What is the most important part of nutrition?

What is the most important part of nutrition?

This question recently came to me when someone wanted to know the most important thing to know or apply to their life regarding nutrition.

I felt this was like asking what the essential part of driving is, the most critical part of medicine, or the most important thing about living.

To prioritize the most important part of nutrition seems impossible for many reasons.

Everyone needs food – from birth to death.

The food we eat affects our health.

The food we eat can contribute to disease and illness, help manage a condition, and minimize infection.

Nutrition covers so much: from energy (calories) and macronutrient distribution (i.e., how many carbs, fat, and protein should you have) to problems with digestion (GI disorders), healthy food choices, moderation, pediatric nutrition, and elderly nutrition, sports nutrition and diabetes, heart disease, and bone health and much more. So much more.

The three basics parents were required to give us growing up are clothing, shelter, and FOOD. Food takes up every part of our life. It is one of the first things we demand upon birth, stresses our parents when we are two years old, and is part of our social life throughout our lifetime. Food is essential to living and part of society.

Ah, but I did my best to answer the question. I narrowed it down to three points. The three most important parts of nutrition (in my opinion) are:

Find balance with your intake – calories count, but there are no “good” or “bad” foods; the amount is much most important. 

Plant-based diet – whether one chooses to be a vegetarian or not, the basis of every diet needs to be fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The research repeatedly comes back to that. And plant-based does not mean excluding meat.

Lifelong habits – while it is never too late to start (almost), it is never too early. We need to have the habits of a healthy diet and daily exercise begin as children, go through the teen years into early adulthood, and throughout adulthood into older adulthood. That is what the research is telling us.

While others may have different thoughts about what is important, these are mine.

First, and the most important part about driving? Using your turn signal.