An essay on Healthy Diet

 Question: Write a neat Paragraph on ‘Healthy Diet’

HEALTHY DIET

·         Consuming a healthy diet throughout the life-course helps us in many ways.

·         It prevents malnutrition in all its forms. It also controls a range of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and other illhealth conditions.

·         However, increased production of processed foods, rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns.

·         People are now consuming more foods high in energy, fats, free sugars and salt/sodium.

·         Many people do not eat enough fruit, vegetables and other dietary fibre such as whole grains.

·         The exact make-up of a diversified, balanced and healthy diet will vary depending on individual characteristics (e.g. age, gender, lifestyle and degree of physical activity), cultural context, locally available foods and dietary customs. However, the basic principles of what constitutes a healthy diet remain the same.

A healthy diet includes the following:

·         Fruit, vegetables, legumes (e.g. lentils and beans), nuts and whole grains (e.g. unprocessed maize, millet, oats, wheat and brown rice).

·         At least 400 g (i.e. five portions) of fruit and vegetables per day (2), excluding potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other starchy roots.

·         Less than 10% of total energy intake from free sugars (2, 7), which is equivalent to 50 g (or about 12 level teaspoons) for a person of healthy body weight consuming about 2000 calories per day,

·         Less than 30% of total energy intake from fats (1, 2, 3).

·         Less than 5  g of salt (equivalent to about one teaspoon) per day (8).  Salt should be iodized.

Advice on a healthy diet for infants and children is similar to that for adults, but the following elements are also important:

·         Infants should be breastfed exclusively during the first 6 months of life.

·         Infants should be breastfed continuously until 2 years of age and beyond.

·         From 6 months of age, breast milk should be complemented with a variety of adequate, safe and nutrient-dense foods. Salt and sugars should not be added to complementary foods.

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References used: Internet resources and English Praxis textbooks by APSCHE

Noojilla Srinivas, Ph: 7981862200; email: noojillasrinivas@gmail.com 

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College, Alamuru, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema Dist., Andhra Pradesh