Reaping a harvest of health products

MANILA, Philippines - Before Teresita Alacar Tan, an architect by education and profession, entered into entrepreneurship, she pondered on what her mission in life could be. Growing up, she was motivated by her desire to help her family and people in need.

 Verse 2 of the Third Epistle of St. John inspired her to find a vehicle or a channel of blessings to reach her goal. It stated: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth.”

 That vehicle was Right Harvest and Resources International, Inc., of which she is now chairman and chief executive officer. With her husband Philip Tan, friend Ricky Carullo and her three daughters, Tess, who insists that she is just a caretaker, a steward of a higher power, started to spread the word and to market a variety of health products that initially targeted senior citizens, the impoverished, and the malnourished not only to help cure illnesses and promote good health but also to provide members with a source of income. Today, body builders, children, and pregnant women are beneficiaries of Right Harvest products.

These products include Perfect Blend Coffee which has all the antioxidants: grape seed extracts, ginko biloba, moringa olifera, and gotu kola, and does not contain ginseng and tongkut ali, which increases heart rate.

The grape seed extract helps treat heart disease, including the common problems of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It also has polyphenol, which may stop cancer cell growth and proliferation.

Morinaga Olifera is a rich source of super antioxidants which improve sleep, digestion, and promote mental clarity.

Gotu kola, used for centuries as a medicinal herb, is known for its effective anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.

Ginko biloba maintains normal blood circulation and helps cure heart disease, asthma, skin problems such as psoriasis, and is reputed to foster good memory.

Goji berries have long been used to protect the liver and strengthen the immune system.

Besides the Perfect Blend Coffee, Right Harvest distributes beauty cocoons spun from silkworms, facial scrubs that exfoliate, nourish, and cleanse the face from white and blackheads, and eliminate dead skin.

Then there are the glutathione soaps, the organic shampoos, and the magnetic accessories such as bracelets, rings, and necklaces.

But the center of Right Harvest’s products is the Chia seed, considered nature’s perfect food. Chia, Salvia Hispanica, is a member of the mint family grown in southern Mexico and a staple food of the early Incan, Mayan and Aztec cultures. It is an excellent source of omega 3, calcium, protein, minerals, enzymes, and fibers necessary to maintain and improve over-all health. It is alkaline-free, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, sugar-free, and has very low sodium content.

Chia can be mixed in any preferred food or drink and can be eaten raw, hydrated or cooked. To make Chia gel, one tablespoon of Chia seeds is mixed with one cup of lukewarm water, and left for 10 to 15 minutes before drinking. Recommended serving is one to two tablespoons a day.

People who have experienced taking Chia regularly declare that they have been energized by it and have felt a decrease in their ailments. Indeed, Chia has eight times more omega 3 fatty acids than salmon, six times more protein than kidney beans, six times more calcium than milk, three times more antioxidants than blueberries, 15 times more magnesium than broccoli, three times more potassium than bananas, nine times more phosphorus than whole milk, three times more iron than spinach, four times more selenium than flax seed. It is rich in dietary fiber and contains omega 6 fatty acids, carbohydrates, boron, vitamin A, thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), copper, zinc, and manganese.

To top it all, when one becomes a member of Right Harvest, one has the opportunity to augment one’s income through networking. Membership is affordable and a membership fee of P1,000 which lasts a lifetime entitles a member to a free product pack worth P500, discounts on all products bought and rebates and commissions if and when one is able to recruit new members.

In its three years of existence, Right Harvest has reaped many benefits for its over 10,000 members in Metro Manila, Baguio, Zamboanga, Bulacan, Qatar, and the United States.

Indeed, the mustard seed planted by Teresita Tan has fallen on good ground and promises to be spread beyond her wildest dreams. Somebody up there must be pleased.