By Monsi A. Serrano
Since ancient times, the utilization of plants when the laboratory-made medicines were still not available in order to improve one’s health is done in many parts of the world, and that includes the Philippines. While there were some reservations from many medical doctors in this kind of practice due to the non-scientific foundation of some plant-based quick-fix solutions offered by the “herbolarios” (quack doctors using various plants found in the garden or forest).
As time progresses, research becomes empirical, and thus, going natural is having a renaissance as many consumers are becoming more conscious about the products they use. This growing interest in everything natural has led to the influx of products that claim to be so. But is it safe to assume that everything labeled natural is safe and effective for consumption?
Health and wellness have been a buzzword in the early 90s and this would be true not just today, but also in the future.
A sound mind in a sound body
The axiom “Mens sana in corpore sano” (A sound mind in a sound body) by the Latin satirist and poet Juvenal remains relevant to date, given the stressful working environment, noise and air pollution, and the whole gamut of the daily grind inevitably develop some disease which we may not know.
Hence, prioritizing our health and wellness must be our top priority not just to be healthy but also to be productive and fully functional.
Thanks to our Filipino scientists and doctors who painstakingly researched on how they can capitalize on the richness of our botanical resources in the Philippines.
While nature has given mankind everything it needs to survive, it’s the exacting measures of science that have validated and harnessed its full potential. It’s through science that the medical industry learned how to process plants for efficacy and safety. Not all-natural solutions in the market, however, are backed by science, producing sub-standard products that are ineffective and may be harmful to consumers.
The birth of Sekaya
After a meticulous process of research, the Filipino plant-based brand Sekaya came into being.
Proudly produced by the Philippines’ largest drug-manufacturing company, Unilab under its natural products company Synnovate Pharma Corporation, the only way to create best-in-class natural products is through the convergence of nature and science.
With a mission to help educate consumers and further explain the importance of science in creating high-quality natural solutions, the brand hosted the Sekaya Prescribing Nature Virtual Conference: Revealing the Science behind Nature in Promoting Overall Well-being, featuring two respected names in both the medical and wellness fields.
During the virtual conference held yesterday, May 27, Dr. Rolando “Oyie” Balburias, a General Internal Medicine and IFM Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, and one of the country’s pioneering doctors for functional medicine, discussed The Science of Natural Products. He underscored the importance of applying science in the development of natural health solutions.
Rolando “Oyie” Balburias, M.D., FPCP, IFMCP
Furthermore, Dr. Balburias also presented some of the indicators that make natural products effective and safe and taught participants how to read and understand product labels and verify claims made by natural brands.
“When choosing natural products, people should look into the source of the ingredients and the processes they went through,” Dr. Balburias said.
“High-quality natural products that are effective consider the therapeutic benefits of the raw ingredients based on their science-backed capability to restore homeostasis and balance of the body systems. These products also go through a tedious process that considers the ingredients’ biochemical compatibility with our body’s physiologic and biologic systems design,” Dr. Balburias explained.
Meanwhile, Internationally-recognized teacher, author, scientist, speaker, and artist Deanna Minich, PhD., FACN, CNS, IFMCP followed with a talk on why Healthy Food is Happy Food.
Deanna Minich, PhD
Internationally-recognized teacher, author, scientist, speaker, and artist
She explained that most people often associate happy food or comfort food with high caloric choices that are perceived to taste better and are more effective mood boosters. Dr. Minich tapped into her over 20 years of experience as a nutrition educator and mind-body medicine health expert to share insights on how eating healthy positively impacts our mental and physical wellness, and have long-term benefits to our health.
“Stress can get in our way of eating healthy as increased cortisol and changes in hormones can alter our cravings. Most of the time, stress eating often leads to eating low-nutrient foods,” Dr. Minich said.
“We know this will only lead to unhealthy eating habits that will result in adverse effects on your body in the future but various studies have shown that healthier foods can actually affect our mood,” Dr. Minich added.
The virtual conference underlined Sekaya’s Prescribing Nature advocacy that focuses on promoting the healing benefits of nature as validated by science. As an emerging player in the industry, Sekaya has been providing high-quality plant-based products that go through rigorous testing in pharma-grade facilities to ensure their efficacy, safety, and purity.
For her part, Ms. Abigail D. Nepomuceno, the Director and Business Unit Head of Synnovate said, “Sekaya’s mission is to provide high-quality plant-based products that nourish the lives of our consumers, community, and country. As such, our products use evidence-based ingredients that undergo several laboratory tests before they reach our consumers. We follow strict standards in every step of the process: from the sourcing of our ingredients up to the creation of the final product.”
“Prescribing Nature” Sekaya takes pride in its advocacy
The ingredients that Sekaya use are not only carefully sourced from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or European Union (EU)-certified and Quality Assurance International (QAI) certified organic farms all over the world, these are also tested against microbial contamination, pesticide residues, heavy metals, and molds.
Sekaya Botanic Infusion
While there are many herbal products commercially available in the online market, the Sekaya Botanic Infusions spells a big difference from the rest. The Sekaya Botanic Infusions is a product of a curated line of medicinal, loose-leaf botanic infusions for specific health conditions, the company is set to introduce more natural solutions of the same caliber and sets apart from the rest.
Also, the Sekaya Raw Actives are powdered green superfoods, plant proteins, and energy optimizers aimed toward athletes and active individuals who want to up their game and improve their performance naturally. Sekaya Botanicare is a line of premium natural skincare products that are aimed to keep even the most sensitive skin healthy and smooth all over.
Sekaya brandishes its earth’s natural ingredients all backed by scientific research
Aside from these three product lines, Sekaya will also be coming up with natural solutions that will highlight Philippine herbs. Staying true to its name as Sentro ng Katutubong Yaman, Sekaya’s mission is to put our local herbs and rich tradition in the spotlight, starting with Sekaya Food Supplements. These are premium, pharma-grade supplements that are 100% sourced and manufactured in the Philippines, and provide concentrated nutrients from local herbs that are designed to address the needs of Filipinos. One of the products under this line is the Sekaya Organic Moringa, the only European Union (EU)-certified 100% organic 500mg capsule in the market.
With the influx of natural brands to address demand, and at times overwhelming, even contradictory information on these, Nepomuceno added, “Aside from products that offer functional wellness, Sekaya wants to help educate consumers to be more discerning and make well-informed decisions as these impact their health and wellbeing.”
The current times present a wake-up call and a strong reminder of the utmost importance of keeping our health in check, and nothing perhaps can be more reassuring than being able to turn to natural solutions that are not only tested by tradition but also proven by science.
Get more science-based health tips and information by following @SekayaPH on Facebook and Instagram. To know more about Sekaya, visit https://www.sekaya.com.ph/.
