Why is it important to develop an eating plan that incorporates adequacy, balance, calorie control, moderation, and variety in order to prevent or delay the development of a nutrition-related chronic condition?

Answer 1

If someone has high blood pressure, for example, he would want an adequate diet that provides all of the essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids to support the health of the body's cells. There are studies that suggest that certain minerals such as calcium and potassium may help reduce blood pressure.
This person would want to eat a balanced diet including foods from all of the major food groups. This way, he is likely to get all of the nutrients he needs without getting an excessive amount of any one nutrient. For example, a person who eats a lot of meat but little grains, vegetables, or fruits will likely be getting too much saturated fat but not enough fiber, minerals, vitamins, or carbohydrates. He can use the MyPlate online tools to help him assess his dietary balance.
This person would want to practice calorie control to balance energy intakes with expenditures and thus maintain his weight. Excess weight is associated with many chronic conditions (including high blood pressure).
This person would want to eat the recommended portions of each food group to avoid taking in too many calories or too much of any one nutrient or harmful food component. Most eating plans that are successful in terms of weight management and adequacy incorporate this concept of moderation as well.
Dietary variety prevents monotony and sometimes over-consumption of unhealthful contaminants that may be present in a particular food source. If a person wishes to exercise variety in his eating plan, he will include several different vegetables or grains from different sources. This will increase the adequacy of the diet as well.