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We hear of balanced diet and probably learnt about it in school, but what really is a balanced diet and how can we achieve it in our daily lives?
By way of definition, a balanced diet is simply a diet containing the right quantity and proportion of the different nutrients in a day. These nutrients are classified as below:
Sleep is a fundamental part of our daily lives. While we emphasis the need for a healthy diet and regular exercise, adequate sleep is equally important.
The average daily duration of sleep recommended for adults is about 7 to 9 hours, with children and adolescents needing more sleep. Unfortunately, in metropolitan cities, the amount of time available for sleep is usually limited.
It is common knowledge that prolonged intake of excessive amount of alcohol has adverse effects on various organ systems of the body including the brain, heart, liver and kidneys. This has been sufficiently proven by research and observations. There is, however, less research on the benefits of alcohol consumption particularly to the brain.
While low levels of alcohol consumption have been demonstrated to have some positive effects on the heart and overall cardiovascular system, a new study conducted in mice has shown that it could also be beneficial to the brain.
The study observed the effects of both high and low levels of alcohol consumption in mice over a long period of time. Over time, high levels of alcohol consumption demonstrated signs of inflammation in the brain, in addition to reduced cognitive function and motor skills. On the other hand, low levels of alcohol consumption pointed to less inflammation and increased waste/toxin removal in the brain compared to those with no alcohol intake.
It is commonplace to assume that a particular “healthy” diet is healthy for everyone. However, there are ongoing researches that could prove this wrong.
A number of factors are being considered in determining what diet is best for a given individual. These factors include age, gender, physical activity, sleep patterns, genetics and microorganisms (unique to each individual), among others.
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