Living productive lives with hypertension, diabetes and other diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

The Cheerful Grandmother

She likes to bake cookies and pastries for grandson Coco and granddaughter Nina. Her heart matters to her loved ones.

Heart attacks and strokes are real threats to life that come without warnings? There’s a way for Marta to know her risks of experiencing these sudden events.  We all wish to bring Marta very far from experiencing heart attack and stroke.

How? For Marta and for all adults. Know your numbers. What numbers?

Have you had your BP checked?
Have you checked your fasting blood sugar?
Have you checked your blood lipid profile (fats and cholesterols)?
Have you computed for your Body Mass Index?

Marta’s Numbers:

Body Mass Index: 26 kg/m2
Fasting Blood Sugar: 140 mg/dl
LDL (Bad Cholesterol): 160 mg/dl
Systolic Blood Pressure: 142 mm Hg
Diastolic Blood Pressure: 95 mm Hg
Total Cholesterol: 150 mg/dl
Triglycerides: 140 mg/dl

With these numbers of Marta? Is she at risk of possibly experiencing heart attack or stroke in the next five or ten years?

Well-known and established risks to the heart include: High Body Mass Index (Obesity), Diabetes mellitus (High blood sugar), High fats and bad cholesterols, and Hypertension (High blood pressure).

38 years old, married with two children

His children Jerome and Joana love to play basketball.

Look at Joey’s numbers.

Body Mass Index (BMI): 22
Fasting Blood Sugar: 90 mg/dl
LDL (Bad Cholesterol): 85 mg/dl
Systolic Blood Pressure: 150 mm Hg
Diastolic Blood Pressure: 89 mm Hg
Total Cholesterol: 100 mg/dl
Triglycerides: 120 mg/dl

His BMI is ideal. His blood sugar and cholesterols are normal. He was told that he has hypertension. His doctor prescribed medicine to lower his blood pressure.

His wife goes to the grocery and prepares the recommended diet for Joey to have a strong and healthy heart.

Cutting down on salt helps lower blood pressure and researches show that choosing diet low in sodium can make you live longer.

Let’s talk more about salt, heart health and living longer. See the food choices, recipes and meal plans of Joey’s family.

To choose wisely one important question to ask is, “Who does the shopping and food preparation?” The main battleground in the fight against obesity, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease is the grocery or the market.

Joey and wife do the grocery shopping together. Shopping guides are available for them and for you.

Download diet guides highlighting low saturated fats and high-fiber foods to give to your loved one who does the shopping or food preparation.

One weapon to fight against heart disease is being able to read food labels. When Joey and wife go to the grocery they are armed with the knowledge on food labels. How about you?

Download guide on looking at and interpreting food labels to choose wisely the food to buy.

Watch Joey’s video

52 years old, office manager

Peter loves his wife Lala so much and despite busy office jobs he spends quality time with her.

After checking the results of his laboratory examinations, the couple resolves to do something. Act now. Take control and achieve goals.

Peter’s numbers:

Body Mass Index: 30 kg/m2
Fasting Blood Sugar: 210 mg/dl
LDL (Bad Cholesterol): 100 mg/dl
Systolic Blood Pressure: 152 mm Hg
Diastolic Blood Pressure: 90 mm Hg
Total Cholesterol: 250 mg/dl
Triglycerides: 300 mg/dl

Peter’s nagging question was about alcohol. “I was told to drink moderately and that’s all. How can I follow that instruction?”

Moderate alcohol intake helps lower blood pressure and protects the liver from damage.

The couple loves to eat and enjoy food. They thought choosing healthy diet means eating bland or food that they cannot enjoy. They thought choosing healthy food simply means “Don’t eat this, don’t eat that. Only eat this, Only eat that.” This is not true.

Peter and Lala can still enjoy flavorful, delicious food. They just have to know some information on food choices, cooking and healthy eating patterns or habits.

Take control of your health

Understand how you feel, follow healthy recipes, live a productive life. Click on the categories below to read more

Know your numbers. Know your risks.

Let’s Take Control. Let’s Achieve Goals. Best time to act is now.

healthy meals Fish Cardillo

Healthy Meals: Fish Cardillo

QUICK FACTS This recipe is easy to prepare, and it’s extra healthy too! Low salt diet helps reduce systolic blood pressure by 2 to 8 mmH. Less than 2.4 g, which is equivalent to one teaspoon of salt is the recommended daily intake. This recipe is lower salt and sodium than other Cardillo recipes because…

Heart Health
healthy meals Pesang Isda

Healthy Hearty Meals: Pesang Isda

This heart healthy dish does not use any fat, and instead of salt, flavoring comes from the herbs and spices. Fresh Ingredients:  1/4 cup fresh ginger, thinly sliced (about 2″ long)1 cup ripe tomatoes chopped1 cup white or yellow onions, thinly sliced4 cups water1 kg fleshy fish2 cups pechay (bok choy), stems and leaves, cut up separately1/2…

Heart Health
healthy meals Munggo Guisado

Healthy Meals: Munggo Guisado

QUICK FACTS Low salt diet helps reduce systolic blood pressure by 2 to 8 mmH. Less than 2.4 g, which is equivalent to one teaspoon of salt is the recommended daily intake. Made with vegetables, seafood, lean meat, and a small amount of corn oil, this recipe will be a sure hit with your family. Download…

Heart Health
what's a good diet

What’s a good diet

Eat Smart, Get Well Healthy lifestyle changes begins in the market and the kitchen. Let’s empower the person who buys and prepares the food. For a healthy heart, CHOOSE MORE OFTEN: This list must be discussed with the person who does the shopping and prepares the food for you and your loved ones. Breads and…

Heart Health