An ounce of Prevention

Stephanie MacNeill
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Lifestyle factors, including good nutrition and adequate exercise, have the potential to influence our health. A nutritious diet can help prevent illness and can help lower the risk of developing chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, dementia and certain types of cancer. In fact, almost 80 per cent of premature stroke and heart disease can be prevented through healthy lifestyle behaviours (such as eating healthy, being active, and living smoke free).
 
What's Best?
There are many diets or eating patterns, some healthier than others. So you may be wondering, which eating pattern is best?
 
The reality is that there is no one absolutely, positively best diet for everyone. Everyone differs in terms of their:

• Dietary preferences and exclusions: some have food allergies, intolerances and food beliefs that influence their food choices.
• Budget: some have a limited food budget, while for others it may be unlimited.
• Cooking and nutrition knowledge
• Time: some have lots of free time to devote to proper eating and adequate exercise, while others have limited time.

So the best eating pattern is one that you enjoy and can stick to even on your worst days-not just your best. Dietitians can help you follow a healthy eating pattern suited to your individual needs and health goals.

Building a Balanced Diet
A basic healthy diet for disease prevention includes the following foods:

• Vegetables and fruit
• Whole grains
• Legumes (beans and lentils)
• Nuts and seeds
• Milk, cheese and yogurt
• Fish, seafood and poultry
• Healthy oils like canola and olive oil

Notice anything missing from these basic ingredients? They don't contain a lot of highly processed foods with a lot of added sugar, salt and trans fat.
 
Work With a Dietitian
Consider working with a dietitian if you have health goals or concerns about your risk of chronic disease. We will work with you to embrace food, understand it, and to enjoy it while considering your overall objectives, needs, and challenges. As dietitians, we look beyond fads and gimmicks to deliver reliable, life-changing advice.