Foods Used by Filipinos in Hawaii - ScholarSpace - University of ...

FILIPINO FOODS 15
Fruits and vegetables furnished only about 5 percent of the total calories
in the Filipino family diets in Hawaii but more than 7 percent in the diets
of the families in the Philippines. This doubtless resulted in a diet of lower
nutritive value for the Filipino families living in Hawaii, despite the fact
that they had more milk.
The reports of the Filipino scientists group together the calories from
sweets and fats. Percentages of calories from sweets and fats in the diets of
the Manila and Hawaii families were about equal, and were about five times
as great as in the diet of the rural Philippines families.
The authors of the study of the Manila families give data (24) from which
it is possible to calculate that sugar and sweets contributed 3.4 percent of the
total calories for this group, whereas in the Hawaiian Filipino families these
foods contributed 6 percent of the calories. In a diet containing generous
quantities of all the other essential nutrients, sugar and sweets may safely
supply 5 to 10 percent of the calories, but in a diet that is marginal or already
deficient in minerals and vitamins, an increase in highly refined sweets in any
form, which supply only calories, tends to decrease the relative intake of minerals
and vitamins from other foods. Concepcion believes it is unwise to increase
the sugar consumption of the Filipinos, especially of children and those
with a limited diet, until their diets are greatly improved by foods that contain
more minerals and vitamins (17).
Only one of the diet studies in the Philippines summarized in table 1 gives
data on the intake of calcium, phosphorus, and iron. These figures are included
in table 2 for comparison with similar data on the Hawaii families. There is a
striking similarity in the intake of protein, calcium, and phosphorus per adult
male unit of the two groups. There is more iron in the Philippine diet than in
the Hawaii Filipino diet.
The low calcium intake (0.246 gram per adult male unit per day) of the
Filipino families seems to be characteristic of many oriental groups (1, 38, 41).
This intake is only about one-half the requirement of 0.45 gram determined
by Sherman and about one-third of the standard Sherman recommended (0.68
gram) for the 70-kilogram (154-pound) man. 3 However, the weight of Filipino
men is much less than that of Caucasians, being 50 to 55 kilograms (10,
16). If the difference in weight is considered, the calcium intake may be calculated
to be about 75 percent of the minimum amount required. It is quite
probable that a low calcium intake helps to account for the short stature of the
Filipinos.
The quantity of protein appears to be adequate, but the quality could be
improved. A large proportion comes from plant foods, and an increase in consumption
of animal protein foods would be desirable.
The vitamin intakes were not calculated for the 20 families for which data
are given in table 2, and are not available for the Filipino families from the
Philippines. However, from the figures for calorie distribution, it is possible
to estimate that if highly refined white rice is used in such diets, the vitamin
B i content is certain to be deficient. Because of the small quantity of fruits
and vegetables used, the vitamin C content is certain to be below the moderate
standard of 50 milligrams per day.
3 Since this study was made, the N adonal Research Council has recommended an allowance
of 0.80 gram of calcium daily for the adult man.