A healthy and balanced diet does not mean only eating greens and vegetables. Instead, a healthy diet requires rational proportions of diverse types of food, all of which should have benefits for you and your body.
Keep reading to learn more about the importance of a good diet as well as how your diet can affect your body and fitness levels.
What Does a Healthy Diet Consist of?
To ensure we have a healthy diet, it is important to follow the Eatwell Guide. This guide indicates which food should be eaten and in what proportions. Here is what the guide suggests:
- Eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day (your 5 a day).
- Eat high-fiber foods such as potatoes, rice and pasta.
- Have dairy in your diet or dairy alternatives.
- Protein is important in your diet and can be provided through eggs, meat, and beans.
- Oils and spreads should only be eaten in small amounts.
- Drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day is recommended.
The Importance of Proteins
Foods such as meat, eggs and beans are all sources of protein and have great benefits for your body and overall fitness.
These foods help to grow and repair the body and offer a source of minerals and vitamins, such as zinc, iron and vitamin B12.
The best types of meat to eat are those that are not processed, so it is best to avoid bacon, ham, pepperoni, sausages, and salami.
Eggs and fish also provide protein and omega-3 acids. Fish is recommended to be eaten at least twice a week due to its beneficial effects on the body.
Beans and lentils are a source of protein too, which are also naturally low in fat, so they are a great option to have protein while avoiding weight gain.
The Impact of Wealth on a Balanced Diet
Meat, eggs, and other high-protein foods are important to factor into your diet to keep the body at optimum fitness levels.
Unfortunately, many people around the world are too poor to afford to eat, let alone have a healthy or balanced diet. However, due to the impacts of Qurbani, the poor are able to have meat factored into their diets.
Qurbani is the sacrificing of an animal to share the meat with the poor. This Islamic practice is performed at least once a year by millions of Muslims and has fed many poor people, improving their overall health.
Exercise Without a Balanced Diet
Exercising is a good method of meeting different needs, such as weight loss, muscle gain or eliminating health risks, but without a balanced diet, it can only do so much.
With a healthy diet, it becomes less likely to become ill, less likely to have diabetes and heart attacks, and less likely to have conditions due to high sugar intake.
So, exercise isn't always everything. A balanced diet is required.
To ensure a healthy and balanced diet, it is important to factor into your diet things like fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, and starchy foods, in the correct proportions.
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