As discussed earlier this month, we all know your diet is essential for good physical and mental health. However, did you know there are 7 essential factors to a balanced diet?
While not everyone may have a perfect day of eating extremely healthy (The cravings are real, sometimes!) Doing your best to stay on track will allow you to remain consistent and feel your best each and every day.
So, what are these 7 factors essential to a well-balanced diet?
- Carbs
- Protein
- Fat
- Fiber
- Vitamins & minerals
- Water
Let’s break it down.
Carbs are essential to providing energy to the body. Nearly half of your calories every day should be from some form of carbohydrates. Whether that’s grains, wheat, noodles, potatoes, oats, or any other foods you enjoy, it’s necessary to keep a good balance here.
Protein is important for tissue growth and maintenance. This means all of your meats, fish, beans, and all other protein sources are helping your body function to the best of its ability. Protein is especially important for anyone eating plant-based or is vegetarian or vegan. This should make up at least 10% of your diet, but closer to 30% would be ideal.
Fat is important to maintain energy and hormone production. Without fat, our diet would be lacking immensely. This can be found in dairy products, nuts, and seeds. Be sure to get 20-30% of your daily intake from this category!
Fiber, while often grouped into carbs, is essential for bowel health, blood sugar, and other related functions. This means rice, beans, and those important whole grains we keep mentioning!
Vitamins and minerals can help regulate your metabolism and aid in cell growth. While each one offers a different benefit, vegetables, lean meat, and nuts are usually the top choices people opt for.
Water is arguably the most important factor of all! This is key to maintaining hydration and being in overall good health. Needless to say, be sure to stay hydrated and find out how much you should be drinking per day by looking at your age, weight, and gender!
All that said, are you getting the most out of your food after reading about the 7 factors to a balanced diet? If not, be sure to make a trip to the store soon and supplement the areas you’re lacking in!
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