Research carried out over the last few decades has shown that many chronic diseases in the world are nutrition related. Many people believe that eating a well balanced diet provides all the necessary vitamins for good health. In ideal circumstances this is the case, but in reality there are many reasons why you may need vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements to help your body cope with today’s living environment. Some of the reason for the necessity to take dietary supplements can be attributed to; * unhealthy diet
* poor lifestyle choices
* soil depletion from over-worked lands
* pollution
* stress Many of us, even those who feel that they eat well, do not eat a balanced diet. On average almost 40% of the calories we consume come from highly processed convenience or snack foods which are rich in fat and refined sugar. These foods contain few of the vitamins and minerals we need. In fact, as the body processes certain ‘junk’ foods, important nutrients are lost, and must be replaced from other sources. No supplement can be used as a substitute for a good diet – yet a good diet is not always enough. Environmental and lifestyle stresses can sometimes increase the need for essential nutrients to a higher level than can be obtained from the diet. Some factors that contribute to nutrient depletion are: * stress
* strenuous exercise
* alcohol
* tea, coffee and cola drinks
* dieting
* processed foods
* prescription drugs
* illness
* pregnancy
* smoking
* antibiotics
* oral contraceptives
* age
* poor digestion

The term ‘balanced diet’ would probably be more correctly worded – nutritionally balanced diet – and essentially refers to the balance in which we consume the different food energies (macro nutrients) i.e. carbohydrate, fat and protein (alcohol is also a food energy).

However, we also require vitamins and minerals (micro nutrients) and therefore a balanced diet is where the food that is eaten provides enough energy and nutrients for the body to function correctly, but not too much of any, to cause adverse effects.

So what are the best foods to eat to achieve a balanced diet. Carnivores such as dogs, cats, lions and tigers have digestive systems able to extract goodness from meats. Deer, antelope, gazelles, cows, sheep etc. are classed as herbivores and their digestive systems are able to extract goodness from vegetation. Humans are classed as omnivores and we are able to extract goodness from both meat and vegetation. However modern day mans environment has evolved far faster than we have physically. We are still digestively the same as we were thousands and thousands of years ago when we wouldn’t have been wandering down the local supermarket but wandering around looking for the best food supply – fruits, nuts and berries. This can still be seen today where some human races still exist in very remote parts of the world. Moving from area to area, depending much upon the season, in order to be in the the right location for the best supply of food is a way of life for these people ensuring over the course of a year, not by design but necessity, that a very varied diet is achieved of which meat is a rarerity and special treat. It is considered by many experts that these people have the best diet for humans in the world and similarly for ourselves eating a variety of vegetables, fruits, pulses and grains and moderate intake of meat and dairy products is the best way to achieve an all round balanced diet. Some form of exercise to compliment your diet, probably by going to the gym or taking up a sport rather than running around looking for nuts and berries, is also advised!