Guideline 3 recommends we limit intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt, added sugars and alcohol
Why do we need to eat less of these?
Many of the health problems in Australia today are linked to poor eating habits. Too many people eat too much saturated fat, added salt, added sugars and alcohol. Even reducing these by small amounts can make us healthier. It can help us manage our weight better and reduce our risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, some cancers and chronic kidney disease.
This is why foods that are high in saturated fats, added salt, added sugars or alcohol are called discretionary choices. They also tend to be low in fibre and important nutrients like vitamins and minerals.
These foods are important for celebrating and social occasions, but should be limited to small amounts and only eaten sometimes.
How do I work out what foods to eat?
The Australian dietary guidelines and Australian guide to healthy eating have been reviewed to make sure they are based on most current scientific evidence. This means they can be used to assess popular claims about food and health and to work out what is true.
It can be tricky when different people are giving conflicting advice about healthy eating. It can be hard to know what to believe.
The following tips provide a few simple facts that can make it easier to pick the information that is most helpful.
More information on fat, salt, sugars and alcohol