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Nutritional balance

Nutritional balance: what is it?

Nutritional balance is achieved when the supply can optimally cover the nutritional needs of the body.

Nutritional needs of the body

• In order energy (the first indicator of a food's energy density):
- 2 000 to 2 500 Calories (or kilocalories) in men with moderate physical activity and up to 3 000-3 500 calories in case of heavy physical activity (work strength, endurance sport);
- In 1800 and 2000 Calories (or kilocalories) in women.

• In qualitative: we speak of nutrient density of a food. This indicator estimates the total content of essential nutrients for a given amount of energy.

Essential nutrients for the body are compounds that the body needs but he does not know synthesizing:

- Macronutrients: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins;
- Micronutrients: vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

They are found in the major food groups:

- Meat, fish, eggs;
- Vegetables and fruits;
- Bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, pulses, other cereals;
- Fats;
- Sugars and sugar products.

The main principles of a balanced diet

Nutritional balance is based on three main principles of eating a diverse and varied:

- Eat real meals rather than snacks;
- Eat foods rich in fiber, micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and trace elements) and essential fatty acids;
- Reduce the consumption of calories providers, often impoverished in essential micronutrients and rich in sugars and bad fats (saturated fatty acids).

But it is not enough to "eat varied" to cover all needs: we must also take into account the nutritional profile of foods.

The concept of nutrient profiles is related to the fact that most foods have both strengths and weaknesses: it is this relative balance between good and bad qualities of food that determines their overall nutritional quality.
Revise eating habits

A good balanced diet combined with physical activity can stay healthy by participating in the prevention of many diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain degenerative diseases.

To improve the nutritional balance, it is necessary:

- To the point on how to eat: meal or snack complete and balanced throughout the day;
- Become aware of his dietary errors (excessive animal fats, fried foods, fatty and sugary foods, alcohol);
- Retain a food is nutritionally okay if low levels of three compounds (saturated fat, salt and added sugars);
- Follow the nutritional advice validated and widely disseminated by ministerial bodies (see Useful links).





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