Proper Nutrition: a Bridge to a Brighter Future

If practice of improper food intake were a crime, scarcity of prison cells would be a major global problem. People at different times of life would be guilty. Those in their senior years,  the middle-aged, and most especially, the juvenile. Some of them may be oblivious and helpless to such condition, to committing their "crime", and some, totally aware. If someone is aware of what good nutrition is, he/she shouldn't be irrational enough to not practice what he knows. If someone is unaware on how to eat right, then he/she should take responsibility on being informed.

But of course, everything has to start with dissemination of proper knowledge on good nutrition. This would guide people on the do's and don'ts of being healthy. The best time to learn these do's and don'ts is when one is young. This would help develop a child into a functional citizen in his/her latter years. In effect, this makes the society full of beneficial citizens who would illuminate the present and future with their bright minds.

"Food is the only beautiful thing that nourishes", I heard that line from a movie. Yes, indeed, food is a beautiful thing which provides humans with nourishment and sustenance. However, food could have ugly effects when taken in without control and proper consumption. Effects such as diseases, unwanted weight loss or weight gain, deficient energy to carry out daily tasks, and others. Too small is not good. Too much won't make it any better. Food intake should be proper and moderate. This would entail practicing good nutrition.

Nutrition, as defined by Bremer, a clinical exercise specialist, is the quality of macronutrients namely protein, carbohydrates and fats; and micronutrients viz. vitamins and minerals, which we take in daily. Good nutrition means that we receive a balance of both macronutrients and micronutrients in our daily diet.

Nutrition comes as a great factor in the development of a child's intelligence. Studies show that children who eat properly perform better in school than those who don't. It was found out that passive consideration of proper diet at an early stage may have long-term effects in a child's functioning in later life.

"Kumain ng right para maging batang bright" is the theme for this year's nutrition month. When I first heard it, I sort of wondered why "bata" or child was stressed in this year's theme. I wondered why it sounded more like a preschool tag line than a theme for an event celebrated by people of different times of life. And then I thought of what Rizal said — "pag-asa ng bayan ay ang kabataan". That's when I thought of how important it is to feed the minds of the young on how to eat right. People should indeed think of paying attention to the basics like educating them and making them apply what they learn about proper nutrition. That way, the hope of our nation would be well-kept-up and there won't be any reason for Rizal to be turning over in his grave.

If children and everybody else are well-taught with proper food intake, they would have a healthier body that's energized enough to be functional in the society, and a sounder mind that's brilliant enough to innovate ideas for society's progress.Not only is good nutrition a healthy practice, it is also a bridge to a brighter future.