Mantener una adecuada alimentación en todas las etapas de la vida, previene no solo la desnutrición, sino también enfermedades no transmisibles, como lo son la diabetes, las cardiopatías, los accidentes cerebrovasculares y el cáncer.  

En la actualidad el incremento de productos ultra procesados y el cambio en el estilo de vida, ha dado lugar a un cambio en los hábitos alimenticios, llevando a las personas a consumir alimentos hipercalóricos, grasas, azúcares refinados y sal, a la par de tener una disminución de la ingesta de frutas, verduras y cereales integrales; y con ello incrementando la incidencia y complicaciones de enfermedades crónico-degenerativas.

Hoy en día existen un sin fin de dietas, que en su mayoría únicamente promueven la disminución de peso, y olvidan hacer énfasis en las características que requiere para considerarse una alimentación saludable:

Personalizada: Se adapta a las características individuales de cada persona (edad, sexo, estilo de vida y grado de actividad física), al contexto cultural, a los alimentos disponibles localmente y a los hábitos alimentarios.

Suficiente: Cantidades que garanticen las necesidades energéticas y de nutrientes 

Diversa: Que incluya diferentes tipos de alimentos, colores, texturas. 

Inocua: Que el consumo no implique riesgos a la salud.

Guías alimentarias saludables y sostenibles para la población mexicana 2024: Contienen recomendaciones que involucran productos, y contribuyen a cambiar el sistema alimentario a mejorar las prácticas relacionadas con dieta, salud, nutrición y sostenibilidad.

Dieta de la milpa: Es un modelo de alimentación basado en la cultura y características regionales de la alimentación mexicana, y tiene como centro a los productos de la milpa (maíz, frijol, chile y calabaza).

Dieta basada en plantas sin procesar: Es un tipo de dieta que promueve la medicina de estilo de vida. Incluye un patrón de alimentación que enfatiza el consumo de una variedad de verduras, frutas, cereales integrales, frijoles y legumbres, así como nueces y semillas.

Como Hipócrates, dijo: “Que la comida sea tu medicina y la medicina tu alimento”, dentro de nuestra práctica clínica, los profesionales de la salud debemos hacer hincapié en indicar una alimentación libre de productos ultra procesados, azúcares, harinas refinada y con alto contenido de sodio, pero también debemos aplicarla en el estilo de vida propio.

Maintaining a proper diet throughout all stages of life prevents not only malnutrition but also non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and cancer. 

Nowadays, the increase in ultra-processed products and lifestyle changes have led to a shift in eating habits, causing people to consume high-calorie foods, fats, refined sugars, and salt, while reducing their intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; consequently increasing the incidence and complications of chronic degenerative diseases. 

Today, there are countless diets that mostly focus only on weight loss, neglecting the essential characteristics that define a truly healthy diet: 

Personalized: It adapts to each individual’s characteristics (age, sex, lifestyle, and level of physical activity), cultural context, locally available foods, and eating habits. 

Sufficient: Provides adequate amounts to meet energy and nutrient requirements. 

Diverse: Includes different types of foods, colors, and textures. 

Safe: Ensures that consumption does not pose any health risks. 

Healthy and Sustainable Dietary Guidelines for the Mexican Population 2024: These contain recommendations involving various products and aim to transform the food system to improve practices related to diet, health, nutrition, and sustainability. 

Milpa Diet: It is a dietary model based on the cultural and regional characteristics of Mexican cuisine, centered around traditional “milpa” products such as corn, beans, chili, and squash. 

Whole-Food Plant-Based Diet: This type of diet promotes lifestyle medicine. It emphasizes the consumption of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. 

As Hippocrates once said: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Within our clinical practice, health professionals should emphasize recommending diets free from ultra-processed foods, sugars, refined flours, and high sodium content — but we must also apply these principles in our own lifestyles. 

Maintaining an adequate diet at all stages of life prevents not only malnutrition but also non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. 

Currently, the increase in ultra-processed products and lifestyle changes have led to a shift in eating habits, leading people to consume high-calorie foods, fats, refined sugars, and salt, along with a decrease in the intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This has led to an increase in the incidence and complications of chronic degenerative diseases.

Today, there are countless diets, most of which only promote weight loss and neglect to emphasize the characteristics required to consider a healthy diet:

Personalized: Adapts to each person's individual characteristics (age, sex, lifestyle, and level of physical activity), cultural context, locally available foods, and eating habits.

Sufficient: Amounts that guarantee energy and nutrient needs.

Diverse: Includes different types of foods, colors, and textures.

Safe: Consumption does not pose health risks.

Healthy and Sustainable Dietary Guidelines for the Mexican Population 2024: Contains recommendations that involve products and contribute to changing the food system and improving practices related to diet, health, nutrition, and sustainability.

Milpa Diet: This is a dietary model based on the culture and regional characteristics of the Mexican diet, and focuses on milpa products (corn, beans, chili, and squash).

Whole Food Plant-Based Diet: This is a type of diet that promotes lifestyle medicine. It includes an eating pattern that emphasizes the consumption of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, and legumes, as well as nuts and seeds.

As Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Within our clinical practice, healthcare professionals should emphasize a diet free of ultra-processed products, sugars, refined flours, and those high in sodium, but we should also apply this to our own lifestyles.