What you eat directly impacts your overall health and is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight and preventing many chronic diseases. The food choices that you make today will impact your health for the rest of your life.

The main elements that the human body needs are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. It is important to get enough of all of these elements and to do so in a healthy way.

General Advice

• In general, foods cooked at home are healthier than those purchased outside the home.
• Natural foods are the healthiest. Avoid processed foods whenever possible.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables; they are a healthy source of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
• Reduce your consumption of fats and sugars. Processed fats and sugars are bad for your health.
• Sugar, according to recent studies, can shorten your life and increase your chance of suffering from heart disease and diabetes.
• Replace sugary drinks with water to limit your sugar consumption. You can try to add a slice of lemon in your glass of water for a taste.

Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates are found in sweets, cereals and potatoes.
• It is best to limit your consumption of processed carbohydrates.
• A diet heavy in carbohydrates, especially processed carbohydrates, can cause weight gain.

Protein

• Proteins are important and can be obtained from meat, fish, eggs, nuts, milk, almonds, fish and legumes.
• Lean protein is healthiest.
• Limit your consumption of sausage and animal products filled with salt and spices for flavor but no nutrients.
• Processed meats are not healthy and have been linked to cancer in by the World Health Organization.

Fats

• Healthy fats are found in olive oil, cheese, butter, hazelnuts, walnuts, chicken or rabbit.
• Although fat is an essential nutrient, limit your consumption.
• Processed products such as margarine or vegetable oils, fatty meat, chips and fried foods all contain unhealthy fats.

Fiber

• Fiber is abundant in corn, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, beans and mushrooms.
• A diet high in fiber can help maintain weight and a healthy digestive system.

Vitamins and Minerals

• The best sources of vitamins are vegetables and fruits.
• Eat many different kinds of fruits and vegetables. The more colors you have on your plate, the more likely is that you will get the vitamins, minerals, fiber you need.

Water

• The human body is 60% water and it is important to drink water often.
• Water in soup or other foods can help with hydration.