“sugar alcohol” posted this reply to my repost about Chinese Diet Pills. I’m posting her reply in its entirety:

These circulating posts about (the original) Zhen de Shou is direly misinformed. The original contains traces of Sibutramine, while the fake ones contain Ephedra. Sibutramine is also known as Meridia or Reductil. It’s an approved prescription substance for morbidly obese people (BMI of 30 or over). (Ephedra, on the other hand, is banned in North America and Europe.)

The term, by the way, is appetite suppressant — not depressant. (Depress = to lower; Suppress = inhibit). Sibutramine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for giving you the feeling of satiety. To put it simply, when your brain releases a neurotransmitter, it “recollects” the excess; hence, the word “reuptake.” Sibutramine works by preventing the reuptake of serotonin (and also the reuptake of norepinephrine). Since the serotonin is not being “cleaned up” from your brain system, there is a resulting flood of the said neurotransmitter in your brain.

Sibutramine is said to mimic the effects of amphetamines (aka “meth,” “shabu”), because meth works by forcing the production of serotonin. Either way, whether a chemical is there to “squeeze out” serotonin or “block its drainage,” the point is, you have more serotonin in your brain than usual.

Regarding norepinephrine, it’s released in tandem with adrenaline or epinephrine to give you energy in times of stress. It’s part of the fight-flight response mechanism.

With these two neurotransmitters combined, you get some (if not all) of the following effects: loss of appetite, anxiety, high blood pressure, palpitation, trouble sleeping, euphoria, headache. The list is long. (Side effects sound familiar?) There are the fortunate few who experience only one or two side effects and experience them mildly.

Anyway, for those people who are experiencing fatal side effects, here are some of the probable causes:

1. You drink ALCOHOL. You have to be a SOBER party pooper because Sibutramine is contraindicated in people who can’t give up alcohol.

2. You are hypertensive / have high blood pressure.

3. You have hyperthyrodism.

4. You or your family has a history of: heart / coronary disease. // Existing damage on heart valves, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, serious arrhythmias, previous myocardial infarction

5. You have liver/kidney disease.

6. You have epilepsy / get seizures.

7. You have bleeding / clotting problems.

8. You have glaucoma.

9. You have gallstones.

10. You are anorexic or bulimic.

11. You are suffering from depression.

12. You are taking other drugs that also affect the serotonin / norepinephrine levels in your brain such as antidepressants (e.g. Prozac, generic name Fluoxetine, is an SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor).

13. In general, if you are sick and on medication.

14. You have been taking it (Zhen de Shou / Sibutramine) for more than one year.

15. You take more than one pill in 24 hours. (Recommended dosage of Sibutramine: 10mg)

16. YOU ARE NOT OBESE.

17. Oh. YOU TAKE ILLEGAL NARCOTIC DRUGS.

ALSO: When you stop taking Sibutramine, you HAVE TO WAIT TWO WEEKS before taking it again.

Anyway, I know people who take this and are perfectly alive and kicking. I suppose it’s because they’re in peak physical condition and have a clean genetic history. They also do not take more than one pill, and they buy the original.

Research well. Get your facts straight. Look at credible books and websites. Ask a doctor.

P/S – November 2008, USA — The FDA recalled Zhen de Shou products because of undeclared amounts of Sibutramine (not written in the package). Sibutramine is a regulated substance.

Remember that Sibutramine still has side effects. If you really want to lose weight by taking medication, it is a must that you consult a doctor first and don’t forget to give him your entire medical history.

I’ve only seen the movie version of Hairspray (the one with Ricky Lake) and I enjoyed it a lot because it’s fun and size-positive. When I learned from Lorna that there’s going to be a stage production of Hairspray here, I became excited. Initially there were plans of getting International Size Acceptance Association Philippines (ISAAPH) as a sponsor of some sort but it didn’t push through because of lack of communication. Still, I and ISAAPH are rooting for the production. I encourage everyone to watch the musical because it is truly enjoyable. Read on the know more about Hairspray.

HAIRSPRAY is about Tracy who wins a spot on the local TV dance program The Corny Collins Show. The big girl with big hair and big dreams becomes a teen celebrity overnight. Soon Tracy finds herself pitted against the show’s reigning princess for the title Miss Teenage Hairspray 1962. Based on the John Waters film, Hairspray is the winner of eight Tony awards including Best Musical. It was recently made into a hit film starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Queen Latifah.

It is directed by Bobby Garcia, choreography by Cecile Martinez, sets and costumes by Gino Gonzales, lighting design by Shoko Matsumoto and Musical Director Archie Castillo conducts FILharmoniKA. It runs from Nov. 14 to Dec. 7 at the Star Theatre, CCP Complex. Tickets are on sale now by calling Atlantis Productions at 892-7078, 840-1187 or Ticketworld at 891-9999

If you are Filipina, plus size, and want to become a model, send the following to Ms. Ailsa Ongkeko:

• 1 close up picture
• 1 whole body picture
• personal information

You can email the requirements to ailsaongkeko@yahoo.com

Martha Sta. Barbara, a Filipina blogger, posted an entry about the dangers of Zhen de Shou and Ballerina. The two are diet pills from China which have become popular in the Philippines because they’re cheap and results are immediate. I’m reposting her entry with her permission.

‘I Lost 30 lbs. In 1 Month! Now I’m Dying!’ – The Truth Behind The Truth

BALLERINA, ZHEN DE SHOU, GOODLINESS, LIGHT SOME, MODELLING, BANGKOK, XENICAL, BLAH BLAH BLAH. ANO PA BA?

Shet. Ang daming diet pills. Nagkakatalo lahat. Andami ng ginawa’t naimbento. But I’ve never tried something as EFFECTIVE as Ballerina and Zhen De Shou.

In Zhen De Shou, I lost 8 pounds in a week. Yung kinain ko from june- september, nawala ng one week nung october.

SHET ANG SEXY KO!!

San ka pa diba? Exercise pa kayo diyan eh natulog at gumising lang ako ng isang linggo, payat agad ako. diba?

Pero buti na lang hindi ako tumagal sa pagte- take nitong mga ito. Kung hindi hindi lang ako payat. PATAY pa ako.

Let’s start:

ZHEN DE SHOU- This is a weight loss capsule. It promises to cut 10 pounds off your weighing scale in a matter of 7 days. Sounds interesting right? Well, it’s made up of selected and powerful herbs to make you lose weight and all.

Do I interest you now in buying a pack and trying it yourself?

Wait until you get to the site that draws you into the pit. http://zhendeshou.net/

BALLERINA- Not anyone can become a ballerina but you can achieve their beautiful fatless bodies with this pill. Guranteed to make you lose almost 20 pounds in a matter of 1 month (5 pounds in a week). Well, ain’t that long to achieving a ballerina body eh? Why don’t you try it yourself? Not yet convinced by me? Check out their site and jump into the pit. http://www.ballerina-slimming.com/index.html

I’ve tried Zhen De Shou and I must say, it really worked. One week and Zhen De Shou is all I needed to get back to my old, slim body. I had to stop because my supplier’s supplier won’t have stocks until next week so I have to wait. In the course of a week without taking the pills, I have experienced BURNING pains in my stomach and to heal the pain, I must eat so much food. And the result, I doubled the weight I gained before I took the pills. A friend of mine taking the same pill experienced the same thing. And mind you, these pains occur almost every hour! So imagine, I have to eat TOO MUCH food every hour!

Then I came across a friend who was once fat then she seemed to have lost 15 pounds off her in a matter of 1 1/2 months. She is so thin! I’m even fatter than her! I asked her secret. Then she introduced me to her friend, BALLERINA. These blue pills that look like frenzied metamphetamines. It came along with a diet plan, that I followed religiously for 2 weeks. I was advised to pop one 30 mins. before each meal. one of its effects is it will dry your throat so you have to chug down water, that would cleanse your body so you’ll shit like hell, releasing toxins, and making you lose weight.

Well, I was getting the results. In a matter of 2 weeks, my craving for food decreased, my throat is always dry, which I didn’t like. It doesn’t matter! A friend and my hubby noticed that I was shedding some pounds. YES!! These effects might be irritating but you have to make sacrifices if you want better results! In a month, I’m good in my tight fitting, daring, belly revealing clothes again!

MONDAY, 1:30 PM, CHOCOLATE KISS CAFE

I was enjoying my weight shedding. And I’m planning to continue. Right after I popped a capsule, my phone beeped, it was my mom. Here is our conversation:

Mama: Tita ***** is dying. Stop taking those diet pills. We suspect that this caused her cancer.
Me: Shet??! When was she diagnosed with cancer?
Mama: A week ago. Na-diagnose siya, tapos binigyan ng gamot. Pagbalik for her treatment, stage 4 na daw cancer nya. Multiple organ failure na.
Me: Eh ilang stages ba ang cancer?
Mama: 4. Dasal na lang ang kailangan niya.
Me: Fuc*.
Mama: You better have your liver checked. You were taking these before di ba? You don’t know, baka biglang lumabas effects niyan.
Me: Eh 1 week ako nung first brand, then 2 weeks nitong recent. So bale 3 weeks pa lang ako gumagamit.
Mama: Maski na. Baka mamaya may damage na palang na-inflict yan. Tapos kakalat. After some years, baka mamaya malaman mong mamamatay ka na pala. At gaga ka. tina-try mo pa lahat.
Me: Scary mae.
Me: When did she start taking the pills?
Mama: 3 years na.
Me: Anong brand?
Mama: Yung de su de su ata yun tsaka ballerina.
Me: Zhen de shou kasi.
Mama: Whatever.
Me: Eh ginawa na pala niyang snack yung gamot eh kaya pala.
Mama: She’s following naman daw the instructions.
Me: Ow.
Mama: Tell your friends. And wag na wag ka nang bibili nito. Ever.
Me: Ok. Send my love to tita *****. I’ll pray for her.

2:03 P.M.

Mama: A friend messaged me asking for a liver donor.
Me: Bakit daw?
Mama: May liver failure. She was using diet pills din. Ballerina daw.
Me: Talaga? Gaano naman katagal ginamit?
Mama: 6 months. Tigilan mo na yan ha.
Me: Ok.

Right after hearing their stories, it felt like I wanted to puke all the pills that I’ve taken. I opened up a Ballerina capsule and it poured out a greenish-brownish-blackish powder that smells like dry soil with a sharp smell. I was like. “What the fuck am I eating.” I took all the pills from the foil and I threw them away.

And now, I’m friggin’ afraid of getting a liver check. I’m afraid of what I might hear. Well, maybe I don’t have anything serious yet. But I always get goosebumps whenever I hear I’m going to get these medical check- ups.

But, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

WHAT DO THESE PILLS DO TO YOU EXACTLY?

These are basically laxatives and appetite depressants. Ballerina, a laxative, encourages your stomach to feel full that’s why you take it before any meal. The most is 3 capsules a day. If you exceed, you’ll experience palpitation, even at the third capsule. These capsules have ingredients that make your stomach expand, making you eat less, so you lose weight. It keeps you parched so you’ll drink lots of water, which is essentially good so you’ll clean your tummy every often by taking a crap for more than thrice a day. It forces your stomach to manufacture food then the excess will become your crap. But if you only eat 30% of your 100% in every meal, what food will go to your system if it’s gonna turn almost half of it into crap? Now, think about that.

Zhen De Shou, an appetite depressant (take note, it’s not even a suppresant) encourages the body’s natural ability to curb hunger. IN AN EXTREME DEGREE. Your body can signal your brain that it’s still full so you won’t eat. But Zhen De Shou signals your body that it is always full, so you only eat really small servings for twice a day only. Well, that’s why you lose a whopping amount of pounds in the first week. What’s weird is, you get addicted to it.

The reason why I experienced tummy pains after stopping for a week with Zhen De Shou is because my stomach has finally been released from the shackles of this depressant. It sends your brain messages that “WE’VE BEEN HUNGRY FOR WEEKS!!!!! WE’RE DYING!!! WE NEED FOOD! MORE FOOD!” Then, you double the weight you gained.

What’s bothering is, they actually make you lose weight SO FAST and the fact that these are so cheap make these pills doubtful already.

I KNOW SHABU CAN MAKE YOU LOSE WEIGHT THIS FAST!!! SO BAKA MERON DIN ITONG MGA ITO.

These pills claim that they use herbs such as hawthorne, fairy leaves, pearls, polyphenols, ginseng and gingko biloba, that are medicinal, safe and effective. Well, I doubt these are all there is to it.

If herbal medicines have no side effects, how come these “herbal” slimming pills have?

Whatever chemical they put in it, It’s better that I don’t know.

BEWARE OF IMITATIONS!

Apparently, the growth of these phenomenal slimming pills have lured (daw) fakers and replicators into making business out of it. So there are already fake and original tablets. The brand that’s being famously pirated is the Zhen De Shou.

But the original distributors and makers put seals on their products so that it can be distinguished from the fake ones. (Heart seal, flower seal, gold seal, blue seal, etc.) But unfortunately, even the seals are copied so it would be really hard for a consumer to distinguish the real from the fake. Check this out:



I think, these original creators put high- end herbs and dangerous chemicals in it, while the imitators use low- end chemicals plus herbs they got from somewhere because they’re cheaper and they sell it for a lower price.

BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER! THEY ALL CONTAIN HARMFUL CHEMICALS ANYWAY!

THESE CHINESE SLIMMING PILLS CONTAIN MAO HUANG (CHINESE EPHEDRA; EPHEDRA SINICA), ORIGINATING FROM CHINA, HAVE DIFFERENT VARIETIES IN MONGOLIA AS WELL. EPHEDRINES CAN CAUSE FATAL INJURIES TO ORGANS AND CAN LEAD TO LONG TERM DISEASES. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF MAO HUANG THAT ARE CONSIDERED AS HERBAL MEDICINES FOR THEY ARE STRONG LAXATIVES (A POSSIBLE CURE FOR CONSTIPATION IN THE OLDEN TIMES) AND ARE USED IN DIETARY AND WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS, BUT ARE ALREADY BANNED DUE TO ITS LETHAL EFFECTS. CHECK THESE SITES FOR MORE INFO ON THESE BOTANICALS:

LAW AGAINST THE USAGE OF MAO HUANG BY THE US GOV’T.: http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia5413.html

FACTS ABOUT MAO HUANG:
http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21697

THE KILLER EFFECTS OF MAO HUANG:
http://health.yahoo.com/alternativemed-therapies/ma-huang-ephedra/healthwise–d04525a1.html

ARTICLE ABOUT MAO HUANG BY JEFFREY HOARD:
http://www.cherylsherbs.com/abuse_of_ma_huang.htm

FACTS AND CONTROVERSIES ABOUT MAO HUANG:
http://www.maxlabs.com/max-ten/max-ten-ma-huang.htm

————————————————————————————————-

Well, take my stories as warnings. Losing weight might be hard but good things come if you work hard on it. If you plant a seed, it doesn’t turn into a tree and bear fruits the next morning. If you have a mannerism and decided to stop tonight, it doesn’t mean you have completely abolished your mannerism from your system tomorrow. Hard work and effort is all you need to achieve successful outcomes.Or else, you will learn your lesson the hard way.

I have gained weight. But a less than my weight when I first entered UP. Hey, after my practicum, I’ve had all the time and food in the world to eat. I just don’t deprive myself of food. And if you always get the chance to eat at places like cyma, fish and co., people’s palace, som’s, oody’s, cafebola, chateau, the lobby at the peninsula manila, max’s fried chicken, italianni’s, chealsea’s, conti’s, polu kai, abe, new orleans, texas roadhouse, coldrock, haagen daz, krispy kreme, ababu, king’s kebab, kulinarya, the rockefeller, old chang kee, superbowl and all the expensive and fine restaurants in the city, ALL EXPENSES PAID , I bet you’ll gain weight like me. Don’t say no. Because you’ll be a hypocrite if you do.

I just told myself I needed the food from these places after a year and a half of eating nothing but casaa, katag, mcdo, jollibee and most especially, aladino’s. I just needed to cleanse my system and liven up my tastebuds once again.

Well, I can get back to my old shape if I wanted to. I just needed a bit of willpower to do it. I’m back on my tracks, I’m jogging and basically doing a lot of walking exercises to shed off pounds everyday, altering my eating habits, already there at eating more healthy foods, abolished overeating, cutting down on sweets and carbs (number one weight gainers), and watching the foods that I eat.I won’t get results in a matter of a month but at least, I’m doing it the right way.

Hey, Ive come to realize that I’d rather see myself around april to may back in my old skin again rather than seeing it in a matter of 7 days then finding myself having organ failures or any kind of sickness that’s sure to stay with me for life.

I don’t mind what other people think and say. Of course, they want my old shape back. Well, this is what I’ve become. And if you don’t like my body or you hated me in some way, I don’t care, it’s not as if I’m gonna die tomorrow because people hate me. As long as I know that I’m not the fattest in the world, I AM COMPLETELY FINE.

I have more concerns to look into. I’m sure you have. So if you have some spare time and you don’t know where to spend it on, don’t look at me and forever curse me and insult me for how “fat” I’ve become. Instead, grab a mirror, stare at yourself then see if your acne wonderland face has gone a bit better, check if your walis hair has responded to the treatments you’ve been getting. Ask yourself if you’re getting enough confidence and self- esteem by wearing platform shoes that’s so out of style and if you think it’s practical to wear 5- inch heels in a rocky and big place like UP Diliman. Smile in front of the mirror and ponder on getting braces or replacing that chipped tooth. Oh! Don’t forget to check your breath to see if your halitosis is becoming a threat to humanity already.Or if you feel that you don’t have any of these physical imperfections, try staring at a bigger mirror. Look at yourself then think if you are a good son or daughter, ask yourself if you have been worthy enough of the blessings you have. Or better yet, try pondering on the relationship you have so you’ll realize why men or women can’t stand you that’s why your longest relationship lasted for a week only. Or talk to God and realize how far you have drifted away from him already. Make a “REALITY CHECK” so that you’ll know that you’re not the greatest person in the world, or you can hold everyone by their necks, and you are all- knowing and all your works are great. Ask yourself if you are worthy of the position you have or the role you have received. Are you making the most out of it or you’re just plainly enjoying it because you got it the easy way?

Just try these things. Maybe you’ll realize that your problem is waaay too BIGGER than mine,

————————————————————————————-

TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE STILL INTO THESE PILLS (WHATEVER SLIMMING PILLS IN THE MARKET ESPECIALLY FORM CHINA), STOP TAKING THESE THINGS ALREADY. IT’S NOT WORTH RISKING YOUR LIFE FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN GET IN A GOOD AND SAFE WAY.

GOD BLESS YOU GUYS. THANKS FOR READING MY BLOG.

ATTENTION: ZHEN DE SHOU AND OTHER CHINESE- MADE SLIMMING PILLS ARE ALREADY BANNED IN THE USA AND SINGAPORE!!!

CHECK THESE LINKS FOR FACTS, TESTIMONIALS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THESE SLIMMING PILLS.

http://www.bryanboy.com/bryanboy_le_superstar_fab/2007/06/ballerina_bryan.html

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/answers2/frontend.php/question?qid=20061023023248AA6jLzr

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070922053052AAHXShY

http://malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080212042549AAdlXC9

http://anafilibini.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

“It’s dead on arrival at my desk.”
- Mississippi House Public Health and Human Services Committee Chairman
Steve Holland (D – Plantersville) concerning Mississippi House Bill 282

Link:
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080205/NEWS010504/802050377/1001/news

ISAA would like to thank all of you for your participation in this activism
effort. The Mississippi lawmakers heard you loud and clear! Ding, dong, the
bill is dead!

ISAA would also like to thank NAAFA and COFTA for their participation in
bringing attention to this ill-advised bill.

–
Allen Steadham, Director
International Size Acceptance Association
E-mail – directisaa@gmail.com
WWW – http://www.size-acceptance.org

I agree with most of what she said except for the BMI part. The BMI chart is still being debated about since it was popularized by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company to categorize people as insurable or not.

How to have a fit and sexy body
By Mitch Felipe
Philippine Daily InquirerPeople, especially women, think that to be sexy, one must be thin. Regardless of effects, most people will do whatever it takes to attain what they perceive as society’s idea of a desirable and acceptable body.

The obsession with thinness is becoming quite extreme with unhealthy psychological and physical consequences. Some strategies people use to achieve a thin body include extreme dieting, over-exercising, use of pills, unnecessary surgeries and intentional stress.

But what does it really take to be fit and sexy. What should be done to reach that goal?

Develop the right motivation.

According to the article “Dying to be Thin,” published in Personality and Psychology Bulletin, the disordered eating behavior and body dissatisfaction, especially for women, stem from the power of social pressure and the effects of media.

If you want to have your ideal body, you should have the right type of motivation first to be able to maintain your weight and free your mind from stress.

You should lose weight because you want to be healthy, you want to feel good about yourself or you want to have more things in life, not because of pressures from your environment.

The right types of motivation will make you undergo a healthy, moderate and balanced process to achieve fit and sexy mind and body.

Aim for a normal weight and fat percentage.

It is definitely fine to be slim but not underweight, which is having a body mass index (BMI) below 19. Normal BMI ranges from 19 to 24.9. Body mass index can be computed by dividing your weight in kilograms by twice your height in meters.

Make sure you also aim for a normal fat percentage. Fat percentage values can be established by using a body fat analyzer machine or a fat caliper, which is usually available in fitness centers and hospitals.

For women, the normal, healthy range of total body fat percentage is 20-27 percent; and for men, 13-17 percent.

Adore yourself.

Some people tell you how good you look but you do not believe because you have low self-esteem. The perception of sexiness is also psychological, not just physical.

Stop comparing yourself to others. If you feel good about yourself, you will feel content about the way you look, and it will show regardless of what people say.

Always strive for improvement and balance. If you think and believe that you are always improving yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, socially and spiritually, then you will become more confident about yourself.

Develop a strong body.

Aside from your perception of yourself as sexy, it is still important to have a strong body to free yourself from health problems, improve your mood and energy level, and be more productive during the day.

Improve your endurance and strength by regular exercise and balanced eating. Compare someone who is thin and weak, unable to endure a five-minute jog, and a slim person who can easily run for 45 minutes.

The fit person definitely invests time and effort to improve his/her exercise performance and is eating well-balanced meals while the thin person is always on a restricted diet, thus lacks energy.

Take charge

To be slim and fit, you need to be in control of your self. You cannot maintain the right body weight if you are having a hard time controlling your cravings.

You might be thin, but still having trouble controlling intake of sweets. In effect, you deprive yourself of healthy foods and complete meals, like bread or rice with protein and vegetables. The process will not stop unless you learn to control yourself.

Start writing down your food intake and analyze patterns. Identify the triggers and manage them gradually by keeping yourself away from your cravings, substituting healthier alternatives to high-calorie foods, and sharing your problems with a friend, your family. Seek professional help.

Take good care of yourself

You might be thin, but stressed and unhappy. Most probably your weight loss is caused by your stressful lifestyle that leads to lack of sleep, unresolved problems, disorganized schedule and work obsession.

You can have a slim figure and, at the same time, live a life with less stress and problems if you will learn to balance your life and identify your needs as a person.

Take good care of your health by having a regular medical checkup. Most importantly, make sure you have enough rest to face the tasks and challenges of each day.

Find time for pleasures and reward your accomplishments with a vacation, spa treatment, shopping or just the right amount of time for yourself to do what you have always wanted to, alone or with others.

Source: PDI

I read this awhile back on Philippine Daily Inquirer.

It’s easy to read newspapers nowadays. With their pages chock-full of ads, you’ll finish reading even before you exhale.

It’s not difficult to become beautiful either. If you believe the ads, you can be the official Philippine entry in the Miss or Mister Asia-Pacific/ International/ World/ Universe contests this year. Who knows how many awards we will win?

Every loyal Filipino consumer living outside the Tabon Cave faces a daily onslaught of ads for health, beauty and wellness products. From TV, radio and print to balloons and the Internet, the attack shows no sign of abating. An army of whitening creams, soaps and lotions, hair-straightening shampoos, hair-softening conditioners, and hair-stiffening gels are fighting over our hard-earned money. An artillery of services is pounding our senses numb (weight-loss programs, mezo-therapy, diamond peel, liposuction, hair removal, wrinkle removal, wellness and spa treatments, 3-in-1, 6-in-1, all-in-one). The beautiful thing about this war is that Dawn Zulueta is leading it.

The Filipino has always been meticulous about personal hygiene and beauty. Pigafetta first noted this when he and his group came upon the islands. But the present fad goes beyond hygiene. It smacks of mass hysteria.

Before, only posh stores like Rustan’s sold beauty products. Now, even Liana’s supermarket sells them. Back then, you could count with your fingers the really beautiful people gracing the local papers. Nora Aunor became the messiah who brought hope to millions of brown-skinned masses. But the fascination didn’t last long; Filipinos really desire a “mestiza” look and businesses are listening. So it won’t be long now before the next Ms Philippines is a former house help. Or the next Bench models come from members of Fejodap.

Others may see this as narcissism, but I see this as a true revolution, less violent than Mao’s, but more radical than what communism offers. This is the Dawn of a new day. Charm is no longer a monopoly of the Forbes Park/Ayala Alabang crowd. The playing field has been leveled. “Yaya” [nannies] of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your dark skin!

New media have pushed our consciousness of the known world. More products have emerged from the forests of Sumatra to the empires of beauty in Milan, New York, Paris. Lower trade barriers also brought in an armada of products, from whitening salt from Thailand to shampoos invented in suspiciously clean research laboratories in Switzerland.

Billboard prices must be very low compared to other media, and this could be the reason they have practically covered the sky along major roads in Manila. Moreover, stiff competition forces a company to look for creative ways to win people’s hearts and money. In times of shrinking income, think small. The winning formula? Beauty in a sachet. If cellphone loads can be sold under P10, why can’t beauty and the feeling of confidence and power it brings? Of course, we cannot overlook the entrepreneurial spirit of Filipinos, led by the visionary leadership of Dr. Rolando Hortaleza of Splash Corp., and Dr Vicky Belo of the Belo Medical Group and Intelligent Skin Care.

I don’t question the intentions of these corporations. Who wouldn’t love Charles Revlon who said that he didn’t sell beauty products but hope? Or Dr. Vicky Belo who is on a mission to erase ugliness in the Philippines, one face at a time? Perhaps researchers have discovered that Filipinos think fair skin as the panacea to all their problems, that it is God’s greatest gift to mankind next to unlimitext.

But before we get drunk on freedom from the dark side, and wake up dazed and naked, it’s good to remember what former Czech President Vaclav Havel said: In revolution, disillusionment often follows euphoria. Let’s have a reality check. Our models have fair skin to begin with. They were born fair and they will die fair. Of course, this is not fair! But they are telling us: Buy tons of this lotion and you will have the fairness of Francine Prieto. Use a gazillion of these soap bars and you’ll look like Pauleen Luna. But I still have to hear of a “palengkera” [female public-market vendor] turning into a darling of lensmen and skin-care giants.

I heard Unilever tried to buck the trend with its worldwide “Campaign for Real Beauty.” What the Dutch giant tells us is that beauty does not depend on fair skin, slim waistline, or long, shiny hair; it depends on whether you use Dove soap or not (just kidding). They call it inner beauty. To prove their claim, they installed a huge billboard along EDSA highway, in Guadalupe, showing a huge lady who could very well be the girlfriend of King Kong. It asked, “Extra Large or Extra Sexy? Text your vote!” Extra Sexy was leading at first, but the company pulled down the ad when Extra Large took charge. I suppose the evidence was just too big to ignore. But I congratulate the firm for going beyond the cheap beauty bandwagon.

They are selling hope, but could it be false? Communism and socialism also offered hope for more than half a century, with disastrous results. One can argue that false hope is better than no hope at all. But I don’t think it’s false. Dark and fat Filipinos really turn white and slim! It’s a miracle that could rival the ones narrated in the Bible. The problem is the assignment of values, which shows how deeply drugged we are with cheap beauty. There is a glaring misallocation of resources. If our test scores in math and science are on a free fall, then something is wrong with corporate and personal responsibility. Last time I checked the aptitude tests, our grade schoolers were still ahead of the whale sharks of Donsol. Thank God! Imagine if our politicians took the test.

These business conglomerates spend billions on advertising. Why don’t these giants sponsor poor kids to study chemistry or fashion design or automotive mechanics? Wouldn’t it be nice to hear a successful fellow saying: “I got my PhD in Astrophysics, thanks to Likas Papaya” or “I am now running my own search engine company, thanks to Marie France.”

Or they could start projects to support a languishing province, like growing exotic plants that darken hair and whiten skin at the same time.

Movie and TV icons can also do social work, like giving milk and scholarships to poor but bright students. I’m sure there are companies and models and actors who are already doing something like this, but much more needs to be done.

Let’s turn this enchantment into a real revolution.

Source: PDI

AUSTIN, TX – The International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) opposes
and condemns Mississippi House Bill 282 (
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2008/pdf/history/HB/HB0282.xml), proposed
by Representative W. T. Mayhall, Jr. of District 40, which is “an act to
prohibit certain food establishments from serving food to any person who is
obese.” In the unlikely possibility that this legislation actually passes,
it would allow restaurants to refuse service to anyone with a Body Mass
Index (BMI) of 30 or more. The bill does not specify how restaurants should
check for BMI but it does state that “the State Department of Health shall
monitor the food establishments to which this section applies for compliance
with the provisions of this section, and may revoke the permit of any food
establishment that repeatedly violates the provisions of this section.”

“This bill is wholesale legalized segregation based on weight,” said ISAA
Founder and Director Allen Steadham. “It tells restaurants to choke their
own business while discriminating against potential patrons. It is obscene
and shows to what extent the obsession over obesity has reached. This
clearly steps over a line and should be called for what it is.”

ISAA recommends that the public contact the Mississippi legislature (
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/hr_membs.xml) and urge them to
oppose this bill and Representative Mayhall to urge him to withdraw this
bill.

Representative W.T. Mayhall
Home: 662.393.2069
Cell: 901.734.9540
Email: tmayhall(at)house(dot)ms(dot)gov <tmayhall@house.ms.gov>

ISAA strongly suggests that the public exercise courtesy when contacting
Representative Mayhall and the Mississippi legislature.

ISAA was created in 1997 with the mission to is to promote size acceptance
and fight weight-based discrimination throughout the world by means of
advocacy and visible, lawful actions. ISAA has a philosophy of self-respect,
maintainable fitness and encourages healthy food choices.

Address questions or comments to ISAA Director Allen Steadham at
directisaa(at)gmail(dot)com <directisaa@gmail.com>

Here’s a nice article I found on Manila Standard online.

Every crunch of that potato chip is like heaven.

Every gulp of that soft drink quenches every trace of your thirst.

However, every bite of that red meat and every piece of fruit that goes to the trash bin becomes the trigger that magnifies your chance of suffering from malnutrition.

Yes, now is the time to take notice. Now is the time to put your food regimen on hold and realize that your unhealthy diet is not only endangering your health but your children’s as well.

The Doña Elena Cuisinera Club is calling out to every man, woman and children to lessen (with the eventual hope of completely stopping) the intake of junk and fatty foods.

But how do they plan to make their voices heard, you ask? Well, if you think a new reality show is on the wraps, then the answer would be no. These cuisineras also have no plans of posing a 5-min “Get the Right Kind of Diet” video clip on YouTube. Instead, our cooking femme fatales are going the classic way of do-it-or-else strategy.

Reality bites

According to Doña Elena, obesity rates in the Philippines have skyrocketed by 400 percent within the last 10 years, a figure that largely affected children aged 5 years old and below. “We have 10 million Filipinos who have a diet almost entirely comprised of junk food. To make things worse, 41 percent of our population consumes no fruits and vegetables at all,” said Prof. Luchie Callanta, the official nutritionist of DECC.

DECC also attributed the obesity-rate increase to unhealthy lifestyles as instigated by either the parents or the people left to guard their children. Bags of chips, carbonated beverages, candies, oil foods as well as leniency on granting children long TV and video-game hours contribute to the unhealthy patterns that eventually pollute their young minds. Relaying a strong sense of discipline to the children is one of the basic ways to safeguard the health of your kids, Callanta said.

Callanta added that another objective of DECC is to turn every Filipino into becoming a cuisinera or a person who celebrates life through healthy eating without sacrificing every Pinoy’s penchant for tasty and delicious cuisines.

First things first

The club acknowledges the fact that a sudden turnaround from your usual and typical ways would be like entering a crash diet: it is bound to fail with consequences that are set to hit you hard in the face.

Since what your children eat ultimately becomes the most significant factor in drawing a sound mind and body, the club suggests that the parents must slowly get into the habit of using olive oil in their everyday cooking.

Olive oil naturally has oleuropein, which prevents the arteries of the heart to harden. It also contains oleic acid, which lessens the effect of a gene that activates a cancer cell called oncogene. The many benefits of olive oil come in dozens and one of these is its ability to curb high counts of blood sugar, something that many Filipinos suffer from.

Furthermore, encouraging your children to engage in physical activities also aid in warding off several risks that come with irresponsible health management.

The reluctant health buff’s manual

The Doña Elena Cuisinera Club also plans to unveil a new book titled 21 Ways to a Healthier Life as part of its aim to provide the Filipinos a more detailed program to lead and live a healthier life. The book contains several classic Filipino recipes given certain healthy twists to allure not only the adults but the choosy children as well.

Staying true to their stand, these cuisineras are on the prowl to target every Filipino’s proven weakness: food delicacies. The club stated plans of regularly holding cooking classes every month all over the Metro.

This way, they would be able to effectively deliver their guidelines on healthy cuisine by providing ways of interweaving interesting delicious twists to ordinary recipes.

However, DECC reiterated that the goal’s success rests entirely on the individual’s drive to stay fit because at the end of the day, every man is left alone to fight against temptations of über-tasty junk foods, ice-cold canned drinks and what-have-you. — Anna Margarita Pambid

I think DECC may be right about the sudden rise on obesity rate. The fast food industry in the country has been steadily growing.

Here’s the latest from Dr. Rafael Castillo

A rejoinder on being fat yet fit, lean but unfit

By Rafael Castillo, MD

MANILA, Philippines—We received a good number of feedback and questions regarding last week’s column on being fat yet fit, and lean but unfit. A rejoinder is in order.

Firstly, we inadvertently exchanged the values for the waist circumference (WC) measurement for Asian men and women. The ideal values should be less than 90 centimeters (35.5 inches) in men and less than 80 centimeters (31.5 inches) in women. Caucasian cut-off values are higher: approximately 40 inches for men, and 35.5 inches for women.

Different values

Why different values for Asians and Caucasians? It’s not arbitrary and definitely nothing verging on racism. It’s borne out of hard research data that ethnic differences exist with regard to the relationship of the waist circumference and cardiovascular risk, such that measurements above these identified cut-off values are associated with a significant increase in the risk of developing stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular complications.

Researchers have shown this initially in Asians living in America. If they used the accepted cut-off values for Caucasians in those with Asian ethnicity, what would appear to be a marginally increased waist circumference of 37-39 inches in men and 32-35 inches in women were already associated with greater risk. This finding has been validated by other studies conducted in Asia.

The reason for this is that Asians are inherently predisposed to be more insulin resistant than Caucasians. Insulin is not only responsible for sugar metabolism but it also governs fat metabolism and distribution. Many believe that significant abdominal obesity is one of the tell-tale signs of insulin resistance, which is identified as the culprit leading to hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol problems and obesity.

Identifying high-risk patients

Galo Barrios texted his question if a normal waist circumference (WC) will rule out the metabolic syndrome. Increased WC is just one of five criteria for identifying high-risk patients with the metabolic syndrome. The other four criteria are the blood pressure (higher than 130/85 mmHg), blood sugar level (higher than 100 mg/dl), a low high-density cholesterol or the good cholesterol (lower than 40 mg/dl in men and less than 50 mg/dl in women) and high triglycerides (more than 150 mg/dl). Three out of five make a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

Although one big international medical organization is proposing that the syndrome should never be diagnosed without obesity, indicated by increased WC, the prevailing opinion is that any three of the five criteria can already strongly identify patients with metabolic syndrome.

Body fat indicators

Marissa Reyes from Merville Park, Parañaque, asked about the waist-hip ratio (WHR) and the body mass index (BMI).

The WHR and BMI are also indicators of body fat, but most clinicians now prefer to use the waist circumference for practical reasons. It’s easier to determine, requiring only one measurement and not entailing any computation, as the WHR and the BMI do.

To determine the WHR, divide the WC by the hip measurement. It should not be more than 1 (preferably 0.9) in men and not more than 0.8 (preferably 0.7) in women. So one may still be overweight but if his/her proportions are still okay, as shown by the WHR, then the associated risk may still be not significant. Conversely, the seemingly normal-weight individual with bulging belly—hence, higher WCR—may be at a higher risk.

The BMI, expressed as kg/m2, is computed by dividing the weight in kilogram by the height in meter squared. In Caucasians, a BMI higher than 25 is considered overweight, while in Filipinos and other Asians, a BMI higher than 23 is already considered overweight.

There are some inherent limitations in using the BMI to evaluate fatness and leanness. As the term implies, it measures total body mass which not only includes fat but muscle and bone as well. Hence, it can be easily distorted by such factors as fitness level, muscle mass, bone structure, gender and again, ethnicity.

In athletes, for example, the muscle is heavier than fat. So they may seem overweight based on their BMI measurement. Hence, the BMI may overestimate fatness in those with more lean body mass like the athletes, while underestimating fatness in those with less lean body mass such as in the elderly.

Healthy lifestyle

Singapore-based Alex Lip, a manager at Omron Singapore Pte Ltd., gave me an interesting feedback. He calls seemingly lean individuals with increased fat mass as having “hidden obesity.” This is why his company has developed modern sensitive devices to detect BMI and abdominal obesity accurately.

So how do we remain fat yet fit and prevent becoming lean but unfit? Nothing beats the good old healthy lifestyle. Eating a high-fiber low-fat diet, avoiding fast foods like the plague, avoiding being sedentary especially after retirement, doing regular exercise on most days of the week (preferably daily), nonsmoking and avoiding those who do, drinking no more than an ounce of alcohol a day, and managing stress effectively all go a long way to ensure a healthy direction far away from the emergency room or the morgue.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer