Do you belong to the generation familiar with the term "4 Sehat 5 Sempurna"? In the past, the term was popularized by Mr. Nutrition of Indonesia, Prof. dr. Poerwo Soedarmo, to campaign for balanced and diverse food consumption to create a healthy and strong Indonesian society. Over time, the concept of 4 Sehat 5 Sempurna has been developed and perfected into what we now know as Balanced Nutrition Guidelines (PGS).
Why should the 4 Sehat 5 Sempurna concept be changed to Balanced Nutrition Guidelines? What's the difference between the two? Let's see the following explanation!
1. Message emphasis
The 4 Sehat 5 Sempurna concept emphasizes the importance of consuming rice, side dishes, vegetables, and fruits and is supplemented with milk as a food ingredient that is considered perfect. This makes the meaning of 4 Sehat 5 Sempurna seem narrow, with a healthy life limited only to dietary adjustments. There are now 4 principles applied in the Balanced Nutrition Guidelines. In addition to getting used to eating a varied diet as part of a balanced diet, the Balanced Nutrition Guidelines also highlight the importance of a clean lifestyle, an active lifestyle and exercise, and regular body weight monitoring.
2. Milk is not perfect
Due to the word "5 Sempurna" in the concept of 4 Sehat 5 Sempurna, milk is often seen as the most notable food ingredient. Sometimes there is also a misinterpretation in the community that milk is supposed to replace the other 4 food ingredients. Milk is one of the sources of animal protein, such as eggs, meat, and fish. So it does not matter if you do not consume milk, as long as the consumption of other animal proteins is fulfilled. Therefore, the Balanced Nutrition Guidelines include milk in the side dishes that different types of food can replace with equivalent nutrients.
3. Explanation of Portions
The 4 Sehat 5 Sempurna concept does not include information on the number of food portions consumed per day for each food group. So people of any food group can consume more or less than they need. To correct this, the Balanced Nutrition Guidelines explain the amount or quantity that should be consumed per food group. The Balanced Nutrition Guidelines state that we should eat 3-8 servings of essential foods, 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables, and 2-3 servings of animal and vegetable protein daily.
4. The importance of drinking water
Unlike the 4 Sehat 5 Sempurna concept, which does not state that the body needs water, the Balanced Nutrition Guidelines explain the importance of achieving a water intake of 2 liters or about 8 glasses per day. Consuming adequate amounts of water is included in the components of a balanced diet as it is crucial for biochemical processes and the body's metabolism, as well as preventing dehydration. Water is also an essential nutrient, as two-thirds of our body is water. Water is necessary for optimal growth and development, so it is essential to maintain water balance in the body.
So, are you now more familiar with the Balanced Nutrition Guidelines? Do you apply these Balanced Nutrition Guidelines in your daily life? Let's implement the Balanced Nutrition Guidelines for a healthier life! Remember to read other nutrition and health articles on Fitie to enrich your knowledge.
Sources:
Kementerian Kesehatan RI. (2014). Pedoman Gizi Seimbang. Jakarta: Kementerian Kesehatan RI.
Kementerian Kesehatan RI. (2016). Inilah Perbedaan '4 Sehat 5 Sempurna' Dengan 'Gizi Seimbang'. Situs Web Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. https://www.kemkes.go.id/article/view/16051300001/inilah-perbedaan-4-sehat-5-sempurna-dengan-gizi-seimbang-.html. Diakses 7 Febuari 2022.