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Food and water are essential for us to sustain life. It is a normal habit to eat and drink whenever our body deems necessary. At other times, due to human nature, we consume anything delightful to our eyes and appetite. Especially during celebrations, we sometimes forget that our health can be at stake if we are not careful with what we ingest.

Image Source: Wendy Wei (Pexels)

This 2019, the Department of Health received reports of almost 50,000 cases of food and waterborne diseases in the Philippines.

“Meron kaming reported cases ng acute bloody diarrhea, watery diarrhea kung saan nandiyan ang cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A, at rotavirus. Ito ay karaniwang sanhi ng pag-inom ng maruming tubig o kontaminadong pagkain,” said Dr. Theodora Cicle Gaitan Magturo, a medical specialist at the Department of Health.

Healthline described food poisoning as “the result of eating contaminated, spoiled, or toxic food.”

According to nutritionist Carla Raga, foods that spoil easily are:

• Food with milk or coconut milk
• Food with tomatoes
• Rice
• Fish

“Ang nakakatakot kasi rito is kung may presence na siya ng bacteria. At the same time, lalo sa food handling ng pagkain nahindi maganda, yun na ang nagpo-pose ng hindi maganda para sa tao kasi nagkakaroon na ng food poisoning na eventually can lead to death kung hindi siya ma-treat,” Raga said.

Similarly, waterborne illnesses are caused by the bacteria found in contaminated water which can lead from vomiting or diarrhea to cholera or typhoid.

However, aside from contaminated food and water, spoiled fruits and vegetables should also be given as much attention.

“Ang number one cause ng spoilage sa fruits and vegetables ay moisture,” said Chef Francis Esteves.

In light of this, Chef Francis gave tips on how to distinguish fresh food:

According to him, fruits and vegetables should have a vibrant color and free from blemishes. He also asserted that fruits should have a firm texture. You can also check the freshness of the fish through its smell and eyes. If the eyes are not clear and instead have redness around it, it's a sign that a fish nearly spoiling. Chickens, on the other hand, should be pink in color rather than yellowish or blackish.

Learn more about this topic in the full episode of The Healthy Juan:

Watch The Healthy Juan: Kalusugan, Kabuhayan, Kapaligiran with Kapuso actor and registered nurse Rocco Nacino on GMA News TV every Monday, 7:30 PM (Replays every Sunday at 5:30 PM) and Fridays, 6:30PM (Replays at 10:30 PM). #TheHealthyJuan