As a result, their performance at
work or at play is impaired. What is causing the increasing number of cases of
lifestyle diseases? According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute
(FNRI), an unhealthy diet is a key factor in the prevalence of these
conditions.
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| EATING A LOT of food doesn't necessarily mean that we're actually getting all the nutrients we need in a day. Adults need to consume certain amounts of nutrients to perform at their best. A study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) shows that 70 percent of Filipinos are lacking in important nutrients. To ensure that we're getting all the nutrients we need, we can take Centrum, the complete multivitamin that is specially balanced with 30 vitamins and minerals, from vitamin A to Zinc. Together with a healthy diet, Centrum helps us perform at our best, every day. |
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| NUTRITIONISTS say that a lack of vitamins and minerals in our body leads to physical weakness or illness--and usually it's an unhealthy diet that is the culprit. While there's no harm in consuming fast food sometimes, we still need to stick to a balanced diet as much as possible. Taking Centrum , the complete multivitamin that is specially balanced with 30 vitamins and minerals, from vitamin A to Zinc ensures that we get all the nutrients we need--so we can perform at our best every day. |
Vitamins and minerals are also needed to strengthen our immune system. When we have a shortage of important vitamins and minerals in our body, our immune system is less than optimal and we become vulnerable to illness.
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| DO YOU GET SO BUSY at work that you have to grab whatever food is most easily available--even snacking at your work area--just to get through the day? You're not alone—many Filipino adults develop unhealthy dietary habits. As a result, 70 percent of the adult population are lacking in nutrients, according to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. This nutrient deficiency results in exhaustion, weakness, and even illness--leading to under performance at work and other activities. Prevent this by eating a healthy diet and taking Centrum, the complete multivitamins that is specially balanced |
This unhealthy diet creates a vicious cycle: when we feel sick or weak or tired, we lose our drive to engage in healthy physical activities such as sports or exercise. Even simple things such as walking or climbing stairs become tiresome. This leads to a sedentary lifestyle, where we feel that changing our diet and physical routine is too great an effort; so it’s not surprising that our health and our quality of life suffer.
Lack of nutrients
For
example, the FNRI’s Recommended Nutrient Intake (RENI ) on a daily basis for
Vitamin A is 550 micrograms for male adults (ages 19 years to 65 years and
above) while 500 micrograms are recommended for female adults (ages 19 years to 65 years and above). However, the 2008 survey shows that
actual average Vitamin A intake among Filipino adults is just 499.6 micrograms,
while the elderly only take in 379.9 micrograms daily.
In
the case of Vitamin C, the RENI for male adults (19 years to 65+ years old) is 75 milligrams while the RENI
for female adults (19 years to 65+ years old) is 70 milligrams. The 2008 survey
however shows that on the average, Filipino adults only consume 44.7 milligrams
of Vitamin C daily, while the elderly consume
44.5 milligrams daily.
As
for calcium, the RENI for male
adults are 750 milligrams for those aged 19 to 64 years
old and 800 milligrams for those aged 65 years old
and above. The RENI for female adults are 750 grams for those aged 19 years to
49 years old and 800 grams for
those aged 50 years old and above.
According
to the 2008 FNRI survey, the actual average daily calcium consumption among
adults is only 370 milligrams, while the elderly only consume 330 milligrams of
calcium every day.
Iron consumption among Filipino adults
is also below the RENI. The RENI for iron among male adults aged 19 years to 65 years old and above is 12
milligrams. The RENI for iron among non-pregnant female
adults for those aged 19 years to 64 years old is 27 milligrams, while the RENI for those aged
65 years and above is 10 milligrams of iron.
Actual
average iron consumption among Filipino adults however, was found to be only at
9.4 milligrams daily, while the average consumption among the elderly was even
lower at 7.5 milligrams a day.
The
2008 FNRI survey also found that 65 percent of Filipinos across population
groups are not taking enough calories to meet their daily energy
requirement.
The
RENI pegs the energy requirements for Filipino male adults as follows: 19 to 29 years old, 2490
kilocalories (kcal); 30 to 49 years old, 2420 kcal; 50 to 64 years old, 2170
kcal; and 65 years old and above at 1890 kcal.
For
female adults the energy requirements are: 19 to 29 years old, 1860 kcal; 30 to
49 years old, 1810 kcal; 50 to
64 years old, 1820 kcal; and 65 years old and above at 1410 kcal.
On
the average however, Filipino adults only consume 1915 kcal daily while the
elderly consume even less, with only 1436 kcal daily. According to FNRI’s computation, these figures mean that 65 percent of
Filipinos are not getting enough energy for their everyday activities.
Supplement for peak performance
So
how do we change to a healthy lifestyle and be at our best? Obviously,
we need to commit ourselves first to a healthy
diet. The FNRI website (www.fnri.dost.gov.ph) provides an illustrated, dietary guide
called the Filipino Food Pyramid to help us make the right food choices for
optimum health and nutrition.
Besides
switching to a healthy diet, Filipinos also need to take health supplements to
fill in the nutrition gaps on days when, for one reason or another, one’s food
choices are less than ideal.
There
are encouraging signs that more and more Filipinos are becoming educated about the value of nutritional
supplements and they are taking more of these. FNRI surveys show in 2003, only
22.9% of Filipinos said they took health supplements. In 2008, that figure had risen to 46.8%
The
top two reasons these people gave for taking supplements were (1) health and (2) extra energy . Other reasons were “doctor-recommended,” “perform
better in school/work,” and “not getting enough vitamins from the diet.”
To
get the maximum benefits from a vitamins and minerals supplement, make sure to
choose one that has complete nutritional content. Centrum is complete and specially balanced with 30 vitamins
and minerals our body needs, from vitamins A to Zinc. Taking Centrum can help
complete your nutritional needs everyday. For adults 50 years old and up, on the other hand,
Centrum Silver’s age-adjusted formula is perfect for the changing needs in
one’s golden years.
