The 7 Components of a Balanced Diet

A balanced diet is the best way to stay healthy

A balanced diet is about adding all of the essential factors necessary for growth, so that every part of the body gets what it needs to function properly. A balanced diet is also indicative of a proportioned diet. This means that you’re not only eating the right food items, you’re also eating them in the proper amounts. Adopting a balanced diet not only boosts your health, but also helps with weight loss.

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So what exactly is included in the components of a balanced diet?
Carbohydrates
An excellent source of energy, carbohydrates should comprise roughly 60% of a person’s diet or 310 grams. This is where most of your energy comes from if you’re engaged in activity throughout the day; eat lots of carb-rich food items such as rice, pasta, potatoes, and wheat.

Vitamins
There are so many essential vitamins today, but pay particular attention to the intake of the following: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B, and vitamin D. Taking multivitamins for these four is ideal although obtaining them from fruits and vegetables is even better.

Minerals
Minerals aid with the release of energy from food items, plus they interact with the organs to promote growth. For example, iron helps with energy, while calcium works towards bone and teeth development. Again, there are lots of minerals today, but the most important ones in your diet are: iodine, potassium, sodium, and those mentioned above.

Unsaturated fats
A lot of people avoid fat thinking that they cause weight gain, but this is far from the truth. Healthy fats, or those derived from good sources are dairy products, meat, and fish. Their main function is to help regulate body temperature, as well as the absorption of vitamins. They help with slow energy release, which is perfect for long-distance runners. Consume around 70 grams per day.

Protein
Protein comes mainly from meat, but dietary recommendations suggest that you get it mostly from lean meat sources. They primarily help with the development of skin, hair, and muscles. The maximum daily amount is set at 50 grams for a typical adult.

Fibre
Fibre helps fill you up and aids with proper digestion. It is primarily concerned with keeping your cholesterol levels in check. Fibre rich food items include oatmeal, bran and also vegetables. Get around 30 grams per day.

Water
Most lists of a balanced healthy diet consist only of 6 items, but this article gives a total of 7, adding water to the list. The fact is few people consider the importance of water in their diet. Fizzy drinks, coffee, tea, and juice drinks cannot provide the same goodness as water. It hydrates the body and facilitates the movement of all the other components above. Suggested intake is at least 8 glasses a day.

Those are the 7 components of balanced diet, dictating exactly what each meal should contain for optimal health. The good news is that there are meal recipes following the balanced healthy diet principle, which means that you don’t have to come up with your own creations.