You’ve probably heard this from your friends, family members, and even your doctor – “Follow a well balanced diet”. They must have briefly walked you through the basic food groups that should be incorporated into what you eat; carbohydrates, protein, fats, dairy, and fruits and vegetables. It’s what you see on brochures, flyers, and health magazine covers every now and then. But, has the portrayal of carbohydrates and fats as your enemy has left you confused. For many, it’s a no-go zone – eliminating carbs and fats from their diet ensures weight loss at a faster rate. However, this weight loss comes with added complications and adverse effects in the long term. So, what is a well balanced diet and why should you be mindful of consuming everything on the food pyramid? Read ahead to find out!
So, what is a well balanced diet? Well, it’s the consumption of food that is in alignment with our nutritional needs. It is made up of five food groups that you should incorporate in your diet – carbohydrates, protein, fats, dairy, and fruits and vegetables. It provides you with the right amount of energy levels to keep you mentally and physically healthy. Deprivation of any one food group is often not preferred or advised. So, it’s best to stay clear of diets that seek to cut down on any one of these food groups.
Why a Well Balanced Diet is Important
All the components that go into the food pyramid are needed for the healthy functioning of your body. Why is this so? Well, your body is like a machine – it has different parts that are interlocked together and work in harmony.
And so, each part requires different nutrients to work efficiently. Failure to adhere to a well balanced diet can deprive you of certain building blocks that your body needs, thus creating havoc and chaos inside your body. You definitely don’t want this! So, make sure to provide each part of your body with the fuel that it requires. And to do this it’s important to follow a well balanced diet. 
The Benefits of a Well Balanced Diet
Here are some of the benefits of consuming a well balanced diet. One that contains carbohydrates, protein, fats, dairy, and fruits and vegetables.
1. Keeps You Full for a Longer Time Period
Eating everything in balance keeps you full for a while. This helps prevent hunger pangs that can lead to binge eating unhealthy foods. If you’re on a journey to lose some weight, then this is something you definitely don’t want. Surprisingly, you can lose weight by following a well balanced diet! It boosts your metabolism and makes your workouts even more effective.
2. Helps Ward Off Illness and Disease
You may already know of this, but eating portions from all food groups can help boost your immunity and ward off illness and diseases. Eating healthy has also been a preventive measure for certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart problems as well. Not only this but consuming a well balanced diet when ill can help you recover faster from an illness as well. 
3. Regulates Your Body’s Functions
By regulating energy levels in your body, a well balanced diet can overall improve your body’s functioning. For instance, vitamin D in egg yolks can improve nutrient absorption by allowing your body to make the most of any calcium that is consumed. In this way, your overall health gets an added boost and makes you feel more energetic and active throughout the day. So, be sure to not ditch those egg yolks while making our morning breakfast – unless you’re allergic to them of course.
4. Improves Gut & Mental Health
A well balanced diet aids in a healthy gut. And in turn, a healthy gut leads to your body producing serotonin – a hormone that improves your mood. It’s what makes you happy and improves cognitive functioning and development. And this is exactly what you need to improve your mental health. A well balanced diet can make to feel better about your body and give you a confidence boost as well. Try it out for a few days, you’ll see the difference yourself!
Tips On How To Consume A Well Balanced Diet
- Be mindful of what you eat. Be sure to consume carbohydrates, protein, fats, dairy, fruits, and vegetables in every meal.
- Replace all sugary foods and snacks with healthier options such as fruits
- Get in touch with a nutritionist that can help you chart out a healthy plan according to your Body Mass Index
- Avoid processed carbs such as white bread and pasta. Go for whole-wheat and more fibrous grains such as oats and quinoa
- Check labels while shopping for groceries. Avoid foods high in saturated fats i.e. butter and lard. Instead consume unsaturated fats such as avocados, olive oil, nuts, and seeds.
This well balanced meal consists of ground turkey taco meat, roasted corn, black beans, jasmine rice, and diced avocado. Topped with fresh squeezed lime juice.
The Bottom Line
Now that you know what a well balanced diet can do for you, you might want to get started on consuming healthy meals that contain a bit of each essential food component. Say no to those fad diets that deprive you of carbs or fats – they’re what your body needs to sustain itself! Craft a meal plan according to your favorite foods and remember, always eat in proportion. Anything in excess is harmful so be sure to follow how much you eat from each food group. Get in touch with a nutritionist as well, they’re sure to guide you better on how to make the most of what you eat! A healthier and happier you is just around the corner!
Share this article forward to a friend or family member who may be struggling with eating healthy foods. They will surely thank you for it!