September 10, 2023
HONOR Opens First Experience Store in Mindanao at SM City GenSan
EEI hailed as one of Pag-IBIG’s NCR top employers in 1st half of 2023
(from left): Pag-IBIG Area Head (NCR North) Fernando G. Fajardo, EEI Corporation’s Jan Ivan Santamaria, and Pag-IBIG Branch Head (Cubao) Romer A. Manucdoc |
September 9, 2023
Here are five reasons why you should try plant milk
Did you know that plant-based milk has grown in popularity around the world, especially in the Philippines? There are Filipinos who have started exploring non-lactose alternatives as part of their health and fitness routines.
This year, plant-based products placed fourth in global food trends as more people purchase them for their homes. For those who are looking to try out plant-based milk, here are some helpful facts to keep in mind:
#1
Plant milks are nutritious, thanks to the natural goodness from plants.
In addition to their intrinsic nutritional benefits, plant milks can be enriched with calcium and vitamin D, the key essential micronutrients present in milk. Other nutritional benefits of plants used in beverages include:
Plant Varieties |
Key Nutritional Benefits |
Soy |
High-quality protein and healthy polyunsaturated fats |
Oat |
Gut-friendly dietary fiber and heart-healthy beta-glucan |
Almond |
Vitamin E antioxidant and healthy monounsaturated fats |
For some products, such as Vitasoy Plus (Milky Flavor, Oat Flavor, Original Flavor, Milky Vanilla Flavor, Milky Oat Flavor and Milky Almond Flavor), fortified plant milk can even provide as much as 36% more calcium than regular milk.
Plant milk made from soy, oat and almond, can be enriched with calcium and vitamins in addition to their intrinsic benefits.
#2
Plant milks can serve different dietary needs.
Other than being rich in calcium, fortified
plant milks are naturally free of lactose and cholesterol and tend to contain
less calories and saturated fat than regular milk. Hence, they are suitable for
people with different dietary needs, including health-conscious individuals,
those who follow a plant-based, flexitarian or vegan diet. This also includes
people who are lactose intolerant.
Plant milks are naturally lactose- and cholesterol-free, lower in calories (compared to dairy) and vegan friendly
#3
Plant milk is more planet-friendly.
According to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020, more than seventy five percent of diet-related greenhouse gas emissions come from animal-sourced foods consumed worldwide. Dairy, or more popularly known as cow’s milk, is the second contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with 25% share, according to reports from international health organizations. By shifting to a plant-based diet, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced significantly.
The production of plant milk has also been found to have lower environmental impact as it uses less water and land, and emits less carbon compared to the production of dairy milk.
The study by Poore & Nemecek shows the production of plant milk has a much lower environmental impact.
#4 National dietary guidelines recommend plant
milks as a part of diverse diet
Plant milks can be delicious choices for consumers who want to have a diverse diet that consists of cereals, legumes, nuts and seeds, whole grains, soybeans. A diverse diet is recommended by many national dietary guidelines, such as:
Dietary Guidelines |
Recommendations |
Australian Dietary Guidelines |
For those who
prefer to avoid dairy products, alternatives that have added calcium, such as
soy, rice, or other cereal drink with at least 100mg of added calcium per
100ml, can be chosen as an alternative to dairy products. |
Daily intake of food from the dairy group is no longer recommended.
Both dairy product and unsweetened fortified soy beverages are recommended as
protein food. The Guide recommends increasing consumption of protein foods
from plants. |
|
The EatWell Guide-UK |
Soya milks, and
other plant milks (rice, oat, almond, hazelnut, coconut, quinoa and potato
milks) can be alternative drinks to replace milk and dairy products. |
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 |
#5
Plant milks can taste “milky” and “creamy” too.
Taste is usually one of the items people consider when purchasing plant-based products. With new technologies, the taste and texture of plant milks are now milkier and creamier.
For instance, Vitasoy has developed creamy soy milk drinks to meet the needs of those wanting the benefits of plant milk, but also looking for that milky taste and creamy mouthfeel closer to dairy. Plant-based milk options are also expanding in coffee chains, thanks to the innovations of Barista edition plant milks. They’re easy to foam, have a creamy mouthfeel, with more neutral flavors that can nicely complement coffee.
Plant milk is not just good for you, but for the planet too! Treat yourself to a tasty and nutritious animal-free milk with Vitasoy’s selection of plant-based drinks! Shop them at the nearest supermarket, and online on Lazada.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/VitasoyPH.
TPB Goes Green Through Environmental Initiatives in the La Mesa Nature Reserve and Sierra Madre Mountain Range
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), held its corporate social responsibility activity last August 23-24, 2023 as the agency continues to strengthen its commitment to sustainable tourism. The CSR program was done in partnership with Haribon Foundation, which provided proper awareness training, educational sessions, and hands-on environmental activities for the participants in the La Mesa Nature Reserve and the Southern Sierra Madre Mountains. Content creator Cha Ocampo also joined TPB’s CSR program, as one of the leading advocates for environmental awareness in the Philippines.
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines recently conducted a CSR program in partnership with the Haribon Foundation. The TPB employees participated in proper awareness training, educational sessions, and hands-on environmental activities in the La Mesa Nature Reserve and the Southern Sierra Madre Mountains.
The program kicked off in the La Mesa Nature Reserve where participants went through a guided tour of the Petron Trail. This immersive activity served as an opportunity for them to learn more about the Philippine native trees and understand the species’ importance in sustaining biodiversity.
TPB also participated in a community native nursery activity in Tanay, Rizal to study how seedlings are correctly prepared for planting. Facilitators and community partners guided the TPB participants to increase their knowledge of forest restoration.
Environmental advocate and content creator Cha Ocampo shared that the more people know about nature, the more they are able to understand how to conserve it. “As we were educated during the CSR program, we learned that native trees help recover and, at the same time, expand forest habitats for native species of plants and animals. They also protect watershed and freshwater resources to support the livelihood of local people. All of these new learnings are crucial information for forest conservation,” she said.
Apart from investing in environmental education, TPB also joined the Forest for Life Movement’s Adopt-A-Seedling Program on August 24, 2023. Through this program, TPB was able to plant 1,250 native seedlings in the Southern Sierra Madre Mountain Range located in Brgy. San Andres, Tanay, Rizal. The program also included community training and nursery establishment, livelihood incentives, site preparation, and maintenance and monitoring of the seedlings for three years.
TPB’s CSR program included community training and nursery establishment, livelihood incentives, site preparation, maintenance and monitoring of the seedlings for three years. |
These CSR activities are crucial to preserving the longest mountain range in the Philippines: the Sierra Madre. The Sierra Madre Mountain Range is not only a green tourism destination but also a water source and a barrier against strong storms for multiple cities. Thus, learning about native trees and planting native seedlings in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range can help preserve its beauty for future generations and also protect the lives of various Filipinos.
“These CSR programs are aligned with the Tourism Promotions Board’s goal of making the Philippines a sustainable and uniquely diverse travel destination. It is important for our employees to immerse themselves into these conservation activities. TPB recognizes that the Sierra Madre Mountain Range plays a vital role in the local tourism industry and the everyday lives of Filipinos. Thus, we wanted to protect the country’s longest mountain range by educating ourselves on conservation practices and planting native trees on the Sierra Madre,” said TPB’s Chief Operating Officer Margarita Montemayor Nograles.
The native tree trek, community native nursery activity, and exclusive tree planting project are some of the CSR programs that TPB has engaged in since 2015. In fact, TPB already conducted 26 activities from Luzon to Mindanao for this year’s CSR program. TPB will continue to take part in environmental and community-based initiatives, in commitment to its goal of supporting green and sustainable tourism.