Christmas is known to be a time for indulgence of food and drinks. However, the Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public, especially those with comorbidities, to eat and drink moderately.

“Ngayon pag Kapaskuhan, marami sa atin ay kumakain ng mga bawal, especially yung mga lechon, seafood na matataba, tapos kaliwa't-kanan na imbistasyon para mag-inuman, kainan (During the Christmas season, many of us eat unhealthy food, especially lechon, fatty seafood, and then there are several invitations to drink and eat),” said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a recent press briefing.

“So, pinapaalalahan natin ang ating mga kababayan na tayo po—hindi naman sa pinagbabawalan talaga na huwag kumain niyan (we are reminding our citizens. It's not that we forbid you to eat , but let us try to eat that in moderation,” she added.

Individuals with comorbidities should also be mindful of their food intake and alcoholic beverages during this festive season.

“Pag alam na natin na meron tayong high blood, may sakit sa puso, may sakit sa bato, may sakit na iba, bawas-bawasan po natin ang mga bawal para sa atin (If you know that you have high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, and other illnesses, reduce the consumption of food that are bad for your health),” said Vergeire.

“Para hindi na ma-aggravate pa o mas maging komplikado ang inyong mga sakit (This is to prevent your illnesses from aggravating or becoming more complicated),” she added.

Vergeire also advised young people to “ try to eat healthy.”

“You start doing it earlier in your lives, mas makakaiwas po kayo sa mga sakit na inaasahan natin mag (this may help avoid diseases that we expect to) develop in the coming years,” she said.

“Tandaan po natin, hindi lamang sa pagkain o hindi sa pag-eexercise ang nakukuha natin na mga sakit na ito. Kapag sa pamilya niyo, itong mga sakit na ito comes into your family, mas mataas po ang risk niyo na magkaroon ng ganitong sakit sa pag-edad niyo (Let's remember, we don't only get these diseases from eating or lack of exercise. If you have a family history of a certain disease, you have a higher risk of developing such disease as you get older),” she added.

“Let us try to all live healthy and celebrate our Christmas by eating healthily, by preventing ourselves of indulging so much ngayong Kapaskuhan (this Christmas season),” she furthered.