Nowadays, when we say “eat healthy”, we refer to eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions. A balanced diet can have many benefits on health and vitality. Consuming nutritious foods can help you maintain a steady energy level throughout the day. Eating a balanced diet reduces the risks of chronic diseases, long term health problems including type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, obesity, and heart disease. Your digestive system also profits from stable nutrition. Fiber-rich foods are especially beneficial for your digestive system. One of the most important advantages is the nutrient intake. A healthy diet ensures that your body receives necessary nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals to function optimally. In general, healthy diets contribute to an integral state of well-being, mentally and physically.
Many people around the world still have problems with their diets. There are many reasons for malnutrition. Usually, the diet of a person depends on their age, gender, education, where they live and their wealth. Other forms of instability inside a country can have a significant impact on a person’s diet. In developing countries, being underweight is a large issue, whereas in First World countries many people are overweight, and obesity prevails up to five times higher than in developing countries. The most vulnerable groups are the ones most affected by malnutrition.
There are many ways to have healthier nutrition. Nutritionists around the world have established a food pyramid that tells you which products you should consume daily, which ones weekly and which ones you should renounce. On the base of this pyramid are cereal products, such as wheat and corn. Several times a day, you should take in cereal products in small amounts. The second step of the pyramid consists of fruits, legumes, and vegetables. To stay healthy, you should eat at least two a day. At the top, you can see fats, oils, sugars, and salts. Those are only to be taken in occasionally. In-between, there are dairy products, meat, fish, and alternatives.
By adopting these healthy eating patterns, and regularly doing physical exercise, you can lead a healthy and long life.