A balanced diet What is a well-balanced diet? We tend to hear a consistent message in the media in relation to weight loss - a balanced diet is very important in sustaining a healthy weight and for your overall health and well-being. Nevertheless, not every person understands precisely what a balanced diet means and how it can be achieved. The reality is, it means different things to different people - not least because every individual is distinct. For instance, vegetarians and vegans and people troubled with food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances will all have different nutritional requirements. With that being said, the generally accepted meaning of a balanced diet is fundamentally one that incorporates an acceptable level of food from the numerous food groups, in conjunction with lots of pure water. Moderation and variety are key! The fact is that, in this modern age (with growing time and financial constraints), a lot of people are dependent upon “fast foods” / “junk foods”, ready-meals, frozen foods and highly refined and processed foods. Notwithstanding that they are without doubt time-savers, these sorts of foods tend to be very high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and chemical products (such as food additives and preservatives). Not only do they fail to present our bodies with the nourishment that they need, they actually trigger toxin build-up, which could result in digestive problems, poor immune system, weight gain  and all of the problems which come with it (including greater likelihood of sicknesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension etc). A second very common occurrence is that people will often miss meals in an attempt to shed pounds - that is certainly counter-productive. Not only is this approach detrimental (and has the potential to cause harm to your internal organs), it could actually obstruct weight loss and even bring about weight gain! Although this seems illogical, once you think it over, it makes sense. How cutting out meals can result in weight gain It's important to fuel your metabolism with the right foods at particular times of the day. Cutting out meals (particularly breakfast) may cause weight gain in various ways: • If you don't eat for an extended length of time, your body can go into “starvation mode” and your metabolism then slows down to conserve energy. As a result, your body will compensate for the deficiency of calories by using a smaller amount than it normally would. When your body enters into starvation mode, it won't draw from its fat stores for energy, which makes it tougher to lose excess weight. • It will bring about extreme hunger later in the day, which then commonly leads to cravings, binging and weight gain. • It supplies you with an uneven distribution of calories during the day. • It means you are depriving your system of the energy it needs to properly function, exercise, burn calories etc. • It leads to low blood sugar levels and delays insulin response, which can cause diabetes. • It’s a short-term measure and will not correct your long-term weight issues. Cutting out meals is therefore obviously not the answer to healthy weight loss. The best means of shedding weight and keeping it off is using an informed weight management plan, i.e. making improved eating choices, regular exercising, drinking pure water and keeping your metabolism active. Metabolism plays a major role in how rapidly you burn off fat and lose weight; subsequently, it cannot be ignored as part of your approach for weight management. Why is a balanced diet beneficial? It is important to remember, exercising on it's own will not cause you to be healthy. As they say, “you are what you eat”. A balanced diet is also necessary as it provides you with access to the broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, salts and other nutrients needed by your body. Consequently, a balanced diet is commonly believed to be one of many crucial elements in securing a healthier and longer life and, more specifically, maintaining a healthy weight. Learning how to have a balanced diet is important for long-term weight management and health. Nutritionists can certainly help with this, if need be. Alternatively, get started with a reliable free meal plan, which can give you some guidance during the early stages of your lifestyle change. Eating fresh, whole fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, lean meats, seafood, whole grains and nuts is an excellent starting point. This will help to ensure that your body obtains the micronutrients it requires and craves. Why might you want to take health supplements? As an individual hoping to manage your weight, you might choose to take health supplements for several reasons. For example: • As a result of depleted soil, long-distance importation, prolonged shelf-life, pasteurisation, cooking methods (such as microwaving) and chemicals in our food, it is routinely short on nutrients, including digestive enzymes. For instance, the level of vitamin C in vegetables can reduce by half within 5 minutes of being cut and by up to 70% after just 20 minutes. Furthermore, heating food destroys around half of the protein content, approximately 60% of vitamins and renders about 60% of the minerals non-absorbable. Superfood powders or superfood multivitamins, for instance, can help you to access additional nutrients on a day-to-day basis. • Constrained food choice can often make it tougher to ensure you are getting the full spectrum of nutrients that your body demands. A lot of slimmers therefore choose to supplement their diets with nutrients-fortified meal replacements and protein powders. A quality meal replacement drink or protein powder will be sugar, dairy, lactose, wheat and gluten free. They will also be low in calories. • All those dealing with long-standing digestive health issues will often find that it's tougher for them to lose weight. Digestive tract problems are a prevalent side-effect of being over-weight, most probably due to poor diet over a number of years. Many slimmers therefore find that they benefit from, for example, colon cleansers and cleanse and detox supplements as part of their broader weight management programme. Others use probiotics and digestive system supplements to support their inner health and help to restore balanced levels of gut flora. • Frequently, slimmers find that they need a bit of extra support in the early stages of weight loss. Weight management support supplements can be useful. For example, a herbal fat metaboliser / herbal fat burner formula (that contains no ephedra, gluten, wheat, lactose, added sugar, artificial colourings or yeast), can help you to optimise the results you achieve from your weight management programme and training. * Before changing your diet or taking health supplements, it is recommended to consult your doctor or qualified health practitioner (particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medications).  © Specialist Supplements Ltd 2011 This is an information site only!  0845 094 3627 Slim, Trim and Healthy Slim, Trim and Healthy [Diet] [Health Info] [Herbs] [Metabolism] [Slimming] [Weight Loss] [Slimming Products] [Slimming Diets] [Slim Down] [Slimming and Nutrition] [Health Care] [Weight Management Supplements] [Colon Cleansers] [Digestive System Supplements] [Cleanse and Detox Supplements] [Organic Products] [Superfood Supplements] [Health Foods] [Meal Replacements] [Protein Powders] [Probiotics] [Fat Burner Formula] [Home] [Health Information] [Balanced Diet] [Meal Replacements and Protein Powders] [Your Metabolism] [Obesity] [Sitemap] [HTML Sitemap] [HTM Sitemap] [Links] [Blog]