Health and nutrition

A good diet is important for our health and can help us feel our best - but what is a good diet?  Sometimes we eat because we enjoy the taste and experience of different foods. Sharing food and meals are important social events. But other than for pleasure, we need food to get nutrients, vitamins, minerals and energy. Very few foods are either all good or all bad. By having an idea of the balance in your diet, it should be easier  to enjoy food and be healthy.  A healthy diet should provide us with the right amount of energy (calories or kilojoules), from foods and drinks to maintain energy balance. Energy balance is where the calories taken in from the diet are equal to the calories used by the body. We need these calories to carry out everyday tasks such as walking and moving about, but also for all the functions of the body we may not even think about. Processes like breathing, pumping blood around the body and thinking also require calories. S

A healthy eating pattern can help keep you healthy. Eating healthy is good for your overall health – and there are many ways to do it. Making smart food choices can also help you manage your weight and lower your risk for certain chronic (long-term) diseases. When you eat healthy, you can reduce your risk for: Obesity Heart disease Type 2 diabetes High blood pressure Some types of cancer Eating healthy means following a healthy eating pattern that includes a variety of nutritious foods and drinks. It also means getting the number of calories that’s right for you (not eating too much or too little). Use your calories to eat a variety of healthy foods. To eat healthy, be sure to choose: Vegetables Fruits Whole grains Fat-free or low-fat dairy products A variety of foods with protein, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, beans, peas, nuts, seeds, and soy products Limit certain nutrients and ingredients. Sodium (salt) Sodium   is found in ta