Balanced Diet

Deficiency Diseases
The main cause of deficiency diseases in our country is poverty.  A vast majority of our people are not able to buy quality food items in desired quantities.In the long run they become weak and sick.Its effect on children is more serious.

Diseases due to Deficiency of Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates are the chief sources of energy for the body. This energy is used by the body for performing various functions.
Deficiency of sufficient carbohydrates in the diet leads to (i) body weakness, and (ii) loss of stamina, as sufficient quantity of energy is not available to the body for performing various functions. 
Diseases due to deficiency of Protein : 
Proteins are body-building food and causes serious diseases, like kwashiorkor and marasmus develop in case of children if the proteins are not sufficient in their diet. It is for this reason that the children are often advised to take a protein-rich diet – enough milk, pulses, eggs, meat and fish, 

•    Symptoms of Kwashiorkor
(i)    Protruding belly
(ii)     Dark and scaly skin, brownish hair
(iii)    Stunted growth ; usually underweight
(iv)    Swollen legs due to accoumulation of water 
(v)     Loss of appetite
(vi)     Anaemia
(vii)     Mental retardation
(viii)    Reduced resistance to diseases

What is Balanced Diet?

A balanced diet is food intake that includes all the dietary needs of the organism in the correct proportions.
Balanced diet comprises the components like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and enough water. Balanced diet keeps our body fit and resistant to diseases.

Balanced Diet

A balanced diet is one that contains a variety of food items providing different types of nutrients in adequate amounts necessary for maintaining good health. The diet should contain a good amount of dietary fiber and water as well.

A balanced diet includes a combination of protein-rich pulses, sprouted seeds etc. with combinations of various flours and cereals for carbohydrates and fats along with fruits and vegetables which provide the necessary vitamins and minerals.

• In addition to making sure that the right amount of food is eaten, it should also be ensured that food is properly cooked so that it does not end up losing its nutrients.
• Repeated washing of fruits, pulses, rice and vegetables can result in the loss of essential vitamins and minerals.
• Throwing away excess water which is used for cooking vegetables can result in the loss of considerable amounts of important proteins and minerals present in them.
• It’s a well-known fact that vitamin C gets destroyed in the heat while cooking.

Obesity: Obesity is a medical condition that results from excess intake of fat-rich foods. The excess fat gets accumulated to such an extent that it starts negatively affecting one’s health, well-being and the ability to carry out certain activities.