Why diet and nutrition helps your health
Eating well is important for all of us. It helps us to stay as healthy as we can be. But many of us find it hard to eat well every day.

Only one-third of people in Ireland eat the recommended amount of vegetables, salads and fruit each day. Many people eat less healthy foods such as chocolate, cakes and crisps on a daily basis.

In Ireland, 62% of the adult population is overweight or obese. 1 in 4 children aged 7 is either overweight or obese.

Benefits of eating healthily
When you eat well, you reduce your chance of developing certain diseases. If you have children, you’re also more likely to pass on good eating habits to them.

Good eating habits can lead to:

• a healthy body weight
• a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer
• a healthy cholesterol level
• an improved sense of wellbeing
• Diet, nutrition and your body
• Foods are made up of nutrients. Protein, fat and vitamins are types of nutrients. Your body needs the right mix of nutrients to be healthy and well.

Different foods contain different nutrients. Choosing a mixture of foods every day will help you get all the nutrients you need to grow and be healthy. This is what it means to eat a balanced diet.

Foods that contain the same types of nutrients are grouped together as:

• vegetables, salads and fruit
• wholemeal cereals and bread, potatoes, pasta and rice
• reduced-fat or low-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese
• lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts
• fats, spreads and oils

Food also gives you the fuel (calories) you need for your body to work. If you take in more calories than you use, you’ll put on weight and become overweight. If you don’t take in enough calories, you’ll be underweight. Either is bad for your health.

Please see the below links for more information

IRFU Nutrition:
https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/nutrition/

HSE Nutrition:
https://www2.hse.ie/living-well/healthy-eating/why-diet-and-nutrition-helps-your-health/