What Is A Balanced Diet Like
To ensure we have a balanced diet, we must eat natural foods. Instead of buying commercial juices, it is better to juice fruits at home to avoid preservatives.
Eating a balanced diet can sometimes be a real headache. Not only because we have to do an analysis of how we are eating, but because we have to add new habits, something that is never easy.
Next we are going to discover some characteristics that should never be lacking in a good diet. Taking them into account will guarantee us correct nutrition and have a diet that is as healthy as possible.
A balanced diet is high in fruits and vegetables
Except for some diets such as the Mediterranean, the consumption of fruits and vegetables is not usually very common. However, they are foods that must be consumed frequently and in large quantities.
5 pieces of fruit and vegetables a day are always recommended. Although this may be very difficult for us, we need to make an effort to get as close to this figure as possible. A large intake of vegetables has been shown to reduce the risk of premature death.
Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants, so they are ideal if we want to eat a balanced diet.
Today there is a wide variety of fruits so that you can choose those that you like the most or try what is more exotic. Try it all!
Say goodbye to empty calories
Although from time to time it can be beneficial to indulge ourselves, it is important not to fall into the clutches of sugary drinks. Cola soft drinks, juices that come in boxes … The ideal is to replace them with water , if possible, from a drinking water source .
Empty calories are those that do not give us anything. Also, remember that all these drinks are high in sugar, something that does not benefit us if we consume them in excess. There is evidence that sugar intake increases the risk of obesity and inflammation.
These drinks always make us want to consume more and make it harder for us to put the brakes on ourselves.
Foods, the less processed, the better
It is not the same to buy some nuggets than to eat a chicken breast, that simple. Ideally, we get used to consuming the least processed foods possible. Thus, we will also know what we are eating.
Some options for processed foods is to make our own variants at home. For example, instead of buying ready-made croquettes, make them ourselves. Instead of buying a pizza, we make it at home.
Even if it takes longer and we may not want to eat that food, it will be worth the effort. We will know what we are putting in our mouths, and the food will be fresh and will have much less additives.
In the same way, we have to be very careful with industrial pastries. Although these foods are delicious, consuming them regularly attempts against the balanced diet that we want to carry.
According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , ultra-processed food significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular problems.
Some keys to a balanced diet
We have seen some fundamental aspects that we have to take into account in order to eat a balanced diet. However, we are going to add some more keys so that there is no doubt about what a balanced diet should look like:
- It must be varied, rich in fruits and vegetables, but also meat, fish, olive oil. ..
- Also, it is important that we do not always eat the same foods.
- Better several meals a day so as not to starve. In the same way, we must eat what we need so as not to feel hungry, but neither that we have gotten full.
- The more colors the better. If the diet is full of foods of different colors, we are doing well. This means that we are eating a balanced diet.
- Include seeds in the diet, as these have many benefits and properties. Currently we have chia, flax or poppy seeds, among many others. Including them in salads or yogurts will enrich your diet.
It’s easy to eat a balanced diet
As you may have realized, eating a balanced diet is not very complicated. However, we continue to succumb to fast food, to what does not cost us much effort and to foods rich in sugars.
Let’s not make the mistake of consuming drinks that claim to be “zero sugar” or bottled juices that promise to be 100% natural. It is better to use water and squeeze the oranges ourselves.
Finally, keep in mind that a good diet must be complemented with regular physical exercise. Only in this way can a good state of health be guaranteed.
