Three different women, one healthy and yummy habit

MANILA, Philippines - Three women of diverse professional and personal backgrounds talk about how they meet the challenges of finding fulfillment in their family and career while keeping watch over their health.

For 31-year-old physician Dr. Frances Penano, staying in tip-top shape means jogging, taking the stairs instead of the elevator when making rounds, drinking plenty of water and eating a balanced diet.

Being a doctor can be daunting, so Frances makes it a point to unwind every chance she gets. “I de-stress by reading fiction novels, shopping, having lunch or dinner with friends and family and going to the beach or on short weekend trips out of town with my husband. I manage stress by praying and trying to focus on completing one task at a time,” she says.

Of course, it helps that Frances can find more time for herself, because she is newly married and has no children yet.

That’s not the case with 29-year-old senior digital account manager Lei De Alday who is currently breastfeeding her first-born son. But even with her comparatively limited time, she tries to remain proactive about her health. “I make sure that I eat nutritious meals loaded with vegetables and fruits. And I go to the gym and attend body jam classes,” she says.

For 51-year-old events planner and single mom Marilen Nuñez, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is quite a challenge. “I’m always up and moving. It’s hard for me to fit a workout into my schedule. And my diet includes almost anything,” she says.

And yes, she also finds time to unwind to effectively manage stress. “I enjoy staying at home. I cook or rearrange my furniture. I go out of town with my family or close friends to relax and regain a little bit of energy. I play games on my computer,” she explains.

Despite their varied approaches to staying healthy, all three women agree that vitamin supplementation is essential for their well-being. Calcium, in particular, is something they regard as very important for their age and respective lifestyles.

“As a doctor, I know that intake of supplemental calcium is important if the required daily amount is not provided by the diet. It is especially important for women in order to prevent the development of osteoporosis later in life,” Frances stresses.

Lei agrees. “Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth. During pregnancy, a developing baby needs a lot of calcium; that is why it is very important for me to replenish the lost nutrients in my body.”

Marilen notes that calcium is necessary for older women like her. “At my age now, bone loss is accelerating; so it’s important for me to take a supplement that will allow me to work and move about by keeping my bones strong,” she declares.

CalChews, the new calcium supplement from Pascual Consumer Healthcare Corp., addresses that concern. Aside from its 500 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D3, CalChews also contains 40mcg of Vitamin K. A key ingredient in CalChews, vitamin K is claimed by some studies to keep calcium in the bones where it should be, while reducing the risk of calcium deposits in the arteries and soft tissues — thus circumventing severe consequences such as stroke and heart attack.