Why is a balanced diet so important?

• It is essential for a healthy body and a healthy mind. You are what you consume!
• A balanced diet is important to maintain health and a sensible body weight. No single food will provide all the essential nutrients that the body needs to be healthy and function efficiently. A balanced diet should contain protein, fats, carbohydrates and fiber in the form of fresh vegetables and fresh fruit, all in the right amounts, providing you with a good supply of essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and of course fresh drinking water.
• In addition, the nutritional value of a person's diet depends on the overall mixture, or balance, of food that is eaten over a period of time, as well as on the needs of the individual. A diet that includes a variety of different foods is most likely to provide all the essential nutrients.
• In summary, if you do not get enough of one of the food groups, or an adequate supply of essential nutrients, it can result in

1. failure to flourish
2. poor growth
3. poor development
4. poor physical and mental health
5. infections
6. disease
7. or even death.

Therefore, consuming foods in proportion to their nutritional value helps to prevent infections, disorders and disease. On the other hand, if you have too much of one of the food groups, such as refined processed carbohydrates, it can lead to other problems, such as

1. weight gain
2. insulin resistance
3. Diabetes
4. obesity
5. heart conditions
6. many other diet related diseases
7. and death.

For more information about the negative effects of an unbalanced diet, see the page links, further down this page, listed under Related Questions.