What makes up a balanced diet?
While many nutrients can be synthesized by the body, other nutrients, namely essential nutrients, cannot. Therefore, we must supply them through our diet – the foods we eat and drink. Essential nutrients include 9 of the 20 amino acids found in proteins, certain fatty acids found in fats and oils, and a number of minerals and vitamins. Nutrients are generally divided into 2 categories: macronutrients and micronutrients. Other substances, such as fibre, are recommended by doctors and nutritionists to improve movement in the gastrointestinal tract, moderate changes in blood sugar and cholesterol that occur after we’ve eaten, and increase the elimination of cancer-causing substances produced by the bacteria in the large intestine. Macronutrients include fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and some minerals, and our bodies need these in large quantities on a daily basis. They make up the bulk of our diet and supply the energy and building blocks we need for growth, activity, and maintenance. Wh
