Diet definition
Searched over 200M research papers for "diet definition"
Summary
10 papers analyzed
These studies suggest that a diet is a pattern of eating that includes specific types and amounts of food, which can impact health, disease risk, and overall well-being.
Not a yes or no question
To use the Consensus Meter, try asking a simple yes or no question
Research summarized with Copilot
Beta20 papers analyzed
Understanding the Definition of Diet
General Definition of Diet
In nutrition, a diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. Dietary habits are the habitual decisions an individual or culture makes when choosing what foods to eat. The term "diet" often implies the specific intake of nutrition for health or weight-management reasons, with the two often being related. Proper nutrition requires the 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, and can define cultures and play a role in religion.
Mediterranean Diet: Definition and Health Benefits
The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is characterized by high consumption of unprocessed plant foods such as grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds, along with extra virgin olive oil. It includes moderate consumption of fish and shellfish, and low intake of meat, dairy, eggs, animal fats, and discretionary foods. The MedDiet is also associated with specific eating habits, such as frequent intake of home-cooked meals, use of moist, lower temperature cooking methods, eating main meals in company, reduced snacking, fasting practices, and napping after the midday meal .
The MedDiet has been linked to numerous health benefits, including reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, low-grade inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, and depression. It is also associated with lower mortality rates and the delayed onset of Crohn's disease .
Healthy Diets and Contemporary Dietary Patterns
The definition of a healthy diet is continually evolving to reflect the growing understanding of the roles that different foods, essential nutrients, and other food components play in health and disease. Healthy diets, such as the MedDiet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets, are higher in plant-based foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts, and lower in animal-based foods, particularly fatty and processed meats. These dietary patterns have been shown to reduce the risks of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Japanese Diet: Longevity and Nutritional Definition
The Japanese diet is another example of a diet associated with longevity. However, the scientific definition of the Japanese diet is not yet fully established. Most studies on the Japanese diet use self-defined or government-proposed definitions, and there is no systematic approach to defining it from the viewpoints of nutrition and health. Understanding the Japanese diet from a nutritional perspective is crucial before conducting studies to determine its health benefits.
Flexitarian Diet: A Semi-Vegetarian Approach
A flexitarian or semi-vegetarian diet (SVD) is primarily vegetarian with the occasional inclusion of meat or fish. This diet has gained popularity due to its potential health benefits, including improved body weight, metabolic health, blood pressure, and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. SVD may also play a role in treating inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease. There is a higher tendency for females to adopt a flexitarian diet, while males are more likely to overconsume meat, highlighting the need to communicate the health benefits of these diets to males.
Conclusion
The definition of diet encompasses the total food intake of an individual or organism, influenced by cultural, personal, and health-related factors. Specific dietary patterns like the Mediterranean, DASH, MIND, Japanese, and flexitarian diets have been associated with various health benefits, emphasizing the importance of understanding and adopting healthy dietary habits. Each diet has unique characteristics and health implications, contributing to the broader understanding of what constitutes a healthy diet.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
