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Are You Just Filling Your Tummy?
by Susie Dieet
http://www.rndiet.com
There are a million things we do because we fear death and
yet we neglect our diet. An unbalanced diet is one of the
most dangerous things to the human body. For a long
healthy life one must eat a well balanced diet, but what is
a well balanced diet?
A balanced diet is a diet that has all the nutrients
available in it in appropriate amount. It must contain
carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamin, mineral salts and
fibers. It is also necessary that these nutrients are
present in proper proportions. Taking of water should also
not be forgotten.
Carbohydrate is comprised of carbo-carbon, -hydro-hydrogen
and ate-oxygen. Carbohydrate is considered the most
important source of energy. Our body gets most of the
carbohydrates in the form of starch. Our digestive system
converts this starch into glucose as our body cannot
directly utilize starch. Rich sources of starch are
potato, rice, spaghetti, yams, bread and cereals. The
sugar that we take is another form of carbohydrate called
sucrose. It also has to be converted into glucose before
it can be absorbed by our body.
Carbohydrates are nutrients which contain hydrogen, carbon,
and oxygen. They are the source of most of our body's
energy. Carbohydrates are usually in the form of starches
which our body converts to glucose. Potatoes, rice, and
bread are all good sources of carbohydrates.
Proteins are also sometimes used for energy. The liver
helps to excrete nitrogen form our body. This process
forms urea which the kidneys then add to the urine.
Though our body can survive for a long time without
vitamins they are essential. Eventually a prolonged
deficiency of vitamins can become deadly. As our bodies do
not form vitamins on their own they must be obtained from
an outside source such as food and supplements. Common
vitamins include Vitamin A, B, C, D, and E. These vitamins
are found in citrus fruit, meat, milk, and even in
sunlight.
Our body requires mineral salts in traces, although, the
requirement of mineral salts in our body is much more than
that of vitamins. Mineral salts consists of iron, required
to make hemoglobin, calcium, required for healthy teeth,
bones and muscles; sodium, required by every cell
especially nerve cells and iodine used to make the hormone
called thyroxin.
It is also called roughage. It helps the body to have
proper bowel movement. Our body cannot digest roughage.
The food moves through the digestive tract through the
process of peristalsis. Roughage helps in this movement.
Patents of constipation can benefit very much from roughage
Water is perhaps the most important part of our diets.
Every function in the body needs water to be carried out
properly. For example digestion requires ample amounts of
water. The recommended daily amount of water is eight
glasses a day. Dehydration is the #1 reason of
hospitalization every year. Avoid becoming part of this
statistic by drinking plenty of water, especially in the
summer.
By following these requirements for a balanced diet one can
avoid the serious illnesses that result from a poor diet.
Having the proper amount of the right foods can ensure a
long healthy life and that in its self should be reward
enough for giving up an unhealthy lifestyle. Eat right,
live long, and be healthy.
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