by We require food to grow, reproduce, and maintain good health.
Without food, our bodies could not stay warm, build or repair tissues, or maintain a heartbeat.
Eating the right foods can help us avoid certain diseases or recover faster when illness occurs.
These and other important functions are fuelled by chemical substances in our food called nutrients.
BALANCED DIET
A balanced diet should not only take care of the different types of nutrients but also consider the energy requirements of the individual.
This is because different people have different lifestyles and varied natures of
“Let thy food be thy medicine”: Hippocrates
work. A man with sedentary habits does not require as much energy as a man who is on his feet for most of the day.
The energy requirement is measured in terms of calories. The calorie requirement depends on the age, gender, height, weight, occupation, and state of health.
“A balanced diet is a diet which includes the right amount of all the nutrients
such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, etc. for proper growth, development, and normal functioning of the body.”
A balanced diet is required for the growth and development of a person, especially children. A balanced diet has a direct relation to the health of a person.
A young boy of 15 requires more calories or energy than an adult man who does not do heavy work. Similarly, lactating mothers require high energy and
high protein diet for good lactation.
