Category: Australian health

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, nearly all Australian adolescents (96%) do not meet the recommended daily intake of vegetables. Navigating what are the Australian dietary guidelines for teenagers is crucial for addressing these nutritional gaps and promoting healthy growth and development.

In 2015, the documentary *That Sugar Film* caused a sensation by suggesting the average Australian consumed 40 teaspoons of sugar per day. However, this figure is often misunderstood, as it refers to a specific demographic's total sugar intake, not the national average of added sugar. This article clarifies how many teaspoons do Australians eat a day, separating the film's narrative from the broader facts.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average daily energy intake for adults is often significantly under-reported in surveys, suggesting many of us don’t have a true picture of our consumption. For this reason, determining what should your calorie intake be in Australia is a personalised process, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Australians spend an estimated $3.1 billion a year on dietary and vitamin supplements, yet high-quality evidence suggests that multivitamins offer little benefit for those without a diagnosed deficiency. This raises a critical question for many: are multivitamins truly a worthwhile investment?

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians derived a significant portion of their energy, over 31% in 2023, from discretionary foods high in fats and sugars. Understanding where the rest of that energy comes from requires looking beyond those habits to see what do Australians use for calories—or more accurately, kilojoules—in their daily diet.

According to the Australian Health Survey conducted in 2011–12, the average energy intake was 9,655 kilojoules (approx. 2,308 calories) for Australian men and 7,402 kilojoules (approx. 1,769 calories) for women. While this data provides a useful benchmark, it's essential to understand that actual calorie needs fluctuate significantly.

In Australia, kilojoules (kJ) have been the official metric unit for measuring food energy since 1988, replacing the older Imperial system's calories. This transition, however, still causes confusion, as many people and international products continue to reference calories.

The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), provides Australians with evidence-based advice for a balanced diet. It clearly defines what are the 5 food groups in the Australian Guide to healthy eating, promoting variety and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.