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A healthy diet is one that maintains a state of well-being and reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. A healthy food intake will have an adequate amount and balance of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and fluids. This goal can be accomplished with different dietary patterns.
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A healthy diet produces an appropriate body weight. Maintaining a healthy weight, with a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9, is achieved by balancing total calorie intake with calorie requirements. The 2010 report of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that too many calories from foods high in solid fats and added sugars are contributing to obesity. These same foods offer few nutrients other than calories. Eating with mindfulness and an awareness of what, when, and how much is eaten is a useful technique for weight loss and maintenance. Limiting solid...
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References and Readings
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USDA. (2011) Dietary Guidelines. www.dietaryguidelines.gov
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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, New York
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Rarback, S. (2013). Healthy Eating. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_754
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_754
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1004-2
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