Disease Prevention

• Eating a balanced diet is the easiest way to protect yourself from many of the diseases associated with aging, including diabetes and heart disease. Eating too much of any one food group is not a wise idea. Even if you eat only vegetables (a healthy food), there is a chance you could still be unprotected from disease because your body needs the vitamins and minerals found in the other food groups to stay healthy. Eating in a balanced way boosts your energy level and ensures your body functions normally. A balanced diet also enables you to live longer.
  
  

Meeting Nutritional Needs

• Your daily food intake should include grain, fruit, milk (or other dairy products), vegetables, beans, oils and protein. According to the Food Pyramid developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you should eat six to eleven servings of grain, two to four servings of fruit, three to five servings of vegetables and two to three servings of dairy and protein. Fats and oils should be eaten rarely. Healthy foods contain vitamins and minerals that boost immunity and serve as natural protection from many common illnesses.
  
  

Weight Control

• If you are overweight, eating a balanced diet can be an important first step towards weight loss. Many people who are able to lose weight through being part of fad diets gain the weight back when they return to their own eating habits. A balanced diet can also help you maintain your weight loss in the long term. If you are underweight, eating a balanced diet can help you gain weight and maintain the weight gain in the long term.
  
  

Proper Sleep

• Eating too much of a certain kind of food can cause you to be unable to fall asleep (such as foods with high levels of artificial sugar, like candy). Eating heavy, oily foods can cause you to have difficulty waking up in the morning. Eating a balanced diet will enable you not only to sleep better without the use of sleeping pills but also feel more rested when you wake up.
  
  

Quality of Life

• Eating a balanced diet is important because it allows you to enjoy life, have more energy, feel less stress and accomplish more in less time. You will have fewer illnesses and medical bills. A balanced diet is the foundation of good health and well-being.