As the leading voice in nutrition and dietetics, we're helping build healthy communities. Read our advice to learn how diet and nutrition can improve your health and wellbeing.

Evidence-based health advice

Our growing library of health advice articles feature the latest scientific evidence about human nutrition. Our Interest Groups and Accredited Practising Dietitians inform the health advice we give to you.

Smart eating advice

We'll answer your diet and nutrition questions and help you understand how to eat smarter. You'll learn nutrition facts and how your diet can help you manage your health.

When to see a dietitian

We'll help you understand when you need to see a dietitian. A dietitian can give you personalised advice and a healthy eating plan specific to your nutritional needs.

Use our online search tool to find a dietitian.

Get in touch

We'll be adding more health advice articles to our website over the coming months. If you have questions about our health advice, contact us at info@dietitiansaustralia.org.au

Babies Children Teenagers
Foods and nutrients Healthy eating Specific diets and fads

The Mediterranean diet has long been considered a benchmark for a model of a healthy diet. There is no one best way to eat for everybody, but a person can look to the Mediterranean diet as a guide to help make positive choices for eating healthier.

Adults
Foods and nutrients Labels and health claims Specific diets and fads

Is paleo as healthy as the influencers say? We look at the evidence to see if we should really eat like our ancient ancestors.

Adults Older Australians
Diseases and conditions

Diverticular disease is a common disorder of the digestive system. But a high-fibre diet, being active and drinking plenty of water can help.

Adults Babies Children First Australians Teenagers
Healthy eating

The Australian Dietary Guidelines are a framework for healthy eating among the general population. There are 5 guidelines for healthy eating.

Adults Children Older Australians Teenagers
Diseases and conditions Specific diets and fads

Eating disorders are increasingly common, and they come with significant psychological, nutritional and physical health consequences. Recovery is possible. You can get help for yourself or someone you care about.

Adults Babies Children First Australians Older Australians Teenagers
Diseases and conditions Foods and nutrients

What is lactose intolerance? We look at common symptoms, how to manage them, and what foods might trigger discomfort.

Adults Older Australians Teenagers
Diseases and conditions Foods and nutrients Specific diets and fads

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and how can dietary strategies help improve its uncomfortable symptoms?

Adults Babies Children Teenagers
Disability Diseases and conditions

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder which affects a number of systems in the body, including hunger and thirst. Discover how an Accredited Practising Dietitan (APD) has helped Sandra and her son Charlie, who lives with PWS.

Adults Babies Children Older Australians Teenagers
Foods and nutrients

Find out why iron is an essential nutrient for your wellbeing. And how you can make sure your diet gives you the iron you need to live a healthy life.

Adults Older Australians Teenagers
Aged care Diseases and conditions Foods and nutrients Healthy eating

Malnutrition is a major public health issue in Australia, particularly for older Australians. Prevention is key. Here we explore its symptoms and treatment.

Adults Children Older Australians Teenagers
Foods and nutrients Healthy eating

Salt contains sodium and chloride – both important minerals. But eating too much salt is linked to health problems, and most Australians eat more salt than they need. Here's the best way to cut the amount of salt in your diet.

Adults Children Older Australians Teenagers
Healthy eating Mental health

A nutritious diet is not just good for your body. It is good for your brain and mental health too. Here are some tips for eating well for your mental health.

Adults Babies Children Older Australians Teenagers
Diseases and conditions Foods and nutrients

Cow's milk allergy is common in babies and children, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. Avoiding cow's milk and other dairy-containing foods is the only effective way to manage a cow's milk allergy, but it's important to seek specialist advice.

Adults Children Older Australians Teenagers
Foods and nutrients Healthy eating

Protein is an important nutrient that our bodies use to function properly. Most Australians get enough protein, but there are some groups of people who may need to monitor the amount of protein they eat. Here are some easy ways to increase the protein in your diet.

Adults Children Older Australians Teenagers
Foods and nutrients Healthy eating

A varied and well-balanced vegetarian diet can supply all the nutrients you need for good health. Here are the nutrients you need to pay attention to if you're following a plant-based diet.

Adults Children Older Australians Teenagers
Foods and nutrients Healthy eating

Fats provide flavour to many foods. There are different types of fats, and some are healthier than others. Here we explain the fats that are an important part of a healthy diet, as well as the truth about saturated fats.

Adults Teenagers
Diseases and conditions

PCOS is a common hormonal condition of the ovaries that can cause problems such as an irregular menstrual cycle, weight gain, impaired fertility and poor mental health. Diet and lifestyle changes are the first steps to manage PCOS, and an Accredited Practising Dietitian specialising in PCOS is the most qualified professional to help.

Adults Children Older Australians Teenagers
Foods and nutrients

Plant-based milks have emerged as a non-dairy alternative to cow’s milk, and can be a safe and healthy choice from childhood to adulthood. But which is the best one to meet your needs? Here we take a look at some of the options available.

Adults Children Older Australians Teenagers
Foods and nutrients

Following a diet rich in fibre-containing foods has many health benefits. Learn about the different types of fibre and its role in good gut health.

Adults Older Australians
Specific diets and fads Weight management

Intermittent fasting is an approach to eating that alternates between periods of fasting and eating. And whilst intermittent fasting can work well for some people, it is not a magic bullet to improved health. There are also some groups of people who should give intermittent fasting a miss.

Adults
Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Your body needs extra nutrients during pregnancy and breastfeeding. You should also limit or avoid some foods and drinks. Here we look at the do's and don't's of eating while pregnant and breastfeeding, and when you should seek the services of an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD).

Adults Children Older Australians Teenagers
Diseases and conditions

Diabetes is a serious health condition that comprises two main but different conditions: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. A healthy diet can help to manage diabetes and prevent other health complications.

Adults Children Older Australians Teenagers
Foods and nutrients

Sugary drinks are a major contributor to the amount of added sugar in the Australian diet. There are also numerous health problems linked to sugary drinks, including obesity, tooth decay and type 2 diabetes. When it comes to your health, you’re better off limiting how many sugary drinks you drink.

Adults Children Older Australians Teenagers
Diseases and conditions Healthy eating Immunity and recovery

Diet alone is unable to treat or cure cancer. But there are diet and lifestyle strategies you can use to reduce your risk of developing cancer. Diet and exercise are also an important part of cancer treatment.

Adults Babies Children First Australians Older Australians Teenagers
Diseases and conditions Foods and nutrients Healthy eating

Vitamin D is both a nutrient we eat and a hormone our bodies make. We need vitamin D, but it doesn't all have to come from your diet. That’s important to know because there are few foods that are reliable sources of vitamin D. If you spend enough time in the sun, then your body can make all the vitamin D it needs.

Adults Children First Australians Older Australians Teenagers
Diseases and conditions Foods and nutrients Specific diets and fads

A gluten-free diet is the foundation of managing coeliac disease. The popularity of gluten-free diets and products has grown in recent years. Internet searches for gluten-free diets are now the third most popular searched-for diet. This growth in popularity comes from claims that not eating gluten helps with a range of illnesses, even in people who do not have coeliac disease. But there is very little evidence that a gluten-free diet benefits everyone.

Adults
Diseases and conditions Foods and nutrients Healthy eating

Vitamin B12 (also called cobalamin) is an important vitamin. We need this vitamin to make red blood cells and new DNA for growing and dividing cells. Vitamin B12 also helps maintain the health of the conductive coating that surrounds and protects nerves.

Adults Children First Australians Older Australians Teenagers
Diseases and conditions Healthy eating Specific diets and fads Weight management

If you’re thinking about starting a low-carb diet to manage your diabetes, here’s what you need to know.

Adults
Diseases and conditions Foods and nutrients Healthy eating Specific diets and fads Weight management

A fad diet is an eating plan that often promotes quick and easy weight loss or radically improved health. Fad diets can be tempting as they offer a quick fix to either real or perceived problems. But they have little scientific evidence to support their claims.

Adults Babies Children Older Australians
Diseases and conditions Foods and nutrients

Enteral nutrition or tube feeding is a method of supplying nutrition through a feeding tube. This tube goes directly into the stomach or small intestine, bypassing the mouth and oesophagus.