Healthy lifestyle

Weight loss and dieting

What is a diet? A diet involves eating a certain selection of food, usually to improve your health, regulate your weight or cure a disease. New diets, programs and books on losing weight appear every day. While many Australians need to lose a few kilos, it’s important to follow an eating and exercise plan that you can maintain. The plan needs to help you stay healthy for the long term. Nearly 2 in 3 Australians are overweight or obese. Carrying extra weight increases your risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. If you

Quit smoking

Key facts Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Australia. Quitting smoking is associated with better outcomes for many health conditions and diseases. Your body starts repairing itself as soon as you’ve smoked your last cigarette. Most people who smoke will attempt to quit several times and are eventually successful. Why should I quit smoking? Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Australia. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and many of them can cause cancer. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and every cigarette is doing you harm.

Physical activity (older people)

Key facts Keeping active helps you stay physically and mentally strong. Aim for about 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days, but any amount of activity is beneficial — even just a few minutes. Strength and weight-bearing activities can increase bone density, helping to prevent osteoporosis. Consider exercising with a friend, and choose activities you enjoy, to help you stay motivated. Physical activity guidelines for older people Why should older people stay active? Whatever your age, you can enjoy the benefits of physical activity. There’s a host of health reasons to stay active and it doesn’t have to

Healthy food swaps

Key facts Healthy food swaps are simple changes you can make to your diet to replace less healthy food with more nutritious food. Healthy food swaps can help you to meet your health goals and improve your health in the long term. Follow the Australian Dietary Guidelines and plan your food shop beforehand. Eat a wide variety of food to get a range of nutritional benefits. Limit discretionary foods (ones that aren’t necessary for nutrients) to help you stay on track. What are the benefits of healthy food swaps? Small decisions around food choices can make a big difference to

Fatigue

Key facts Fatigue is when you feel exhausted all the time. It can impact your daily living, and your mental and emotional state. Stress, anxiety, depression, viruses, or sleep problems usually cause fatigue. Non-medical treatments may be effective in treating fatigue, like cognitive behavioural therapy. You should see your doctor if fatigue continues for more than 2 weeks. What is fatigue? Fatigue is not the same as feeling just tired or sleepy, although there is a link. When you feel fatigued, you have no energy, to the point that it affects your daily living, and your mental and emotional state.

Dietary fibre

Key facts Fibre is a type of nutrient that reduces your risk of disease and keeps your digestive system healthy. There are several types of fibre that can be found in different foods. Including a variety of fresh foods in your diet will ensure you get enough fibre. High-fibre foods and diet What is fibre? Fibre is a nutrient that is needed by your body to keep you healthy. It’s digested by the bacteria in your gut to produce substances that keep you healthy. Eating a diet high in fibre and wholegrain foods is linked to a lower risk of: obesity type

Cholesterol (how to lower it)

Key facts Cholesterol is a type of fat needed to build and repair cells and to make hormones. Cholesterol is made in your liver but is also present in some foods. There are different types of cholesterol — including LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. Over time, too much LDL cholesterol (or, ‘bad’) cholesterol in your blood can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke. You can lower high cholesterol by making lifestyle changes and often through medicines. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a type of fat which is needed by your body to build and repair cells and to make

Balanced diet

What are the 5 food groups? A healthy diet does not need to be complicated. Eat foods from the 5 food groups every day. The 5 food groups are: vegetables and legumes (beans) fruit grains and cereals lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes (beans), tofu, nuts, seeds milk, cheese, yoghurt or alternatives Each food group has important nutrients. The amount of each food you need will vary during your life. Your diet will depend on factors such as: how active you are whether or not you are growing whether or not you are pregnant or breastfeeding Why should I eat vegetables and legumes (beans

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference

Key facts Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference are measurements that you can use to see if you’re a healthy weight. Body mass index and waist circumference can be used to assess your risk of developing some health issues. In some populations, body mass index is less accurate. What is body mass index (BMI)? Body mass index (BMI) is calculated from your weight and height. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight by the square of your height as follows: BMI = Weight in kilos/Height in metres x Height in metres You can find your BMI using the healthdirect BMI

How alcohol affects your health

Why is alcohol a health issue? Many Australians drink some alcohol. Some people drink alcohol in amounts that are harmful to their health. This kind of drinking can cause death, disease, and injury. This is a major factor in ill health and social harm in Australia. One standard drink contains 10 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in (approximately): 285ml full-strength beer or cider 375ml mid-strength beer 425ml light-strength beer 100ml wine 1 nip (30ml) of spirits No level of alcohol consumption can be considered safe. To reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury for healthy adults: drink no