7 Things You Need for a Balanced Diet

We all know that we need to take good care of our bodies, but in reality, how much attention do you pay to your diet? If you live a busy lifestyle, it can be all-too-easy to pick up fast food and eat convenient meals which are not healthy.

Fast foods tend to be very high in certain things such as fats and sugars, but offer little in the way of other nutrients.

So, what should you be eating?

There are seven things that you need from your diet. In this article, we’ll look at what you need to include in your diet to help make it a balanced one. We’ll also discuss where you can get these things from.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates give you energy. They should account for roughly 45-55% of your daily calorie intake.

Carbs work by breaking down into glucose over a period of time and entering the bloodstream. Carbohydrates provide slow-release energy which will keep you going through the day. This is in contrast to sugar, which will give you more immediate energy.

If you consume too many carbs, this will be turned to sugar and stored as fat for future use.

You can get carbs in your diet by eating grains, oats, maize, corn, pasta, potatoes, and fruit.

Protein

Around 10-35% of your daily calorie intake should come in the form of protein. Protein helps you to grow and repair tissue such as muscle.

You can get protein in your diet by eating meat, fish, nuts, pulses, soya, vegetables, and eggs.

Fats

20-35% of your calorie intake should come from fats each day. It is important that you regulate where you are getting your fats from and don’t consume too much in your diet.

Fats prompt cell growth and give you energy.

You can get fats in your diet by eating dairy, nuts, seeds, and plant oils.

Fiber

Fiber is an essential part of your diet as it helps to regulate blood sugar levels, bowel function, and bowel health. You can get fiber through carbohydrates such as vegetables, brown rice, peas, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Water

Hydration is essential, and you should be drinking up to eight glasses of water each day. Ideally, you should drink purified water as this is much better for you. You can purify the water in your own home using a system installed by filtap.com.au.

While other beverages may provide you with some water, be aware that caffeinated drinks will be likely to dehydrate you. You should avoid drinking too many teas, coffees, or caffeinated sodas.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins provide a range of health benefits to your body. For instance, vitamin A will help your vision in dim light and can be obtained by eating eggs, daily, green veg, and yellow fruit.

It is important that you get all the vitamins and minerals in your diet. If you cannot get them by eating a mixture of fruit and vegetables, you may want to consider taking vitamin supplements.