Your diet is what you choose to eat during the course of the day. When it is out of balance, many of your body's functions can be affected. You can become weak, you can experience reduced brain function and your nervous system can be compromised. A balanced diet on the other hand, can help improve your functions rather than inhibit them.
Significance
Diets that eliminate or severely restrict a food group not only can be hard to follow, but they also can be unhealthy. For example, people hoping to lose weight often turn to a high-protein diet that is low in carbohydrates or void of them altogether. This might be a quick fix, but it is difficult to stick with for the long haul, and it also can cause you to fall off the wagon if you are avoiding your favorite foods. A balanced diet is easier to stick with, and it can be followed for a lifetime.
Foods to Avoid
Foods that are high in saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and simple sugars are kept to a minimum in a balanced diet. Fast food, deep-fried foods, high-fat dairy products, commercially baked goods and alcoholic beverages are examples of these.
Macronutrients
Proteins, carbohydrates and fats are macronutrients that the body needs for proper functioning. These foods contain all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients necessary for survival. According to the Mayo Clinic, a balanced diet should consist of 10 to 35 percent protein, 45 to 65 percent carbs and 20 to 35 percent fat.
Food Groups
A balanced diet consists of foods that come from the major food groups: grains, meat and beans, fruits, vegetables, milk and oils. Oatmeal, barley, brown rice and oat bran are examples of grains. Products that are made from grains, such as pasta, bread and crackers also fall into this category. Fish falls into the meat and beans group, as do meat alternatives such as tofu and tempeh. Nuts and seeds fall into the protein group, although they are also high in fat; however, the fats in nuts are the healthy, unsaturated kind.
Features
Eating a balanced diet also means following proper eating guidelines. For example, breakfast is considered one of the most important meals of the day. If you were to get up in the morning and walk out the door without eating something, your physical and mental energy likely will be compromised, and you also run the risk of overeating later in the day due to hunger. A balanced diet has you starting your day with breakfast and eating at least three meals a day every day of the week.
Considerations
Even though following a balanced diet means eating healthy, it doesn't mean you should eat huge amounts of food. Excess calories, no matter how healthy they are, still can lead to weight gain.
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