| A healthy diet is beneficial for | | | | your overall health. |
| everybody. It is important to take good | | | | Not having the time to plan meals or not |
| care of your body and if you eat well, | | | | being able to cook is no excuse for poor |
| you will certainly feel the difference. | | | | nutrition. You can make a batch of food |
| A nutritionally balanced diet can be | | | | and freeze or refrigerate it or you can |
| enjoyable and interesting. | | | | have food or ingredients delivered to |
| What is Nutrition? | | | | your door. It can be fun to experiment |
| Nutrition is all about eating the right | | | | with cooking and you will get better |
| foods to nourish the body and keep it | | | | results if you use fresh ingredients. |
| functioning and developing well. | | | | You will also know exactly what goes |
| Nutrients are the substances found in | | | | into your food as a lot of pre-prepared |
| these foods which your body uses and can | | | | meals contain high levels of fats, salt |
| be broken down into macronutrients and | | | | or sugar. |
| micronutrients. Macronutrients include | | | | Because a good diet ought to be |
| fats, proteins, water, carbohydrates and | | | | balanced, you can still have treats |
| some minerals. Micronutrients are | | | | sometimes. You should not deprive |
| vitamins and some minerals. Your body | | | | yourself completely of your favorite |
| requires more macronutrients but both | | | | foods, so the occasional slice of apple |
| are important. | | | | pie or bowl of ice cream is fine. You |
| For optimum health and performance, the | | | | can choose your foods and make |
| body needs proteins, carbohydrates, | | | | substitutions when appropriate. You |
| fats, vitamins, minerals and water. It | | | | could perhaps try baking or grilling |
| is also important to eat regular meals | | | | your food rather than frying it. Eating |
| to provide ongoing fuel and energy. | | | | less saturated fat will keep your blood |
| What Foods Should You Eat? | | | | cholesterol down. |
| The most important thing in a healthy | | | | It might be a good idea to take vitamin |
| diet is balance. A good selection of | | | | and mineral supplements to ensure you |
| fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins | | | | are getting everything your body needs. |
| and grains is good for you. Some | | | | The simplest way to do this is to get |
| examples of nutritionally rich foods | | | | combined supplements and take one a day. |
| include meat, fish, nuts, beans, fresh | | | | Supplements are to be used in addition |
| fruit and leafy vegetables. Wholegrain | | | | to a nutritionally balanced diet, not |
| foods contain more nutrients than their | | | | instead of it. |
| processed counterparts. Wholemeal bread, | | | | Exercise is as important as nutrition to |
| for instance, is tastier than white | | | | keep the body healthy. If you are eating |
| bread and is also healthier. | | | | healthily, you will find you have plenty |
| What Happens if Your Diet is | | | | of energy for physical exercise, in |
| Nutritionally Poor? | | | | whatever form you choose. |
| Eating a healthy, balanced diet reduces | | | | Your body gets used to a new way of |
| the risk of diseases such as diabetes, | | | | eating within a few weeks so you will |
| heart disease, high blood pressure and | | | | find you don't miss eating junk foods if |
| cancer. A bad diet can also cause | | | | you used to eat a lot. A nutritionally |
| lethargy, obesity or spots. A | | | | balanced diet is essential to maintain |
| nutritionally balanced diet can help you | | | | overall health and keep you looking and |
| maintain a normal weight, which helps | | | | feeling your best. |