fresh no ads
The biologically gifted child | Philstar.com
^

Health And Family

The biologically gifted child

- Dell Grecia -
Our so-called "gifted children" comprise only a small percentage of the world’s population. In the Philippines, it is estimated that out of a hundred children, only three to five may be potentially gifted. But why this very low number of gifted versus non-gifted children, and what can we do about it?

In a paper contributed to the ninth annual convention of the Philippine Association for the Gifted (PAG) held recently at the Manila Peninsula Hotel, Makati City, Dr. Domingo Diaz Tapiador, a UN retired senior officer with 27 years of service with the Food and Agriculture Organization (IAO) of the United Nations and three years with the World Bank, claims that with our current modern knowledge of science, health and nutrition, and a good understanding of human reproduction, we can most easily produce a majority of "biologically gifted children," at least from birth up to the age of two years or more.

Apparently, as of now, Tapiador says that in the Philippines and in many other countries of the world, where malnutrition is so prevalent, we cannot expect a great number of gifted children, not only when they are born but also when they grow up. In fact, until a few years ago, according to a WHO report, we have in the Philippines 4.7 million mental retardates. It has long been known that the main cause of mental retardation is malnutrition and it is irreversible. Recent statistics show that one out of two Filipino schoolchildren and one out of four senior citizens are malnourished.

In her article entitled "Food from Sunlight and Water," Beth Day Romulo mentions that although the many therapeutic claims about Spirulina, ranging from cancer prevention and improved lactation to control of diabetes and arthritis, seem almost "too good to be true," Spirulina’s greatest value is "to combat malnutrition."

Spirulina is a bluegreen microscopic algae produced commercially through modern aquaculture technology and is today the richest and most complete nutritious whole food (micro-vegetable). In fact, the Internet notes that Spirulina is at present the world’s "healthiest" superfood. The UN World Food Conference in 1974 issued a declaration that Spirulina is the "best food for tomorrow," considering that only one kg of Spirulina has the equivalent food nutritional value of 1,000 kgs of assorted vegetables.

And now, what is the valuable and effective role of Spirulina in producing a biologically gifted child?

The success or failure of the start of a human life will inevitably depend on the environment where the woman’s ovum is fertilized.

Ideally, the prospective mother should already think and plan to have a proper state of health before she conceives, and be concerned about her own health and of her future baby during conception and after the baby’s birth. During her pregnancy, she should have adequate nutrition, not only for herself but also for the developing baby in her womb. Specifically, she needs 50 percent more protein, than a non-pregnant woman, and Spirulina is the richest whole food source of biological protein (65 to 71 percent). Spirulina can supply practically all her needed nutrients, without gaining unnecessary additional weight. For the nutrition of the embryo and the fetus, Spirulina is ideally rich in calcium for bone development and in glycogen for brain and mental development. Using Spirulin as a nutrition tool before and during pregnancy, the possible outcome would be a biologically gifted baby at birth.

And after birth, the baby could be nurtured to be a potential gifted child through breastfeeding up to two years of age, or beyond. An ideal lactogenic blend of Spirulina-Malunggay (Moringa) has been developed.

BETH DAY ROMULO

DR. DOMINGO DIAZ TAPIADOR

FOOD

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

GIFTED

IN THE PHILIPPINES

MAKATI CITY

MANILA PENINSULA HOTEL

PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION

SPIRULINA

Are you sure you want to log out?
X
Login

Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

Get Updated:

Signup for the News Round now

FORGOT PASSWORD?
SIGN IN
or sign in with