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What is A Balanced Diet?

Average read time: 4 minutes

Learn more about the benefits of having a healthy balanced diet.

What is A Balanced Diet

Health practitioners understand the importance of a healthy diet for overall well-being. A balanced diet is essential for maintaining optimal health and preventing chronic diseases. Knowing this is one thing, but being able to help our clients achieve a healthy lifestyle through a balanced diet is quite another.

In this blog, we aim to inform you about everything you need to know about a balanced diet. Including the benefits of incorporating a healthy balanced diet into your daily routine and how to achieve it.

What is a Balanced Diet?

A balanced diet refers to a diet that consists of all the essential nutrients in the right amounts to maintain good health. A balanced diet is crucial for overall health and well-being and is essential for the prevention of chronic diseases. According to the World Health Organisation, a healthy diet should include the following:

  • Fruit, vegetables, legumes like lentils and beans, nuts, and whole grains. With at least five portions of fruit and vegetables distributed throughout your meals per day.
  • Less than 50g of free sugars per day including sugary foods, snacks, processed sugars, sugary drinks, and fruit juices.
  • Less than 30% of total energy intake from good fats like fish, good oils, as well as lean proteins
  • Less than 5g of salt per day

Benefits of a Healthy Balanced Diet

Many clients will logically understand why a healthy balanced diet is essential, but do they understand the benefits to their physical and mental health? Here are the three most important benefits of leading a more healthy, balanced life starting with a healthy diet:

Examples of Balanced Diets

Diets are a dime a dozen as you well know, some with more proven benefits than others. From a balanced diet and nutritious eating point of view, three diet types have proven to be the most balanced. Including

#1 – The Mediterranean Diet
This diet emphasizes eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats such as olive oil.

#2 – The DASH Diet
This lifestyle or diet plan focuses on eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy.

#3 – A Vegetarian Diet
A vegetarian diet excludes any kind of meat protein or foods derived from animal extract. Vegetarians will typically include a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes in their diet every day.

How to Achieve a Balanced Diet?

Are your clients asking you what is a balanced diet and why is it important for their health? Here’s how to answer them; a poor diet can be experienced as a diet where someone overeats non-nutritional foods in excess, and it can also be experienced when someone undereats or restricts food intake too.

Either of these lifestyles can lead to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. A balanced diet helps to maintain a healthy weight, boost energy levels, and lower the risk of chronic diseases.

Here are some tips on how to achieve a balanced diet every day by making small, meaningful changes to the way you eat.

  • Planning meals helps ensure you get all the essential nutrients you need.
  • Including a variety of foods in your diet ensures that you are getting all the essential nutrients your body needs.
  • Choosing healthier options such as whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy helps ensure you get all the essential nutrients your body needs.

We are committed to promoting healthy living and environmental sustainability. We understand the importance of a balanced diet for overall health and well-being, and we strive to provide reliable and trusted resources to health practitioners to help their patients achieve optimal health and well-being.

We believe that everyone should have access to accurate and up-to-date information on health, diet, and general well-being. By providing this information, we hope to empower individuals to make healthy choices and live healthier lives.

FAQs

  • What are the benefits of following a balanced diet?

    Following a balanced diet can help maintain a healthy weight, boost energy levels, and lower the risk of chronic diseases.

  • How many servings of fruits and vegetables should I be eating per day?

    wo servings of fruits and three servings of vegetables per day are recommended.

  • Can I still enjoy my favourite foods while following a balanced diet?

    Yes, you can still enjoy your favourite foods while following a balanced diet. Moderation is key.

  • Is it necessary to take supplements while following a balanced diet?

    It may be necessary to take supplements if you are not getting enough nutrients from your diet. Consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice.

  • How can I stay motivated to stick to a balanced diet?

    Try setting realistic goals, planning meals, and incorporating a variety of foods to stay motivated to stick to a balanced diet. Remember that small changes over time can significantly improve your health and well-being.

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