Five Remarkable Health Benefits of Vitamin C

Pasig City, Philippines—June 25, 2020— While there is still no available vaccine yet for COVID-19, we need to continue looking after our physical and mental health to aid our immune system.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, we need to stay active and eat a well-balanced diet, says the World Health Organization (WHO). It also pays to take food, rich in essential nutrients like Vitamin C, which plays a big role in keeping our body away from illnesses that weaken our immune system.

Every day, adults need at least 75 mg of Vitamin C, as per the Recommended Energy and Nutrition Intake (RENI), to help keep us strong and healthy. Fortunately, Vitamin C is water-soluble and found in many fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, and spinach.

While it is commonly advised to get vitamin C intake from foods, many people turn to supplements to meet their needs. For instance, FITN’TRIM, a healthy drink that is also an alternative source of vitamin C and other nutrients for a healthier diet, has 75 mg (100% RENI) of Vitamin C per sachet.

Aside from helping keep the body strong and healthy, taking the right amount of Vitamin C also has other amazing advantages, as listed below:

A Strong Antioxidant

Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant, which serves as molecules that protect the immune system from harmful “free radicals.” These harmful molecules can cause oxidative stress to the body when piled together and has been linked to numerous chronic diseases. Studies show that Vitamin C increases the body’s antioxidant levels by 30 percent, which also helps the body fight off inflammation.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Vitamin C helps the kidney remove sodium and water from the body, which also helps the blood vessel walls relax and thereby blood pressure. Lower blood pressure also means a healthy heart, which lessens the chance of getting a heart attack or a stroke. It is important for many Filipinos today since 2 out of 10 people are at risk of hypertension.

Prevents Iron Deficiency

Vitamin C acts as a diuretic, which helps the kidney remove sodium and water from the body, and also helps the blood vessel walls relax, thereby lowering blood pressure. Lower blood pressure also means a healthy heart, which lessens the chance of getting a heart attack or a stroke. This is important for many Filipinos today since 2 out of 10 people are at risk of hypertension.

Helps with Physical Health and Weight Loss

Exercise is still recommended, despite the need for people to stay and work at home to stay safe from the virus. Alongside a balanced diet and a workout routine, vitamin C is a great addition to improve physical well-being. It also improves the body’s ability to heal wounds and reduce inflammation inside and outside the body.

Studies have shown that Vitamin C status is inversely related to body mass. Individuals with adequate Vitamin C status oxidize 30% more fat during a moderate exercise bout than individuals with low Vitamin C status; thus, vitamin C depleted individuals may be more resistant to fat mass loss. In short, burning fat will be incredibly easy during workouts.

Good for the Mental Health

Vitamin C is also a remedy and energy booster for mental health, especially that studies show people with higher levels of vitamin C are less likely to suffer from depression and fatigue. It also helps improve memory and, with the ability to prevent inflammation and oxidative stress, it also helps reduce inflammation in the brain, spine, and nerves that can cause Dementia.

A Source of Vitamins and other Nutrients

Aside from being a high source of Vitamin C, FITN’TRIM is also a great drink to partner during workout routines or healthy diets.

As one of Santé’s premier organic health and wellness products, FITn’Trim has the brand’s signature organic pure barley grass powder, certified by BioGro, New Zealand’s leading organic certification agency.

It contains green tea and a zest of lemon flavor mixed with L-Carnitine that aids in increasing your metabolism, which triggers the reduction of body fat, helping you get rid of the unwanted baggage that weighs you so you can have a more positive and lighter life.

FITN’TRIM also has calcium to help build strong bones and teeth, protein to help in muscle growth and maintenance, magnesium to aid in muscle and nerve function, dietary fiber to aid digestive health, as well as Iron and Zinc, which also helps our immune system.

To learn more about FITN’TRIM and Santé’s other organic health and wellness products and services, visit its website at santebarley.com.

We Ride Again

As the world begins to reopen after the global effort to limit the spread of Covid-19, the Repsol Honda Team pairing of Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez have been able to transition towards how they would normally train. Following all the guidelines and safety recommendations of the government and health experts, the two riders from Cervera returned to cycling outdoors in early May.

Now, after having not ridden a motorcycle since March 11, the pair have been able to restart their engines and enjoy the feeling that only riding can give at the ‘El Bosquet’ Circuit in Ponts on Tuesday, May 19. Delighted to experience this sensation once again, Marc and Alex will continue to expand and alter their training in line with government advice as they eagerly await the return of the MotoGP World Championship alongside the entire Repsol Honda Team.

Marc Marquez

“After two months, honestly it was a little strange at the start to be back on the bike for the first laps. But soon I was feeling better as all of the muscles and the mind started to remember everything again. It was really nice to be able to get back on the bike, this is a feeling you can’t find anywhere else. Step by step we’re coming closer and closer to normal life and this is the most important point.”

Alex Marquez

“It is great to be able to return to more normal training and it was a real pleasure to be back out on the motocross circuit. When something like this is your passion, you always enjoy it a lot so it was special to ride, you need the bike in your life. For at least a little bit it was like everything was normal. Unfortunately the world is still not yet back to normal and we as riders, as well as everyone else, must continue to adapt and do our best in this situation. Hopefully we can have more days like today.”

DTI Foresees Better Movement of Commercial Vehicles and Goods with Opening of New NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10

MAKATI CITY—Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez congratulated the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in officially opening to motorists the C3-R10 section of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Harbor Link Segment 10 in Navotas City on 15 June 2020, which would ensure better movement of commercial vehicles and goods in the area.

The 2.6 kilometer NLEX Harbor Link section is an elevated expressway that will serve as a direct route from NLEX to the Port of Manila and vice versa to make the delivery of goods faster and more efficient.

“We very much welcome the opening of this section of the NLEX Harbor Link, as this will definitely boost productivity and spur trade and commerce. It would cut travel time from Quezon City to the Port of Manila from two hours to 10 to 15 minutes. Likewise, it would also provide ease of travel for Manila port freight carriers and other commercial vehicles,” Secretary Lopez said.

“We laud the DPWH and its private sector partners in working overtime to deliver this vital piece of infrastructure even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be critical in speeding up our country's post-pandemic economic recovery,” he added.

The project is the first infrastructure project to open during the General Community Quarantine period. By bringing NLEX closer to the country’s central shipping gateway, the Port of Manila, the government foresees speedier transport of goods, as well as increased economic productivity in Metro Manila and North and Central Luzon regions. As no truck bans are imposed along NLEX, cargo trucks would also gain 24/7 road network access.

“Effective logistics development is the key in facilitating trade and connectivity. It lowers cost and clearance time of imports and exports, while also ensuring the smooth flow of commodities. Having stable and reliable logistics would encourage market expansion and improve investors’ confidence in our country's ability to transport goods and services,” Secretary Lopez explained.

“With this new project that improves overall accessibility and reduces transportation costs including travel time, the impact on economic productivity is immense. With reliable logistics, costs to obtain input materials and services are reduced, businesses’ labor pool is increased, and the potential markets are expanded,” he added.

In the first quarter of 2020 alone, the Philippine Ports Authority reported 14,920,227 metric tons of foreign cargo throughput and 782,482 twenty-foot equivalent units of foreign container traffic, both imports and exports, between the Port of Manila to North Luzon.