Family Life: We Need to Eat a Balanced Diet

By Ask Sam

Q Can foods improve medical conditions?

A We often read in newspapers or on the Internet about how certain foods or diets can improve particular medical conditions.

There has been some research into the health benefits of individual foods, but in general we need to eat a variety of food types to make sure we’re getting the range of nutrients our bodies need.

Most people should eat a balanced diet, which means one that is rich in starchy foods (such as bread, pasta and rice) and we should choose wholegrain varieties where possible.

We should also be eating lots of fruit and vegetables; moderate amounts of meat, fish or alternatives such as eggs, beans and lentils; moderate amounts of milk and dairy foods; small amounts of fatty foods or sugary foods or drinks.

If you are experiencing health problems, consult your GP and always seek professional advice before making major changes to your diet.

Sam Montel is the Food Standards Agency’s online nutrition expert and a registered public health nutritionist. She will be answering a different question about healthy eating every week. To find out more about food, visit the Food Standards Agency’s website at www.eatwell.gov.uk

(c) 2007 Evening Mail; Birmingham (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.