Say hello to aloe!

Okay, let’s get to the bottom of this. You’re having a candlelit dinner with your dream date and suddenly, you let out a king-size burp and pass gas. You’re so embarrassed you feel like hiding under the table.

Fret not, you’re not alone. Many other people are suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (that’s the euphemistic name for it), which occurs more often in women than in men. Sorry about that, ladies!

I know some people (all of them women) who are suffering from heartburn or acid reflux, otherwise known as GERD (short for gastro-esophageal reflux disease).

Bettina Osmeña, wife of Senator Serge Osmeña, knows GERD all too well. Bravely battling breast cancer since 2003, she started taking charge of her health (she was taking 30 supplements, now she’s down to 15). But she had to deal with acid reflux for which she was taking antacids for many years.

One day, she was attending a trade fair in China when she came across a health product that offered a solution to her perennial problem  the long-awaited aha moment! The product was called AloeCure and she decided to bring it home and introduce it to other people with the same problem. After that, she stopped taking antacids. It didn’t take long before she said goodbye to GERD and hello to aloe! As Bettina would find out to her delight, aloe vera has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on the digestive tract.

In 2011, Bettina, together with good friend Bing Bing Quiros, founded Organic Basket to deliver only the best organic and affordable products to the ever growing health-conscious consumers. “We are constantly exposed to toxic elements coming from the very air we breathe. We need extra protection from our own environment,” the two ladies agree.

Tri-athlete Leana Farrales-Carmona, EON president and chief operating officer, also has amazing personal tales to tell about how aloe vera changed her life.

Lo and behold, it’s aloe! I’ve always associated this plant with shampoo or moisturizer   something you put in your hair or on your face. Never really knew you could drink it to cure an illness. While Cleopatra owed her beauty to aloe gel, aloe’s medicinal properties were discovered by the Egyptians as far back as 1500 BC.

Three ladies and a health mission: Partners Bettina Osmeña and Bing Bing Quiros of Organic Basket, and iridologist/natural healing advocate Dr. Elizabeth Micaller

This fine Wednesday, over a most sumptuous meatless lunch hosted by Bettina Osmeña at her lovely home in Makati, we unearth a wealth of information about this much-raved-about wonder plant. The vivacious and ageless Dr. Elizabeth Micaller, natural healing advocate and iridologist who can tell what you may be sick of just by looking into your eyes, has a lot to say about aloe vera. She attests to the countless benefits one can derive from this natural powerhouse of health. For one thing, this herb contains 20 out of 22 amino acids, including seven out of the eight essential amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of the body, responsible for building cells and repairing tissues as well as forming antibodies to combat bacteria and viruses. According to research, aloe vera can boost the immune system to fight cancer cells. And here’s more (or should I say less): Because aloe vera is good for the digestive system, it is also good for weight loss and control.

And now comes AloeCure Pure Organic Aloe Vera Juice from the American Global Health Group, LLC, which brings to people around the world the full health benefits of high quality aloe vera juice in accordance with the most stringent standards set by Ecocert France.

With AloeCure, discover the joys of healthy juicing. Consider this: It soothes the digestive system and gets rid of stomach acidity through a powerhouse combination of proteins, mucopolysaccharides, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and other healthful compounds. Plus it contains vitamin B12 for increased energy and improved well-being. And unlike other OTC or prescription drugs, this herbal supplement has no side effects and its health benefits can be felt as soon as you drink it. Also, because it’s sugar-free, even diabetics can take it.

Rx: It’s best taken at a minimum of two ounces twice a day  in the morning to kick off your day and in the evening to cap your day. You can drink it as is or add it to other juices.

Then there’s Aloe Pure Aloe Chunks, which is an excellent source of fiber that helps ease constipation and normalizes bowel movement. You can take it as is or add it to your salad for a perky pick-me-up.

Aloe vera chunks are chock-full of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids (all 200 of ’em). They’re rich in vitamins A, C, and E, known for their antioxidant properties  your best bet against the damaging free radicals. They’ve got beta-carotene for better vision and clearer skin, and B-complex, the energy vitamin that converts carbohydrates to glucose for a healthy nervous and neurological system that leads to better memory. Now, remember that.

A great cook, Bettina shares two of her delicious aloe recipes on this page.

Indeed, with aloe, good health is just a swallow away.

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AloeCure products can be bought at the Organic Basket Main Office, Unit 9B, 2263 Don Chino Roces Extension, La Panday Center, Makati.

Chilled coconut milk with aloe vera & fresh mangoes

2 cups first press coconut milk

1 cup aloe vera chunks

1/3 cup wild honey shredded mangoes

 Simmer coconut milk in low fire. Add aloe vera chunks and wild honey. Cool and refrigerate. Add shredded mango balls just before serving. Serves four.

Lemon grass iced tea with aloe vera

25 cups water

30 pieces lemon grass stalks

1-1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup lemon juice

 Boil water with finely chopped lemon grass stalks  use only the bubbly part; discard the grass top. Once the brew has been made, sweeten with wild honey and add lemon juice. Cool and refrigerate. Makes 15 servings.