WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

9 Foods You Can Eat In Any Quantity Without Gaining Weight

9 Foods You Can Eat In Any Quantity Without Gaining Weight

Eating More Of This Could Reduce Your Risk Of Disease By Up To 30 Percent

Eating More Of This Could Reduce Your Risk Of Disease By Up To 30 Percent

Alert: Your Daily Diet Should Be No More Than 5 Per Cent Sugar

Alert: Your Daily Diet Should Be No More Than 5 Per Cent Sugar

How Much Coffee Should You Really Drink Per Day?

How Much Coffee Should You Really Drink Per Day?

{headline}

{headline}

Eating At This Time Raises Your Risk Of Heart Attacks And Diabetes

Eating At This Time Raises Your Risk Of Heart Attacks And Diabetes

Adding Healthy Food To Your Diet Is More Crucial Than Cutting Out Junk

Adding Healthy Food To Your Diet Is More Crucial Than Cutting Out Junk

How To Accurately Track Your Daily Food Intake

How To Accurately Track Your Daily Food Intake

{headline}

{headline}

7 Healthy Ingredients You Should Have In Your Fridge At All Times

7 Healthy Ingredients You Should Have In Your Fridge At All Times

Jessica Sepel's Top 5 Tips For Meal Prepping Like A Pro

Jessica Sepel's Top 5 Tips For Meal Prepping Like A Pro

Everything You Need To Know About The OMAD Diet For Weight Loss

Everything You Need To Know About The OMAD Diet For Weight Loss

This Is the Best Diet For Weight Loss, According To Doctors

This Is the Best Diet For Weight Loss, According To Doctors

5 Food Mistakes To Avoid If You're Trying To Lose Weight

5 Food Mistakes To Avoid If You're Trying To Lose Weight

The Healthy Breakfast Wonder Woman Star Gal Gadot Swears By

The Healthy Breakfast Wonder Woman Star Gal Gadot Swears By

5 Metabolism Myths To Stop Believing Right Now

5 Metabolism Myths To Stop Believing Right Now

  1. Home
  2. Food

Here's Why A Diverse Diet May Not Be the Healthiest Choice

Hear us out… - by Lucy Bode
  • 10 Aug 2018
Here's Why A Diverse Diet May Not Be the Healthiest Choice
Getty

It’s one of the very first recommendations under the Australian Dietary Guidelines: a wide variety of foods is the key to good health. But according to new research, this advice could actually backfire.

In a study published in the journal Circulation, experts concluded that diversity is one of the contributing factors of chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease and diabetes. The issue? The terminology is being misinterpreted.

“We looked at all the evidence that was out there and saw a link between dietary diversity and a greater intake of both healthy and unhealthy foods,” explained Dr Marcia Otto, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Centre. “This raised some red flags and had implications on obesity – we saw a greater prevalence of obesity amongst people with a greater dietary diversity.”

Because it’s not clearly and consistently defined across the board, there’s no simple measure for what constitutes ‘diverse.’ Some take it as the number of food groups consumed, while others think it’s the distribution of calories across individual foods or how different the foods are from each other.

RELATED: 8 Ways To Start A Healthier Diet ASAP, According To A Nutritionist

Grocery shopping
Getty

Because of this, we’re far better off focusing on the quality of what we eat – i.e. mostly healthy fats, fresh produce and limited amounts of red meat, dairy and processed goods – instead. 

“The world is changing and the food environment is changing,” added Otto. Back in the 19th century (when the concept of variety in the diet was first introduced) our major health concerns centred around depletion of vitamins and minerals. “Nowadays, we have shifted from the context of undernutrition to overnutrition, especially in countries like the U.S and middle-income countries.”

Bottom line? Diversity isn’t the enemy – as long as you’re aiming for lots of different fruits and veggies not flavours of ice cream.

RELATED: These 5 Habits Will Help You Live Way Longer, Study Says

  • Food
  • Weight Loss
  • Diet Plans
  • Diet
  • Nutrition
Lucy Bode
Lucy Bode
Lucy is Women Health’s digital editor, social media specialist and the go-to girl for all things holistic wellness. Her background as a journalist and passion for food, fitness and integrative medicine has led her to write for some of Australia’s leading publications over the course of her career.

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

9 Foods You Can Eat In Any Quantity Without Gaining Weight

9 Foods You Can Eat In Any Quantity Without Gaining Weight

Eating More Of This Could Reduce Your Risk Of Disease By Up To 30 Percent

Eating More Of This Could Reduce Your Risk Of Disease By Up To 30 Percent

Alert: Your Daily Diet Should Be No More Than 5 Per Cent Sugar

Alert: Your Daily Diet Should Be No More Than 5 Per Cent Sugar

How Much Coffee Should You Really Drink Per Day?

How Much Coffee Should You Really Drink Per Day?

{headline}

{headline}

Eating At This Time Raises Your Risk Of Heart Attacks And Diabetes

Eating At This Time Raises Your Risk Of Heart Attacks And Diabetes

Adding Healthy Food To Your Diet Is More Crucial Than Cutting Out Junk

Adding Healthy Food To Your Diet Is More Crucial Than Cutting Out Junk

How To Accurately Track Your Daily Food Intake

How To Accurately Track Your Daily Food Intake

{headline}

{headline}

7 Healthy Ingredients You Should Have In Your Fridge At All Times

7 Healthy Ingredients You Should Have In Your Fridge At All Times

Jessica Sepel's Top 5 Tips For Meal Prepping Like A Pro

Jessica Sepel's Top 5 Tips For Meal Prepping Like A Pro

Everything You Need To Know About The OMAD Diet For Weight Loss

Everything You Need To Know About The OMAD Diet For Weight Loss

This Is the Best Diet For Weight Loss, According To Doctors

This Is the Best Diet For Weight Loss, According To Doctors

5 Food Mistakes To Avoid If You're Trying To Lose Weight

5 Food Mistakes To Avoid If You're Trying To Lose Weight

The Healthy Breakfast Wonder Woman Star Gal Gadot Swears By

The Healthy Breakfast Wonder Woman Star Gal Gadot Swears By

5 Metabolism Myths To Stop Believing Right Now

5 Metabolism Myths To Stop Believing Right Now

WomensHealth
  • Contact Us
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Contact Us
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
  • Men’s Health
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now