OPINYON
February 27-March 05, 2019
Pukpuklo seaweed, an anti-cancer
agent we need
By Ma. Joreina Therese A. Blanco
DO you know that there is a weed
that is medicinally beneficial,
succulently available, and naturally
cancer-fighter?
Now, there is a whole-
new reason for parents to teach
kids to eat edible greens as a latest
research compels people not to
set aside vegetables in the dinner
plate.
Introducing the locally
known “pukpuklo” seaweed that is
best served in Ilocano dishes and
salads.
A sea-to-table popular
Ilocano favorite, Pukpuklo is an
iron-rich seaweed that has a feature
of a slimy, jelly-like, and spongy
strands that one might look at it as
Medusa’s hair.
Pukpuklo as anti-cancer,
anti-aging
In this modern age of
intensive discovery of medicinal
alternatives, there is wealth in the
sea as the pukpuklo seaweed has
been found to have anti-cancer
benefits.
This Codium species,
which is naturally found in Ilocos
Norte, Aklan, Iloilo, and Cagayan,
has been put into research by
students from the University of
Santo Tomas in Manila.
Presented at The Values
of Philippine Flora and Fauna
symposium by the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST)-
National Research Council of
the Philippines, this eatable
sea vegetable was tested for its
inhibitory potentials against cancer
and other diseases.
In their findings, pukpuklo
possesses polysaccharides that can
effectively combat “enzymes” that
aid the propagation of cancer cells
in the body.
These
polysaccharides
are composed of carbohydrates
such as starch and cellulose that
Overcoming thyroid gland diseases
MARICEL Galang, 43, has been
battling goiter since she was a
teenager. While the disease kept
her from doing certain physical
activities, it did not keep her from
pursuing her passion — singing
in their church’s worship team
and caring for her family.
“Nalaman
ko
na
mayroon ako nito noong 14 ako.
Sa side ng nanay ko, ang pinsan ko
mayroon ring ganitong problema.
Lahi namin kumbaga (I learned I
have this [goiter] when I was 14.
On my mother’s side, my cousin
also has this problem. It’s like
it’s in our blood),” she told the
Philippine News Agency (PNA)
Wednesday.
Galang shared that living
with goiter is a big challenge
because it makes her feel tired
easily but she doesn’t allow the
disease to overcome her.
“Nawalan ako ng boses
noong 14 to 18 years old ako,
pero salamat sa Diyos at umayos
ako. Nakakanta pa rin ako sa
simbahan pero ang pinakamatagal
na pagkanta ko ay isang oras na
lang (I lost my voice when I was
14 to 18 years old but thank God
that I recovered. I can still sing in
the church but not longer than one
hour),” she said.
Galang is one of 200
million people around the world
who suffer from goiter.
Goiter
or
iodine
deficiency disorder (IDD) is
the enlargement of the thyroid
glands. People who acquire the
disease have unusually big lumps
on their necks.
Its symptoms include
tight feeling in the throat, frequent
coughing, hoarseness, difficulty
swallowing,
and
difficulty
breathing.
The Philippine Thyroid
Diseases’ latest study in 2012
showed that goiter has a
prevalence rate of 10.12 percent
among the adults.
Meanwhile, the 2013
National Nutrition Survey showed
that about 5.8 million Filipinos
were afflicted with thyroid
disorders, such as goiter, thyroid
malignancy, mental deficiency,
physical deformities, congenital
hypothyroidism, cretinism, and
reproductive failure.
In a recent health forum,
Dr. Clarito Cairo Jr., Department
of Health (DOH) Thyroid
Disorder Prevention and Control
Program Manager, said thyroid
disorders affect 8.53 percent of
adults, with thyroid cancer being
the eighth top cause of cancer
cases for both sexes.
“Five out of every 1,000
people could suffer from goiter.
Ang mga babae na edad 20 years
old pataas ang mas prone sa sakit
na iyan (Women aged 20 years
old and above are more prone to
that disease),” he said.
Apart
from
iodine
deficiency, Cairo said goiter
could be inherited or caused
by
hyperthyroidism
or
hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism
occurs when your thyroid gland
is overactive in producing the
hormone thyroxine. People with
hyperthyroidism have accelerated
metabolism,
hence,
they’re
underweight despite eating a lot.
They also have palpitations, high
body temperature and a tendency
to get tired easily.
On the other hand,
hypothyroidism happens when
the thyroid gland does not actively
produce thyroid hormones to
keep the body running normally.
Galang’s goiter was
caused by hyperthyroidism.
“Kapag malamig ang
panahon sa paligid, nahihirapan
lang ako. Parang ako nanghihina,
pero kapag nakakainom ako ng
gamot ko na Tapdin, umaayos
pakiramdam ko at nagkakaroon
ako ng lakas ng loob kasi may
(When the weather is cold, it is
difficult for me. I feel weak, but
when I take Tapdin, I feel better
and I gain confidence because
there is a) sense of protection
because of the medicine,” she
said.
Tapdin is a drug used to
treat hyperthyroidism.
Because she is scared
that her children might acquire
the disease, Galang said she goes
through regular consultations to
her doctors during pregnancy.
“Hindi ako umiinom
ng goiter medications ko kapag
nagbubuntis ako. Itinutuloy ko
lang kapag nakapanganak na ako
tapos kumakain ako ng seafoods
gaya ng payo ng doktor ko (I
can strengthen cells and tissues in
the human body.
According to the DOST,
polysaccharides are carbohydrates
such as starch, cellulose, or
glycogen that are used in storing
energy, sending cellular messages,
and providing support to cells and
tissues.
“Yung pukpuklo natin ay
may characteristics that can help
or makatulong sa paglaban kontra
cancer cells,” DOST Provincial
Director Jonathan Viernes said.
Aside from being a potent
neutralizer of cancer, one can turn
to this green seaweed for skin,
goiter, and aging issues.
“This has also properties
that have an effect on the skin.
Nagbibigay din ito ng healthy skin
and faster healing on the body,”
Viernes added.
Soon, more studies will
be developed for this fauna which
will be a good alternative treatment
drugs against cancer.
Viernes further added
research studies will be conducted
to explore more of its medicinal
values.
Pukpuklo as Ilocano dish
Because of its acquired taste, pukpuklo is aimed not just
to be an old-folk favorite but also
a preferred food choice of this
millennial generation.
To maintain its fresh
texture, pukpuklo is never cooked
as the heat makes its shrink and
takes away its natural quality.
Just rinse it with water to
clean away the sand and grits that
are attached to it and voila, you can
eat it fresh.
If eating it as a salad, it is
best presented with tomatoes, salt,
shallots, lime, and surprisingly,
lemon. Other folks add a small
amount of salt into the salad to
keep the pukpuklo’s freshness.
This can be eaten in whatever time
of the day.
Pukpuklo for all
When you mix pukpuklo
with tomato to make a salad, you’re
not just making your stomach full
but, on the inside, you are already
helping your body fight any hints
of cancer.
This seasonally-available
seaweed
is
available
from
November to March and can be
bought for P100 per kilogram.
Indeed, seaweed is the food that we
need!
don’t take my goiter medications
when I’m pregnant. I continue
taking it once I give birth, then
I eat seafood as per my doctor’s
advice),” she said.
Cairo said goiter and
other thyroid gland disorders
could lead to heart disease,
infertility, mental health concerns,
congenital
hypothyroidism,
mentally deficient babies, pre-
term delivery and miscarriage,
and even death among susceptible
individuals.
“Para maiwasan ang
goiter at ang hypothyrodism
and hyperthyrodism, kumain
ng pagkaing sagana sa iodine
na nakukuha sa dagat, gumamit
ng subok na brand ng iodized
salt bilang panimpla sa pagkain
(To avoid goiter, hypothyrodism
and hyperthyrodism, eat iodine-
rich food from the sea, and use
a trusted brand of iodized salt as
food seasoning),” he said.
However, the World
Health Organization advised that
people must consume less than
500 grams or one teaspoon of
iodized salt a day to avoid health
problems, which may be caused
by too much salt in the body.
Meanwhile, Philippine
Thyroid Association president
Dr. Wenceslao Llauderes said
information drives, such as health
forums about the disease, also
help in its prevention.
The DoH, together
with its health partners from
the public and private sectors,
is continuously embarking on
the information, education and
communication activities about
the IDD in communities.
Cairo
added
the
National Salt Iodization Program
aims to address the IDD issue
in the country while the DoH
is pushing for the approval of
a national policy on Thyroid
Disorder Prevention and Control
in line with the Universal
Health Care program. It will
be a comprehensive health care
program that covers prevention,
screening, diagnosis, treatment
and rehabilitation.
In the Philippines, the
National Goiter Awareness Week
is observed every fourth week of
January and this year’s theme is
“Goiter Sugpuin, Isip Patalinuhin,
Iodized Salt Gamitin”.
World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines says goiter or iodine deficiency disease is characterized by a swelling
in the neck due to the enlarged thyroid gland. (Photo courtesy of WHO K. Bagchi)