WHO identifies a healthy diet as the key to being healthy

According to the WHO, a healthy diet is the number 1 top tip for a healthy life.

We are bombarded with information on the best way to live a long wholesome life. The World Health Organisation (WHO) cited ‘a healthy diet’ as the top tip for achieving and maintaining optimum health throughout your life, deeming it one of the most impactful factors on your overall health.

A consumption of a healthy diet throughout your life-course will prevent malnutrition in all its forms and a wide range of noncommunicable conditions and diseases (NCDs). A healthy diet is essential for good health and being protected against many chronic illnesses. We’ve all heard it before but with the rapid changes in lifestyle, urbanisation and the availability of processed foods, there has been a change in eating patterns that not always promotes the diverse, balanced, healthy diet. With ease of availability, the consumption of foods higher in energy, fats, free sugars and salt are often chosen over the best choices to encourage the healthiest lifestyle.

Of course, it is noted that the definition of a healthy balanced diet rich in variety is dependent on individual factors such as age, gender, activity, cultural contexts, locality and customs. But the back bone of what a healthy diet is remains the same.

The WHO state opting for a balanced, adequate and varied is vital in a happy healthy lifestyle. With vitamins and minerals noted to boost immunity and development, important for thriving throughout your life. Eating a well balanced diet protects your body from diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, some types of cancer and skeletal conditions. The benefits of eating a healthy well-balanced diet are also engrained in our overall life experience, trying new things, exploring new cultures, enlightening your curiosity.

In a nutshell, eating a healthy diet can have the most impact on your overall health throughout your lifespan. To conclude the WHO highlight energy intake, or the amount of calories consumed, should be balanced with your energy expenditure. Read more about energy balance here. By limiting saturated-fats, trans-fats, free sugars, salt will all promote additional health benefits. The WHO are so committed to the overall health benefits of a healthy diet that all WHO Member States agreed to take action on lowering the intake of salt, stop the rise of diabetes and obesity globally by 2025.

Eating a combination of foods from all food groups is recommended. When you excluded a food group you lie risk to deficiency. In addition, ensuring you’re are eating a diverse diet can help avoid eating too high in sugar, fat and salt. Which in turn, is associated with weight gain and overall ill health.

About the Author: Rebecca Game

Rebecca is a registered Associate Nutritionist with the UKVRN through the Association for Nutrition. She completed her Bachelors of Science Degree in Nutraceuticals in Health and Nutrition before achieving her Masters Degree in Public Health Nutrition in Queen Margaret's University, Edinburgh. Before joining the GourmetFuel team, Rebecca was a Nutrition & Allergen Menu Analyst. She is passionate about food and promoting 'real food' diets! She is also interested in Childhood and Elderly Nutrition. For any kind of nutrition advice, you can reach Rebecca at rebecca@gourmetfuel.com