The Vegan Lifestyle

It is rainy season again! PAGASA warned of 4 tropical cyclones entering the Philippine area of responsibility on this month of June, and 2  had already come.

The southwest monsoon rains brought on by the typhoons inundated some areas in Luzon. The heavy rains caused flooding in Manila, and other areas in the metropolitan that caused heavy traffic jams, and suspension of classes in affected areas.

During this rainy season, we need to be extra careful of the stagnant rain water in our yards. They can easily become breeding places of mosquitoes that can endanger our health with malaria or dengue.

Last night my wife told me that the daughter of our neighbor was admitted in a nearby public hospital because of dengue. She  had a high fever, and the doctor found out that she had low platelet count.

We should protect ourselves from mosquito bite to avoid getting malaria or dengue. We should clean our yard regularly and eliminate breeding places of mosquitoes such as open containers, tires, and others. If possible, we should sleep inside the mosquito net to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Dengue comes from the bites of mosquitoes that breed in clean stagnant water. The dengue mosquito rarely thrives in dirty waters such as in the canal or trenches. And these mosquitoes stay on plants and usually come out around 3 or 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Most victims are children who usually play in the garden.

Malaria on the other hand is caused by the bite of the female anopheles mosquito. It thrives not only in clean but in dirty stagnant water  as  well. It mostly bites during the night.

The rainy season had just started with more typhoons coming to bring more rains. Let us regularly clean our yards and destroy all breeding places of mosquitoes and protect our family from dengue and malaria.

The root crops or tubers and the leaves of sweet potato contain many nutrients essential to good health. Sweet potato is three times more nutritious than white potato, and cheaper too.

Sweet potato contains carbohydrate, protein, vitamins and minerals. It is rich in iron and is good in treating anemia. The decoction of its leaves and stem is good in raising and normalizing blood platelet count in dengue patients.

Sweet potato is rich in carbohydrates. The natural sugar or glucose from carbohydrate is the main nutrient of the brain, and it also provides energy for the body. Sweet potato has a carminative effect on the body: it expels excess gas from the stomach as flatulence.

Sweet potato contains polyphenol, a powerful antioxidant to combat stress that may cause diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Besides polyphenol, sweet potato also contains vitamin A, and vitamin C which are powerful antioxidants that not only delay and reverse the process of aging but also boost the immune system to fight diseases including cancer.

Sweet potato contains potassium which is very important in the maintenance of proper acid-alkaline balance in the blood and tissues. Potassium is essential for muscle contraction, and it helps the kidney to detoxify the blood. It prevents over-acidity, which is the precursor of so many diseases.

Sweet potato is also rich in magnesium. This mineral is crucial in many bodily functions, such as cellular replication, energy production, and protein formation. It participates in more than 300 enzyme reactions in the body, and operates as a catalyst in many functions including the production of the very crucial ATP.

Zinc is also found in sweet potato. This mineral is extremely important  during fetal development, where a deficiency during this period can cause premature birth, growth retardation, and low birth weight. It is needed in the formation of DNA and RNA, and in the synthesis of proteins. It is very helpful in treating Alzheimer’s disease, Wilson’s disease, macular degeneration, and acne. Zinc also prevents night blindness, hair loss, epilepsy, and osteoporosis.

Like most root crops or tubers, sweet potato contains sulfur. This mineral is needed in the formation of four amino acids: glutathione, methionine, taurine, and cysteine. Sulfur is important for healthy hair, skin and nails, and protects against the harmful effects of pollution and radiation. It disinfect the blood and protects cell protoplasm. It is also important in the utilization of oxygen by the body.

Sweet potato also contains  other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin),  vitamin B3 (niacin), calcium, copper, manganese,  sodium, phosphorus, aluminum and boron. The B vitamins are very important for the brain and the nervous system. Calcium and phosphorus work together to build strong bones and teeth. Sodium is an important electrolyte that works together with potassium in the proper maintenance of acid-alkaline balance in blood and tissues. Manganese aids in the formation of mother’s milk, and is involved in the reproduction and mammary gland functions. Boron prevents postmenopausal osteoporosis, enhances brain functions, and promotes alertness.