Welcome to The Nutrition Source, a Web site maintained by the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Aside from not smoking, the most important determinants of good health are what we eat and how active we are. The Nutrition Source is designed to get you started down the path toward the healthiest diet possible.

In the What Should You Eat section, you'll find eight key tips for eating right, plus our bottom line recommendations on carbohydrates, protein, fats, fiber, vegetables and fruits, calcium and milk, alcohol, and vitamins. You can also learn more about a food pyramid that's actually based on the latest science: the Healthy Eating Pyramid, created by the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health. 

A lot of confusing information about nutrition gets batted about in the media and on the Web. The Nutrition Source will cut through all that confusion, providing clear tips for healthy eating and dispelling a few nutrition myths along the way.

Pick the Best Sources of Protein

Some high-protein foods, like fish, nuts and beans, come packed with other healthful nutrients. Others, such as red meat, should be only an occasional part of your diet. Read our five quick tips for picking the best sources of protein. 

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?

If you live north of the line connecting San Francisco to Philadelphia—or if you don't get outside for at least a 15-minute daily walk in the sun—odds are you don't get enough vitamin D. Read more about how to get enough vitamin D.   

The Essentials of Omega 3s

Learn everything you need to know about omega 3 fats: what omega 3 fats are, how omega 3 fats help protect against disease, and what foods are good sources of omega 3 fats.