There are many benefits to a balanced diet which are covered in Alison’s free course Human Health - Diet and Nutrition. Some of these include better sleep, more energy, the ability to fight off diseases and manage health conditions, maintaining a healthy body weight, and increased brain power.

When people refer to a modern diet, they are referring to a diet that is mostly devoid of the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy such as proteins, vitamins, and amino acids. The modern diet is sometimes labelled “junk food” - food that is high in calories but low in micronutrients.

According to Human Health - Diet and Nutrition, the human body needs many nutrients to stay healthy and fight off common diseases. You need a diet that comprises seven of the main groups of nutrients that each contribute to a healthy diet. These include carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, fibre, water, proteins and minerals and must be balanced to be effective.