Why balanced diet is important to our body

By Gurama A. Gurama (PhD)

Nutrition is vital for our body and all of its systems to function properly.

Good nutrition will help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce body fat, provide your body with energy, promote good sleep and generally make us feel better.

There are seven essential factors for a balanced diet, which are: carbohydrates, protein, fat, fibre, vitamins, minerals and water.

Eating well does not have to be complicated either, nevertheless If you follow the advice of the professionals and eat a balanced diet, you are well on the way to a better life. It is never too late nor too early to make healthy changes to your diet to help prevent disease, manage your weight, and feel better.

Here’s why a balanced diet is good for our health.

What is a Balanced Diet?
When we talk about a balanced diet, it means choosing a variety of foods from the different food groups, specifically vegetables and fruits;(Mango, carrots, cucumber, orange, lettuce, cabbage and others.) Protein (meat, fish, eggs, beans, soya beans etc); dairy (low-fat milk, cheese, yogurt); carbohydrates (starchy foods like rice, pasta, potatoes and bread, preferably wholegrain or wholewheat varieties); and a small quantity of healthy fats such as the unsaturated fat from olive oil and what have you.

Avoid sugary drinks and foods, with added saturated fat like processed meats, chips, pastries, and pies.

Drink plenty water to keep you hydrated and to help your body system function better.

What are the Benefits of a Balanced Diet?

1. Prevents diseases and infections. When you eat the full range of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, you improve your immune system and your healthy diet may even help prevent diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and many others.

2. Helps you control your weight. Most people at some point want to lose weight or gain weight, thus eating a balanced diet helps you control your weight and maintain it over time. It is not feasible to be on a weights loss diet forever.
A balanced diet is the only way to healthily control your weight in the long term.

3. Improves your mental health. Getting the right mix of nutrients can help to ease symptoms of depression and anxiety, looking after yourself by eating well is essential as you take steps to good mental health.

4. Good for growth. A balanced diet is crucial for children mostly and often adolescents. As the body grows, it is important to receive the right nutrients so that cells are built and maintained and the body grows at the right pace.

5. A healthy balanced diet also improves your looks. Eating well contributes to healthy skin and hair and a “glow” that makes you look younger.

6. By getting the adequate nutrients to your immune system, you improve your body’s ability to fight illness, therefore, one of the defenses against viral infections “including the Nobel Corona Virus”, is to eat the recommended fruits and vegetables as prescribed by experts, to help support a healthy immune system. In a nutshell, once a balanced diet is taken, every other body system functions very well including the improvement of sexual capabilities.

7. Having a balanced diet with little exercise eases the pains of giving birth, Scientists explained.

Gurama, Bachelor of science, Master of food and a Fellow of Doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, writes from Faculty of Pharmacy, Gombe State University.