Life-Saving Food Book, Absolutely Free!

I went scrambling for special cookbooks last month when my son Hiroki, visiting from Osaka, revealed that he had to be hospitalized for kidney stones and has to stick to a very strict diet in order not to worsen his condition.

But from the more than 3,000 cookbooks in my bedroom, there was not a single one specifically with kidney-friendly advice and recipes. My daughter-in-law Karol, searching for herbal supplements and support groups on the internet, emailed later that she had found a Philippine-made organic herbal supplement, Renalin, that’s legally distributed in Japan. 

In addition, she secured an excellent cookbook with kidney-friendly, easy-to-follow recipes. Incredibly, the English recipes have corresponding Tagalog translations. Even harder to believe is the price; the book is absolutely free!

SAFE AND TESTED – Having heard horror stories about illnesses, even deaths, resulting from non-prescription supplements, my first concern was my son’s safety. So I did a lot of research. What I found out about Renalin calmed my nerves.

The fact alone that it is sold at all Mercury Drug Store outlets is tantamount to a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Call me old-fashioned or what, but I think Mercury doesn’t just sell anything that offers a profit.

Also impressive is the approval from both the United States and Japanese governments’ health standards offices, which allowed the export of Renalin to those countries. And we all know how strict their Food and Drugs Administration standards are.

ONLINE ORDERS – Renalin is also available online, through the company’s website. To order, follow directions and instructions at www.gonatural.com.ph.  [1]

THE AUTHOR – The book, "Easy Guide to Healthy Pinoy Meals," is a work of love by Annie Pascual-Guerrero, founder of The Cravings Group and pioneer in professionalizing the Philippine culinary industry.

Malabon-bred Annie has also initiated community-improvement projects, such as a livelihood program called Helping Hand Cooks which provides culinary training to indigent women in Barangay Pansol, Quezon City, near her company’s headquarters.

The book, she says, is aimed at correcting misconceptions, such as “healthy means bland food.” 

“It isn’t the amount of fat or salt but the way the food is prepared that counts. One can come up with healthy dishes without depriving the taste buds or bloating the budget,” she explains. “The criteria for recipes to be included in the book are: affordability, nutritional value, practicality and taste.”

RECIPES, LIFESTYLE GUIDELINES – As valuable as the recipes in the book are guidelines on lifestyle, weight and advice on health matters.

Annie’s close friends, professional chefs Nancy Reyes-Lumen (of the Aristocrat clan) and Reggie Aspiras, assisted by contributing imaginative main courses, snacks, desserts and refreshing drinks inspired by the cuisine of several continents but all using locally-available ingredients. 

Among my favorites: Banana Heart Burgers, using chopped puso ng saging” instead of hamburger meat, and Relyenong Repolyo featuring cabbage leaves stuffed with ground pork and simmered in canned soup.

Thoroughly enjoyed by my guests were Ampalaya Wheels from Nancy Reyes-Lumen. No one knew they took only minutes to prepare; slice ampalaya crosswise 1 ½ inches, remove core, stuff with ready-made Lumpiang Shanghai Mix. Dip in a water-flour-egg batter seasoned with salt and pepper. Deep-fry until cooked throughout. Serve with sweet-sour sauce or banana catsup.

ENDORSED BY DOH – Secretary of Health Francisco Duque, in the foreword, praised the book for helping strengthen public information regarding one major component of our healthy lifestyle campaign, which is in the planning and preparation of healthy, affordable and delicious meals.

“Hopefully, this book will serve as a handy, reliable and easy to understand reference material that would help in the promotion of health and well-being of the citizenry,” he added.

KIDNEY-FRIENDLY DIET – The book advises on renal failure diets, which are aimed at decreasing the amount of wastes made by the body by helping make the kidney work better. This diet, the book notes, may change over time as a person’s health condition changes.

It stresses the need to consult a doctor or dietitian about the lists of food that are high in protein, phosphorous, potassium and sodium, and the quantities in servings of each item in the diet.

The role of vegetables is highlighted in the chapter, which advises that “Vegetables are no longer side dishes, but can be main courses with varieties of beans, lentils and starches to make the meal more robust and substantial.”

FREE BOOK, JUST TEXT – Tracking down the publisher of the book (Natural Quality Corporation) through the company website (www.gonatural.com.ph [2]), I was able to acquire my own free copy of "Easy Guide to Healthy Pinoy Meals."

When corporation executive Benson Sian learned about my consumer column, he generously offered to send copies of the book to this column’s readers. 

Here’s how: just text Sol, your name, address, bithdate and email address to 09209192929.