In fact, these trends often distract from the basic nutrition principles that are most important. This is a detailed beginner’s guide to healthy eating, based on the latest in nutrition science.

Research continues to link serious diseases to a poor diet– For example, eating healthy can drastically reduce your chances of developing heart disease and cancer, the world’s leading killers. A good diet can improve all aspects of life, from brain function to physical performance. In fact, food affects all your cells and organs. If you participate in exercise or sports, there is no doubt that a healthy diet will help you perform better.

In recent years, the importance of calories has been pushed aside. 

While calorie counting isn’t always necessary, total calorie intake still plays a key role in weight control and health. If you put in more calories than you burn, you will store them as new muscle or body fat. If you consume fewer calories than you burn every day, you will lose weight.

If you want to lose weight, you must create some form of calorie deficit. In contrast, if you are trying to gain weight and increase muscle mass, then you need to eat more than your body burns.

The three macronutrients are carbohydrates (carbs), fats and protein. These nutrients are needed in relatively large amounts. They provide calories and have various functions in your body.

Here are some common foods within each macronutrient group: 

How much of each macronutrient you should consume depends on your lifestyle and goals, as well as your personal preferences. 

Micronutrients are important vitamins and minerals that you require in smaller doses.

Some of the most common micronutrients you should know include: 

All of the vitamins and minerals are “essential” nutrients, meaning that you must get them from the diet in order to survive. 

The daily requirement of each micronutrient varies between individuals. If you eat a real food-based diet that includes plants and animals, then you should get all the micronutrients your body needs without taking a supplement.

You should aim to consume whole foods at least 80-90% of the time. The term “whole foods” generally describes natural, unprocessed foods containing only one ingredient. If the product looks like it was made in a factory, then it’s probably not a whole food.

Whole foods tend to be nutrient-dense and have a lower energy density. This means that they have fewer calories and more nutrients per serving than processed foods. In contrast, many processed foods have little nutritional value and are often referred to as “empty” calories. Eating them in large amounts is linked to obesity and other diseases.

Try to base your diet around these healthy food groups: 

For a longer list, here is an article with 50 super healthy foods. 

By following the advice in this article, you will naturally reduce your intake of unhealthy foods.

No food needs to be eliminated forever, but some foods should be limited or saved for special occasions. 

These include: 

Your calorie intake is a key factor in weight control and health. By controlling your portions, you are more likely to avoid consuming too many calories.

While whole foods are certainly a lot harder to overeat than processed foods, they can still be eaten in excess. If you are overweight or trying to lose body fat, it’s particularly important to monitor your portion size.

There are many simple strategies to control portion size. For example, you can use smaller plates and take a smaller-than-average first serving, then wait 20 minutes before you return for more. Another popular approach is measuring portion size with your hand. An example meal would limit most people to 1 fist-sized portion of carbs, 1–2 palms of protein and 1–2 thumb-sized portions of healthy fats. More calorie-dense foods such as cheese, nuts and fatty meats are healthy, but make sure you pay attention to portion sizes when you eat them.

First, assess your calorie needs based on factors like your activity levels and weight goals. Quite simply, if you want to lose weight, you must eat less than you burn. If you want to gain weight, you should consume more calories than you burn.

Here is a calorie calculator that tells you how much you should eat, and here are 5 free websites and apps that help you track calories and nutrients. If you dislike calorie counting, you can simply apply the rules discussed above, such as monitoring portion size and focusing on whole foods.

If you have a certain deficiency or are at risk of developing one, you may wish to tailor your diet to account for this. For instance, vegetarians or people who eliminate certain food groups are at greater risk of missing out on some nutrients. In general, you should consume foods of various types and colors to ensure you get plenty of all the macro- and micronutrients.

While many debate whether low-carb or low-fat diets are best, the truth is that it depends on the individual. Based on research, athletes and those looking to lose weight should consider increasing their protein intake. In addition, a lower-carb diet may work wonders for some individuals trying to lose weight or treat type 2 diabetes.

Here’s a great rule to live by: If you can’t see yourself on this diet in one, two or three years, then it’s not right for you. Far too often, people go on extreme diets they can’t maintain, which means they never actually develop long-term, healthy eating habits.

There are some frightening weight gain statistics showing that most people regain all the weight they lost soon after attempting a weight loss diet. As always, balance is key. Unless you have a specific disease or dietary requirement, no food needs to be off limits forever. By totally eliminating certain foods, you may actually increase cravings and decrease long-term success.

Basing 90% of your diet on whole foods and eating smaller portions will allow you to enjoy treats occasionally yet still achieve excellent health. This is a far healthier approach than doing the opposite and eating 90% processed food and only 10% whole food like many people do.

As the name suggests, supplements are meant to be used in addition to a healthy diet. 

Including plenty of nutrient-dense foods in your diet should help you reverse deficiencies and meet all your daily needs.

However, a few well-researched supplements have been shown to be helpful in some cases.

One example is vitamin D, which is naturally obtained from sunlight and foods like oily fish. Most people have low levels or are deficient.

Supplements like magnesium, zinc and omega-3s can provide additional benefits if you do not get enough of them from your diet. Other supplements can be used to enhance sports performance. Creatine, whey protein and beta-alanine all have plenty of research supporting their use.

In a perfect world, your diet would be full of nutrient-dense foods with no need for supplements. However, this isn’t always achievable in the real world. If you are already making a constant effort to improve your diet, additional supplements can help take your health a step further.

Nutrition isn’t the only thing that matters for optimal health.

Following a healthy diet and exercising can give you an even bigger health boost.

It is also crucial to get good sleep. Research shows that sleep is just as important as nutrition for disease risk and weight control. Hydration and water intake are also important. Drink when you’re thirsty and stay well hydrated all day.

Finally, try to minimize stress. Long-term stress is linked to many health problems.

Credits: healthline.com