Indigenous Food: Heal our Bodies! Heal the Earth!
Nona D. Andaya-Castillo, IBCLC
Hippocrates, the father of medicine emphasized the importance of whole foods in achieving health by saying “Let thy food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food.” Many centuries later, Thomas Edison predicted that “The doctor of the future will give no drugs but will interest his patients in the care of the human body, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of human disease.” Indeed, their words are now becoming a reality.
Watch the video: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/food-as-medicine/
In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. It warns that “Globally, the burden of non-communicable diseases has rapidly increased. In 2001, non-communicable diseases accounted for almost 60% of the 56 million deaths annually and 47% of the global burden of disease. Watch the video: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/uprooting-the-leading-causes-of-death/
In the Philippines, die of 1440 of stroke and 276 Filipinos heart attack and EVERYDAY! Read the article: http://business.inquirer.net/200169/do-you-know-how-many-filipinos-die-daily-from-heart-attack-and-stroke
In 2012, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) issued several news releases based on several studies discussing the health dangers of eating red meat especially those that are processed with harmful chemicals.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/03/red-meat-raises-red-flags/
Health experts now recommend TEN (10 servings with 80 grams/serving) of fruits & vegetables a day. https://globalnews.ca/news/3268810/eat-10-servings-of-fruits-and-vegetables-a-day-to-live-longer-new-study-says/
The high consumption of meat and dairy products like milk, butter and cheese also contribute to about 51% of the total greenhouse gas emission:
http://ucfoodobserver.com/2015/06/04/report-un-urges-global-move-to-meat-and-dairy-free-diet/
To know why we should not consume dairy, like Iwas Gatas Pilipinas on Facebook and get a copy of the White Lies Report, a scientific paper that documented the findings of over 400 scientific papers from reputable peer-reviewed journals such as the British Medical Journal and the Lancet. The report enumerated the various illnesses that one can get in consuming dairy.
Indigenous food: Nature’s Potent Medicine
Indigenous food possesses many healing properties that cannot be found in imported and processed food. They abound in the environment, a testimony of God’s love, wisdom and generosity. Nature, with its own rhythm based on the country’s climate and seasons creates food that is appropriate for the human body. With its perfect design, it provides the suitable fuel that enhances our bodies’ tremendous capacity to nurture, heal and regenerate.During summer for example, nature produces succulent vegetables and fruits to provide extra water needed during that season. During rainy season, nature produces vegetables and fruits that are sour (high in Vitamin C to strengthen the immune system against cough and colds) or high in fat (to keep us warm). Leafy vegetables abound the whole year round.These traditional crops:
How to Cook Healthy, Hearty Soups
Combining leafy and fruit vegetables, beans, root crops in one dish provide excellent nutrition especially for mothers who need to recover from the rigors of pregnancy, birthing and to sustain breastfeeding. Indigenous foods are also known to help mothers produce more breast milk. Concocted by our forefathers and mothers, it is also an amazing testimony of our ancestors’ wisdom. For instance, a study of the Aetas’ (an indigenous group living in the mountains) diet shows that they are nutritionally superior to the food intake of the lowlanders. Please like our Facebook page and see sample recipes:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/NurturersoftheEarth/photos/?tab=album&album_id=678534838854557
These dishes may be called different names in different regions of our country.
1. Root crops and/or pre-cooked beans are boiled and mashed to thicken the soup.
2. At boiling point a variety of vegetables are added to the broth. This also makes the soup nutrient-dense.
3. Lastly, leaves are added and the pot is taken off the stove so as not to overcook the leaves and the other vegetables. The indigenous way of cooking these vegetables can be found throughout the country. Many times these vegetables are also cooked with fresh coconut milk and ginger that are also good sources of calcium.
Teas and Drinks for Relaxation
Boil the following combinations for a delicious, healing and relaxing tea: (Tip: Use little water to boil them and drink all the water to get all the nutrients.)
1. Pandan and Tanglad (Lemon Grass)
2. Pandan and Avocado Leaves
3. Pandan, Kamote (Root) and Saba (must be yellow ripe to replace milk and sugar)
4. Kamote (Sweet Potato) and Ginger (peel the kamote or wash the skin carefully before boiling) This is a healing tea for coughs and colds.
5. Pandan, Corn and yellow ripe Saba
6. Kamote (root) and Malunggay
Blend the following with any fruit in season (e.g. Melon, Watermelon, Avocado)
1. Ripe Banana or Saba (must be yellow ripe to replace milk and sugar)
2. Young Coconut Meat and Juice
3. Coconut Milk
4. Jack fruit (Langka)
5. Singkamas
NOTICE: It is important that you read the nutritional guidelines here:
Watch the video: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/food-as-medicine/
In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. It warns that “Globally, the burden of non-communicable diseases has rapidly increased. In 2001, non-communicable diseases accounted for almost 60% of the 56 million deaths annually and 47% of the global burden of disease. Watch the video: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/uprooting-the-leading-causes-of-death/
In the Philippines, die of 1440 of stroke and 276 Filipinos heart attack and EVERYDAY! Read the article: http://business.inquirer.net/200169/do-you-know-how-many-filipinos-die-daily-from-heart-attack-and-stroke
In 2012, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) issued several news releases based on several studies discussing the health dangers of eating red meat especially those that are processed with harmful chemicals.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/03/red-meat-raises-red-flags/
Health experts now recommend TEN (10 servings with 80 grams/serving) of fruits & vegetables a day. https://globalnews.ca/news/3268810/eat-10-servings-of-fruits-and-vegetables-a-day-to-live-longer-new-study-says/
The high consumption of meat and dairy products like milk, butter and cheese also contribute to about 51% of the total greenhouse gas emission:
http://ucfoodobserver.com/2015/06/04/report-un-urges-global-move-to-meat-and-dairy-free-diet/
To know why we should not consume dairy, like Iwas Gatas Pilipinas on Facebook and get a copy of the White Lies Report, a scientific paper that documented the findings of over 400 scientific papers from reputable peer-reviewed journals such as the British Medical Journal and the Lancet. The report enumerated the various illnesses that one can get in consuming dairy.
Indigenous food: Nature’s Potent Medicine
Indigenous food possesses many healing properties that cannot be found in imported and processed food. They abound in the environment, a testimony of God’s love, wisdom and generosity. Nature, with its own rhythm based on the country’s climate and seasons creates food that is appropriate for the human body. With its perfect design, it provides the suitable fuel that enhances our bodies’ tremendous capacity to nurture, heal and regenerate.During summer for example, nature produces succulent vegetables and fruits to provide extra water needed during that season. During rainy season, nature produces vegetables and fruits that are sour (high in Vitamin C to strengthen the immune system against cough and colds) or high in fat (to keep us warm). Leafy vegetables abound the whole year round.These traditional crops:
- grow abundantly without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides so its cultivation is not harmful to people’s health and the environment
- are readily available so there is also no need to use preservatives and other harmful food additives; it stays fresh longer even without refrigeration and there is no need to waste fuel to transport it.
- are very cheap and affordable that is why rich or poor, everybody can become healthy!
How to Cook Healthy, Hearty Soups
Combining leafy and fruit vegetables, beans, root crops in one dish provide excellent nutrition especially for mothers who need to recover from the rigors of pregnancy, birthing and to sustain breastfeeding. Indigenous foods are also known to help mothers produce more breast milk. Concocted by our forefathers and mothers, it is also an amazing testimony of our ancestors’ wisdom. For instance, a study of the Aetas’ (an indigenous group living in the mountains) diet shows that they are nutritionally superior to the food intake of the lowlanders. Please like our Facebook page and see sample recipes:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/NurturersoftheEarth/photos/?tab=album&album_id=678534838854557
These dishes may be called different names in different regions of our country.
- Northern Luzon: pinakbet, dinengdeng, buridibud (Omit bagoong, to avoid allergies)
- Tagalog Region: Sinigang, Bulanglang
- Visayan and Mindanao Regions: Laswa, Law-uy, Nilapwa-an, Utan
1. Root crops and/or pre-cooked beans are boiled and mashed to thicken the soup.
2. At boiling point a variety of vegetables are added to the broth. This also makes the soup nutrient-dense.
3. Lastly, leaves are added and the pot is taken off the stove so as not to overcook the leaves and the other vegetables. The indigenous way of cooking these vegetables can be found throughout the country. Many times these vegetables are also cooked with fresh coconut milk and ginger that are also good sources of calcium.
Teas and Drinks for Relaxation
Boil the following combinations for a delicious, healing and relaxing tea: (Tip: Use little water to boil them and drink all the water to get all the nutrients.)
1. Pandan and Tanglad (Lemon Grass)
2. Pandan and Avocado Leaves
3. Pandan, Kamote (Root) and Saba (must be yellow ripe to replace milk and sugar)
4. Kamote (Sweet Potato) and Ginger (peel the kamote or wash the skin carefully before boiling) This is a healing tea for coughs and colds.
5. Pandan, Corn and yellow ripe Saba
6. Kamote (root) and Malunggay
Blend the following with any fruit in season (e.g. Melon, Watermelon, Avocado)
1. Ripe Banana or Saba (must be yellow ripe to replace milk and sugar)
2. Young Coconut Meat and Juice
3. Coconut Milk
4. Jack fruit (Langka)
5. Singkamas
NOTICE: It is important that you read the nutritional guidelines here: