Safe Food & Healthy Diets For A Better Lifestyle

One of the pillars of good health is having healthy and nutritious food that is safe and free from any contamination.

- Minal Shah

In this regard, food safety plays a vital role as it ensures that the handling, processing, and distribution of food is done so that contaminants that cause foodborne illness are not present in any food items.

Foodborne illness is infectious and toxic and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances entering the body through contaminated food. Many foodborne diseases can have long-term effects on the human body and lead to fatal outcomes if not treated on time. Access to safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health.

A healthy diet helps to reduce and fight malnutrition in all its forms. It also plays a vital role in preventing non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, stroke, and cancer, major lifestyle diseases affecting most urban populations. Some of the essential components of a healthy diet include the following.

5-6 servings of whole grains, rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibre

Avoid simple carbohydrates like refined flour and polished rice, as an excess of simple carbs is stored as fats.

4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day

Choose whole fruit and fresh vegetables over juices or processed and canned products which contain a lot of fibre, sodium, and preservatives. It is also vital to restrict starchy vegetables like potatoes and yams to maintain a healthy diet.

Have healthy protein-rich food

Items like low-fat milk and milk products, pulses, lean meat, poultry, fish, and eggs are an excellent addition to a healthy diet. As proteins are the body's building blocks and have a vital role in keeping us healthy and strong, it is super important to have them in your diet.