由 home-healthhaven 
A healthy diet is all about balance. Although certain foods and nutrients might contribute more to weight gain, a healthy diet doesn’t completely cut them out. Instead, it involves eating a wide variety of foods in moderation and making changes that you can stick with for the long haul, not just for a short period.
**Short-Term Diets**
One big issue with many diets is that people set a time limit for them. This often leads to drastically cutting down on food to hit a target weight by a specific time. But even if they succeed, once they go back to their old eating habits, the weight usually comes back quickly, sometimes even faster than before.
This cycle, known as yo-yo dieting, happens because when the body is in “starvation mode” due to a lack of energy, it will start storing as much fat as possible when food becomes available again, just in case there’s another period of low food intake.
**Caveman Diet**
In the days of hunter-gatherers, periods of low food availability were common. Back then, storing a bit of fat was essential for survival. We still have this ability today, even though food is much more accessible and we generally have lower activity levels.
A little bit of belly fat isn’t necessarily unhealthy; it’s a natural way for our bodies to prepare for potential food shortages. In a real famine, having some belly fat could mean surviving longer than someone with very low body fat. However, since food scarcity is rare now, an athletic build is typically more desirable.
**Variety**
Our bodies are complicated and require a wide range of nutrients, which come from many different foods. Many people’s diets include too many calories and too much fat, but not enough essential nutrients. Yet, going to the other extreme—consuming enough essential nutrients like vitamins from fruits and vegetables but barely any calories or fat—isn’t healthy either.
Calories are crucial for our energy. Without enough, we wouldn’t even get out of bed. The recommended daily intake is around 2000 calories for women and 2500 for men. To lose weight, it’s better to exercise to burn off those extra calories rather than depriving your body of them.
**Fats and Protein**
There are essential fats necessary for things like maintaining skin quality. Proteins, which are often found in fatty foods, are necessary for muscle and overall body maintenance.
A healthy diet should be something you can maintain for life, not just a quick fix for a temporary weight goal. Don’t focus only on specific details of your nutrition; make sure everything is in balance.