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A variety of foods daily is key to good health

By Czarina Teresita S. Martinez
FNRI-DOST S&T Media Services

Did you know that the human body needs more than 40 different nutrients every day for good health?

There is no single food that can supply the body with the needed nutrients in proper amount and balance starting at age six months and onwards. 

The revised Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos recommends eating a variety of foods every day to get the nutrients needed by the body. The NGF was developed by nutrition experts led the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST).

The three major food groups are the go, grow, and glow foods.

Go foods like rice, bread, noodles, pasta, and corn give us energy. Other go foods include root crops like sweet potato, cassava, and potato. Sugars and jams, oil, margarine and butter that make our food tasty give energy as well. 

Grow foods build and repair body tissues that make children grow tall. Grow foods also make the muscles strong.

Examples of grow foods are meat and meat products, chicken and other poultry products, fish and seafood, milk and dairy products,  beans and nuts, and eggs.

Glow foods, like fruits and vegetables help regulate body processes by providing vitamins and minerals.

Glow foods give us fiber that makes our digestive system healthy.

However, other than these food groups, the intake of water is also necessary. Water and other beverages also regulate body processes as they play an important role in digestion, absorption, metabolism, transport, and utilization of nutrients.

Water and beverages also help us excrete waste products and toxins from our lungs, skin, kidneys, and large intestines.

Remember to eat a variety of foods and drink at least eight glasses of water every day.


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, E-Mail: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or mar_v_c@yahoo.com, Telefax: (02) 8372934, (02) 8273164, or call (02) 8372071 local 2296 or visit our website: http:www.fnri.dost.gov.ph 

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