a balanced diet:
Fruits and vegetables
Breads, other cereals and potatoes
Milk and dairy food
Foods containing fat and food or drinks containing sugar
Meat, fish and alternatives
Breads, other cereals and potatoes
Milk and dairy food
Foods containing fat and food or drinks containing sugar
Meat, fish and alternatives
A balanced diet is when a person eats the perfect amount of each food group. An unbalanced diet, is where a person eats more than the proportion from one or more food groups. If somebody eats more treats than vegetables, then their diet is out of balance and they are not getting the proper amount of nutrients that their body requires.
Some problems that an unbalanced diet may cause: (Information from livestrong.com)
Obesity is the most common health problem associated with an unbalanced diet, affecting one out of three people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’re unable to balance your caloric intake with your level of physical activity, you will gain weight. When this weight gain leads to an excessive amount of body fat, to the point of increasing your body mass index to 30 or higher, you’re considered obese. Eating a wide array of nutrient-dense foods in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet and regular physical activity can help prevent and treat this condition.
Cardiovascular problems are some of the more serious health complications of an unbalanced diet. Diets high in fat, cholesterol and sugar and low in fruits, vegetables and whole grains tend to increase the risk of not only high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, but also coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis — a narrowing of the arteries. This increases your risk of both heart attack and stroke. Like obesity, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains with moderate amounts of low-fat dairy and lean meats in combination with regular exercise can help prevent and treat many cardiovascular problems.
Diabetes Another potential risk of an unbalanced diet is type 2 diabetes, particularly when this diet leads to an excessive amount of weight gain. According to research published in 1989 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," the risk of this particular disease is often related to both the degree and duration of obesity. This means the more excess fat you carry, the more likely you are to develop type 2 diabetes. The same can be said for the length of time you’re obese. Again, maintaining a calorie-controlled diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help prevent type 2 diabetes. You can decrease your risk even further by remaining physically active.
Osteoarthritis An unbalanced diet can also increase the risks of osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. Like diabetes, this risk is usually associated with excess weight. When you’re overweight or obese, you’re placing more stress on the joints than they are built to handle, causing their cartilage to wear down over time. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces this strain and could help relieve the pressure contributing to the breakdown of cartilage.
Malnutrition/Under nutrition Not eating a balanced diet can lead to malnutrition. In this situation, your diet doesn’t provide the body with all the nutrients it needs to function optimally. In fact, malnutrition can occur if you’re diet is deficient in just one nutrient, according to the MedlinePlus online medical encyclopedia, so it’s best to eat a variety of foods, such as fruits, vegetable, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, low-fat dairy, lean meats and fish to ensure you’re getting everything the body needs.
Some problems that an unbalanced diet may cause: (Information from livestrong.com)
Obesity is the most common health problem associated with an unbalanced diet, affecting one out of three people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’re unable to balance your caloric intake with your level of physical activity, you will gain weight. When this weight gain leads to an excessive amount of body fat, to the point of increasing your body mass index to 30 or higher, you’re considered obese. Eating a wide array of nutrient-dense foods in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet and regular physical activity can help prevent and treat this condition.
Cardiovascular problems are some of the more serious health complications of an unbalanced diet. Diets high in fat, cholesterol and sugar and low in fruits, vegetables and whole grains tend to increase the risk of not only high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, but also coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis — a narrowing of the arteries. This increases your risk of both heart attack and stroke. Like obesity, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains with moderate amounts of low-fat dairy and lean meats in combination with regular exercise can help prevent and treat many cardiovascular problems.
Diabetes Another potential risk of an unbalanced diet is type 2 diabetes, particularly when this diet leads to an excessive amount of weight gain. According to research published in 1989 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," the risk of this particular disease is often related to both the degree and duration of obesity. This means the more excess fat you carry, the more likely you are to develop type 2 diabetes. The same can be said for the length of time you’re obese. Again, maintaining a calorie-controlled diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help prevent type 2 diabetes. You can decrease your risk even further by remaining physically active.
Osteoarthritis An unbalanced diet can also increase the risks of osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. Like diabetes, this risk is usually associated with excess weight. When you’re overweight or obese, you’re placing more stress on the joints than they are built to handle, causing their cartilage to wear down over time. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces this strain and could help relieve the pressure contributing to the breakdown of cartilage.
Malnutrition/Under nutrition Not eating a balanced diet can lead to malnutrition. In this situation, your diet doesn’t provide the body with all the nutrients it needs to function optimally. In fact, malnutrition can occur if you’re diet is deficient in just one nutrient, according to the MedlinePlus online medical encyclopedia, so it’s best to eat a variety of foods, such as fruits, vegetable, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, low-fat dairy, lean meats and fish to ensure you’re getting everything the body needs.
DISEASES CAUSED BY NOT HAVING CERTAIN NUTRIENTs:
PROTEIN:
Marasmus is caused by a severe deficiency of protein and calories that affects infants and children under 2. It often results in weight loss and severe dehydration. If it does develop, it can lead to starvation and even death.
CARBOHYDRATES:
Hypolglycemia, also known as low blood sugar or even low blood glucose, occurs when the glucose levels in the blood drop lower then normal. Sometimes hypolglycemia is associated with diabetes. The symptoms include: fatigue, light-headedness (dizziness), confusion, serious hunger and moodiness.
VITAMINS:
Scurvy, or better known as the gray death, is caused by a lack of vitamin C. The symptoms are spongy gums, pain in all of the joints and blood spots appearing under the skin. As scurvy progresses the teeth will become loose and extreme halitosis (bad breath) may develop. Those affected by scurvy will then become too weak to walk or even eat.
MINERALS:
Rickets is a disease caused by not having enough vitamin D. The body needs vitamin D to help absorb calcium from the gut and it also is responsible for calcium to be deposited into the bones.The body is able to produce vitamin D in the kidneys by the person's skin being exposed to sunlight. Rickets is usually a disease that occurs in children, but if an adult gets it, it can lead to bone softening. The symptoms of rickets are soft bones, which can lead to "bowing" of the legs. Vitamin D deficiency can also lead to problems with joint and rib formation making it difficult to move or breathe. In infants it may even lead to a such a soft skull that, when pressed, it will leave a finger mark.
FIBRE:
The lack of fibre in your diet can lead to constipation. Constipation and a poor diet can possibly lead to high blood pressure. Usually people who eat a low fibre diet, often eat fatty and sugary meals which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Low fibre diets can also increase your chance of getting colon cancer, which the odds of dying from is 1 in 20.
WATER:
Water is the most important thing to consume. Almost every process in your body requires water or some form of it. The lack of water is called dehydration. The body can become dehydrated in many ways. Firstly, you can sweat it out by exercising, by having a high fever or by being in hot climates. Secondly, you can get dehydrated from severe vomiting. Thirdly, you can get it from severe diarrhea.
Marasmus is caused by a severe deficiency of protein and calories that affects infants and children under 2. It often results in weight loss and severe dehydration. If it does develop, it can lead to starvation and even death.
CARBOHYDRATES:
Hypolglycemia, also known as low blood sugar or even low blood glucose, occurs when the glucose levels in the blood drop lower then normal. Sometimes hypolglycemia is associated with diabetes. The symptoms include: fatigue, light-headedness (dizziness), confusion, serious hunger and moodiness.
VITAMINS:
Scurvy, or better known as the gray death, is caused by a lack of vitamin C. The symptoms are spongy gums, pain in all of the joints and blood spots appearing under the skin. As scurvy progresses the teeth will become loose and extreme halitosis (bad breath) may develop. Those affected by scurvy will then become too weak to walk or even eat.
MINERALS:
Rickets is a disease caused by not having enough vitamin D. The body needs vitamin D to help absorb calcium from the gut and it also is responsible for calcium to be deposited into the bones.The body is able to produce vitamin D in the kidneys by the person's skin being exposed to sunlight. Rickets is usually a disease that occurs in children, but if an adult gets it, it can lead to bone softening. The symptoms of rickets are soft bones, which can lead to "bowing" of the legs. Vitamin D deficiency can also lead to problems with joint and rib formation making it difficult to move or breathe. In infants it may even lead to a such a soft skull that, when pressed, it will leave a finger mark.
FIBRE:
The lack of fibre in your diet can lead to constipation. Constipation and a poor diet can possibly lead to high blood pressure. Usually people who eat a low fibre diet, often eat fatty and sugary meals which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Low fibre diets can also increase your chance of getting colon cancer, which the odds of dying from is 1 in 20.
WATER:
Water is the most important thing to consume. Almost every process in your body requires water or some form of it. The lack of water is called dehydration. The body can become dehydrated in many ways. Firstly, you can sweat it out by exercising, by having a high fever or by being in hot climates. Secondly, you can get dehydrated from severe vomiting. Thirdly, you can get it from severe diarrhea.
