Food: Basic Nutrition Guides

Good food is essential to man. In fact, they come first in the table of man's basic needs. The ocean and the fields are made by God to supply man, all he needs to sustain his life. The mountains become a breeding ground of more food and meat and cattle.

To live healthy man has to eat the right foods, as he is endowed with the gift of knowledge and resources to preserve generations.Variety, moderation and balance are the keys to a healthful eating plan.

Leading health agencies and nutritionists give these basic guidelines:

Eat a wide variety of foods. Eating many different food assures you of getting a full range of nutrients.

Maintain a healthy weight. A quick way to determine if you are overweight is to compare your waist measurement with that of your hip. For both men and women, the waist should be smaller than the hip.

Reduce fat, especially saturated fat. Fat intake should not exceed 30 percent of the day's calories, with less than 10 percent of calories coming from saturated fat.

Eat an abundance of vegetables, fruits and grains. Adults should eat at least three servings of vegetables, two servings of fruit, and six servings of grain product especially whole grains, everyday.

Use sugar in moderation. Ideally, salt consumption from all sources, including the saltshaker should be no more than 1 to 2 teaspoons a day.

If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Not only does alcohol offer empty calories, but excessive use of it leads to ailments such as kidney and liver diseases.

Health agencies must be sure to check safety handling of food manufacturers, sellers, restaurants, stores and supermarkets, among others. Food sold and catered to the public ought to be clean and fresh or newly packed. Expiration dates must be indicated in food labels.

I have heard of some meat handlers selling double dead meat (in Filipino, "botcha"), that usually the mothers buy (of average and low-income families). Some buyers are not aware of these tactics because they think they could save up; yet, buyers must know if the meat is of good quality.

Perhaps, those traders/ markets that cater bad food to the people/public (rich or poor) must be punished and should be charged with legal action. They must be aware that it is every right of a person (human right) to eat good food. Don't forget good food is nourishment to life, and if not served "clean and safe" it is equal to "poisoning" others.