There is truth to the old adage: you are what you eat. The food that you eat not only gives you the much needed energy to be more productive, but also the nutrients your body and mind require to function properly. Alarmingly, in the Philippines, most adults are behind in terms of practicing healthy food habits such as reducing salt and sugar intake, avoiding processed foods and using less saturated oils.
According to AIA's Healthy Living Index Survey in 2016, Filipino adults are guilty of several unhealthy eating habits and more frequent than the regional averages. These include eating meals while distracted and taking unhealthy snacks in between meals. Compared to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines scored 61 over 100, which is lower than the regional average of 63 points. The survey which was done in 2011, 2013, and 2016, also showed its HLI as not improving through the years.
What is clear in the survey however is more and more Filipinos are aware of the need to improve their health. They are also looking for various ways to motivate themselves to take the first step toward a healthier lifestyle. They know that the time to change is now, whatever stage in life you are in.
When one is pushing 50 or over, one is usually expected to be at the pinnacle of his or her career, with a growing family with grandchildren. More often than not, the kids are off raising their own families, leaving just you and your spouse at home. At this stage, health issues brought on by aging may already rear its ugly head. That is why it's important to start eating healthy to prevent the onset of health problems that come at this stage in life
