Diets to maintain good health - nutrition

Have you ever wondered if you are getting adequate nutrients from the food you eat? It is a common misconception that malnutrition only means not having enough food. People who do not eat enough food may be malnourished, but those who eat too much face the same risk.

Malnutrition is defined as "an abnormal physiological state due to inadequate, unbalanced or excessive intake of macronutrients and/or micronutrients. Malnutrition includes undernutrition and overnutrition, as well as micronutrient deficiencies".

Malnutrition, in other words, occurs when a person's diet contains too few or too many nutrients. Any of us can suffer from malnutrition and not know it! To have a healthy and balanced diet it is important to make the right choices, but often these choices are based on factors other than nutrition the availability and cost of food, taste and appearance, personal likes and dislikes, and cultural practices and traditions. There is no "ideal" diet that is right for everyone.

Nutritional needs are specific to each individual, but everyone needs a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods that provide the different types and amounts of nutrients we need to maintain good health.

While individual nutritional and dietary needs vary with age, gender, health, condition and activity levels, basic dietary advice for adults recommends:

• Eat starchy carbohydrates as the basis for most meals.

• Eat fruits and vegetables as much as possible every day.

• Eat legumes regularly.

• Consuming milk and dairy products regularly in small amounts.

• Eat meat, poultry, eggs and fish regularly in normal amounts.

• Choose carefully the type of fats and oils in the diet and use them in limited quantities.

• Limit consumption of sugar and sugary foods and beverages.

• Limit salt intake.

• Limit alcohol consumption.

• Maintain energy balance to achieve a healthy body weight.

• Drink plenty of water daily.