Practical answers and expert guidance for real-world nutrition challenges.
Nutrition Insights: Why a "Healthy Balanced Diet" Isn't Always Enough For Energy
Nutrition insights: Why a "Healthy Balanced Diet" Isn't Always Enough For Energy
A healthy balanced diet is important, but it doesn’t always guarantee that your body’s full nutrient needs are being met — especially in today’s fast-paced, high-demand world.
When A "Healthy Balanced Diet" Isn't Enough
There’s a long-standing myth that a “healthy balanced diet” will meet all your nutrient needs. It’s time to debunk this – if only to help the frustrated few who “eat really well” but don’t feel their best and are low in energy.
Here’s what I’ve noticed in practice:
While food is absolutely the foundation of good nutrition, it’s far from a one-size-fits-all approach. A “healthy balanced diet,” however well-intended, doesn’t necessarily meet everyone’s needs.
Modern Life and Nutritional Gaps
Today’s world presents nutrition challenges our grandparents never faced:
- Intensive farming methods, which have led to nutrient-depleted soil.
- Increased food processing, which often reduces the nutrient content of our food.
- A skewed work/life balance that adds more stress to our daily lives.
Yet despite all this, the myth persists that there is an average “healthy balanced diet” that can deliver sufficient nutrients to satisfy all our needs.
Your body deserves more than just the “minimum wage” of nutrition
The Best Balanced Diet Promotes Optimal health
Most people assume a “healthy balanced diet” means they’re getting everything they need — the right mix of carbs, proteins, fats, plus all the essential vitamins and minerals.
But how much of each nutrient do you really need?
Most public guidelines, like the RDA, RDI or RNI were created to prevent severe deficiency diseases.
With enough for a healthy person to get by, you could think of them as the “minimum wage” of nutrition.
If you want more energy, stronger immunity, faster recovery or clearer thinking, you’ll likely need to go beyond those basic minimums. And because each person’s body, lifestyle and stress levels are different, “healthy and balanced” means different things to different people.
Nutrient deficiencies aren’t always obvious
You may “eat really well” but still feel drained or unwell. Why so?
That’s because nutrient shortfalls can be subtle, showing up as signs we don’t always connect to food:
- Slow healing? You might be low in vitamin C.
- Frequent colds? Zinc could be lacking.
- Dry skin, brain fog, achy joints? You might need more healthy fats.
- Mood struggles or low resilience? Vitamin D could be a factor.
Low energy is particularly tricky, often resulting from overlapping nutrient shortfalls. And simply “eating better” isn’t always enough to correct these quiet deficits.
Today’s world presents nutrition challenges our grandparents never faced
How Your Body Uses Nutrients Matters
It’s not just what you eat — it’s how your body uses it.
Nutrients like magnesium and the B vitamins support hundreds of metabolic processes simultaneously — from energy production to stress management to immune resilience.
If your magnesium levels dip, you might feel fatigue, anxiety, and lowered immunity all at once.
Meanwhile, factors like genetics, life changes, stress levels or gut health can affect how well you absorb and use nutrients — even if your diet looks good on paper.
Find What's Needed to Ensure A Healthy Balanced Diet That's Best for you
A good foundation is still important: focus on enough protein, plenty of colourful vegetables, quality fats, and fewer processed foods.
But if your energy still isn’t where it should be, functional testing can remove the guesswork. It gives a personalised snapshot of your nutrient status — so you can focus on what matters most.
The Bottom Line
Today’s nutrition needs are different — your body deserves more than just the minimum.
Relying solely on the idea of a “healthy balanced diet” is outdated. With changes in food quality, modern stressors, and individual variability, most people will benefit from a more personalised nutrition strategy that supports thriving — not just surviving.
By addressing your specific nutrient gaps — whether through food, supplementation, or smarter testing — you can reclaim your energy, resilience, and wellbeing.
It’s an approach I believe everyone deserves to have access to.
Dive deeper into what your body might be missing and how to fill in those gaps… The 7 Best Vitamins for Energy, Explained.
It’s a conversation I’m always happy to explore: why eating a healthy, balanced diet is important – but often not enough.
What’s your take on this?
Or share a question you’d like answered below.
Ariz Acharki at Unsplash
[2] Wu et al (2015) Low population selenium status is associated with increased prevalence of thyroid disease
5 Simple Ways to Add Hormone-Friendly Fats to Your Day
What do these everyday fats look like on your plate? Here are some easy ideas to incorporate them into your meals and snacks:
These healthy fats are ideal for hormone balance after 40, but they also support your wellbeing from head to toe — from your brain to your skin to your sleep.
They can help calm your nervous system, sharpen focus, boost energy, and bring a sense of steadiness — especially when everything else feels like it’s shifting.