A balanced diet is a practice of eating healthy. It gives your body all the nutrients that are required for all the body parts to function correctly. There are many reasons for consuming a balanced diet. The main reason is for a person’s Growth and Development. Having a balanced diet improves the energy levels of the person. It lowers the risk of illness and also reduces tensions and banishes depression and anxiety. The components of a balanced diet include Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and Roughage.

Roughage is the type of plant-derived food such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, fruits, and vegetables that cannot be broken down in our body by digestive enzymes. It is a fiber that is basically edible. If our body requires vitamins, it also requires good bacteria that would help in our weight management and also decrease the risk factors for heart diseases. In addition, roughage, if absorbed in the right quantity, also improves our digestion. The consumption of roughage also improves gut health. The people who have the problem of constipation should consume more amount of roughage as it helps alleviate constipation as its consistency helps move stools more easily through our digestive tract. Also, consuming more quantity of roughage helps in weight loss. It increases our resting metabolic rate (RMR) which is the calories that we burn while at rest. High-fiber food may also stabilize sugar control by decreasing the absorption of sugar in our bloodstream. Maintaining blood sugar level moderate is important as it can weaken our body and may induce diseases like Diabetes. Many people suffer from high cholesterol as well. Cholesterol, as we know may lead to heart diseases, can be lowered by consuming more amount of fiber, i.e Roughage. Also, eating high-fiber food can help in reducing blood pressure.

High-fiber food or roughage generally includes Chia seeds, Lentils, black beans, chickpeas, flax seeds, oats, etc.