I finished a bowl of pork chicharon on an early Sunday morning. I loved how the crispy pork skin and salty, crackling fat tumbled across my tongue, making me munch more and more, especially as I dipped each piece into sinamak vinegar, infused with chilies and spices. That was heaven! Cravings satisfied!
After a few minutes, I felt something different. I could feel my head getting hotter and tighter, and a feeling of throwing up. I was alarmed! It reminded me of my family medical background. I remember that both sides of my parents have chronic hypertension. My grandparents from my father's side died of hypertension, and five of their children (3 tito and 2 tita) also died from hypertension. Not to mention my mother's side, who also had the same condition.
I grabbed my amlodipine, my maintenance pill since I hit 40, and immediately took a tablet. I opened the fridge to look for something that could cool down my head. I found a bottle of Pocari Sweat half-filled, turmeric powder, and some calamansi. I used to have calamansi every time because my children love calamansi juice. I grabbed them out, and immediately I found myself making a power drink. It was the first time that I made up that idea, perhaps because of fear and guilt over CHEATING.
I cheated. Everybody never failed to remind me to slow down fat, salt, and sugar intake. But I was tempted! Kayo ba naman makakita ng chicharon na super crisp 'yung taba at skin, ewan ko lang din kung di kayo matutukso!
I put 3 tablespoons of turmeric powder, half a bottle of Pocari Sweat, and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar into my blender. I then squeezed around 15 small calamansi into the mixture, making sure that the seeds were not included.
I love this turmeric powder from Agriko because it was not just turmeric alone, it was added with more healthy and organic materials that made it healthier than other turmeric powders on the market. It has ginger, guyabano, malunggay, and lemon grass.
Why is turmeric a cure? Let’s be real, this isn’t magic. But turmeric is a well-known anti-inflammatory, and when you pair it with ginger, lemon, and the rest of the ingredients I stated above, it becomes a superhero for digestion and detox. More importantly? It makes me feel like I’ve hit "reset" after an indulgence.
I blended the mixture, making a smoother texture. I want the kids to drink my power juice too, without noticing too much turmeric. They dislike the smell of turmeric. The color was a vibrant yellow, making it more attractive and delicious just by looking at it.
Pocari Sweat is also known for its hydration power and electrolyte replenishment. And the calamansi juice would then be served as the flavor enhancer, giving my power drink a hit of sour taste plus the Vitamin C that it contains.
I poured the mixture into the pitcher and added some ice cubes. I never told anybody about my feelings after eating the pork chicharon. For sure, my mother would be very worried, and my partner would scold me for my greediness.
I called everybody to try my power drink. My mother exclaimed, "Hala kalami lage ani!". The kids followed and tried their sips, and they loved my juice too. I was curious, I poured it into my glass and tried a sip too. Surprisingly, that was the best juice I ever had. Seriously! Walang halong charrr!
I finished two full glasses of my power juice. I felt relieved and refreshed! The heat in my head was gone, and I felt reset and recharged. After around 30 minutes, I got into the toilet and had my disposal. That was amazing.
I am planning to buy more turmeric powder from Agriko Farm to have this power juice at least once a week, and will include it in my healthy drinks list.
That Sunday morning was a wake-up call, not just because of the chicharon, but because of how my body reacted. It reminded me that while food can be comforting, delicious, and nostalgic, my health always has the final say.
So yes, I cheated. But I also learned, created something healing, and felt better, physically and emotionally. Moving forward, I’m keeping this power drink in my fridge not just as a cure, but as a reminder that it’s never too late to choose better.
