Food is any material consumed to supply nutritional support to an organism. It may be vegetable, fruit, grain, dairy, meat or any other ingredient used to make up food. Generally speaking food is generally of animal, plant or fungi origin, and has key nutrients, including vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals. The human body requires an average of 10 pounds of food per person per day for normal maintenance.

Modern lifestyles have resulted in a loss of diet that has resulted in diets that are too high in fat and salt, with very little fresh fruits and vegetables, and too little exercise. Many of the oils, fats and processed foods that we consume contain saturated fats that contribute to unhealthy weight problems. A lack of fiber in the diet leads to constipation, and many people who are overweight or obese are constipated. Health problems related to improper nutrition include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, skin conditions, osteoporosis, obesity, and chronic lung diseases.

A proper diet is essential to maintain good health and well-being. A proper balance of carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats and a proper amount of dietary fibre is essential to a balanced diet. Carbohydrates are found in foods such as breads, cereals and pasta, rice, potatoes and various legumes. Proteins are found in meats such as chicken, turkey, beef and other forms of protein, nuts and various oils. Healthy fats come in plants, including fish, nuts, olives and various other oils.

Healthy oils are often used locally and add others to the list of foods to try and eat more of. Good examples are olives, canola, sunflower and safflower oils. Good fats are essential to a healthy diet and should be eaten regularly. They can be used as a salad dressing, added to hot dogs and hamburgers, or spread on crackers and bread. Dried beans and peas are also on the list of foods to try and eat more of.

Good carbohydrates are found in vegetables, whole grains, fruits and legumes, seeds and nuts. These can be used for snacks or in the main meal if you like. Vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, lentils, onions, mushrooms, peas, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers are all excellent choices for carbohydrates. Fruits, berries and vegetables with added Vitamin A, B, C and E are also good choices for carbohydrates. The best choice of all our fresh fruit and vegetable juices that have the most nutrients without all the artificial additives.

When you eat enough vitamin and mineral-rich foods, your body functions more efficiently. You are healthier and live longer. The nutritional content of the food you eat is only one aspect of a balanced diet; you should also be getting plenty of other essential nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy and function properly. If you think you don’t get enough nutrients in your diet, take a multi-nutritional supplement or add supplements of other nutritional food supplements to your diet to make up for any nutrients you are not getting from your foods.