at least 10 tablespoons of tomato sauce a week or approximately 150 ml. a week.

Strawberries. They are packed with anti-oxidants, vitamins (B, C and K), minerals, potassium and folate. They are also low in calories (only 49 per cup).

Red wine. It contains resveratrol and phytochemicals, which are healthy substances that can boost your good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol. Take wine in moderation (no more than one wine-glassful for women and two wine-glassfuls for men per day; women have smaller bodies and can get drunk more easily).

What’s up?

•  Airing on MYX this noon at 12 is Much Has Been Said (The Story of Bamboo), a 30-minute documentary featuring the musician’s phenomenal success and the recent disbandment of what is considered the most influential band in the country. Bamboo (photo) will tell all.

•  Elwood Perez’s Isang Gabi, Tatlong Babae (1974) will open the second batch in the series of Overlooked Films, Underrated Filmmakers sponsored by the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA), in cooperation with CCP. Screening is on Feb. 5, Saturday, 2 p.m. at the CCP’s Tanghalang Manuel Conde. Admission is free. The movie stars Boots Anson-Roa, Pilar Pilapil and Amalia Fuentes who has confirmed her attendance with Perez. Call 0920-2836393.

•  Mian Martinez and other readers want to know the contact numbers of the travel agency mentioned in Funfare as specializing in Asian tours (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, etc.). Here they are: Travel Specialist Ventures, 928-6196, 928-6132, 928-7487 and 0917-8341832. Look for Rowena Coloma or Luchi Sta. Ana.

If there’s one thing Goin’ Bulilit star Angel Sy is fascinated with, it’s reading anything about her Chinese Zodiac. Born in the Year of the Dragon, Angel is innately smart, artistic and passionate in everything she does. There’s no doubt that at a very young age, she has learned to love reading.

“Sobrang interested po talaga ako sa Chinese Zodiac, especially sa Dragon. Nag-e-enjoy po akong basahin yung tungkol dun kasi po nag-de-describe dun sa totoong ugali ko po,” Angel said.

If Angel is fond of her Chinese Zodiac, Aaron Junatas (photo) is into eating. He loves tikoy for breakfast, snack or dessert. If it’s only possible for him to eat tikoy every day, maybe he would.

“Favorite ko po talaga ang tikoy, lalo na po kapag maraming hinalong itlog. Thankful po ako kay Mommy kasi kapag nag-cra-crave po ako, nilulutuan niya talaga ako, kahit hindi pa Chinese New Year,” Aaron shared.

 Tomorrow, Jan. 30, on Goin’ Bulilit, after TV Patrol Weekend, the Bulilits will rock the city with their “Fireworks” musical act. All the way from Ongpin, the celebrity kids also give tips and forecasts on how to attract luck in this Year of the Rabbit.

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