What Is a Healthy Diet? The U.S. Dietary Guidelines set by the
USDA state that a healthy diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables,
whole grains and fat-free or low-fat milk products. A healthy
diet should include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and
nuts. Be sure to limit saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol,
sodium and added sugars. Learn more about the U.S. government's
guidelines by reviewing the food pyramid. A calorie is a unit of
energy. Depriving the body of needed energy impairs your mood
and your ability to think clearly. People who consistently eat
less than their bodies need may begin to experience
irritability, lethargy, a lack of concentration and may feel sad
and hopeless as a result of a poor diet. In addition, people who
consume more calories than they need will always gain weight.
Are you concerned about your weight? If so, it is important to
know that your weight is determined by the number of calories
you ingest minus the number of calories you burn-period. If you
consume 2,500 calories