Foods to avoid - From The Stands

Callers have asked for more information about Jamby Madrigal (real name: Ma. Ana Madrigal), whose position as presidential adviser on children's affairs appears to have been demolished, if not desired, by certain persons in government. Well, President Estrada may have been told of Jamby's involvement in children's affairs, that's why he chose her for the job.

Jamby's two main involvements are with the Books for the Barangay Foundation and the ABLE Foundation. The BBFI was founded in 1997, with Jamby as founding president. It distributes reference books and educational materials to the most depressed, deprived and underserved public elementary and high schools all over the country. It also has a teacher's training and model of excellence program.

Jamby was instrumental in founding ABLE Foundation in February 1999 as a response to the growing street children problem in the country and to the pro-poor agenda of President Estrada. In March, she was elected foundation chairman because the board believed she was the best person to lead the organization in its mission of getting street children off the streets and giving them a decent future. The foundation also aims to disseminate information to the public on the plight of street children, thereby galvanizing efforts for their education and rehabilitation.

Under Jamby's leadership, ABLE Foundation was able to accomplish several projects for street children. Among these are the construction of the Tuloy Foundation street children village in Alabang; the Bahay Kalinga residential center for street children in Ermita, Manila; the renovation of the White Cross basement in order to accommodate more street children; the renovation of Silong Tanglaw Foundation, and the provision of medical and dental missions among street-children centers.

During her term, Ms. Madrigal has made links with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Office of the President, Bantay Bata, Operation Tulong, and other agencies.

It will be interesting to find out in the coming days why certain people want Jamby out of street-children's lives.

Asian Theological Seminary will hold its 30th anniversary dinner tonight, beginning 6 o'clock, at the Celebrity Sports Plaza and Health Club, Capitol Hills, Quezon City. ATS alumni, partners and friends will join the board of trustees, faculty and staff in celebrating three decades of training Christian leaders.

ATS graduates serve in major urban centers of Asia as teachers, pastors, missionaries, and leaders of Christian organizations. Its students come from over 100 church groups and denominations, many of them are professionals in the marketplace seeking Bible training. Programs of instruction include counseling, urban ministry on top of the regular offering in biblical studies, pastoral studies, theology, Christian education and missions. Contact ATS through tel. no. 411-6104.

My bedroom has virtually become a health buff's library. It's no surprise then that I've become a herbalist, growing and eating -- and selling -- culinary herbs, and fastidious over what I eat. It isn't just because I'm getting on in years that I've become finicky about food. The abundant literature on healthful living tells me-and you-that we should change our eating habits. Prescription for Nutritional Healing by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., lists what and what not to eat, if we are to live wholesome lives. From time to time I will be imparting materials from health books mostly given by friends.

On the use of aspartame as a "safe sugar substitute," the Balches write that because America's obsession with dieting, the popularity of aspartame (NutraSweet) has soared. But the truth is that aspartame is "about 200 times sweeter than sugar and so much smaller amounts of aspartame are needed to sweeten the taste of foods. It is being used in a wide range of products, from instant breakfast cereals, frozen and gelatin desserts, juice beverages, milk drinks, multivitamins, softdrinks, tabletop sweeteners, instant teas and coffees, wine coolers and yogurt.

Aspartame consists of three components: the amino acids phenylalanine and aspartic acid, and methanol, or methyl alcohol or wood alcohol.

The Balches write that consumption of aspartame in sodas "appears to cause a flooding of the amino acids in the bloodstream -- a prompt rise that does not occur after the indigestion of dietary protein. This rise, it is believed, may cause problems."

People with phenlyketonuria (PKU) must avoid aspartame, as high concentrations of phenylalanine accumulate, and this can cause brain damage.

Methanol is known to be poisonous even when consumed in relatively modest amounts, say the doctors. Disorders caused by toxic levels of methanol include blindness, brain swelling, and inflammation of the pancreas and heart muscle. Regardless of FDA claims that exposure to methanol through aspartame consumption is not of "sufficient quantity to be of toxicological concern," the Balches write that "the cumulative effects of high doses of aspartame are unknown. "Even so, a significant number of people have reported suffering ill effects as a result of aspartame consumption. A report "Aspartame (NutraSweet): Is It Safe?" by H.J. Roberts in 1990 stated reactions including headaches, mood swings, changes in vision, nausea and diarrhea, sleep disorders, memory loss and confusion, and even convulsions. It is especially dangerous for children.

So, diet cola addicts, beware.