Advancing technology and the fast paced lifestyle among us have affected not only the dietary and eating practices but also influenced the diseases that afflict us. And that doesn’t exclude Muslims in the Philippines.
Educating the public to make proper food choices that are appropriate in the socio-cultural and environmental conditions has been difficult task and continues to be a major challenge.
Simple and practical Nutrition Guidelines provide individuals the right knowledge about food and their choices to consume adequate and well-balanced diet coupled with healthy lifestyle. Developed by the Technical Working Group chaired by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI?DOST) on Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos were adopted.
Because of the sensitivity of issues about food and proper conduct of lifestyles that synchronizes with conservative Islamic practices, the National Nutrition Council- ARMM headed by DOH-ARMM Secretary Dr Kadil M. sinolinding, Jr, in collaboration with Islamic Scholars and the Department of Education-ARMM Madaris, worked together in creating the Nutritional Guidelines for Muslim Filipinos with Islamic basis extracted from the Holy Quran and the Hadiths, offering Arabic transliterations. This program aims to fast track dissemination of nutritional messages among the Muslim sector with the hope to help eradicate ignorance on food intake and ease out malnutrition in ARMM.
With the English, Filipino, and Arabic translations, Nutritional Guidelines for Muslim Filipinos is now part of teachings in Madaris and Mosques where food and nutrition topics are becoming a essential teachings among the Ummah members (muslim community).
Nutritional Guidelines for Muslim Filipinos
By NNC-ARMM in collaboration with Islamic Scholars and Department of Education-ARMM MADARIS
Narrated by Umar bin Abi Salamah said, the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said to me. Say Bismillah before starting eating, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you…
[Bukhari and Muslim]
1. Eat a variety of foods everyday to get the nutrients needed by the body.
Allah {S.W.T} said:“O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good… ”
Suratul Baqarah[168]
2. Breastfeed infants exclusively from birth up to 6 months then give appropriate complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding for 2 years and beyond for optimum growth and development.
Allah {S.W.T} said: “ Mothers shall breastfeed their children in two complete years…” Suratul-Baqarah [233]
3. Eat more vegetables and fruits everyday to get the essential vitamins, minerals and fibers for regulation of body processes.
Allah {S.W.T}said:“And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar (in taste). Eat of their fruit when they ripen…” Suratul-An’am [141]
4.Consume fish, lean meat, poultry, egg, dried beans or nuts daily for growth and repair of body tissues.
Allah{S.W.T}said: “And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from its tender meat [fish]…”
Suratun-Nahl [14]
5. Consume milk, milk products and other calcium-rich foods such as small fish and shellfish everyday, for healthy bones and teeth.
Allah{S.W.T}said:“And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies- between excretion and blood- pure milk, palatable to drinkers.”
Suratun-Nahl [66]
6. Consume safe foods and water to prevent diarrheaand other food and water-bourne diseases.
According to Jabir ibn Abd Allah, the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Cover the utensils used for eating and drinking, because there will be a night during the year which an epidemic will fall. Whenever such epidemic will pass by an uncovered eating or drinking utensil, it shall infect it.” [Sahih Muslim]
7. Use iodized salt to prevent Iodine deficiency Disorders.
A narration from Bazar: Prophet Muhammad (S. A. W.) said: “ I advise you to be like salt in the food for the people, that food will never be delicious without salt.” [Al-Hadith]
8. Limit intake of salty, fried, fatty and sugar-rich foods to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Allah{S.W.T}said:“And eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He [Allah] likes not Al-Musrifin [those who waste by extravagance].”
Suratul-A’raf [31]
9. Attain normal body weight through proper diet and moderate physical activity to maintain good health and help prevent obesity.
Narrated by Umar ibn Khattab: The Prophet (S.A.W) said: “Teach your children swimming, archery and horse riding.” [Sahih Muslim]
10. Be physically active, make healthy food choices, manage stress, avoid alcoholic beverages and do not smoke to help prevent lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases.
Allah{S.W.T}said:“ Intoxicants [All kinds of alcoholic drinks], and gambling, and Al-Ansab, and Al-Azlam[arrows for seeking luck or decision] are an abomination of Shaitan’s [Satan] handiwork. So avoid [strictly all] that [abomination]...”
Suratul Ma’idah [90]
