An Anti-Hair Fall Shampoo that Works

I chanced by Forest Magic hair saver products during one of my health store trips early this year. They caught my attention because they are made of gugo bark extract, which my mom used to keep her waist-long hair shiny back in her younger years.

Gugo: A Herbal Wonder

Entada Phaseoloides or simply, gugo, is a large woody vine that is commonly found in lowland coastal forests in Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Western Pacific (Source: NTBG). I was surprised to find out about its medicinal uses other than treating dandruff and hair loss. But for this post, let us just focus on this. According to Forest Magic's product labels, gugo barks contain saponin, which stimulates hair growth, helps control psoriasis and dandruff, prevents premature baldness, controls lice, and strengthens hair roots in order to make our scalp healthy and hair, shiny.

From a Credible Manufacturer

Upon inspecting the label, I saw that Forest Magic is a brand under CRD Herbal Products, Inc. CRD stands for Dr. Carlita Rex-Doran, a Filipino inventor who was awarded by the Department of Science and Technology in 1990 for Best in the Use of Indigenous Materials. (Read more about Dr. Rex-Doran here.)

Having read (and verified) this information -- thanks to the free WiFi at Echostore, I purchased both the shampoo and the liquid lotion as gifts for someone who had a really bad case of hair fall. I also bought the shampoo at a much later date and made a little experiment recently.

Simple and Easy to Use

Forest Magic Herbal Hair Saver Shampoo is used just like any shampoo. After applying a small amount on wet hair, it has to be gently massaged in three to five minutes then rinsed thoroughly.

While it is advised that the Forest Magic Herbal Hair Saver Lotion be used in the morning and the evening, some users may consider using it at night only due to its natural gugo bark scent, which I assume might not appeal to everyone. After bathing, apply a few drops of the lotion and massage on scalp for five to 15 minutes prior to rinsing. It can also be left on overnight.

The Results

One visible result of using both products was the significantly less amount of hair that was collected in the drain after a few weeks. (Sorry, I do not have a picture.)

On the other hand, I did not observe any remarkable difference on my psoriasis but I did document some obvious benefits of Forest Magic shampoo in terms of hair fall reduction: Using the same comb and conditioner but different shampoos, it can be noticed that I lost more while combing after a bath.

Taken a day apart...
I won't share what the "Other Brand" is; the anti-hair fall shampoo is definitely Forest Magic.

Actually, the first picture (above) was a re-take since I thought that the comb that I originally used for the mini experiment was fine-toothed. Nonetheless, I am sharing how it looked like:

I thought that I could have possibly lost more hair here because the comb's teeth were finer than the other one.

Forest Magic products are available at Echostore (with branches at Serendra, ETON Centris and Podium) and in some online sellers at sulit.com.ph.

Forest Magic products posted by sassyennaid, a seller at Sulit.

Why Mondo Juice Must Have the Healthiest Smoothies in Town

I'll give you three reasons:

1. Just fruit... and juice!

Mondo Juice smoothies do not have sugars, syrups, artificial sweeteners and other add-ons. It's all just fruit and juice, as they repeatedly say.

2. 5 servings of fruits in just one smoothie

Each Mondo Juice smoothie contains 1/3 lbs. of fresh fruits, equivalent to about 5 servings.

3. Fresher than fresh

Using Instant Quick Freezing (IQF) technology, fruits used in Mondo Juice smoothies have ripened from the tree, instead of the usual fresh fruits in the market, which are picked before they're ripe.

Clean and cozy interiors at the Makati branch

Aside from these three, having your smoothie fix at Mondo Juice is a great idea for they taste naturally superb, not to mention that the clean and cozy interiors of their branches make great hangouts.

They also serve fresh pressed juice, hot and cold drinks, salads, sandwiches, all-day breakfast meals, and pastries.

Choices, also available for delivery

You can order sandwiches and pastries such as these macarons

Merchandise from SIP

Pickled goods, teas and some by nUrish

Visit the following Mondo Juice branches:

Makati City
Rada St., Legaspi Village

SM Megamall, Ortigas
4th Level Bridgeway

Alimall, QC
Skywalk (bridgeway to SM)

For delivery, please call (02) 511-7331, per Makati tearaway menu.
For more information, visit www.mondojuice.com.

Quick and Safe Home Remedies to Cough and Sore Throat

Manila weather, with its alternating sunny and rainy days, can bring about common cough and sore throat. I usually do not wait for symptoms to worsen; it just takes that familiar sting in the throat to send me to the kitchen cupboard for these quick and safe home remedies that I have learned from my parents.

Warm Salt Water: The Sore Throat Buster

Source: http://img2.timeinc.net/health/img/web/2012/11/slides/gargle-salt-sick-400x400.jpg

Sore throat is usually caused by viral and bacterial infections. One of my tried and tested natural ways to quickly cure inflamed and irritated throat is to gargle warm salt water at least twice a day - upon waking up in the morning and before going to bed at night.

When gargled correctly, warm salt water can help give temporary relief to scratchy throat, as well as wash away the germs that are causing the problem.

How to prepare warm salt water

1. Fill a glass with warm water. (I put warmer water when my sore throat is worse.)

2. Put one tablespoon of salt into the water and stir.

How to gargle

1. Sip a small amount of the mixture and leave it in your mouth.

2. Tilt your head back and start gargling.

3. In order for the salt water to reach lower down your throat, slowly extend your tongue or stick it out while gargling. 

4. Gargle for about 10 to 30 seconds, depending on how long you can hold the salt water in your mouth.

5. Repeat until you consume the whole glass of warm salt water.

Honey: The Natural Expectorant

Source: http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/image-files/teaspoon-of-honey-small.jpg

When my mom first told me to treat my daughter's cough with honey, I could not believe her. I thought that honey was sweet - aren't we supposed to stay away from sweets if we're sick? 

So I ran a Google search and found some articles citing studies showing honey as an effective cough remedy. (Click here to read about Dr. Ian Paul's study at ABC News.) I learned that honey has antioxidants and antibacterial enzymes. It helps soothe irritated mucous membranes and eventually, helps stop the cough. (If you think about it, most cough syrups are sticky!)

I tried the honey remedy recently by taking one to three tablespoons of honey before bedtime. I was surprised that by the next day, I was already releasing phlegm and mucous quite easily. I continued taking honey for the next two nights and believe it or not, I was already well by the third or fourth day.

I also tried the same remedy for my eight year-old daughter - only, at smaller doses. I gave her one tablespoon of honey every night and the same results were observed.

Here's a warning though: it is said that honey should NOT be given to children below the age of two.

(For further reading, visit Food Matters and The Survival Doctor.)

I am glad to have tried both remedies so I take the opportunity to share them through Green and Well. I would like to add too that these remedies work best when coupled with proper diet (with a boost of foods that are rich in Vitamin C), plenty of water, and enough rest. In instances when cough and sore throat seem to linger or worsen, it is always best to see a doctor. :-)

Lunch at MoMo Café

I became quite picky with restaurants since I have decided not to chew any meat that comes from land animals. Coming from a very productive meeting in the morning, my friend and I decided to have lunch out instead of having the usual cafeteria food.

We had Crispy Garlic Butter Butter Blue Marlin "Shish Kabobs" skewered with bell peppers, zucchini and red onions with corn on a cob and served with party rice and fresh lemon. It's PhP 350 only and good for sharing.

We earned our meal that came with onion soup as we walked from our office to the Ayala Triangle Gardens and back.

Doncha love cloudy days like this?

Organic Vegetable Quiche

Oh my quiche!

Sugarleaf's organic vegetable quiche (PhP 150) is deliciously light but filling. :-)

Sugarleaf is located at the 2/F MEDICard Lifestyle Center, Paseo de Roxas corner Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City.

Sent from my Windows Phone

Comfort food for a rainy Friday

Spinach and Cheese Tortilla-which (PhP 185)

Muscovado-sweetened Cafe Americano 12 oz. (Php 85)

It's easy to fall into a state of melancholy in this kind of weather, on a plan-less Friday evening. The rains have caused shuttle queues to criss-cross so I decided to have a quiet dinner at ECHOStore to practice mindful eating.

I chose a vegetarian bestseller, Spinach and Cheese Tortilla-which (PhP 175), and partnered it with a warm cup of Cafe Americano that's sweetened by muscovado.

I miss Krissy and I think about all my loved ones. I guess this is the advantage of having some time to yourself - you realize that your love is always, always alive. :-)

Goldilocks Go Lite Sugar-Free Mamon

When I think of Goldilocks, I am reminded of growing up to all their sweet-tasting breads and pastries. They made perfect baons/snacks and pasalubongs.

As an alternative to Goldilocks Fluffy Mamon (PhP 20), the Go Lite Sugar-Free Mamon (PhP 29) uses sucralose (Splenda), which is a safer sugar substitute than aspartame according to the Bureau of Food and Drugs Administration (BFAD) and (United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

According to No Sugar Added, an article written by Tina Arceo-Dumlao of the Inquirer, a teaspoon of white sugar contains 120 calories as compared to Splenda's zero.

The sugar-free mamon tastes just as mildfully sweet and feels just as soft in the mouth as the fluffy mamon.

Happy snacking! :-)

Be Organic's Argan Oil Hair Products

(From Be Organic Bath & Body's Page)

Dubbed as Morocco's liquid gold and beauty elixir, argan oil has been hailed by women around the world for its cosmetic wonders.

Benefits of argan oil include skin protection from UV rays, stress, and other environmental factors that can cause dryness and aging. It is an effective cleanser and moisturizer - not only for the face and the body, by also for the hair.

I got attracted by Be Organic Bath and Body's display of argan oil hair products in Echo Store. Being a Forest Magic Gugo shampoo user, I was perpetually on the lookout for a natural conditioner that can complement its hair saving effect. Now guess what? I think I've found the one.

Be Organic's argan oil conditioner is made of argan oil, which is naturally rich in anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids such as Vitamin E and squalene; jojoba oil, which treats coarse and frizzy hair as well as moisturizes the scalp; silk protein, which strengthens the hair; and panthenol, which helps hair growth.

A 250 ml bottle of Be Organic's argan oil conditioner costs PhP 350 at Echo Store. I felt its instant magic as soon as I used it. My hair felt softer and smoother without the eeky grime. And it smells oh so naturally nice!

You may visit Be Organic's Facebook page at: https://m.facebook.com/BeOrganicBathandBody

Echo Store's Vegetable Pancit Canton

I bought Echo Store's vegetable instant noodles for my daughter's baon today. It tastes good and so natural plus, it's easy to prepare.

A pack of six costs PhP 175. It includes malunggay, squash, carrot, spinach, saluyot and soybean.

I BUY LOCAL for Oxfam's #GROWChallenge

Buying locally grown food produced by our small-scale farmers and fishers helps address poverty and brings back jobs, especially in the rural areas.  Asking about where our food comes from and how food is made is a start in helping food producers adopt practices that do not harm the environment. Supporting fair trade and weekend markets helps keep small-scale farmers, fishers and local businesses in business.

 - Oxfam  Philippines

My beauty principle is simple: It has to be sustainable.

And this means that the products I patronize:

• fit my budget;
• can be easily found in the usual beauty shops, drug stores, and convenience stores - especially when there's a sudden sleepover or out of town trip;
• are made of natural products (as much as possible); and
• are produced locally!

Let's support Oxfam! Let's take the #GROWChallenge.