WHO Issues Guidelines on Healthy Eating

The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the importance of a healthy diet by issuing a series of detailed guidelines. Focusing particularly on infant nutrition, the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, with continued breastfeeding until at least two years of age. The introduction of a variety of safe and nutritious solid foods is recommended to complement breastfeeding starting at six months.

The guidelines explicitly state that salt and sugars should not be added to foods for infants and young children. According to WHO, breast milk alone provides all the necessary nutrients and fluids for a baby's healthy growth and development during the initial months, enhancing resistance to common childhood illnesses. Long-term, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of developing overweight, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease later in life.

More broadly, a varied diet comprising whole, fresh foods is essential for both children and adults to obtain the right amounts of nutrients. WHO recommends a combination of staple foods, legumes, vegetables, fruit, and animal-sourced foods. A diet rich in vegetables and fruit significantly lowers the risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

A healthy diet also involves moderate amounts of fats and oils, favoring unsaturated vegetable oils (such as olive or sunflower oil) over animal fats. Processed meats and foods containing trans fats should be avoided. Limiting salt and sugar intake is crucial for managing blood pressure and maintaining dental health. WHO advises restricting salty and sugary snacks, as well as sugar-sweetened beverages.