Healthy eating

It's important to eat a balanced diet. Make sure you choose foods from the 5 food groups. The amounts you need vary depending on your life stage.

Antioxidants can neutralise free radicals in your body. Find out about foods high in antioxidants and when you should consider taking supplements.

Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate and energy drinks. It acts on your brain and nervous system. Learn how caffeine affects you.

Calcium strengthens bones, helps prevent osteoporosis and more. Find out how much you need for your age and how to find good sources of calcium.

Carbohydrates are an important part of a balanced diet. Learn more about where to find healthy carbohydrates and what the glycaemic index (GI) is.

Understand your cholesterol levels and how it affects your health. Learn about the risks of high cholesterol and how to lower your risk.

Dairy foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese are rich sources of many vitamins and minerals, including calcium, which is essential to bone health.

Dehydration occurs when your body doesn't get enough fluids. If you are severely dehydrated, this can cause problems. Learn about dehydration signs.

The body needs some fats and oils as part of a balanced diet. Some fats (unsaturated fats) are healthier than others (saturated and trans fats).

Dietary supplements are also called food supplements. Most people don't need them, but if you do, they can help fill nutritional gaps in your diet.

Drinking plenty of clean water daily is essential for good health and hydration. Find out more about how your body uses water to function.

Folate, also called folic acid, is needed by your body to grow and develop. It is especially important for pregnant women to get enough folate.

Food poisoning is caused by bacteria, viruses or toxins in the food we eat. Learn more about food safety and how to avoid getting food poisoning.

Learn how to prepare, cook and store food safely to avoid cross contamination and discover tips to help prevent you from becoming ill.

How long can you leave food in the fridge? What temperature is safe to cook food? Answer these questions and more with this infographic about food safety.

Eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water can support your mental health and well-being. Learn how to make healthy eating habits.

Garcinia cambogia is a tropical fruit with claims to help weight loss. Separate myth from facts and follow links to other ways of managing weight.

Find out the importance of a gluten-free diet for people with coeliac disease and other conditions.

The glycaemic index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrate foods based on their immediate effect on blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. Learn more here.

Gut health is important for your physical and mental wellbeing. Find out about how to maintain your gut health and about your gut microbiome.

Healthy eating habits in children help them stay well and helps prevent illness. Learn about balanced diets, portion sizes and managing allergies.

As your body changes over time, so do your nutritional needs. Here's how to get enough fibre, vitamins, minerals and more in your diet for your age.

Need help to meet your health goals such as reducing your blood pressure or cholesterol? See healthdirect’s list of healthier food alternatives.

Discover important strategies for a healthy heart diet. Learn what to eat, what to avoid and how you can maintain a healthy heart lifestyle.

Eating high-fibre foods can reduce your risk of disease and keep your digestive system healthy. Find out how much fibre you need, and how to get it.

Food labels contain detailed nutrition information about packaged foods. Learn how to make informed decisions when shopping for food for your family.

Children are sometimes at risk of dehydration, especially in hot weather and when exercising. Read about how to keep them safe and healthy.

Intermittent fasting is a dietary trend where you eat normally at specific times and fast at others. Find out if it is suitable for you.

Eating junk food, and having sweet drinks, can lead to short and long-term health complications such as weight gain, diabetes and heart problems.

A ketogenic or 'keto' diet is very low in carbohydrates. It is sometimes used as a complementary treatment — like for epilepsy in children.

Kilojoules are a way to measure both the energy in food and drink and the energy the body uses. Find out more about kilojoules and how many you need.

A low FODMAP diet can help with the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Read about low FODMAP diets and when to see a dietitian.

Malnutrition is when your diet does not contain the right amount of nutrients needed to maintain healthy body function. Learn the risks and treatment.

Health benefits of the Mediterranean diet include a lower risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and more. Read more on what foods to include.

Metabolism is the chemical processes your body uses to produce energy. Find out more about what affects it and how you can boost your metabolism.

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your digestive and immune systems. They’re naturally found in food or taken as supplements.

Getting your daily protein is essential to a healthy diet, especially at certain times of your life when your cells need to grow or repair.

Salt is a compound made of sodium and chlorine. Excess salt in your diet can cause health complications. Learn how to lower your salt intake here.

Sugars can be found naturally in foods or added during processing. Read more about reducing sugar intake to help prevent some health conditions.

Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in food, and are used for energy or stored in fat cells. Learn about managing high triglyceride levels.

It's easy to be healthy on a vegetarian diet if you include plant-based foods from the 5 food groups. But a vegan diet requires extra care.

Find out about the vitamins and minerals that are essential for your health, where you can find them and when you may need to take supplements.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause problems for your health. Learn more about common vitamin and mineral deficiencies here.

If your body doesn’t have enough water (dehydration), it won’t function well. This infographic shows why drinking plenty of water daily is essential.

Discover healthy weight loss tips, avoid fad diets and learn how to maintain a balanced diet and exercise plan for long-term weight loss success.