In a country where over 124,000 Filipinos die prematurely each year from ischemic heart disease caused by elevated LDL cholesterol and plaque accumulation, the indigenous Mangyan people of Mindoro Island present a striking contrast.
Their active lifestyle and traditional diet seem to shield them from cardiovascular diseases, offering valuable lessons in heart health.
While cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading noncommunicable disease in the Philippines, the Mangyan communities of Mindoro exhibit a remarkably low prevalence of heart conditions.
This phenomenon has drawn the attention of health advocates and researchers who seek to uncover the factors contributing to their resilience against CVD.
Fr. Cris Raymundo, parish priest and health care coordinator for the Mangyan communities in Sangilin, Baco, Oriental Mindoro, has observed their unique health patterns.
“The primary health concern among the Mangyan is respiratory issues due to indoor woodfire cooking,” he noted. “Heart disease, on the other hand, is rare, largely due to their active lifestyle and natural diet.”
The Mangyan people engage in physically demanding activities such as farming and food gathering, which contribute to their overall fitness.
Their diet, consisting mainly of boiled root crops, fruits, and vegetables from their surroundings, stands in stark contrast to the fast-food culture prevalent in urban areas.
Dr. Patricia Caballero, a medical doctor at Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital, supports these observations.
“In my experience, I haven’t seen a Mangyan rushed to the hospital due to a heart attack unless the delay was due to distance or cultural reasons,” she said. “I have yet to encounter an obese Mangyan, which highlights the impact of their lifestyle and diet.”
Dr. Caballero added that the Mangyan are also less exposed to the marketing of unhealthy processed foods, a significant contributor to high-fat diets in urban areas. Furthermore, their limited financial resources inadvertently prevent them from consuming such foods, helping them maintain healthier eating habits.
Despite these advantages, scientific validation of the Mangyan's cholesterol levels remains challenging.
"The Mangyan are not accustomed to having their blood tested, which makes it difficult to gather precise data," Dr. Caballero explained.
In light of these observations, initiatives like Unblocked Movement, supported by Novartis, aim to bridge the gap between cultural insights and modern healthcare.
This program seeks to unite patients, healthcare professionals, and systems in a shared mission to reduce barriers to heart health. The Mangyan’s lifestyle offers a promising case study for addressing cardiovascular health risks.
The Philippines continues to face high rates of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which includes ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, the leading causes of death in the country.
The top contributors—high systolic blood pressure, high-fat diets, and elevated LDL cholesterol—are preventable with proper lifestyle adjustments.
“When left untreated, high LDL cholesterol can lead to fatty plaque accumulation, restricting blood flow and significantly increasing the risk of heart attack,” said Dr. Caballero.
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