The characteristics of a healthy diet

A healthy diet consists of.....

(Devje, 2012).

When considering the characteristics of a healthy diet much more thought must go into it other than just food.  Does the food supply the adequate amount of nutrition the body needs?  As the body depletes certain nutrients daily; it has to be be restored with foods that are enriched with those nutrients to ensure the body is not deficient.  With adequacy, balance is needed; choosing different foods that contain all the nutrients making sure that there is not too much of one and not enough of the other.  While choosing these different foods calories need to be under control.  The amount of energy ingested must also be exerted to keep weight under control.  This may seem like a daunting task to watch calories; leading some to just eat the same foods day in and day out.  The body needs variety to verify that it is not getting an overload of any one nutrient.  There is not a single food choice out that can supply all the nutrients needed. The easiest way to make sure that many different choices are made is to remember that moderation is key.  This is applied in all types of food; good or bad for the body.  The body needs calcium but too much calcium, " Chronic intakes of excess vitamin A lead to increased intracranial pressure (pseudotumor cerebri), dizziness, nausea, headaches, skin irritation, pain in joints and bones, coma, and even death" (Vitamin A, N.D.).

Other challenges of a healthy diet

Keeping all these characteristics in mind can be very intimidating, not to mention, the

(DeNoon, 2011).

other challenges of making healthy decisions.  The fast paced merry-go-round that we all live on; leaving little time to prepare and cook food.  People will grab what is convenient for them since nutrition is not placed high on the list of priorities for many.  Some may not have the money needed to feed an entire family on fresh foods.  Prepackaged foods high in carbohydrates has a long self life and can feed many for a cheaper price.  Many give into their cravings for sweets and fast food which supply little to no nutritional value.  Others think they can eat however they like because taking vitamins will supply the nutrients they are lacking.  A vitamin is a supplement that helps with anything lacking, it is not meant to give all the nutrients.   Attached is a very interesting link from the Today Show interviewing a Harvard doctor on vitamins; check it out!
 http://www.today.com/id/36567808/ns/today-today_health/t/truths-lies-about-vitamins/#.UXUtN8rwBw4 
(Katz, 2013)