As a nutritionist-dietician and food scientist, I welcome opportunities to clarify myths and fallacies surrounding food and nutrition because I believe that misconceptions can often lead to incorrect diet practices and pose serious health risks. One of the most common topics I encounter is the fear of using Monosodium Glutamate or MSG. Even though, many credible organizations and scientific studies affirmed MSG’s safety for decades, this seasoning ingredient continues to be the target of many false claims. I recently attended the World Umami Forum presented by the Ajinomoto Group at Manhattan, New York City. Umami, the fifth basic taste that we often hear from chefs nowadays, is likewise described as savory, mouth-watering, lingering sensation, delicate and subtle or a pleasant after taste with satisfaction. This taste was discovered alongside the invention of MSG in Japan. However, while umami gains popularity as the sought-after universal taste, the stigma in using MSG persists. The World Umami forum brings together food, nutrition and science experts to discuss and establish science-based facts about MSG, hoping the world will be rid of apprehensions in using this umami seasoning. While facts presented about umami and MSG during the event was a review of my previous knowledge, I was fascinated to learn about the reason and psychology behind the MSG paranoia existing despite the overwhelming scientific evidences of its safety. A panel discussion cited the challenge of addressing the MSG controversy because for some, it is not solely a discussion about science but about an identity shaped by personal beliefs and experiences. When these beliefs are challenged, some people take it as a personal attack and would usually voice out negative opinions about the matter. Historic Gastronomist Sarah Lohman traced back the MSG rumors in April 1968. An artist’s sketch summarizing points raised during the panel discussion on “Debunking Myths and Mysteries behind MSG”. The author with Iron Chef and Restaurateur Marc Forgione. This was when a physician by the name of Robert Ho Man Kwok suggested, without any study or proof, that the widely used MSG in Chinese restaurants is a possible cause for “numbness at the back of the neck, gradually radiating to both arms and the back, general weakness and palpitations”. A string of symptoms he coined as “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome”. This opinion letter by Dr. Kwok was later published at the New England Journal of Medicine and fueled rumors about MSG. The rumors stuck with people especially older generations, who were told in the 7o’s and 8o’s that MSG is bad. Even though, as explained by Ms. Lohman, "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome was thoroughly debunked by large-scale clinical trials at Harvard- University, Northwestern University and the University of California.” The truth is, less than 1% of the worldwide population has glutamate sensitivity. People with glutamate sensitivity are clinically tested to have short-term, adverse reaction not just to MSG but also other sources of glutamate like tomato, mushroom, cheese and other proteins. The rest of the world can freely enjoy MSG and other glutamate-rich food! The World Umami Forum was a gastronomic showcase as famous chefs prepare umami food to the delight of the participants. Other than enhancing flavor of food, umami/MSG has benefits that cannot be simply ignored. Umami taste promotes satiety and intake of nutrients for children and elderly. MSG can hfelp reduce sodium intake up to 30% which is a useful intervention to control high blood pressure. MSG and other glutamate-rich food promote protein digestion and absorption in the human body. The author at the World Umami Forum Panel Exhibit Celeste C. Tanchoco, RND, MPH, DrPH is the country head ofILSI (International Life Science Institute) South East Asia Region Philippine Committee, Inc. She is a veteran in the field of nutrition having retired from the post of Chief Science Research Specialist for the Nutrition Science and Technology Division of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Dr. Tanchoco is the former President of the Nutrition-Dietician's Association of the Philippines (NDAP) and life member of the Philippine Association of Nutrition (PAN). She is also a board member of the Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity (PASOO) and a member of the medical bureau of the Philippine Center for Diabetes Educators Foundation, Inc.
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Forum for rare disease patients care held
THE Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders (PSOD) gathered key agency leaders and advocates in a patient-centric event held last month in Manila to discuss ways on how to address, support and protect people with rare diseases. Leading the discussion were agency representatives from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Education (DepEd), Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the PhilHealth joined by patients and their families. With the theme, “Easing the Burden of Rare Disease," the PSOD Patient’s Forum was organized in December 12, 2018, at the Best Western Hotel La Corona, Manila, to discuss the plight of the patients and their needs for medical assistance and how local agencies can contribute to the patients. The forum is not just to help patients with rare diseases but to also enable a new understanding of the principles behind rare disorders and the development of new treatments. PSOD is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to uphold the primary concerns and welfare of individuals with rare disorders in the Philippines. The organization directly addresses, supports and protects the health and general wellbeing of people with rare disease. According to the DOST’s representative Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, promoting research that addresses unmet necessities of people with special needs will help develop government policies that aid this special population of rare disease. “We must help each other to find solutions to help people with rare disease and their families, even if it’s just to reach one objective: understand better the regional and global situation to enhance policies and uplift the lives of our patients,” said Dr. Montoya. On the other hand, Sheena Manuel, senior education program specialist of the DepEd, mentioned certain programs and projects to strengthen special education: the establishment of learning resource centers, training of teachers, administrators and supervisors of SPED, provision of technical assistance, health and allied medical personnel, a transition program, monitoring and evaluation, and distance education. Massive job generation is also a possible solution to shield rare disease families. The DOLE’S primary program, DOLE Integrated Liveli: hood and Emergency Employment DR. Carmencita Padilla (rightmost), Founding Chairman of Philippine Society for Orphan Disorder and Dr. Jaime Montoya (leftmost), Executive Director of Philippine Council for Health Research and Development together with a young patient Program, was cited to provide workers with additional income and alternative employment. According to Eloisa Santos of the DOLE, this is the DOLE’S contribution to the government agenda of inclusive growth. Moreover, the PhilHealth has been working behind the scenes for rare diseases. Dr. Adelina Mesina, medical specialist from the PSOD shared that the PSOD and the PhilHealth have been working on health benefit proposals for rare disorder patients'. The agency presentation was followed by a video presentation on how mothers are coping with raising children with special needs and the problems they hope can be addressed. The parents also had the chance to ask the agencies questions to provide better understanding of this health condition and how to provide better support for their loved ones afflicted with such disease. To conclude the forum, PSOD President Cynthia Magdaraog gave a heart-warming closing remark thanking everyone in attendance. Participants joined patients and their families in singing "Family is Love” to officially close the event. The PSOD Patient Forum was successful in giving hope to families to raise their concerns and get access to innovative ideas, alternative learning programs and medical assistance for rare disease patients. PSOD will continue to focus on patient care, family support, awareness and advocacy. As Dr. Montoya of the DOST stressed, “We must all work together in easing the burden of rare disease. It is not rare to c
PhilRice introduces new rice variety, holds media dialogue in making rice healthier
SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija — The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) conducted a media dialogue dubbed as “Making Rice Healthier” where it introduced another rice variety, the “Golden Rice” held at the PhilRice Central Experiment Station in Maligaya, in the said science city on Wednesday (Jan. 9)
About 40 media practitioners from Central Luzon particularly from the provinces of Bulacan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac convened and learned the latest information on the healthier rice project of PhilRice.
Dr. Ronan Zagado, head of PhilRice DevCom Division and one of the resource speaker said that the dialogue was to enlighten the media about the nutrition situation in the country and share updates about the healthier rice project and other nutrition-related initiatives at PhilRice and also to help them to disseminate information to the community through media partners.
They also introduced the Golden Rice, a complementary food-based solution to address Vitamin A deficiency, rice where it contains beta carotene, which converted to Vitamin A upon consumption or as needed by the body.
Last year, Golden Rice was also attested by several international regulatory agencies that is safe and nutritious as ordinary rice where some global organizations and stakeholders in the country expressed full support for the continuation of the project, Dr. Reynante Ordonio- PhilRice Healthier Rice project leader said.
It was learned that despite the endorsement and support, it was not yet approved by concern government agencies such as Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Health (DOH) for human consumption.
During the dialogue, the experts’ resource speakers emphasized the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency in the country, how the Golden Rice could help address it.
Ordonio added that PhilRice together with its partner-agencies such as the IRRI remains committed to develop Golden Rice as one of the healthier rice varieties and to make safe and nutritious rice available, affordable and accessible to all Filipinos at all time. (RONDA Balita Online News)
