Why Do I Need A Balanced Diet?

Everybody needs good nutrition to reach a good-health potential. Your physical fitness may be in jeopardy if your diet doesn't provide enough vitamins and minerals or delivers more calories than you can use up through regular exercise. Consider how well your diet satisfies the demands you place on your body. Question your eating habits to determine if you need a more balanced diet to improve your short-term and long-term health.

Do You Eat the Same Foods Often?

Eating from a limit roster of foods can cause a vitamin or mineral deficiency, create digestive problems or contribute to weight gain. You need a more balanced diet if you don't put together meals from each of the grain, fruit, vegetable, dairy and protein food groups. Limit sweets and meats if you don't routinely eat a lot of vegetables, fruits and whole grains such as brown rice and whole-wheat breads. This will create more room in your diet for variety among these sources that provide a wide range of beneficial vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

Are Your Meal Times Irregular?

It may seem satisfying to trim calories by skipping breakfast or to eat a big meal at midnight, but these eating habits don't contribute to better health. You need a balanced diet that offers consistent nutritional intake if you ever feel light-headed or lose your concentration due to lengthy intervals between meals. Less frequent dining may be in order if you tend to snack compulsively, lose your appetite and then overeat late at night. Supply your cells and body systems with the nutrients and energy they need by eating three daily meals on a regular basis.

Do You Have Health Symptoms?

When you lack a nutrient in your diet or your needs change with age, you may develop health symptoms that include a loss of energy, weight and even height. The American Association for Clinical Chemistry relates that these symptoms of anemia, protein deficiency and osteoporosis indicate a nutritional imbalance. You may need to refocus on a balanced diet if pregnancy, surgery or a malabsorption condition alters your body's requirements for iron, vitamin B, calcium, protein or other nutrients.

Have You Gained Weight?

Unless you have an underlying medical condition, gaining weight shows that you're not balancing your energy intake from foods with your output from exercise. You need a balanced diet that limits calories but still provides adequate protein, vitamins, minerals and other essential elements to reduce your risk for chronic disease. Eating the suggested portions listed on food labels and choosing foods with less fat and sugar can help you stay within calorie limits and maintain a healthy weight.