importance of balanced diet

Balanced Diet Definition

A balanced diet contains an adequate amount of all the nutrients required by the body to grow, remain healthy and be disease-free. In addition, a healthy, balanced diet provides the necessary energy requirement, protects against vitamin, mineral, and other nutritional deficiencies, and builds up immunity.

What are The Benefits of Eating a Balanced Diet?

A balanced meal helps provide the body with all the nutrients it needs to maintain normal growth and repair functions.

Benefits of Healthy Eating for Adults

A healthy diet helps boost immunity, reduces the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers, maintains a healthy weight, and helps recover quickly from diseases and trauma.

Benefits of Healthy Eating for Children

A healthy diet helps strengthen bones, supports brain development, boosts immunity, and regulates growth functions.

7 Essential Components of A Balanced Diet

Proteins, carbohydrates, fats or lipids, micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and water are the essential components of a well-balanced diet.

Water - You should take at least eight glasses of water as it hydrates your body and is used in body functions.

Foods to Avoid For a Healthy Balanced Diet

Avoid the below foods for a healthy life -

• Red meat
• Refined grains (cereals) like maida, white bread, sewain, noodles, pasta
• Trans fat, butter, cheese
• Added sugar
• Pastry
• Processed foods

Importance of A Balanced Diet

A balanced diet-

• Meet the nutritional demands of the body and prevent malnutrition
• Keep up energy levels and maintain normal body functions
• Boost the immune system and optimise cell repair
• Prevent lifestyle diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers
• Strengthen bones, muscles, skin, teeth, and eyes
• Help support healthy pregnancies

Planning a balanced diet also involves limiting the intake of sugars or salt in patients suffering from diabetes or hypertension.