THE FIRST STEP to a healthy diet is to develop good shopping habits. The fresher your food, and the closer to its natural state (a potato, rather than chips, for example),the better it is for you. The next steps are good habits of storage and of preparation.Unfortunately, the way in which the majority of our food is now produced may mean that even a healthy diet can he deficient in nutrients, and supplements may be advisable.

A Healthy Diet Each individual body has different requirements, based partly on the type of metabolism inherited, and on lifestyle and eating habits. Some people appear to be able to eat whatever they want and remain in good health. Others have defined weaknesses, and what would be considered a balanced diet for one, may not be appropriate for the individual needs of another.

A healthy diet is one in which the food you eat contains all the nutrients needed by the body for it to grow, heal, and undertake all of the processes necessary to life. It provides energy and allows you to function at your optimum level, free from disease and malaise. To insure you get maximum nutrients. Choose fresh and unrefined foods from local sources where possible.

Ideally, vitamins and minerals can. be found in all natural foods, but in reality, processing and other modem methods of food production and refining, as well as overindulgence in alcohol and caffeine-laden drinks, mean that there may be very little in our daily diets.