Well, I have good news for you – “Medical Tourism” (also called Health Tourism) is all about taking a vacation and getting treated at the same time. Medical treatment in the Philippines is extremely cheap and it comes with very little waiting time… and you will be in safe hands throughout the procedure.

And that’s not all – after your medical vacation you will be able to recuperate in surroundings that are conducive to healing.

For most people the greatest benefit of medical tourism is financial – only a fraction of the cost you would spend on treatment in Western countries. This saving is the main reason so many tourists go abroad as part of a medical package that includes flights, transfers, treatment, and recovery in an exotic tropical locale.

In fact medical packages are becoming the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry worldwide and is one reason more and more people from the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe are coming to the Philippines. The Philippines recently became the first country in Asia to host the prestigious World Health Tourism Congress which had previously only been held in Europe.

And the quality of health care in the Philippines is first class. Tourism Undersecretary for Sports and Wellness, Cynthia Carrion, recently said, “Our doctors and nurses count among the best in the world. Many of them trained in prestigious hospitals in the United States, Australia and Europe.”

She pointed out that the Philippines has a long history of medical expertise in a culture of caring and hospitable people. She said that Philippine health services not only emphasize quality, but just as importantly, provide service with a heart.

The medical services available here range from cosmetic surgery to dental implants. Here is a just a brief list …

* Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery
* Cosmetic Maxilla Facial Surgery
* Dentistry
* Dermatology
* Gynecologic Procedures
* Heart Procedures
* Ophthalmology
* Hip Surgery
… and more.

Once your treatment is over you will be able to pamper yourself in a tropical locale of your choice. And there are many to choose from: the Banaue Rice Terraces, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, visit the world’s longest Underground River in Palawan, see unique wildlife, or simply stretch out on one of the long white sand beaches, relax, and watch the beautiful sunsets.

Nor do you have to recuperate on your own – bring your family with you and let them watch over you as you recover.

Now you can have your cake and eat it too – Philippine health tourism lets you avoid the high cost of medical treatment and the long wait, and yet you can still have the holiday of a lifetime with your family.

Bali Hai Beach Resort in the Bauang – San Fernando area of La Union, Philippines, is an ideal place for rest and recuperation. Set in lush tropical gardens overlooking the South China Sea you will find air-conditioned bungalows, a 24 hour bar and restaurant, a swimming pool, cable TV, in-room cable Internet and Wi-Fi, tours, and much more.

Allan E Miller, retired airline pilot, freelance journalist, and Webmaster: http://balihai.com.ph

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People who eat a lot of leafy green vegetables and eat fish at least once a week have also been found to show reduced cognitive decline with aging. Another important finding is that sugar can be a cause of memory decline. Studies have shown reduced blood supply to the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus, an area involved in memory formation, after a high sugar meal resulting in a blood sugar spike. This is a finding that has been seen in diabetics. It is therefore very important to watch your diet and to control diabetes.

Social factors can also be important. Older people who live with a spouse or other family members and who have a lot of human interactions tend to do better both in terms of physical health and cognition than those who are more isolated in old age. Adequate sleep is also important for maintaining mental clarity, acuity and memory. It may sound like old fashioned advice that your grandmother may have given, but it’s scientifically backed by extensive research. Weight control is another very important factor in maintaining a healthy brain and memory. New research has shown a strong link between obesity and cognitive and memory decline

Cognition is sensitive to a wide variety of nutritional factors, and modern nutritional science is uncovering that we can improve our mental powers effectively, and even powerfully, through a wide array of nutrients and supplements, including antioxidants, herbs, fats and other targeted dietary supplements.A November 2008 review in the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association pointed to benefits of a variety of bioactive nutritional supplement ingredients (often called nutraceuticals) in slowing age-associated memory impairment.  Vitamins B, C and E and the botanical brain boosters Ginkgo, Ginseng, Pomegranate, Alpha lipoic acid, rhodiola, Vinpocetine huperzine and acetyl-L-carnitine were found to be especially effective

The brain is not a separate organ from the rest of your body. How you treat your body also affects your mind. By exercising regularly and consistently for a fit body, by watching your diet and weight, and taking brain boosting neutraceuticals, you can enjoy a fit mind that has you functioning to your highest potential every single day.

Dr. Ray Ricardo is a retired physician. He is currently chairman and president of Totalmed Corporation http://www.totalmedsubic.com, a health delivery company and International College of Integrative Medicine, a teaching and training institution for complementary medicine. He is also president of Antioxidants Inc. http://antioxidantsinc.com, a health products marketing company.

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