Christmas 2023 reminders of DOH-7 on food, drinks: Enjoy in moderation

Family and friends dining at home celebrating christmas eve with traditional food and decoration, all sitting on the table together making a toast | Photo from krakenimages/Unsplash

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Besides the influenza-like illnesses (ILI) that are being monitored by the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7), they are also monitoring other diseases.

Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Cañal, regional epidemiologist of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of DOH-7, said that since this month would be more on festivities, they would closely monitor food and water-borne diseases.

“It’s how we prepare our food. It’s how we make our food clean and not contaminated,” she said.

READ: 5 Delicious Filipino-Style Pasta for Christmas

Christmas advice to preparers of food

Since it is the season of gathering, which is usually held not just inside the households but in the restaurants as well, she advised those who would prepare foods to assure that the foods served would be fresh and not spoiled to avoid food poisoning.

“Sa mga mothers nga mahilig maghimo og macaroni salad, be sure nga ang atoang mga ingredients nga not near expiry [date]. You have to check the label sa atoang mga mayonnaise, sa atoang mga creams because these are the most common causes sa atong food borne,” she said.

(To our mothers, who want making macaroni salad, be sure that our ingredients are not near expiry (date). You have to check the label of our mayonnaise, our creams because these are the most common causes of our food borne (diseases).)

READ: DOH chief: It’s the season of strokes, heart attacks

Avoid fatty, salty foods

Cañal also advised to avoid fatty salty foods for healthy hearts.

“Sa mga naay gi-maintain, naa nay mga ginagmay nga diabetes, ang atoang mga cholesterol please lang from December 1 up to January 5 ra ba na mahunong ang atoang kaon-kaon ug merry making. Ing ana man ta nga mga Pinoy,” she said.

(To those, who have medicine to maintain, who have diabetes, our cholesterol please monitor because the eating and the merrymaking will be from December 1 up to January 5. That is how we are as Pinoys.)

READ: Survey shows that 1 of 4 Pinoy workers would rather monetize Christmas parties

Do yoga, pilates, exercise

She also advised to eat healthy and stay active by doing yoga, pilates, walking, and jogging.

Another advice to the public this Christmas that she gave was to eat moderately when attending festivities.

“The secret there is to eat moderately and drink moderately,” she said.

She said to have fun and enjoy the season but “not too much.”

“Dili ta palabi sa atoang giinom. Dili ta palabi sa atoang gihambog sa atoang amigo kay diha pirmi magstart atoang away, atong lalis,” she said.

(Let us not drink too much. We should not boast too much to our friends because that is where the fighting, the disagreements would start.)

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