Dietary

Dietary refers to the intake of food and nourishment, or the system of consuming food by an organism or a species. The dietary habits of an organism are often determined by the availability and palatability of foods. For humans, a healthy diet includes preparation of food and storage methods that preserve nutrients from oxidation, heat or leaching, and that reduce risk of foodborne illnesses.

Overview

The term dietary is often used to refer to the specific intake of nutrition for health or weight-management reasons. Although humans are omnivores, each culture and each person holds some food preferences or some food taboos. This may be due to personal tastes or ethical reasons.

Dietary Choices

Individual dietary choices may be more or less healthy. Proper nutrition requires ingestion and absorption of vitamins, minerals, and food energy in the form of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Dietary habits and choices play a significant role in the quality of life, health and longevity.

Dietary Guidelines

There are many dietary guidelines available from health institutions that provide detailed recommendations for maximum nutrient intake. These guidelines vary widely among different cultures and religions, and may also change over time as new research emerges.

Dietary Restrictions

Some people choose to follow a specific diet due to health concerns, ethical beliefs, or religious practices. These dietary restrictions can include avoidance of certain types of food, such as meat or dairy, or restriction of food intake to certain times of day.

See Also

• Nutrition
• Diet (nutrition)
• Healthy diet
• Dietary supplement
• Dietary fiber
• Dietary mineral

References

Dietary Resources
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