Feature: Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos: a
prescription to good nutrition
By Celina Ann Z. Javier
The Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) is
a set of dietary guidelines based on the eating pattern, lifestyle, and health
status of Filipinos.
The NGF contains all the nutrition messages to
healthy living for all age groups from infants to adults, pregnant and
lactating women, and the elderly.
The first NGF released in 1990 was composed of
five messages called “Dietary Guidelines for Filipinos."
In 2000, a revised nutritional guidelines composed
of ten messages was released and it was called the Nutritional Guidelines for
Filipinos.
In 2012, the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the
revision of the NGF, led by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the
Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) developed a new set of the
NGF, based on the 2000 edition.
The 2012 NGF now includes the basis and
justification for each of the ten nutritional and health message.
Below are the new messages of the 2012 NGF:
1. Eat a
variety of foods everyday to get the nutrients needed by the body.
2.
Breastfeed infants exclusively from birth up to six months and then give
appropriate complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding for two years
and beyond for optimum growth and development.
3. Eat
more vegetables and fruits to get the essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber
for regulation of body processes.
4.
Consume fish, lean meat, poultry, egg, dried beans or nuts daily for
growth and repair of body tissues.
5.
Consume milk, milk products, and other calcium-rich food such as small
fish and shellfish, everyday for healthy bones and teeth.
6.
Consume safe foods and water to prevent diarrhea and other food-and
water-borne diseases.
7. Use
iodized salt to prevent Iodine Deficiency Disorders.
8. Limit
intake of salty, fried, fatty, and sugar-rich foods to prevent cardiovascular
diseases.
9.
Attain normal body weight through proper diet and moderate physical
activity to maintain good health and help prevent obesity.
10. Be
physically active, make healthy food choices, manage stress, avoid alcoholic
beverage, and do not smoke to help prevent lifestyle-related non-communicable
disease.
The revisions were made based on the results of
the 2008 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) conducted by FNRI-DOST.
Based on the said survey, the Filipino household
diet fell below the recommended levels except for niacin, which is above the
recommended.
Furthermore, all nutrients and energy were below
the 100 percent adequacy levels. This was the basis of NGF messages no. 1, 3,
and 4.
There is no single food that contains all the
nutrients that our body needs so eating a variety of food ensures that daily
nutritional needs are met.
There was also a decrease in consumption of fruits
from 77 grams in 205 to 54 grams in 2008 and also a decrease in milk
consumption from 44 grams to 42 grams. These results were the basis of message
no. 3 and 5, respectively.
Vegetables and fruits are the main sources of
vitamins, minerals, and fiber, while milk is a good source of calcium.
Low urinary iodine excretion is still a prevalent
problem among pregnant and lactating mothers, indicating to low iodine intake.
Iodine is important during pregnancy because it is needed for the brain
development of the infant while lactating mothers must have adequate supply of
iodine in their breastmilk. This is the message of NGF no. 7.
The total cholesterol level among Filipino adults
increased from 8.5 (mg/dL) in 2003 to 10.2 (mg/dL) in 2008.
High cholesterol level may be attributed to the
high consumption of sodium rich foods by Filipinos.
Salt and soy sauce were among the top 10 widely
used miscellaneous food items used by Filipinos.
In addition, heart diseases ranked first among the
causes of death based on the 2005 Department of Health survey. This is the
reason behind no. 8 of NGF.
Excessive intake of salt and soy sauce can result
to high blood pressure especially to salt-sensitive individuals. Persistent
high blood pressure can result to cardiovascular diseases.
There is also a decreasing trend of physical
inactivity among Filipinos and also a large percentage of Filipino smokers at
31.0% and drinkers at 26.9%. These situations were the basis of messages no. 9
and 10 of the NGF.
People are always encouraged to exercise at least
thirty minutes a day, three to five times a week.
Limit alcohol drinking to one drink per day for
women and two drinks for men is also advised.
One alcoholic drink is equivalent to one and half
ounce distilled beverage such as gin or 12 ounces or a bottle of beer or four
ounces wine or half glass wine or an ounce of 100 proof whiskey.
For more information on food and nutrition,
contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana,
Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and
Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Tel/Fax Num: 8372934 and 8373164; email:
mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.;
FNRI Facebook page: facebook.com/FNRI-DOST; FNRI Twitter account:
twitter.com/FNRI-DOST. (FNRI-DOST S
& T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
