Perspective: Seeing the Forest Through the Trees: The Importance of Food Matrix in Diet Quality and Human Health

Poor nutrition is linked to morbidity and mortality globally. The nutrition transition toward diets composed of high amounts of ultra -processed foods that are more refined, calorie-dense, and poor in nutrients is considered a factor in the rise of diet-related metabolic diseases in low-and middle-income countries. Historically, nutrition strategies aimed at mitigating metabolic diseases linked to suboptimal diets have targeted isolated nutrients such as fats; however, they overlook the complexity and importance of whole foods and food matrices, which can lead to unintended consequences such as avoidance of nutrient-dense foods. Dairy foods, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, are underconsumed nutrient-dense foods that often fall in the cross-hairs of reductionist nutrition strategies because of their contribution of calories, saturated fat, and sodium to the diet. This article highlights dairy foods as an example for exploring the complex matrices of food, nutrients, and other bioactive components that are associated with improved nutrient status and reduced risk of metabolic diseases while considering a holistic approach to improving diet quality and human health.

Automated summary

Poor nutrition is a global issue that contributes to morbidity and mortality. The transition towards diets consisting of highly processed foods, which are calorie-dense and lacking in nutrients, is a factor in the increasing prevalence of diet-related metabolic diseases in low and middle-income countries. Traditional nutrition strategies that focus on isolated nutrients often overlook the importance of whole foods and food matrices, resulting in unintended consequences such as avoidance of nutrient-dense foods. This article emphasizes the significance of dairy foods as a complex source of nutrients and bioactive components that can improve nutrient status and reduce the risk of metabolic diseases when considering a holistic approach to improving diet quality and human health.