The necessity of a balanced diet to prevent the emergence of lifestyle disorders

Abstract

Recent decades have revealed a massive increase in the incidence of lifestyle disorders. Worldwide, of the reported 57-million deaths in 2008, 36 million (63%) were due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).¹ Ensuring the amalgamation of a healthy diet with an active lifestyle can have a major impact on health by reducing the risk of NCDs, such as heart disease, hypertension, strokes, diabetes mellitus, cancer and obesity.² Excessive consumption of energydense food that is rich in saturated fats, so-called junk food, and unhealthy dietary practices are major attributable factors to the observed rise in lifestyle disorders.^2,3