A balanced diet is defined as providing a sufficient amount of all nutrients to the human body in order to grow, stay healthy and be protected against many diseases. In addition, a balanced diet covers the necessary energy needs, protects against deficiencies of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and strengthens the immune system.
In other words, a balanced diet is the one that satisfies all the nutritional needs of a person, protects the body and promotes overall health.
More and more research is proving that people need to eat a variety of foods in order to get a wide range of nutrients.
The Main Nutrients are divided into two major categories: Macronutrients and Micronutrients.
Macronutrients consist of Proteins, Carbohydrates and Fats. Micronutrients include Vitamins, Trace Elements, Plant Fibers, and of course Water.
The basic food categories, or the food groups are derived from the main nutrients, as follows:
- Dairy products
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Animal Protein – Meat
- Carbohydrates – Starch – Starchy Vegetables
- Fats and Oils
A balanced diet must include foods from all major food groups. The required daily caloric intake of each person, as well as the percentages of macronutrients and micronutrients, differ according to a person’s sex, age, height and lifestyle.
Dietary guidelines evolve with scientific progress and change over time as scientists discover new information about nutrition. The dietitian nutritionist is the one who can introduce people to the path of balanced nutrition, always reminding that individualization is the golden key to success.
Here are 12 reasons to adopt a balanced diet, always under the supervision of a professional, today!
- Less stress and more mental well-being
- Regulation and control of body weight
- Blood pressure regulation and control
- Better cardiovascular function and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
- Prevention and cure of childhood obesity
- Disease prevention and body protection
- Positive correlation with better hormonal control in women with
- Increased endurance during physical exercise and better performance
- Clear mind, enhanced memory
- Bone health
- Healthy hair and healthy skin
- Longevity
..because simply food is medicine!