Diet has been defined as the modification of eating habits to meet the nutritional requirements of the body. In basic nutrition, diet is essentially the amount of food ingested by an organism or individual daily. Dietitians and other health professionals determine the appropriate diet for a wide range of individuals from infants, adolescents, elderly people, and athletes. There are also many dietary guidelines for pregnant women, children, adults, and special diets that must be met for specific diseases or conditions.
An individual’s daily diet can be broken down into several components: carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fats. Carbohydrates are found in foods such as breads, cereals, pasta, potatoes, and fruit. Proteins are found in meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. Vitamins are found in vegetables, fruits, legumes (such as beans), and whole grains. Fats are found in oils, spreads, margarine, fried foods, and confectionery.
The objective of any diet is to reduce caloric intake and increase the amount of calories that are burned through physical activity. A diet may satisfy one’s hunger for a particular food or provide a means to lose weight. A dietitian can help individuals identify the right foods for their individual needs, and teach about healthy eating. The objective of a healthy diet is to keep blood sugar levels consistent and decrease risk for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. A diet may be recommended for people who are trying to lose weight, maintain a healthy body weight, and reduce or eliminate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and certain diseases.
There are a variety of approaches to dieting. Some diets are called low-fat, low-calorie, high-fiber, or vitamin and mineral rich diets. Individuals can choose from different types of diets depending upon their goal. For weight management, certain diets recommend restricting consumption of solid foods as well as increasing the daily consumption of liquids.
Intermittent fasting is a method of eating regularly but not in a specific period of time. It is based on the premise that the body burns fat more efficiently when eating frequently compared to eating less often. The frequent eating program is characterized by eating several times per day, which is recommended to be no more than six hours apart. Low-calorie diets refer to eating very little calorie compared to your normal eating habits. Diets based on intermittent fasting require you to eat a certain amount of meals throughout the day, while maintaining a normal calorie intake.
Fasting is also a type of diet. In this method, a person is allowed to eat food only for a specified amount of time. This diet includes items like green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains. Sparely eating the food does not supply the necessary nutrients, so you should consider it as one of the forms of dieting.
