Nutrition and diet trends come and go, but some seem to remain. These trends promote overall health by emphasizing whole food eating patterns.
Consumers frequently search online for health and nutrition advice, particularly via social media sites such as Facebook. We conducted an analysis on popular Facebook pages with nutritional advice to ascertain whether their guidance was in line with Australian Guidelines for Healthy Eating (AGHE). Unfortunately, our findings indicate this may not always be the case.
1. Plant-based diets
Many find it difficult to imagine meals without meat or fish, yet plant-based diets are becoming increasingly popular. This includes vegetarian (which exclude some animal origin foods), flexitarian (allowing occasional consumption of animal origin foods), and vegan diets ( which exclude all such sources).
Diets rich in plants have been linked with improved health outcomes, such as lower rates of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and lipid disorders. Furthermore, eating plant-based diets could lower risks associated with ischemic heart disease and cancer.
A plant-based diet should consist of whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans and lentils along with unsaturated oils such as olive oil. A diet consisting of plant-based products should include vegetables, fruits, nuts seeds beans lentils as well as unsaturated oils to maximize health benefits and limit processed, refined, salty and sugary items like processed snacks savoury snacks deep fried foods cake biscuits spreads potato crisps etc. Excluding animal products must be done responsibly so as to maximize benefits.
2. Reduced sugar intake
Sugar reduces inflammation in the body, which may contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease, diabetes, depression and more. By cutting back, we reduce our risks.
Though the idea of cutting back on sugar has been around for some time now, its growth will increase rapidly in 2023 as people seek ways to both improve their health and cut food costs. People will seek out whole foods with nutritional labels and avoid processed items.
As time has passed, various fad diets have come and gone, from The Zone Diet’s emphasis on fat intake to The Blood Type diet’s recommendations based on your blood type. But in 2023, renewed interest in Mediterranean Diet with its focus on limiting sugar will continue to gain momentum, leading to healthier, more sustainable eating habits that reduce medical costs and DALYs (directly attributable life years) benefits that benefit all age groups and genders alike.
3. Clean labels
Clean label is an approach to food and beverage formulation that prioritizes natural, fresh ingredients over synthetic additives and preservatives, opting instead for kitchen-friendly substances such as herbs, spices, fruit extracts, vegetable powders or natural sweeteners as solutions.
Consumers are willing to pay more for products with clear labels, as they want complete transparency regarding everything from its origins and environmental impact to any free-from claims like gluten and dairy-free status that resonate positively on both health and naturalness grounds.
Research by Ingredion indicates that consumers respond most favorably to ingredients which evoke feelings of wellness and wellbeing, such as natural ingredients like herbal extracts. Processing techniques which echo nature or purity such as stonegrounding, sun-drying or natural fermentation also tend to resonate positively on health and naturalness grounds with consumers.
4. Mindful eating
Mindful eating can help people rediscover the joy in eating and make healthier decisions. Incorporating mindfulness into meals also encourages healthier habits, improve digestion, and minimize weight gain.
Many of us snack while watching television or scrolling on our phones, leading to less satisfaction with meals and increased overeating. Mindful eating entails fully engaging in your food experience while simultaneously appreciating every bite taken.
Jean Kristeller, a professor at Indiana State University, created her Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) program after working as a clinician with students who binge ate. It teaches clients to become more mindful about their food preferences as well as honor their body’s hunger and fullness signals.
MB-EAT encourages its participants to contemplate the interdependent nature of food production. Simply taking a moment to appreciate all that went into producing your meals can foster gratitude and heighten appreciation of each bite – such as thinking of sun/moon/farmers/bugs/truck drivers!