Question

What do you mean by balanced diet and malnutrition?

Answer 1

Hint: Food is very essential as it ensures survival of an individual by serving as a source of energy. This energy reservoir includes other components including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and other essential nutrients. All these food components are significantly important for various body metabolisms and processes.

Complete answer:
When food contains all components (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins or minerals) in significantly sufficient amounts, then this food is commonly termed as a balanced diet. The quantity or amounts of these food constituents help fulfil the body needs when consumed on a daily basis. Depending upon the quantity of nutrients suitable for consumption, these nutrients are classified into two categories including micronutrients and macronutrients. The micronutrients are required by the body in micro amounts and thus, are consumed accordingly on a daily basis. Similarly, macronutrients are those nutrients that are consumed daily in relatively larger amounts to meet the body requirements. Vitamins and minerals are classified under micronutrients, whereas carbohydrates, proteins and fats are classified under macronutrients.
Inadequate consumption of essential nutrients or inefficient uptake of nutrients by the body often leads to a health condition that is commonly known as malnutrition. This abnormal health condition does not arise with inadequate nutrient supply to the body for a relatively short period of time. But, it usually arises when the body fails to get sufficient nutrients for a long time. Thus, a prolonged inadequate supply of essential nutrients (especially macronutrients) to the body of an individual results in malnutrition. It further affects body metabolisms and functioning including ability of the immune system to tackle pathogenic attacks, ability to recover sooner, and others.

Note:
A balanced diet provides sufficient amounts of nutrients to meet energy requirements as well as to keep the body and its systems in a healthy state. Carbohydrates are in larger amounts, followed by proteins and fats. Proteins help in growth and repair mechanisms of the body, however fats are dense-energy sources and thus, are usually consumed in compared lesser amounts. Consumption of a balanced diet regularly often helps an individual avoid the chances of suffering from malnutrition.