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