In nutrition, the diet is the amount of food ingested by an organism or individual in a day. The number of calories in a certain diet will depend on the number of nutrients needed by the organism for normal functioning. A diet needs to be balanced to prevent over consumption and nutritional deficiencies.
Most people follow diets to lose weight, because they find it difficult to control their overeating. They do this by cutting down on carbohydrates, fat, and other items that are commonly found in junk foods. This not only reduces the amount of calories they consume, but also helps them feel full. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of carbs and fibers, which give the feeling of fullness, without increasing the level of calories in the diet. Whole grains, though they do not provide carbs, provide protein and other nutrients that help the body perform its functions effectively. For example, whole grain breads contain low amounts of fat that can help reduce the chances of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
The best way to include vegetables and fruits in the diet to control calories is to eat a variety of them. It is better to eat more complex carbohydrates like whole grains and vegetables, rather than processed junk foods, because they contain more calories. Eating lots of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, mustard greens, potatoes, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, and yams is healthy for the body as long as they are included in the diet. These foods are rich in fiber and vitamins.
Vegetarians who want to lose weight should also include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in their diet. Fruit and vegetables are a great source of vitamins and minerals, which make them excellent diet foods. Fruit juices can be drunk daily; however, it is recommended to eat the fruit with some added juice, such as apple or orange juice. Whole fruit is good, but if the pulp is not included, the diet can become unhealthy. In addition to consuming fruits and vegetable, physical activity can burn off excess calories.
It is important to include food and drink regularly provided or prescribed by a doctor. A person should always include fruits, vegetables, cereal, milk, and water in the diet. It is advised to avoid alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and chocolate. Smoking and other tobacco use should be avoided. In order to lose excessive weight, it is important to follow the diet strictly or the body will get used to habitual nourishment and stop responding to the food and drink regularly provided.
People who follow low-calorie diets are prone to becoming obese. In addition to a healthy diet, an individual should engage in regular physical activity to lose weight. Both diet and physical activity work together to achieve weight loss. Most weight loss plans fail because of the lack of regular physical activity. People should include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in their daily diet to lose weight.