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Nutrition

fruitConsuming a sensible, balanced diet can help us to achieve optimal health throughout life. NHMRC has published guidelines for a healthy diet based on the best available scientific evidence. The results are the Dietary Guidelines and the the Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including the Recommended Dietary Intakes (2006).

The NHMRC invested approximately $115 million into nutrition related research from 2000 to 2007.

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Draft public consultation of Foundation and Total Diets

A New Food Guidance System for Australia – Foundation and Total Dietspublic consultation is now closed and submissions are being considered by the NHMRC.

Update: The draft A Food Guidance System for Australia – Foundation and Total Diets was released for public consultation from 27 March to 10 May 2010. This document is not a guideline, rather it is a technical translation of nutrient values into types and quantities of food. It does not contain dietary recommendations and is not targeted at consumers. The final version of the document will, however, be one of several components that will inform the revised Australian Dietary Guidelines and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, which are important documents for health professionals and consumers.

Why nutrition is important

Eating a balanced diet is vital for good health and wellbeing. Food provides our bodies with the energy, protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals to live, grow and function properly. We need a wide variety of different foods to provide the right amounts of nutrients for good health. Enjoyment of a healthy diet can also be one of the great cultural pleasures of life. The foods and dietary patterns that promote good nutrition are outlined in the Dietary Guidelines. An unhealthy diet increases the risk of many diet-related diseases.

Nutrition risk factors

The major causes of death, illness and disability in which diet and nutrition play an important role include coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, atherosclerosis, obesity, some forms of cancer, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, dental caries, gall bladder disease, dementia and nutritional anaemias. The Dietary Guidelines assist us to eat a healthy diet and help minimise our risk of developing diet-related diseases.

Dietary Guidelines

The Dietary Guidelines are based on the best available scientific evidence linking diet and health. They provide information for health professionals and the general population to reduce the risk of diet-related disease. The Dietary Guidelines encourage healthy dietary patterns to promote and maintain the nutrition-related health and wellbeing of the Australian population. The Dietary Guidelines are currently under review.

Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including the Recommended Dietary Intakes

The Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including the Recommended Dietary Intakes (2006) outline the intake levels of essential nutrients considered adequate to meet the nutritional needs of healthy people for prevention of nutrient deficiencies. The document is intended for use by health professionals to assess the likelihood of inadequate intake in individuals or groups of people.

An interactive website on the Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including the Recommended Dietary Intakes (2006) is at www.nrv.gov.au.

» Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including the Recommended Dietary Intakes

NHMRC funding for nutrition research

NHMRC invested approximately $115 million into nutrition related research from 2000 to 2007.

Year Funding ($m)
2000 5.3
2001 6.9
2002 9.8
2003 9.9
2004 13.1
2005 18.1
2006 22.7
2007 29.2
Total 115.0

» More information on NHMRC grants for nutrition research

Nutrition Blog

» Go to Nutrition Blog website.

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Page last reviewed: 23 July 2010