Natural supplements straight from PH soil

In 2019, the Philippines’ revenue from vitamins and minerals supplements reached approximately $294 million. Here are five supplements that are locally abundant produce used for the manufacture of supplements in the Philippines.

Guyabano

Anona muricata Endemic: Central America, Southeast Asia Health benefits

• Helps with high blood sugar, irregular heartbeat, tuberculosis, colon and breast cancer, pain, and build up of plaque in the arteries.

• Its leaves have been found to fight cancer cells and diabetes

Ampalaya

Momordica charantia Endemic: Asia, Africa Health benefits • Increases the production of beta cells in the pancreas, thereby improving the body's ability to produce insulin.

Mangosteen

Garcinia mangostana Endemic: Southeast Asia Health benefits

• Skin infections, wounds, amoebic dysentery, diarrhea, and cholera.

• Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral.

Avocado

Persea americana Endemic: South Central Mexico, but widely cultivated in tropical countries. Health benefits

• Higher potassium content than banana.

• Rich in monounsaturated fat that increases high density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol.

• Lowers bad cholesterol, and help relax blood vessels thus lowers blood pressure.

• Antioxidant

Malunggay

Moringa Oleifera Endemic: Central and South America, as well as the Philippines Health benefits

• Increases the production and flow of milk among lactating or breastfeeding mothers..

•Antioxidants.

• Has seven times more vitamin C than oranges, four times more calcium and two times more protein than milk, four times more vitamin A than carrots, and three times more potassium than bananas.