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Nutrition
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/nutrition.html

Nutrition

On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here

Learn More

  • Related Issues
  • Specifics

See, Play and Learn

  • Test Your Knowledge

Research

  • Statistics and Research
  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

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  • Reference Desk
  • Find an Expert

For You

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Summary

Good nutrition is important in keeping people healthy throughout their lives - when they are babies, toddlers, children, adults, and then older adults. It can help people live longer and lower their risk of health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and more.

Good nutrition is about healthy eating. This means regularly choosing healthy foods and beverages. A healthy eating plan should give your body the energy and nutrients that you need every day. Nutrients include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. The plan should also take into account your preferences, cultural traditions, and budget.

Healthy eating does not mean that you have to follow a very strict diet or eat only a few specific types of food. It doesn't mean that you can never eat your favorite foods. You can eat a variety of foods, including less healthy favorites. But it's important not to eat too much of those foods or have them too often. You can balance those foods with healthier foods and regular physical activity.

The keys to a healthy eating plan include:

  • Eating a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products
  • Eating lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, and low-fat dairy products
  • Getting enough fiber
  • Drinking lots of water
  • Limiting salt, added sugars, alcohol, and saturated fat
  • Making sure that you get enough nutrients, especially calcium, vitamin D, and potassium

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

  • 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Video (Department of Agriculture; Department of Health and Human Services)
  • Breaking Down Food: A Closer Look at What You Eat From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
  • MyPlate Food Guide (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • MyPlate.gov (Department of Agriculture)
  • Nutrition.gov (Department of Agriculture) Also in Spanish
  • Start Simple with MyPlate App (Department of Agriculture)

Related Issues

  • Aim for a Healthy Weight: Menus From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
  • Dejunking Your Diet: The Drawbacks of Ultra-Processed Foods From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
  • Diet Choices to Prevent Cancer (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
  • Diet in the News -- What to Believe? (Harvard School of Public Health)
  • Feeding Your Family on a Tight Budget (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Food Ingredients & Packaging (Food and Drug Administration)
  • Fresh Take on What "Healthy" Means on Food Packages Video (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
  • Healthy Eating Linked to Better Brain Health From the National Institutes of Health Also in Spanish
  • Healthy Eating on a Budget (Department of Agriculture)
  • How Do I Change Recipes? Easy-to-Read (American Heart Association) - PDF
  • Is Food Safe if It Has Chemicals? (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
  • Making Healthy Choices at Fast Food Restaurants (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Specifics

  • Eat Healthy: Food Group Gallery (Department of Agriculture)
  • Eat Healthy: Fruits (Department of Agriculture)
  • Eat Healthy: Vegetables (Department of Agriculture)
  • Foods for Eye Health (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
  • Healthy Recipes From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Make Better Beverage Choices (Department of Agriculture)
  • Milk and Plant-Based Milk Alternatives: Know the Nutrient Difference (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
  • MyPlate Kitchen (Recipes) (Department of Agriculture)
  • Nutrition Facts for Cooked Seafood (Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
  • Nutrition Facts for Raw Fruits (Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
  • Nutrition Facts for Raw Vegetables (Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
  • Tipsheet: Eating Healthy Ethnic Food From the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Test Your Knowledge

  • Are You Eating Enough Fruits and Vegetables? (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • MyPlate Quiz (Department of Agriculture)
  • MyPlate Quizzes (Department of Agriculture)
  • Test Your Knowledge About Healthy Eating (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

  • FastStats: Diet/Nutrition (National Center for Health Statistics)

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Nutrition From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Nutrition Disorders From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Nutritional Physiological Phenomena From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Taste Plasticity in Nutrition and Health: A Scoping Review.
  • Article: Evolution of Food and Nutrition Policy: A Tasmanian Case Study from...
  • Article: Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) for the diagnosis of malnutrition...
  • Nutrition -- see more articles

Reference Desk

  • Definitions of Health Terms: Nutrition From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
  • Find a Nutrition Expert (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
  • Food and Drug Administration
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases From the National Institutes of Health

Men

  • Eatright.org: For Men (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)

Women

  • Healthy Eating (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • Calorie count - fast food (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Eating extra calories when you are sick - adults (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Eating out (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Fast food tips (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Healthy grocery shopping (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • How to read food labels (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Managing your weight with healthy eating (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Nutrition Facts for Cooked Seafood (Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
  • Nutrition Facts for Raw Fruits (Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
  • Nutrition Facts for Raw Vegetables (Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
  • Snacks for adults (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Nutrition

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • 12 healthy snacks with 200 calories or less
  • Calorie count - fast food
  • Eating extra calories when you are sick - adults
  • Eating out
  • Fast food tips
  • Food additives
  • Healthy food trends - beans and legumes
  • Healthy food trends - brussels sprouts
  • Healthy food trends - chia seeds
  • Healthy food trends - flaxseeds
  • Healthy food trends - kale
  • Healthy food trends - microgreens
  • Healthy food trends - quinoa
  • Healthy grocery shopping
  • How to read food labels
  • Managing your weight with healthy eating
  • Simple, heart-smart substitutions
  • Snacks for adults
  • Soy

Related Health Topics

  • Breastfeeding
  • Calcium
  • Carbohydrates
  • Child Nutrition
  • Cholesterol
  • Dietary Fats
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Dietary Proteins
  • Diets
  • Eating Disorders
  • Food Labeling
  • Food Safety
  • Infant and Newborn Nutrition
  • Malnutrition
  • Minerals
  • Nutrition for Older Adults
  • Nutritional Support
  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy and Nutrition
  • Vegetarian Diet
  • Vitamins
  • Weight Control

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Nutrition is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Nutrition

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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