Eating a balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health. It's important to understand the seven components of a healthy diet: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber and water. Eating at least 400 grams, or five servings, of fruits and vegetables a day can reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and ensure an adequate daily intake of dietary fiber. Potassium can help counteract the negative effects of high sodium intake on blood pressure.
To increase potassium intake, eat fresh fruits and vegetables. In both adults and children, free sugars should be limited to less than 10% of total energy intake. Reducing total energy intake to less than 5% would provide additional health benefits. Consuming free sugars increases the risk of tooth decay and can lead to unhealthy weight gain and obesity.
Recent evidence also suggests that free sugars influence blood pressure and serum lipids, and reducing their intake can reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Vitamins are essential for normal functioning of the immune system, strong bones and teeth, and muscle function. The five food groups are fruits, vegetables, cereals, protein foods and dairy products. The USDA dietary patterns provide the recommended amounts for each food group and subgroup at 12 different calorie levels, ranging from 1000 to 3200.
Factors such as age, gender, lifestyle and degree of physical activity, cultural context, locally available foods and dietary habits should be taken into account when planning a healthy diet. The USDA dietary standards specify the targets for each food group in equivalents in cups (for fruits, vegetables and dairy products) and in equivalents in ounces (for cereals and protein foods). To promote a healthy food environment that encourages a diversified, balanced and healthy diet, multiple sectors and stakeholders need to work together. Governments should also create policies to reduce the impact of marketing food and non-alcoholic beverages to children.
Incomes, food prices (which will affect the availability and affordability of healthy foods), individual preferences and beliefs, cultural traditions, geographical and environmental aspects (including climate change) should all be taken into account when designing policies. Achieving optimal health requires more than just eating the right foods; it also involves understanding how different foods interact with each other to provide essential nutrients for our bodies. Eating a variety of foods from all five food groups is essential for maintaining good health. Eating a balanced diet that includes all seven components of a healthy diet will help ensure that you get all the nutrients you need for optimal health.
