Digestive Health 101 + Tips for Kid's Healthy Digestion

     How do you take care of your kid's digestive health? It's a pretty important part of our body and to know the do's and don'ts on digestive health especially for our kiddos is a must. As a mom, I know that I need to educate my son how to take good care of his digestive health at an early age because I don't want him to grow up sluggish and complaining of stomach related pains.

     It's alarming that some kids experience digestive problems at an early age. There are some digestive problems in adults like bloating, constipation, and gas that are also present in kids of this generation. In my observation, these problems are caused by unhealthy eating habits. If you're already a mom, I presume that you'v heard stories of picky eaters and kids who eat everything or a great eater (my apologies for the lack of term) before and mother complain of the consequences of their eating habits.

Digestive Health 101 + Tips for Kid's Healthy Digestion

   
     Did you know that your child is prone to digestive problems if he/she doesn't have healthy eating habits? My son Kenzo also had problems with his digestive health when he was a baby. If my memory serves me right, he suffered from constipation when he was 2 years old. He's a picky eater and his water consumption is very poor. I can count how many glasses of water he drinks that time. I saw how hard it was for him to expel feces and it's also a painful experience for me seeing him like that every two or three days. Yes, even his bowel movement is irregular and because of that I asked the help of my mommy friends and made a research online on how to help him improve his digestive health.

Digestive Health 101 + Tips for Kid's Healthy Digestion

     I'm happy that learning the basics of digestive health helped me improve Kenzo's digestion. Now I'm sure that he gets the vitamins and nutrients that his body needs from the food he eats because of healthy eating habits and good digestive health. Now, I want to share with you simple healthy eating habits and hacks that will make you little ones have a healthy, happy tummy!

1. Go, Grow, and Glow

     Make sure that you give your child a portion of his go, grow, and glow. You don't need to force him to eat the greens and the fruits right away. It's a baby steps process. Start by slicing the vegetables into tiny pieces and mix it with rice. He will not notice it at all and then eventually make the pieces bigger then start introducing the name of that vegetable or fruit to him. 

2. Water is life

     The recommended amount of water intake for adults is 8-10 glasses a day, According to my son's pediatrician, 5-6 glasses of water is okay. Let your kids drink water even if he is not thirsty. In this way he is slowly but surely putting liquid in his gut and will prepare his stomach in digesting the food when he is about to eat his meal/s.

3. Avoid processed foods, junk foods and limit fast foods

     I think this is the part were we are all guilty, yes I'm included. In this past-faced life, we always go for 'instant' and we forget that healthy food are the fresh ones prepared at homes. If it doesn't hurt you, avoid hotdogs and canned foods because in the long run, not only digestive health will suffer. Junk foods should be limited. Instead of eating potato chips, let them eat the natural potato chips that you can cook at home. Buy a potato and a shredder then cut into tiny slices, fry using canola oil and tada your own version of potato chips. 

4. Include a healthy drink for proper digestion

     Did you know that there are products in the market that helps ease digestion in adults and kids? I've discovered a new way making Kenzo's bathroom habit run smoothly every morning upon waking up and that is by drinking a probiotic drink in the morning. Let me introduce to you Dutch Mill Delight. I presume you've seen this drink in supermarket shelves and if you're interested go grab one now!

Digestive Health 101 + Tips for Kid's Healthy Digestion

     Dutch Mill Delight is a probiotic drink that contains duo active combination of Pre and Probiotic fiber. Prebiotic fiber is a plant that helps nourish good bacteria inside the tummy. When probiotic and prebiotic are combined, it produces longer living good bacteria which makes tummy better and absorbs nutrients faster. 

     Why I recommend Dutch Mill Delight especially to moms who have kids experiencing poor digestion?

1. Dutch Mill Delight contains Pre + Probiotic fiber which helps in better digestion.

Digestive Health 101 + Tips for Kid's Healthy Digestion

2. It's easy to drink and the taste is perfect for kids and the kids at heart! I'm drinking a bottle everyday too. It can be taken with meals.

Digestive Health 101 + Tips for Kid's Healthy Digestion

3. Dutch Mill Delight can be taken in the morning. It's a refreshing drink with great aroma like that of a milk that's rich in taste. Kenzo likes drinking it while studying too.

Digestive Health 101 + Tips for Kid's Healthy Digestion

4. You can drink Dutch Mill Delight everyday for a healthier tummy! 

5. Easily accessible because you can buy this in major supermarkets nationwide. Dutch Mill Delight can also be bought through their delight ladies in Rizal, Manila, Taguig, and Quezon City. Each bottle contains 100 ml of goodness and per bottle is sold at Php 8.00 each. You can also buy per pack of 5 bottles for Php 40.00

Digestive Health 101 + Tips for Kid's Healthy Digestion

For more information on Dutch Mill Delight, visit their website:

http://dutchmilldelight.ph

Like them on Facebook: DutchMillDelightPH

Follow them on Instagram: @dutchmilldelight_ph

Have you tried Dutch Mill Delight?

Good Times!~

The Paracetamol Calpol Make No Mistake Campaign

     I cannot count how many parenting mistakes I've done in the past years. My son will turn seven years old this year and I'm so happy and blessed to have raised a sweet, smart, and respectful child. I know we still have a long journey and there will be numerous mishaps along the way. It's a mother's instinct to worry so much when something is wrong with her child. I can say that my waterloo when it comes to my son's health is when he has fever.

     Here's a trivia: Would you believe that 20% of parents have forgotten their child’s birthday? The number is as high as 36% in other Southeast Asian countries. Right here in the Philippines, we have 1 in 2 parents admitting that they have fallen asleep while reading their kids a bedtime story. Has this happened to you? These are a few of the surprising findings uncovered by a recent global survey on parenting mistakes, conducted by Paracetamol Calpol®. See, it's okay to make parenting mistakes but there is one thing where mothers should make no mistake. Scroll down below to find out!

The Paracetamol Calpol Make No Mistake Campaign

   
     Becoming a parent is a journey of trial and error, also known as the world’s most widely played game of improvisation. No amount of reading or preparation is going to save a first-time parent from a child left to their own devices. That’s often when the most amusing, albeit messy, mishaps happen. In fact, more than half of parents believe that they can’t take their eyes off their children, otherwise chaos would reign.

The Paracetamol Calpol Make No Mistake Campaign
Kenzo's facial expression when mommy makes a mistake!

   
     Here are some of the parenting mistakes that happened to me more than once that I'm sure had happened to some mothers too:

• When Kenzo started going to school, there were few instances that I overslept thus my son was thirty minutes to one hour late at school.
• I also made a mistake of forgetting to pack his baon or snack.
• I made him wear mismatched socks and sometimes let hum wear reverse shirt.
• When Kenzo has fever, it's always a type of it-breaks-my-heart feeling to see and feel his temperature is high, like 38 degrees that will suddenly rise to 39 degrees at night. I had a mistake in giving the right amount of paracetamol as I already forgot the dosage that was prescribed to him  by his pediatrician.

The Paracetamol Calpol Make No Mistake Campaign
Paracetamol Calpol 60 ml (6-12) - Php123.75

   
     Since we're talking about our child's health here, giving the right dosage of medicine especially paracetamol is very important to ensure maximum effect and avoid side effects in the long run. One handy tip is to always consult a dosage calculator with your child’s latest weight in hand when giving medication.

The Paracetamol Calpol Make No Mistake Campaign
Paracetamol Calpol 60 ml (6-12) - Php123.75

   
     I'm surprised that when I received Paracetamol Calpol® bottles weeks ago, they had included a dosing wheel to help me give him the proper dose. Children come in all shapes and sizes, it’s not very accurate to dose them based on their age alone, which I've done a couple of times in the past :(

The Paracetamol Calpol Make No Mistake Campaign
My dosing wheel which you can also see and use on their website :)

   
     Using their weight in the calculation makes it possible for medicine to work more effectively. A dosage calculator takes the guesswork away, making it one less thing to worry about. So to mommies out there, you can use the dosing wheel which you can find HERE. Feel free to share it with your family and friends. It’s a sure hit and an essential tool in caring for your sick child.

     I've shared a fun photo of my mishaps in my Instagram account to make other moms feel that they are not alone in their parenting boo-boos! I'm glad that Calpol and the dosing wheel will help me combat pain and fever. So next time that an unexpected fever arises, always remember that when it comes to pain and fever, make no mistake—Paracetamol Calpol is there for you.

For more information about Paracetamol Calpol, visit their website:

http://www.calpol.com.ph/

Good Times!~

Unilever's Pureit "Safe Ka Ba?" Campaign Launch

     Water is life and like what I've said in my previous post on how safe is safe drinking water, we all need to ensure that we drink pure and clean water. Drinking pure, safe, and clean water is something that we should not take for granted because our health and wellness lies on what goes inside our body. There are so many water borne diseases that are fatal when left untreated. 

     We don't want that to happen, right? After reading the article posted by rappler about safe drinking water, I came to realize that some of the water refilling stations only practices cleanliness and sanitation when the water goes inside their advanced water filter machines but the handling, the cleaning of containers, and other stuff can be questionable. So when PureIt invited me to the launch of "Safe Ka Ba?" campaign, I immediately said yes. I want to join the campaign and share this advocacy of Unilever because everyone is entitled clean and safe drinking water. 

Unilever's Pureit "Safe Ka Ba?" Campaign Launch

    The event was held at the Avida Showroom in Glorietta Center, Makati City where Pureit demo units will be on display for the month of September. Avida, one of the country’s leading real estate developers for the mid-market segment of the industry, supports Unilever and Pureit in their effort to provide households with access to safe drinking water to ensure their health.

     During the launch of the Pureit “Sure Ka Ba?” campaign, we watched a video of how a typical water refilling station processed the order of a customer, revealing how refilled water can become contaminated especially during handling, storage and delivery of containers. I cringed in my seat as I saw that washing of containers and handling of refilled water is a total mess. It's disgusting to see that sweaty workers wipe the containers with dirty rags whereas during the delivery of the container, dust and dirt may adhere in the plastic faucet. 

Unilever's Pureit "Safe Ka Ba?" Campaign Launch
Pureit brand manager Brian Duruin

     According to the 2013 Kantar Worldpanel In-Home Packaged Water Report, roughly 60 percent of urban households buy their drinking water from water refilling stations. “Through the video, we wanted to show households, especially the moms, how refilled water can easily be contaminated due to improper handling and transport of containers and other human factors. This, in turn, can pose health risks for the family, especially the children,” said Brian Duruin, Pureit brand manager.

Unilever's Pureit "Safe Ka Ba?" Campaign Launch
Pureit Excella on test

     To help address the cases of diarrhea, cholera and typhoid fever and some deadly disease that is caused by drinking contaminated water, Unilever has introduced Pureit Excella, an in-home, non-electric water purifier that converts tap water into clean and safe drinking water. Pureit has an advanced five-step purification process that eliminates 99.9999% of bacteria, viruses and parasites to meet the stringent safety standards of the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Unilever's Pureit "Safe Ka Ba?" Campaign Launch
Product demo shows clean and purified water on the left after being filtered in Pureit Excella while the right photo shows a sample of contaminated water

     Two product demonstrations were held to showcase the efficacy of Pureit in eliminating microscopic disease-causing germs and bacteria. The demonstrations were conducted by the Unilever Research and Development team and a microbiologist from SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company.

     Aside from Pureit Excella (Php 4,998) water purifier, two new models of Pureit water purifier was introduced to media guests- Pureit Ultima 418 and Pureit Marvella UV. You can see the photos below and their respective feature. 

Pureit Ultima 418

• Pureit's advance alert system that alerts you 15 days in advance before you need to change germkill kit
• Double safety assurance of RO + microfiltaration membrane
• Advance 6 stage technology Its superior purification system meets stringent USA EPA standards of safety
• Pre-Sediment Filter - Removes fine and coarse particulate impurities/dirt and improves the life of the carbon Filter.
• Pre-RO Carbon Filter - Removes chlorine and harmful pesticides. It also adsorbs bad taste and odour.
• Post-Carbon Sediment Filter - Removes remaining fine and coarse particulate impurities/dirt and improves the life of RO Membrane.
• RO Membrane - Removes dissolved salts, hardness, pesticides and heavy metals like arsenic, lead and mercury. It also removes microbial contaminants like bacteria, virus, protozoa and cysts.
• Micro Filtration (MF) Membrane - Micro Filtration (MF) Membrane is added Post-RO, which ensures that the water is purified not once but twice.
• Post-RO Carbon Filter - Last level of purification acts as a polisher and enhances the taste of purified water.
• Pureit Marvella RO is powered by 6 stage purification system, that turns water up to 1800 ppm TDS into soft and sweet water
• TDS removal up to 1800ppm
• Convenient 4 liters storage tank
• Advance voltage fluctuation guard
• Break resistant tap
• No annual maintenance contract

Unilever's Pureit "Safe Ka Ba?" Campaign Launch
Pureit Ultima

Pureit Marvella UV (Php 

• Advanced Alert System
• High Intensity UV Lamp
• Large 4 Litre Storage
• Auto shut-off
• Compact and sleek design
• No AMC

Unilever's Pureit "Safe Ka Ba?" Campaign Launch
Benjie Yap Unilever's vice president for Home Care and Food

     Unilever Philippines vice president for Home Care and Foods Benjie Yap talked about how Pureit’s “Sure Ka Ba?” campaign and other efforts to bring safe drinking water closer to Filipino families are part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan which allows Unilever to provide health and wellness, environment, nutrition and livelihood programs on a global scale.

Unilever's Pureit "Safe Ka Ba?" Campaign Launch

     Thank you so much Unilever Philippines and Pureit for having me. Congratulations on a very successful launch and another addition to the Pureit water purifier family. Kudos to this advocacy campaign because it will help and save lives of many people who are deprived of clean and safe drinking water. Let's make Filipino homes have an easy access to clean, pure, and safe drinking water!

Unilever's Pureit "Safe Ka Ba?" Campaign Launch
Benjie Yap Unilever's vice president for Home Care and Food, Dimples Romana Pureit ambassador, and Pureit brand manager Brian Duruin

     How safe if your drinking water? Not sure? Time to have your own Pureit Water Purifier at home and save your loved ones from the dangers of contaminated water. To know more about Pureit visit their website:

http://www.pureitwater.com/PH/pureit-home
Like them on Facebook: Pureit Philippines

Good Times!~

The Dangers of Sick Days

     I always worry if Kenzo is showing signs of fever. I can't focus on what I'm doing and I can't even sleep at night. I became paranoid and keep on checking his temperature from time to time. He was confined in the hospital once, and I'm always praying that it won't happen again. Since Kenzo is already a pre-schooler, I don't want him to get sick because he will be absent in class. When kids skip school due to illness, they miss more than just a class – they miss opportunities for growth

     More and more Filipino children are contracting viral and bacterial disease because of weak immune systems, a recent clinical study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism reveals. This growing prevalence of infection in school-age populations is particularly urgent because a single sick day may affect many different facets of your child’s life, including time-sensitive activities like going to school to attend classes.

The Dangers of Sick Days

     Multiple sick days are likely to set back your children’s education, as well as their overall development and growth. Classes are typically dependent on very specific timelines, and whenever schoolchildren get sick, they miss valuable lessons that may prove to be crucial later on in the school year. This compromises the pacing for their growth as individuals. It can be very hard for students who are often absent to get back on track.

     With school in full swing, it’s important to make sure that your children are kept safe from infection. Thus, there is a strong need for better ways to give children the nutrients they need to stay healthy.

     Thankfully, parents have an easy, enjoyable way to help protect kids from infection and keep them in school – pineapples.

The Dangers of Sick Days

A serving of pineapple a day helps strengthen immunity

     Just what do canned pineapples have that make them our children’s new disease-fighting sidekicks? As studies show, a lot actually!

     The said clinical study checked the possible effects of canned pineapples as a practical immunity booster. A nine-week randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 98 elementary school students in Paco, Manila. The students were divided into three groups. Two of the three groups of children were regularly served Del Monte Pineapple Tidbits. The third group served as the control group and was not given any canned pineapples. 

     Only the groups who took regular servings of Del Monte Pineapple Tidbits had an increased resistance to disease and infection, with those taking two servings (140g per serving) demonstrating higher granulocyte production. 

The Dangers of Sick Days
Del Monte Pineapple Tidbits

     Granulocytes are key components of white blood cells and are important players of the immune system. They are the fighter cells that detect and kill disease-causing viruses and bacteria. Finally, a healthy solution that’s tastier than most!

     The results show that adding 2 servings of canned pineapples to your children’s daily diet goes a long way towards protecting them from sickness. Giving children #DMPineappleADay is a quick, easy, and delicious way of strengthening their immunity, while supplying much-needed nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin B2, fiber, and manganese. 

     A stronger immune system can help prevent children from missing out on many opportunities. With this, children will be able to fight off infection, keep attending classes, and make the most of their precious time in school.

Product Review: Kodomo Toothpaste for Children

     Hi dearies, here's a short review of Kenzo's favorite toothpaste as of the moment. From the first time we saw it in the grocery shelves until now, Kenzo is always excited using this brand of toothpaste. I guess this is because of the flavor, it's toothy fruity plus the scent that lingers after brushing his teeth.

     I'm not expecting this toothpaste to make his whiter. I just want to make sure that even though he doesn't have permanent teeth yet, he is starting to care about oral health. More details about Kodomo Toothpaste below :)

Product Review: Kodomo Toothpaste for Children

According to Kodomo's website:

     There is common misconception that milk teeth are not important since it will be replaced by permanent teeth. The truth is: milk teeth play an extremely important role in the grown and development of every child. They also hold the spaces for the growth of permanent teeth and impact on speech and mental development such as confidence and self-esteem. Yet, 4 out of 10 preschoolers in Singapore have severe tooth decay**, which can affect children’s general health.

     Established since 1982, Kodomo believes in cultivating good dental habits from young. Using Lion Japan’s advanced dental technology; Kodomo has specially developed a wide range of children oral care products for babies and children aged from 6 months to 12 years old.

     Kodomo children oral care range is available in cheerful animal designs (I think this is not yet available here in out country as I haven't seen one) and fruity flavors to make brushing a twice daily fun activity for children.

• Use Kodomo soft-bristled toothbrushes for thorough cleaning while gentle to gums
• Use Kodomo fluoridated children's toothpaste to protect teeth against cavities effectively
• Visit dentist twice a year

Product Review: Kodomo Toothpaste for Children

• Helps to provide Dual Protection (Enamel Protection and Cavity Prevention) against tooth decay. It has: Xylitol - a safe and natural ingredient to enhance the fluoride action; helps to strengthen teeth enamel and Active Fluoride that helps to fight against cavities 
• Sugar-Free
• Available in 4 flavours (2 sizes): Strawberry, Grape, Orange, Apple 

Product Review: Kodomo Toothpaste for Children

size: 45g/ 1.4 oz

price: 31 php (Around $0.66+)

place bought: Hypermarket, SM Fairview

instruction for use: For children 6 years old and below use a pea-sized amount for supervised brushing to minimize swallowing. In case of intake of fluoride from other sources, consult a dentist or a doctor.

ingredients: Sorbitol, Water, Silica, Xylitol, Propylene Glycol, Titatnium Dioxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Flavor, Zantham Gum, Algin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Saccharin, Sodium Fluoride, Methylparaben, Butylparaben

Product Review: Kodomo Toothpaste for Children
Not a twist up cap/cover

Product Review: Kodomo Toothpaste for Children
Strawberry and Apple flavor

What I like:

• The packaging is attractive. I believe that this kind of visual means "brushing of teeth is fun" for my son.
• The cover of this toothpaste cannot be rotated, you have to manually force it upward to open and I prefer this type of cap so that Kenzo would not play with it when I'm not around.
• The price is so affordable.
• It has 4 flavors to choose from.
• The scent is true to the flavor of this toothpaste.
• After brushing his teeth, the apple scent lingers.
• A pea-size is enough for one brushing.
• It bubbles unlike other toddler's/kid's toothpaste available in the market today.
• It contains Xylitol and it's sugar-free.
• This toothpaste contains sodium fluoride to strengthen teeth but some moms would veer away from this because they fear that their toddler will swallow the toothpaste if their children still don't know how to gargle and spit. 
• There's a batch, manufacturing, and expiry date printed on flap of the toothpaste box.
• Easily accessible.

What I don't like:

• Contains parabens.

Will I repurchase? Yes. This is Kenzo's favorite brand of toothpaste as of the moment and we use different flavors on rotation.

Recommendation:

     I give this a 4.75/5 rating. As for the parabens, as long as Kenzo is not swallowing the toothpaste I'm good with it but I'm still a bit worries because there are reports that parabens can cause cancer. Anyhoo, teach you children at an early age to brush his teeth 3 times a day. If you can, include gargling and spitting so that you will not worry about ingesting the fluoride present in his toothpaste. 

What's your little one's favorite toothpaste brand? Share your thoughts on the comment section below :)

Good Times!~