Balanced diet nutrition – What is a balanced diet?

A diet that focuses on providing all the nutrients that your body needs. It comprises of macronutrients like protein,carbohydrates and fat along with micronutrients which include vitamins and minerals. Each of them has a different role to play in maintaining various body functions.

Balanced Nutrition – Nutrition and function

Why do we need to have balanced diet nutrition?

Balanced nutrition includes drinking plenty of clean water and regularly eating foods from each of six food groups:

• grains
• vegetables
• fruits
• milk products
• meat and beans and
• oils.

These foods contain six kinds of nutrients: proteins , carbohydrates , fats ,minerals , vitamins , and water . A person should regularly eat or drink enough of all of these nutrients to grow and remain healthy.

For infant nutrition, mother’s milk itself provides an ideal balance of nutrients, with the gradual introduction of solid foods after four to six months of age.

Balanced diet represented by different symbols

A balanced diet is often represented by different symbols

• A wheel, plate, or circle symbol suggests a balance of foods is desirable.
• The rainbow symbol emphasizes variety.
• A pyramid symbol recommends the number of servings from various food groups decreases from a solid foundation at the bottom (or the base) to the top.
  Different cultures may use different symbols of healthy food intake based on foods available to them.
  All symbols have in common a variety of food intake from different food groups

What foods should be eaten to provide a good balance of nutrients?

Grains – Vegetables – Fruits – Vegetable oils -Dairy Products-Iodized salt 

Vegetables – Vegetables -provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Certain vegetables such as potatoes also provide carbohydrates and some vegetable protein, which needs to be eaten with another protein food to be complete
Brightly colored vegetables and fruits for vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Grains – Grains provide mostly carbohydrates as starches and  also provide some protein that needs to be combined with legumes (beans), nuts,seeds, dairy, or meat to be complete. Half of the grain category should be from whole grains for fiber and vitamins.

Vegetable oils – can provide a balance of essential fatty acids. Olive oil,coconut oil is high in healthy monounsaturated fat and has a good ratio (although relatively low amounts) of essential fatty acids.

Dairy Products – provide complete proteins and major minerals, particularly calcium. They are commonly supplemented with vitamin D and vitamin A

 Complete protein can be provided by meat, chicken, eggs, fish, and soybeans (e.g., tofu).

Iodized salt should be used in all food preparation, even if it costs more, to avoid goiters which occur in many parts of the world.

A simple summary of food groups and good nutrition includes:

• Grains for carbohydrates and fiber.
• Brightly colored vegetables and fruits for vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
• Dairy for calcium and protein.
• Meats, legumes (beans), and nuts for proteins.
• Fats (oils) scattered among the foods for essential fatty acids.

Read more health artciles

• Salt (Uppu) – An Amazing substance uses that go far beyond mere seasoning
• Eggs – Role of eggs in your diet
• Walnuts Akhrot – Unique Nut with whole body benefit
• Vegetables-Fruits-Spices-Nuts-Oil – Power of plants

Buy online balanced diet nuts,seeds,ayurvedic products,homemade health mixes