Eating healthy is the foundation for good health
AHEALTHY diet, which is part of a healthy lifestyle, is the foundation of good health. It is a diet that should satisfy one’s energy and nutrient needs for proper body functions, growth and development, daily activities and maintenance of health, keeping well within one’s caloric needs.
Hence, it takes into consideration both quality and quantity of food consumed by a person.
It also provides just enough energy for one’s daily activities without going beyond one’s caloric needs to maintain a healthy body weight.
Energy requirements differ from personto person and the energy provided by a healthy diet should balance with one’s energy expenditure.
“Kaya naman ngayong July, alalahanin na kumain ng gulay at iba pang mga masusustansyang pagkain upang mabuo ang kinakailangang Go, Grow, and Glow food ng ating katawan, [This is why this month of July, remember to eat vegetables and other nutritious food so that you will be able to get the Go, Grow and Glow food for our body],” Health Undersecretary Maria rosario Vergeire, Officer-in-charge of the Department of Health, said.
Go food gives a person energy. They contain fat and carbohydrates. Butter and cheese are sources of fat while bread, rice and pasta are rich in carbohydrates.
Glow food keeps your body well. they are rich in vitamins and minerals. They help maintain good eyesight, healthy skin, and prevent many diseases. Fruits and Vegetables are glow food.
Meanwhile, grow food helps a person grow tall and strong for they are rich in protein. Protein-rich foods build muscles. Protein can be found in meat, chicken, peanuts, and beans.
Nutrition month
NUTRITION Month, an annual campaign held every July, has been institutionalized by schools and local government units as well as other stakeholders to create greater awareness on the importance of nutrition among Filipinos.
The campaign aims to increase awareness on the importance of healthy diets which protect against both under and over nutrition and non-communicable diseases (NCDS) such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer.
The DOH said a healthy diet encompasses a wide range of benefits, with positive impact son nutrition, overall health, economy as well as the environment.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a healthy diet emphasizes regular intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, root crops, fat-free or lowfat milk, lean meats, poultry, fish, egg, beans and nuts. It is also low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars.
Meanwhile, healthy diets during emergencies mean providing adequate nutrition, and not just adequate amount of food or calories.
Energy needs can be met by providing a range of commodities while protein needs could be satisfied with mixtures of animal and plant-based food.
Dietary guidelines
IN 2012, the Food and Nutrition research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) released a set of dietary guidelines based on the eating pattern, lifestyle, and health status of Filipinos called the Nutrition guidelines for fi lip in os(ngf ). Basically, thengf summarizes the most important nutrition messages for Filipinos of all ages.