View source for Diet (nutrition)

{{Short description|Sum of food consumed by an organism}}
{{for multi|weight loss diets|Dieting|animal diets|List of feeding behaviours|other uses|Diet (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
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[[File:FoodSourcesOfMagnesium.jpg|thumb|right|A selection of [[magnesium]]-containing [[Human food|food]] consumed by humans. The human diet can vary widely.]]

In nutrition, '''diet''' is the sum of food consumed by a person or other [[organism]].<ref>[http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/diet_1?view=uk noun, def 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107182752/http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/diet_1?view=uk |date=2010-01-07 }} – askoxford.com</ref>
The word diet often implies the use of specific intake of [[nutrition]] for [[#Health|health]] or [[#Weight management|weight-management]] reasons (with the two often being related). 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. Individual dietary choices may be more or less healthy.

Complete nutrition requires ingestion and absorption of [[vitamin]]s, [[Dietary mineral|mineral]]s, [[essential amino acid]]s from protein and essential fatty acids from fat-containing food, also [[food energy]] in the form of [[carbohydrate]], protein, and fat. Dietary habits and choices play a significant role in the [[quality of life]], [[health]] and [[longevity]].

== Health ==
{{Main|Healthy diet}}
A healthy diet can improve and maintain mental and physical health.<ref name="Washington2022">{{Cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=Veronica R. |last2=Washington |first2=Tiffani Bell |last3=Chhabria |first3=Shradha |last4=Wang |first4=Emily Hsu-Chi |last5=Czepiel |first5=Kathryn |last6=Reyes |first6=Karen J. Campoverde |last7=Stanford |first7=Fatima Cody |date=2022-05-01 |title=Food as Medicine for Obesity Treatment and Management |journal=Clinical Therapeutics |language=English |volume=44 |issue=5 |pages=671–681 |doi=10.1016/j.clinthera.2022.05.001 |pmid=35618570 |pmc=9908371 |s2cid=249022627 |issn=0149-2918 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Specific diets, such as the [[DASH diet]], can be used in treatment and management of chronic conditions.<ref name="Washington2022" />

[[List of nutrition guides|Dietary recommendations]] exist for many different countries, and they usually emphasise a balanced diet which is culturally appropriate.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nemec |first=Kelly |date=November 2020 |title=Cultural Awareness of Eating Patterns in the Health Care Setting |journal=Clinical Liver Disease |language=en-US |volume=16 |issue=5 |pages=204–207 |doi=10.1002/cld.1019 |issn=2046-2484 |pmc=7727853 |pmid=33318789}}</ref> These recommendations are different from [[Dietary Reference Values|dietary reference values]] which provide information about the prevention of [[nutrient]] deficiencies.

== Dietary choices ==
[[File:Raw food tacos.jpg|alt=Raw food tacos prepared with guacamole, non-fried beans and sour cream.|thumb|Raw food tacos prepared with guacamole, non-fried beans and sour cream. Raw foodism promotes the consumption of food which has not been cooked.]]
Exclusionary diets are diets with certain groups or specific types of food avoided, either due to health considerations or by choice.<ref name="Washington2022" /> Many do not eat food from animal sources to varying degrees (e.g. [[flexitarianism]], [[pescetarianism]], [[vegetarianism]], and [[veganism]]) for health reasons, issues surrounding morality, or to reduce their personal impact on the environment<ref>{{Cite web |last=United Nations |title=Food and Climate Change: Healthy diets for a healthier planet |url=https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/food |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=United Nations |language=en}}</ref> (e.g. [[environmental vegetarianism]]). People on a balanced vegetarian or vegan diet can obtain adequate nutrition, but may need to specifically focus on consuming specific nutrients, such as [[Protein (nutrient)|protein]], [[iron]], [[calcium]], [[zinc]], and [[vitamin B12|vitamin B<sub>12</sub>]].<ref name="melina">{{Cite journal|last1=Melina|first1=Vesanto|last2=Craig|first2=Winston|last3=Levin|first3=Susan|date=December 2016|title=Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Vegetarian Diets|journal=Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics|volume=116|issue=12|pages=1970–1980|doi=10.1016/j.jand.2016.09.025|issn=2212-2672|pmid=27886704|s2cid=4984228 }}</ref><ref name="Washington2022" /><ref name="VegetarianMC">{{Cite web|title=Vegetarian diet: How to get the best nutrition|date=2020-08-20|url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/vegetarian-diet/art-20046446|access-date=2022-12-12|website=Mayo Clinic|language=en|archive-date=2021-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410041319/https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/vegetarian-diet/art-20046446|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Raw foodism]] and [[intuitive eating]] are other approaches to dietary choices. Education, income, local availability, and mental health are all major factors for dietary choices.<ref name="Washington2022" />

==Weight management==
[[File:Average Dietary Energy Supply By Region.svg|thumb|Average dietary energy supply by region]]
A particular diet may be chosen to promote weight loss or weight gain. Changing a person's dietary intake, or "going on a diet", can change the energy balance, and increase or decrease the amount of fat stored by the body.<ref name="Washington2022" /> 

The terms "healthy diet" and "diet for weight management" (''dieting'') are often related, as the two promote healthy weight management.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Aphramor|first=Lucy|date=2010-07-20|title=Validity of claims made in weight management research: a narrative review of dietetic articles|journal=Nutrition Journal|language=en|volume=9|issue=1|pages=30|doi=10.1186/1475-2891-9-30|issn=1475-2891|pmc=2916886|pmid=20646282 |doi-access=free }}</ref> If a person is overweight or obese, changing to a diet and lifestyle that allows them to burn more calories than they consume may improve their overall health,<ref name="Washington2022" /> possibly preventing diseases that are attributed in part to weight, including [[heart disease]] and [[diabetes]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Diets|url=https://medlineplus.gov/diets.html|access-date=2021-05-28|website=medlineplus.gov|archive-date=2021-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613074449/https://medlineplus.gov/diets.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Within the past 10 years, obesity rates have increased by almost 10%.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Long |first1=Zichong |last2=Huang |first2=Lili |last3=Lyu |first3=Jiajun |last4=Xia |first4=Yuanqing |last5=Chen |first5=Yiting |last6=Li |first6=Rong |last7=Wang |first7=Yanlin |last8=Li |first8=Shenghui |date=2022-01-12 |title=Trends of central obesity and associations with nutrients intake and daily behaviors among women of childbearing age in China |journal=BMC Women's Health |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=12 |doi=10.1186/s12905-022-01600-9 |issn=1472-6874 |pmc=8753840 |pmid=35016648 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Conversely, if a person is underweight due to illness or [[malnutrition]], they may change their diet to promote weight gain. Intentional changes in weight, though often beneficial, can be potentially harmful to the body if they occur too rapidly. Unintentional rapid weight change can be caused by the body's reaction to some medications, or may be a sign of major medical problems including [[thyroid]] issues and [[cancer]] among other [[diseases]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Body Weight | publisher = [[MedlinePlus]] | url = https://medlineplus.gov/bodyweight.html | access-date = June 26, 2020 | archive-date = June 2, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200602110835/https://medlineplus.gov/bodyweight.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Meat consumption==

[[Meat]] commonly refers to [[red meat]] from pork, beef, and lamb and to [[White meat (poultry)|white meat]] from chicken and turkey.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Meinilä |first=Jelena |last2=Virtanen |first2=Jyrki K. |date=2024 |title=Meat and meat products - a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38449706 |journal=Food & Nutrition Research |volume=68 |doi=10.29219/fnr.v68.10538 |issn=1654-661X |pmc=10916397 |pmid=38449706}}Text was copied from this source, which is available under a [[creativecommons:by/4.0/|Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License]].</ref> In Western countries, red meat is a significant source of energy and several nutrients such as protein, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.<ref name=":5" />  Meat can be processed by adding chemical preservatives, smoking, curing, salting, fermenting or canning. 

According to the [[International Agency for Research on Cancer]] (IARC), [[processed meat]] causes cancer, particularly [[colorectal cancer]], and all red meat is a "probable" cause of cancer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=26 October 2015 |title=Cancer: Carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat |url=https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/cancer-carcinogenicity-of-the-consumption-of-red-meat-and-processed-meat |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=World Health Organization |language=en}}</ref>  Strong evidence also links processed meat with higher risks of [[cardiovascular disease]] and [[type 2 diabetes]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Libera |first=Justyna |last2=Iłowiecka |first2=Katarzyna |last3=Stasiak |first3=Dariusz |date=December 2021 |title=Consumption of processed red meat and its impact on human health: A review |url=https://academic.oup.com/ijfst/article/56/12/6115/7806301 |journal=International Journal of Food Science & Technology |language=en |volume=56 |issue=12 |pages=6115–6123 |doi=10.1111/ijfs.15270 |issn=0950-5423|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The [[World Cancer Research Fund]] recommends limiting red meat to no more than three servings per week and minimizing consumption of processed meats.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Limit consumption of red and processed meat: Recommendation evidence |url=https://www.wcrf.org/research-policy/evidence-for-our-recommendations/limit-red-processed-meat/ |access-date=2025-09-24 |website=World Cancer Research Fund |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Environmental dietary choices ==
{{See also|Sustainable diet|Low-carbon diet|Plant-based diet}}[[Agriculture]] is a driver of [[environmental degradation]], such as [[biodiversity loss]], [[Effects of climate change on agriculture|climate change]], [[desertification]], [[soil degradation]] and [[pollution]]. The [[food system]] as a whole – including refrigeration, food processing, packaging, and transport – accounts for around one-quarter of [[greenhouse gas emissions]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ritchie |first1=Hannah |author1-link=Hannah Ritchie |last2=Roser |first2=Max |author2-link=Max Roser |last3=Rosado |first3=Pablo |date=2020-05-11 |title=CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions |url=https://ourworldindata.org/emissions-by-sector |journal=Our World in Data}}</ref> More sustainable dietary choices can be made to reduce the impact of the food system on the environment. These choices may involve reducing consumption of meat and dairy products and instead eating more plant-based foods, and eating foods grown through [[Sustainable agriculture|sustainable farming]] practices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nations |first=United |title=Food and Climate Change: Healthy diets for a healthier planet |url=https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/food |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=United Nations |language=en}}</ref>

== Religious and cultural dietary choices ==
Some cultures and religions have restrictions concerning what foods are acceptable in their diet. For example, only [[Kosher foods]] are permitted in [[Judaism]], and [[Halal]] foods in [[Islamic dietary laws|Islam]].  Although [[Buddhist]]s are generally [[Buddhist vegetarianism|vegetarians]], the practice varies and [[Carnivore|meat-eating]] may be permitted depending on the sects.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=985a1M7L1NcC&pg=PA77 |title=A Dictionary of Buddhism |first=Damien |last=Keown |page=77 |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=26 August 2004 |isbn=9780191579172 |access-date=26 January 2017 |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114192647/https://books.google.com/books?id=985a1M7L1NcC&pg=PA77 |url-status=live }}</ref> In [[Hinduism]], [[Diet in Hinduism|vegetarianism]] is the ideal. [[Jainism|Jains]] are strictly vegetarian and in addition to that the consumption of any roots (e.g., potatoes, carrots) is not permitted. 

In [[Christian dietary laws|Christianity]] there is no restriction on the kinds of animals that can be eaten,<ref>[http://bibliaparalela.com/mark/7-14.htm Marcos 7:14] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104131626/https://bibliaparalela.com/mark/7-14.htm |date=2021-11-04 }}-[http://bibliaparalela.com/mark/7-23.htm 23] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104204250/https://bibliaparalela.com/mark/7-23.htm |date=2021-11-04 }}</ref><ref>[http://bibliaparalela.com/matthew/15-10.htm Mateo 15:10] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105101100/https://bibliaparalela.com/matthew/15-10.htm |date=2021-11-05 }}-[http://bibliaparalela.com/matthew/15-20.htm 20] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104141325/https://bibliaparalela.com/matthew/15-20.htm |date=2021-11-04 }}</ref> though various groups within Christianity have practiced specific dietary restrictions for various reasons.<ref name="Vatican">{{cite web|title=Code of Canon Law|publisher=vatican.va|access-date=July 28, 2013|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P4O.HTM#37|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129223503/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P4O.HTM#37|url-status=live}}</ref> The most common diets consumed by [[Christians]] are [[Mediterranean diet|the Mediterranean diet]] and [[Christian vegetarianism|vegetarianism]].{{cn|date=April 2025}}

== Diet classification table ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Food type
! [[Omnivorous#Etymology and definitions|Omnivorous]]
! [[Monotrophic diet#Carnivore diet|Carnivorous]]
! [[Pescetarian]]
! [[Pollotarian]]
! [[Semi-vegetarianism|Semi-vegetarian]]
! [[Vegetarian]]
! [[Vegan]]
! [[Fruitarianism|Fruitarian]]
! [[Paleolithic diet|Paleo]]
! [[Ketogenic diet|Ketogenic]]
! [[Kosher|Jewish]]
! [[Halal|Islamic]]
! [[Diet in Hinduism|Hindu]]
! [[Jain vegetarianism|Jain]]
|-
| [[Alcoholic drinks]]
| {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} ||{{no}}|| {{no}} || {{maybe}} || {{maybe}} || {{no}} || {{maybe}} || {{no}}
|-
| [[Fruit]]
| {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}}
|-
| [[Berry|Berries]]
| {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}|| {{yes}} || {{maybe}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
| [[Vegetables]]
| {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}}{{efn|name=fn1|Some plants traditionally considered to be vegetables—such as [[tomato]]es, [[eggplant]]s, [[capsicum]]s, and [[zucchini]]s—are permitted.}}|| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
| [[Leaf vegetable|Greens]]
| {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}}|| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}}
|-
| [[Legumes]]
| {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}}|| {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
| [[Nut (fruit)|Nuts]]
| {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}}|| {{yes}} || {{maybe}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}}
|-
| [[Tubers]]
| {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}}|| {{maybe}}{{efn|name=fn2|Typically, [[potatoes]] are not permitted but [[cassava]], [[Yam (vegetable)|yams]], and [[sweet potatoes]] are.}}|| {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}}
|-
| [[Cereal|Grains]]
| {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}}|| {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
| [[Honey]]
| {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}}|| {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}}
|-
| [[Dairy Products|Dairy]]
| {{yes}} || {{maybe}}{{efn|name=fn9|Some variants of the diet are paleolithic-oriented and exclude dairy while other variants may include dairy products provided that they are ketogenic. Less strict approaches allow all [[animal source foods|animal sourced foods]].}} || {{maybe}} || {{maybe}} || {{maybe}} || {{maybe}}{{efn|name=fn7|[[Lacto vegetarian]]s, [[ovo-lacto vegetarian]]s, and [[jain vegetarianism|Jain vegetarians]] permit dairy.}} || {{no}} || {{no}}|| {{no}} || {{maybe}} || {{yes}}{{efn|name=fn8|Dairy is permitted but is not to be cooked or consumed with any meats. Dairy may be prepared and eaten alongside [[pareve]] foods.}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
| [[Egg (food)|Eggs]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}} || {{maybe}}{{efn|name=fn6|Both [[ovo vegetarian]]s and [[ovo-lacto vegetarian]]s permit eggs.}} || {{no}}  || {{no}}|| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}} || {{no}}
|-
| [[Entomophagy|Insects]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{sometimes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}}{{efn|name=fn4|[[Locust]]s are sometimes permitted, depending on the [[religious denomination]].}} || {{no}}{{efn|name=fn4}} || {{maybe}} || {{no}}
|-
| [[Shellfish]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{sometimes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}}|| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{maybe}}{{efn|name=fn3|[[Mollusca|Mollusks]] and [[crustaceans]] like [[crab]] are prohibited according to the Shi'a branch of Islam. The acceptability of [[shrimp]]/[[prawn]] is debated}}|| {{maybe}} || {{no}}
|-
| [[Fish]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{sometimes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}}|| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}} || {{no}}
|-
| [[Poultry]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{sometimes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}}|| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}} || {{no}}
|-
| [[Lamb and Mutton|Mutton]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{sometimes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}}|| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}} || {{no}}
|-
| [[Venison]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{sometimes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}}|| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{maybe}} || {{no}}
|-
| [[Pork]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{sometimes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}}|| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{maybe}} || {{no}}
|-
| [[Beef]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{sometimes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}}|| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}}
|}

== See also ==
* [[Dessert crop]]
* [[Nutrition psychology]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist|30em}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote|Diet}}
*{{wiktionary-inline|diet#English|diet}}

{{Diets|state=collapsed}}
{{Portal bar|Food|Drink}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diet (Nutrition)}}
[[Category:Diets|*]]