Junk food is described as food and drinks low in nutrients (vitamins, minerals, etc.) and high in saturated fats, added sugar, or salts. So it should come as no surprise that for the health-conscious, avoiding junk food and maintaining a balanced diet is the easy answer.
We look into what makes a balanced diet "balanced," and why it is good for us.
A balanced diet is a diet that contains differing kinds of foods in specific quantities and proportions so that the requirement for calories, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and alternative nutrients is adequate, and a small provision is reserved for additional nutrients to endure the short length of leanness. A balanced diet should offer around 60-70% of total calories from carbohydrates, 10-12% from proteins, and 20-25% of total calories from fat.
There are various benefits to a balanced diet:
• Eating healthy energizes the body, improves bodily functions, fortifies one's immune system, and prevents weight gain.
• It helps reach one's nutritional needs, depending on one's lifestyle. For someone who likes working out and staying fit, it may mean having a higher protein intake and cutting back on calories.
• It can also help reduce the risk of developing certain diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases.
• A healthy diet will help you feel higher, provide you with more energy, and help you fight stress.
To being eating healthier, here are a few basic guidelines:
• One should never skip meals, especially breakfast, as it is the most important meal of the day. Skipping meals lowers the metabolism and causes feelings of restlessness and tiredness.
• One's meal preparation doesn't need to be overly complicated - eat more raw foods such as salads, fruits, and vegetable juice. Raw foods are filling and help with improving fiber intake.
• Drink lots of water.
• Eat a variety of foods, keeping in mind the food pyramid. One may mix and match based on their dietary needs.
• Limit stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and refined sugar.
• Only eat things you like the taste of – find what works for you and don't force yourself to eat things just because they're good for you.
One must learn to be more conscious of the food they consume - after all, we are what we eat!
