Balanced Diet, Health And Nutrition

A balanced diet comprising of diverse and healthy foods is key to promoting good health. After all, we are what we eat - Research continues to prove that eating healthy food promotes good health and unhealthy food habits lead to a diseased body. Foods contain vital nutrients that aid our bodys metabolic function. However, a lack of consumption of these nutrients or feeding upon the wrong kinds of food leads to an accumulation of toxins within the body, resulting in chronic diseases in the long run. A nutritious diet while ensuring overall well being, helps to maintain a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI), reduces the risk of several debilitating diseases like cancer, cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, osteoporosis and stroke. Thus a nutritious &healthy diet is important in the prevention and cure of various diseases. Diet for diseases There are several health conditions that can be caused or aggravated by the food we eat. However, there are also several foods that you can include in your diet to help prevent or treat diseases. It is simplest to draw up a balanced diet chart as this will ensure that you get all the nutrients you require on a regular basis. A nutrition diet chart is a diet chart that helps you to keep a track of your nutritional diet requirements and is a very useful tool when drawing up a personalized diet plan. Heart diseases: Coronary heart diseases are a very common health problem and they are closely linked to a diet that is high in unhealthy fats. Decreasing ones intake of fatty foods, especially fried food, will go a long way in preventing heart diseases. On the other hand, a healthy diet chart with an adequate amount of high fiber foods is seen to prevent heart diseases. People who suffer from heart problems are often advised to follow a specific high fiber diet for heart diseases that is rich in raw fruits and vegetables. Diabetes: While genetics does play an important role in the onset of diabetes, an unhealthy lifestyle and bad eating habits are also contributing factors. A diabetes diet chart is a diet plan that is high in fiber and low in fat with a minimum amount of saturated fats. A Vegan diet is very effective in controlling this problem. Anemia: Anemia is generally caused by nutritional deficiencies and is most commonly associated with a diet that is low in iron. Iron rich foods such as green leafy vegetables should be included in a diet for anemia.

In addition to these diseases, conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, gout, and even cancer are affected by the individuals diet. There are several diet plans such as the Alkaline Acid Diet plan, the Low Glycemic Index diet and the DASH diet plan that are meant to treat specific medical conditions.

Healthy Food Groups Since no single food group can nourish the body with all the vital ingredients it requires, it is important that we consume a variety of healthy foods to derive the nutrition our body needs. There are five main food groups, they are: Fruits Vegetables Cereals and Pulses Dairy Poultry, Fish and Meat products

A healthy balanced diet of these five food groups ensures essential vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. The food group serving size will depend upon various factors like age, activity level, body size and gender. It is also important that one eat a variety of healthy foods from within and across the food groups. As some foods from within a food group provide more nutrients than others. This will ensure that one gets the maximum recommended nutrition from the food group; besides the food variety will make for an interesting meal. Diet for weight loss Problems related to excessive weight gain are commonplace as we tend to lead a sedentary lifestyle and have unhealthy eating habits. People with excessive weight gain often try to crash diet in the hope of obtaining a svelte figure. However, this type of a restrictive diet chart for weight loss is extremely unhealthy and not easy to stick to and so the individual succumbs to temptation and goes back to his/her unhealthy eating habits. The cycle of repeated trial and failure can leave the individual disillusioned and finally the person stops trying to lose weight. However, a simple and easy weight loss diet chart can work wonders for overweight and obese people. It is best to follow a daily diet chart as this will help you to stick to your diet. In order to balance a diet chart, it is important to take into account your physical activity levels as a person who exercises daily will have a higher calorie need as compared to a person who leads a sedentary lifestyle.

You can include healthy snacks in your daily diet charts as this will allow you to snack without having to worry about excessive weight gain. It is important to have realistic goals and dieticians often suggest that overweight individuals should not concentrate on weight loss but rather try to follow a healthy diet plan. Once a person has decided that sticking to a healthy diet chart on a daily basis is their main goal, they will not unnecessarily fret over their progress in terms of weight loss. This will allow a person to lose weight at a steady pace with a higher chance of sticking to their diet plan. Once an individual has lost a considerable amount of weight, they can then use a follow-up diet chart to ensure that the weight loss is permanent. Keep in mind that a healthy balanced diet will lead to a slimmer and healthier you!

In conclusion, it must be noted that allopathic medicine treats the

symptoms rather than the root cause of the disease, which is usually caused by wrong eating habits leading to an accumulation of toxins within the system. Whereas a nutritious healthy diet can rectify underlying causes of diseases and restore one to wholeness of mind and body. Once we realize the connection between a wholesome balanced diet and good health, our food will be our medicine and maintaining good health will be a matter of making the right food choices and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Healthy diet plans

People always need to consume a healthy, well balanced and nutritious diet to help get them through a day while avoiding the feeling of excessive tiredness, fatigue, drop in energy levels and even depression.

Healthy eating the right kinds of food is particularly essential in the case of pregnant mothers, nursing mothers, toddlers and growing children who are still in the process of developing. These people need to ensure that are always eating the healthy foods that help in providing them with the essential vitamins and the essential nutrients for the development of the bones and the other parts of the body in the very young. Even pregnant woman should eat the correct healthy foods that are particularly vital for the fetuss development. Adequate water intake of about 8 glasses in a day is also required to help the human body digest the food and prevent dehydration. The healthy diet menus should include whole grains, lean protein, fruits, cereals and plenty of vegetables on a regular basis.

Avoiding foods which are high in sodium and that are low in oil is also a recommendation that most dieticians make. The low calorie meal plans stress the importance of avoiding foods like crisps, chips and other kinds of fried foods that are unhealthy. Another requirement of healthy eating is avoiding foods that are packaged, tinned and refrigerated. These food products usually contain preservatives and other flavorings which are beneficial and should be avoided. Healthy eating proponents recommend eating fresh fruits and vegetables as much as possible.

It is also essential that one try and consume an adequate amount of fiber in their daily diets. This can be maintained by eating plenty of vegetables and fruits in their fresh state. It is preferable to eat the fruits as compared to drinking the juice made from the fruits which may at times not contain any fiber. Eating a healthy, balanced and nutritious breakfast every morning is essential to start the day well. Some of the great breakfast healthy meals include protein shakes. These provide the nutrients one needs in a power packed shake and is ideal for growing children and even for those who lead busy lives. Athletes and other sports persons are also recommended to follow these diets to help in providing them with the energy and nutrients they need to give them the stamina required. The addition of nuts to ones daily diet is vital. Cashews, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, raisins, peanuts and ground nuts arte all found to be a rich source of nutrients and vitamins. These can be added to ones daily diet in the salads that one eats or in the shakes one drinks. Try making a healthy fresh salad with lettuce leaves and other greens like spinach. To this one can add some baby tomatoes and some lean meats. Adding a dash of lemon juice can help in providing one with the Vitamin C that is essential in healing damaged skin and for good skin. Whole wheat bread and cereals is another great addition for a healthy breakfast. Almond butter added to a sandwich of fresh vegetables can help in making a nutritious and tasty breakfast snack.

Try making a healthy meal by simply heating up a sauce pan and adding to this some olive oil. Next proceed to break about 3 to 4 eggs in to a large bowl. Add to this a couple of mashed bananas, dash of salt, some pepper and some fresh thyme. Whisk these ingredients in a blender and then proceed to pour this batter into the heated pan. These form a delicious and very nutritious snack for children which can be had with a dash of honey. Related Articles Health benefits of nutrition Nutrition is the science regarding the role of foods in the maintenance of health. Our nutrition can determine whether the body can function properly or are there going to be disorders in the body. If we practice good and healthy nutrition then we may lead a healthy life whereas if we

practice faulty nutrition practices then we may lead an unhealthy life. Our body is dependent on the nutrition, the nutrients available, their action, interaction, metabolism and balance. It is essential for ideal growth a development, enhancing the functional efficiency of the body, mental well being, and ability to withstand diseases, ability to withstand aging without any difficulty. Any discrepancy in the intake can affect the balance and functioning of the body. It is essential to have natural foods. Natural foods contain nutrients like carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals and phytochemicals that can provide the raw material to the body.It can also affect the moods and behavior. Only nutrition is not the key to healthy lifestyle, it also includes exercise, no smoking or drinking alcohol, good sleep and stress management. Nutrition can not be avoided or taken lightly as it can cause adverse effects to the body. The key to good nutrition is balance between the nutrients, variety in the foods to avoid boredom, moderation in the consumption of foods.

education
The silent killers are poverty, hunger, easily preventable diseases and illnesses, and other related causes. Despite the scale of this daily/ongoing catastrophe, it rarely manages to achieve, much less sustain, prime-time, headline coverage.In developing countries, one child in 10 dies before reaching their fifth birthday, compared with 1 in 143 in high-income countries.

UN Declaration of the ... Rights of the Child

The right to affection, love, and understanding.The right to adequate nutrition and medical care.The right to free education.The right to full opportunity for play and recreation.The right to a name and nationality.The right to special care, if handicapped.The right to be among the first to receive relief in times of disaster.The right to learn to be a useful member of society and to develop individual abilities.The right to be brought up in a spirit of peace and universal brotherhood. The right to enjoy these rights, regardless of race, colour, sex, religion, national, or social origin

Causes of Child Deaths According to UNICEF, of the 8.1 million child deaths (under-5s) in 2009, most (and 70% in developing countries) result from one the following five causes or a combination thereof: acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, measles, malaria and malnutrition.

Two-thirds of deaths are preventable. Malnutrition, which weakens the body's resistance to illness, and the lack of safe water and sanitation contribute to half of all these children s deaths. Millions more survive only to face diminished futures, unable to develop to their full potential. Research and experience show that most of the children who die each year could be saved by low-tech, evidencebased, cost-effective measures such as vaccines, antibiotics, micronutrient supplementation, insecticidetreated bed nets, improved family care and breastfeeding practices, and oral rehydration therapy. In addition to providing vaccines and antibiotics to children, education could also be provided to mothers about how they can make simple changes to living conditions such as improving hygiene in order to increase the health of their children. Mothers who are educated will also have increased confidence in the ability to take care of their children, therefore providing a healthier relationship and environment for them.

An Urgent Need for Health Education Many of these deaths can be avoided if parents and caregivers understand what to do when illness strikes and how to recognize the danger signs that signal the need for medical help. Facts for Life presents, in simple language, the most authoritative information about practical, effective and low-cost ways to protect children's lives and health. Everyone has the right to know this information.

Focus The aim of HETV is to establish and promote health educational programs that will provide rapid and long-term capacity-building to improve health and quality of life, and will give mothers and communities more control over their health status. Health gains associated with safe drinking water can be achieved by providing people with simple, affordable technologies, such as chlorination, filtration, solar disinfection and improved storage in their homes. Worldwide, surveys have shown that hand-washing alone reduces the instance of diarrhoea by as much as 43 percent.

Partnered with national and state governments, we work to assist in educating mothers and children, teachers and students, doctors and village health workers, and a variety of community leaders, in the targeted areas of health, water, hygiene, and sanitation.

The Long-Term Effects of Childhood Poverty Most poor children achieve less, exhibit more problem behaviours, and are less healthy than children raised in more-affluent families. Looking beyond these well-known correlations between poverty and negative outcomes in childhood, recent studies have assessed the effects of childhood poverty on later attainment and health. Experiencing poverty early in childhood may prove harmful later in life, and can be linked to adult outcomes such as earnings and work hours as well as obesity and other health conditions that impair productivity. The evidence suggests that prenatal and early childhood poverty have a substantial negative association with adult earnings, work hours, and certain health conditions, but not with behavioural outcomes such as out-of-wedlock childbearing and arrests.

Global strategy for women's and children's health

Each year, millions of women and children die from preventable causes. These are not mere statistics. They are people with names and faces. Their suffering is unacceptable in the 21st century. We must, therefore, do more for the newborn who succumbs to infection for want of a simple injection, and for the young boy who will never reach his full potential because of malnutrition. We must do more for the teenage girl facing an unwanted pregnancy; for the married woman who has found she is infected with the HIV virus; and for the mother who faces complications in childbirth. more

UN launches $40bn woman and child health plan The UN has launched a $40bn health initiative aimed at saving the lives of 16 million women and children over the next five years. About eight million under-fives die every year and more than a third of a million women lose their lives during pregnancy or childbirth.

In India, every 8 minutes one woman dies due to pregnancy related causes which are preventable. With the death of a mother her children are much more likely to die before age

In India, one child dies every 17 seconds due to easily preventable causes. On the scale of best place to be a mother , India ranks 75 out of 79 developing countries

India accounts for 25% of global child deaths

Kerela has the lowest Maternal Mortality in the country and has 100% Auxiliary Nurse Midwives in place.

In India, only 10% of the most wealthy women deliver without trained health workers, compared to around an estimated 80% of the poorest women

Sources: Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2004-2006, State of the World's Mother 2011, WRA-India leaflet 2011

Malnourishment in India More than 5,000 Indian children below five years die every day due to malnourishment or lack of basic micronutrients like Vitamin A, iron, iodine, zinc or folic acid.

Overall, India hosts 57 million - or more than a third - of the world's 146 million undernourished children. 45.9 per cent of India's under-three kids are underweight, 39 per cent are stunted, 20 per cent severely malnourished, 80 per cent anaemic while infant mortality hovers at 67 per 1,000. 440 million people languish at the bottom of the economic pyramid in India and about 500,000 children are born deformed each year due to vitamin/mineral deficiencies.

National Family Health Survey, India 2005-2006 - NFHS-3

"Malnourishment severely retards a child's cognitive, physical and emotional growth and has a cascading effect on his/her productivity in adult years." -- Dr Suresh Kasana, New Delhi

"India should be worried." Experts reiterate that child malnutrition is not only responsible for 22 per cent of India's disease burden - and for 50 per cent of the 2.3 million child deaths in India -- but is also a serious economic hazard. Neeta Lal reports.

India: towards universal health coverage The Lancet - published 11 January, 2011

India is a vast, complex country, and despite recent economic development, its health-care system is inadequate to deal with the country's main health challenges: infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and poor maternal and child health. A new Lancet Series engages with the construct of Health for All in India by investigating the Indian health system, and to offer solutions for evidence-based and affordable health care for all Indian citizens by 2020.

Universal health care in India: the time is right Vikram Patel, A K Shiva Kumar, Vinod K Paul, Krishna D Rao, K Srinath Reddy

Published Online: 11 January 2011

India has supported the ideal of health for all since it become an independent nation more than 60 years ago. The Bhore Committee report 1 in 1946 recommended a national health system for delivery of comprehensive preventive and curative allopathic services through a rural-focused multilevel public system, financed by the government, through which all citizens would receive care irrespective of their ability to pay. However, a newly independent India faced monumental challenges in 1947.

Disparities in the Treatment of Childhood Diarrhoea in India NishaMalhotra and Nicholas Choy August 2010 19 pages - 246 kb

Despite the severe impact of diarrhoea on children's health and mortality in India, recent surveys show that only half of all children suffering from diarrhoea receive treatment or medical advice, and more than two-thirds receive no Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT). An understanding of the socio-demographic determinants for appropriate treatment of the disease will be critical for improving these figures. This analysis is based on the most recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS3), which shows that children are more likely to receive ORT if they are treated in a public health facility, rather than in a private health facility. Households with mothers belonging to the youngest age group, lowest educational attainment, and poorest wealth index are the least likely groups to properly treat their children suffering from diarrhoea. A significant gender bias also exists as parents show a preferential treatment of male children and delay seeking treatment for their female children. The low usage of ORT can also be attributed to a combination of low health knowledge among the aforementioned groups, and low use of public health facilities.