Every article or website I read tells me something different about what to eat. Isn't there a simple guide to follow?

There are two possible answers to this question; yes and no! It really depends on how well you are in the first place.

Assuming you are well, there is some very simple advice you can follow - eat as wide a variety of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and protein sources as possible. This means plenty of brightly coloured veg & fruit. Wholegrains ranging from brown rice to millet to quinoa and beyond should be the main source of carbohydrates in your diet. Protein should come from a wide range of sources too - oily fish, lean meat (maybe once or twice a week) beans, pulses, nuts & seeds. These protein sources contain more than just protein, many also provide essential fats, minerals & vitamins.

In one sentence - eat a wide range of food that has been 'messed with' as little as possible. How do you know if it has been messed with? Look at the ingredients list. You don't have to read every ingredient, but if it includes things you don't recognize or is longer than any recipe you've ever seen, chances are you should give it a miss. A good rule of thumb is to avoid buying food that has lots of weird added ingredients that are usually there to bulk them out, extend shelf life or add flavour (that may have been removed by unnecessary processing in the first place!)

If you are unwell, then this advice will differ depending entirely on the area of dis-ease. Certain adjustments are necessary to deal with illness or dysfunction and may need to be maintained long term or perhaps just for a short period while healing takes place.

For example, someone suffering from an inflammatory condition, such as rosacea or dermatitis may think they are eating really healthily by having lots & lots of nuts & seeds - in their breakfast cereal, as a mid morning snack, in salads, as a dip.... Certainly there is nothing unhealthy about nuts or seeds, but the essential fats in some of them happen to promote inflammation. Normally a natural response and certainly needed in certain situations, too much of these inflammation 'promoting' fats can cause this person untold grief.

The best advice I can offer here is for anyone suffering from any kind of disease, disorder or dysfunction to talk to a health professionl - be that a nutritional therapist, dietitician or naturopath. Try to get a personal recommendation, or talk to them before you make an appointment to make sure they are qualified to help you.

Check www.ntoi.ie for details of a nutritional therapist near you.