Eating a balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do to maintain and improve your overall health.
What we choose to eat has a direct effect on our health, growth and feeling of well-being. Poor eating habits that result in too many calories and not enough nutrients increases the risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, tooth decay, and some cancers.
It takes about 40 nutrients in order for our bodies to function properly. Different nutrients have different roles, so it is important to eat a variety of foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. However, for most people, any food can fit into a balanced diet if the portion size and frequency is right.