A healthy and balanced diet is important for normal growth and development. Your diet needs to supply the nutrients your body needs for maintenance, growth, immunity and repair. It supplies energy that drives these systems without overburdening your body, and requires eating a wide variety of foods from each food group. Avoid relying on dietary supplements and other artificial nutrient sources, because your body probably uses nutrients in food more effectively.
Musculoskeletal System
Musculoskeletal tissues include your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles. A healthy and balanced diet ensures that you provide the vitamins and minerals essential for maintaining these tissues. Your bones are responsible for producing blood, which requires vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from a healthy and balanced diet. Calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and C, antioxidants and essential fatty acids are the most important nutrients your musculoskeletal system needs.
Brain and Nervous System
Your brain and nervous system function best when you practice a healthy and balanced diet that includes nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can protect your from mental disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia and dementia. Live Science reports that omega-3 fatty acids support synaptic plasticity, according to a study by UCLA's Brain Research Institute. Mental processes, such as learning and memory, depend on synaptic plasticity. Low levels of omega-3 acids are associated with learning problems, such as attention-deficit disorder and dyslexia. Unbalanced diets that include a lot of unhealthy snacks or "junk" food may impair your learning and memory function.
Immune System
Your immune system requires a steady intake of a variety of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. A healthy and balanced diet helps your body fight off infections by keeping your immune system strong and efficient. Your immune system also depends on energy from calories. Undernourishment and nutrient deficiencies increase your risk of getting sick because they depriving your immune system. Excessive intake of nutrients also increases your risk of disease-triggering defense mechanisms that stress your immune system. High-fat diets also weaken your immune system. For many people, reducing the amount of dietary fat can strengthen immune cells, particularly those that fight tumor cells.
Non-Infectious Diseases
A healthy diet reduces your risk of developing non-infectious diseases. For example, it ensures that you do not become overweight or obese. Diets with too much fat or cholesterol can lead to high blood pressure and high cholesterol and can increase your risk of heart disease and coronary artery disease. Eating too much sugary food like sodas and sweet snacks can reduce your insulin sensitivity and lead to diabetes. Metabolic problems, such as constipation, indigestion and intestine damage may result from a diet that is too acidic or lacks fiber.
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