How to officially promote malnutrition

A lot of media mileage is being generated promoting the consumption of kamote in place of rice, coming from government and health functionaries, with even some in the media and celebrities joining the chorus in an apparent knee-jerk reaction to the increasing rice prices and supply fears.

But is this the healthy and economical alternative or clearly a misinformed, misplaced recommendation, and potentially dangerous to health?

Presenting the basic, science-based nutrient facts as plainly as possible (per kilogram of polished rice compared to kamote as sold):

Carbohydrates—rice, 712 grams; kamote, 210 g

Fat—rice, 5 g; kamote, 1.5 g

Protein—rice, 79 g; kamote, 2.0 g

Calories—rice, 3,350; kamote, 900

Prevailing cost/kg—rice, P50; kamote, P40

The nutrient comparisons are even smaller for a 100 g serving. With rice comprising the major caloric source in the diet of the majority of Filipinos, at almost the same cost, replacing rice with kamote will lead to intake of 3.4 times LESS carbohydrates, 3.3 times LESS fat, 39 times less protein, and 3.7 times LESS calories—clearly a starvation diet.

JOEL F. MANGALINDAN DVM, clinical nutrition practitioner, jfmweb@agriaccess.com

READ: Over a pot of rice