Healthy diet

Some healthy foods including beans, grains, cauliflower, cantaloupe, pasta, bread, orange, turkey, fish, carrots, turnips, zucchini, snowpeas, string beans, radishes, asparagus, summer squash, lean beef, tomatoes, and potatoes[1]

A healthy diet is a diet that maintains or improves overall health. A healthy diet provides the body with essential nutrition: fluid, macronutrients such as protein, micronutrients such as vitamins, and adequate fibre and food energy.[2][3]

A healthy diet may contain fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and may include little to no ultra-processed foods or sweetened beverages. The requirements for a healthy diet can be met from a variety of plant-based and animal-based foods, although additional sources of vitamin B12 are needed for those following a vegan diet.[4] Various nutrition guides are published by medical and governmental institutions to educate individuals on what they should be eating to be healthy. Nutrition facts labels are also mandatory in some countries to allow consumers to choose between foods based on the components relevant to health.[5][6]

It is estimated that in 2023 40% of the world population couldn't afford a healthy diet.[7]

  1. ^ "Healthy Food Display: Image Details". NCI Visuals Online. National Cancer Institute. 1 January 2001. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  2. ^ Lean, Michael E.J. (2015). "Principles of Human Nutrition". Medicine. 43 (2): 61–65. doi:10.1016/j.mpmed.2014.11.009. S2CID 220865321.
  3. ^ World Health Organization, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (2004). Vitamin and mineral requirements in human nutrition (PDF) (2. ed.). Geneva: World Health Organization. ISBN 978-92-4-154612-6.
  4. ^ Melina, Vesanto; Craig, Winston; Levin, Susan (December 2016). "Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Vegetarian Diets". Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 116 (12): 1970–1980. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2016.09.025. PMID 27886704. S2CID 4984228. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Food information to consumers – legislation". EU. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  6. ^ "WHO | Promoting fruit and vegetable consumption around the world" (PDF). WHO.
  7. ^ The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024. FAO. 7 June 2024. doi:10.4060/cd0683en. ISBN 978-92-5-138763-4.