| There is an increasing awareness about maintaining | | | | diet we can give all the essentials nutrients even with |
| health and wellness, and the best way to stay healthy | | | | the small amount of foods. |
| is to eat healthy. There are three main factors, which | | | | To derive all the essential nutrients from the foods, we |
| helps us in developing a complete healthy body: good | | | | shall always need to choose a variety of healthy |
| diet, regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle. | | | | foods. All the five essential nutrients can be derived, if |
| Let us begin with diets and have a look on some | | | | a diet includes foods from the following groups: |
| healthy food groups, which we should consume. It is | | | | · Green leafy vegetables |
| also essential to see the calorie-content of various | | | | · Fresh or seasonal fruits |
| foods as elevated calories in food results in health | | | | · Cereals and pulses |
| problems such as obesity and diabetes. Health experts | | | | · Fish and meat products |
| believe that a healthy diet can lower the risks of | | | | · Dairy products such as curd, cheese etc. |
| number of life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, | | | | Today, obesity and overweight are one of the major |
| heart attack and osteoporosis. Hence, developing, | | | | factors for life-threatening diseases such as |
| managing and maintaining a good diet has become an | | | | atherosclerosis, heart attack and diabetes. Obesity and |
| essential part of our health routine. | | | | overweight problems are essentially caused due to not |
| And for doing this we should know the basic | | | | eating correctly and consuming lot of calories. Calories |
| difference between a well-balanced diet and a | | | | are needed everyday by our body for proper |
| nutritious diet. Although, most of us believe that a | | | | metabolic functioning. However, over-consumption of |
| well-balanced diet and a nutritious diet are one and the | | | | calories can lead to various health problems. Daily |
| same, in reality they are not!!! A nutritious diet would | | | | calorie needs of an individual depend on various |
| comprise of foods, which contain all the essential | | | | factors such as age, physical fitness, height and weight |
| nutrients such as protein, vitamin, fats, carbohydrates | | | | and body composition. Hence, you also need to be |
| and minerals. A well-balanced diet implies a diet that | | | | conscious about the foods, which are calorie rich. Take |
| not only contains foods with all the essential nutrients, | | | | a look at following figures: |
| but also, in correct proportions and adequate amount. | | | | · 28 grams of butter = 200 calories |
| Even if you take all the essential nutrients through your | | | | · 37 grams of potato chips = 200 calories |
| daily foods, but if they are not in correct proportions or | | | | · 75 grams of burger = 200 calories |
| adequate amounts, you may still have to face the | | | | · 66 grams of hot dogs = 200 calories |
| health problems. Therefore, instead of opting for just a | | | | · 385 grams of apples = 200 calories |
| nutritious diet, every health-conscious person should opt | | | | · 357 grams of green peas = 200 calories |
| for a well-balanced diet. | | | | · 588 grams of broccoli = 200 calories |
| The ingredients of a well-balanced diet differ according | | | | · 1425 grams of celery = 200 calories |
| to the sex, age and physical fitness of an individual. An | | | | Knowing this you would surely choose to buy a few |
| older adult may be unable to eat certain foods required | | | | kilograms of apples that provide you other nutrients |
| to fulfill his/her nutritious requirements. However, a | | | | also rather than to eat burgers or hot dogs to avoid |
| well-balanced diet can help an older adult to get the | | | | unnecessary calorie intake. Ideally, women require 1940 |
| essential nutrients even through a sparse diet. For | | | | calories and men require 2550 calories intake in a daily |
| example, 100 grams of wheat and 100 grams of rice | | | | basis. You may also plan a well-balanced and optimum |
| contain nearly 12 grams and 6.4 grams of protein, | | | | calorie-intake diet by discussing it with your dietician. |
| respectively. Similarly, 100 grams of ragi and 100 grams | | | | Remember, you can avoid a lot of future treatments |
| of rice contain 344 mg and 9 mg of calcium, | | | | and medications by maintaining a well-balanced diet |
| respectively. Therefore, by planning a well-balanced | | | | and optimizing your health care. |