The Benefits of Eating a Balanced Diet
The Benefits of Eating a Balanced Diet
Food is any material eaten to provide nutrition to an organisms. Food is generally of animal, plant or floral origin, and has necessary nutrients, including protein, vitamins, carbohydrates, sugars, or minerals. In a nutritionally balanced diet, foods that are required for the growth and maintenance of a healthy body are provided by a well-balanced combination of food types. The human body requires the following food groups, which are carbohydrates, protein, fat, vegetables, fruits, grains, and dairy products.
All foods contain nutrients that are needed by the body for proper health, but it is the quality of the nutrients in foods that determines their importance for human diet. Poor dietary fibre contributes to many diseases, including colon cancer. Good dietary fibre helps to move the nutrients through the body more efficiently, so that they can be used by all the organs. Good dietary fibre also prevents absorption of bad cholesterol from fatty foods, and improves the functioning of the digestive system. It is therefore important to include foods that are high in dietary fibre in a healthy diet.
Animal origin foods contain the following nutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrates, and vitamins. These nutrients can be combined in a variety of ways, depending on your preferences, to create meals that are low in fat, but high in protein and vitamins. The 3 food groups that animal origin foods are grouped into are: animal source food (as opposed to vegetal food); carbohydrates; and vitamins.
New food products from plant sources have been developed by food scientists that contribute to good health, by providing necessary nutrients. Some examples of food products derived from plants include: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains. These new food products have been developed with the improvement of our knowledge of how to improve health and reduce dietary cholesterol levels.
Food scientists may choose to combine one or more of the food groups described above. A number of food products can be included in a balanced diet, depending on your tastes and the availability of local resources. One of the common food products from plant sources is whole wheat bread. Other examples of plant based food products include: beans, peas, carrots, spinach, asparagus, halibut, mushrooms, lettuce, squash, spinach, beans, honey, oranges, apples, pears, bananas, lemons, limes, oranges, dates, grapes, honey, potatoes, rice, etc. Nuts and seeds are another option for adding protein and fibre to your diet.
We all need to make some adjustments to our diet. By choosing healthier options, you will not only help your general health, but you will start to see positive changes in your cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels. However, while you are making these changes, please remember that eating healthy does not mean you have to give up all your sugary foods, either. If you add a small amount of these sugary foods to your diet, they will be easily absorbed by your body without affecting your nutritional needs.