subject: Balanced diet and regular exercise [print this page] What is a balanced diet? What is a balanced diet?
You will be able to achieve a balanced diet through a regimented intake of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, mineral salts, and fibre. For a healthy body weight, you have to take correct proportions and increase regular physical activity.
Carbohydrates are considered as the main source of energy
Proteins, allow you to build muscle for growth and repair
Fats are important as some of these contain fat soluble vitamins
With mineral salts, your teeth, bones, and muscles are strengthened
Fibre is important as it corrects the functioning of your intestines
How a balanced diet helps to maintain body mass index (BMI)?
Maintaining a balanced diet will help you attain weight loss. Eating healthily and exercising regularly will enable you achieve a good body shape. This can help you keep a check on your obesity levels, which can be measured with the help of body mass index (BMI).
Most doctors will take BMI into account when examining a patient. It is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared of a patient. If the BMI of a patient is:
Less than 18.5, it is considered as underweight
Between 18.5-25, it is considered to be a good body weight
Between 25-30, it is considered to be overweight
Between 30-40, it is considered to be obese
Above 40, it is considered to be very obese
Balanced diet and regular exercise
Overeating will have detrimental effects upon your health and lead to weight problems. To combat this, you must eat a variety of foods. Nowadays; people make unhealthy lifestyle choices, increasing their intake of junk food. However, consuming more fruits, grains, legumes and vegetables will undoubtedly have a positive effect.
Try to cut down on portion size and keep it moderate especially when consuming high calorie food. Ordinarily, the trend in restaurants is to serve large portions, however you should try to avoid supersized portions of food.
While selecting your diet, try to limit the intake of food containing high levels of sugar, salt, or refined-grain products. Once you have begun your healthy diet, try to combine it with regular physical activity for more effective results.
